Gosforth eFocus 40 - Transport and other plans
NEXT PARKLANDS WARD MEETING WILL FOCUS ON TRANSPORT MATTERS
Parklands Ward Committee Thursday 3 September 2015 at 7:00 pm at Northern Football Club, McCracken Park, Great North Road, Gosforth NE3 2DT
The meeting will focus on the Gosforth Traffic Improvement Plan and the issues it has raised, such as why the cycle lanes have been installed and why the roundabout has been removed.
Cllr Bell, the Cabinet member responsible has agreed to come to the meeting to answer questions along with a senior council officer.
We have also invited a representative from Capita to give details of the works that are going to take place on Sandy Lane, as these will also impact on residents.
There will also be a chance to raise and discuss other local issues including:
Traffic and Parking
Environmental issues
Crime and Community Safety
Parklands Ward Councillors will be in attendance
REDEVELOPMENT OF GOSFORTH INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
East Gosforth Councillors have received a very interesting document from the Adderstone Group, the Newcastle based property developer. Adderstone have produced a "vision" for the redevelopment of the Gosforth Industrial Estate at the end of Christon Road. This vision tells us of how the whole site could be developed in four phases to produce an estate of up to 250 houses. The document is very impressive but it has to be seen as a long term vision for the future; most of the site does not yet belong to the developer!
However, the site where Greggs factory used to be is owned by them and an application for development of this first phase is expected to be submitted soon. If you want to find out more about all the potential phases of development you should "drop in" to Gosforth Parish Church hall ( Wardle Street, opposite to South Gosforth Metro station) on Thursday 27 August between 6.00 and 8.00 pm, when you can meet representatives of the company.
The East Gosforth councillors give this vision a cautious welcome. There is a lot to be considered before the whole site can be developed and the councillors will look carefully at the details when they become available. However, it is good to see this potential development of a "brownfield" site. If this means that there will be less pressure to develop "greenfield" sites, such as The Valley or South Gosforth Green this can only be a good thing.
PLANNING APPLICATION FOR PLAYING FIELDS, BROADWAY WEST
Gosforth Sports Association has applied to provide 4 x 15m high floodlighting columns (to be used between 18:30 and 20:30, 2 nights per week), construction of additional car park (80 spaces), provision of cycle parking, alterations to vehicular access and provision of refuse storage area in connection with conversion of club house and ancillary caretakers flat to club house. Ref :2015/1156/01/DET. For more details and to comment/object see
The GSA will be holding a drop in from 1330 hrs on Saturday 19th September at the clubhouse to show the plans, answer questions and listen to views. They hope some people will stay on to see their first home match of the season, kick off 1500 hrs
MORE WORK ON THE GREAT NORTH ROAD - FIXING ERRORS
Newcastle City Council has received several comments on the quality of the cycle marking repairs on the stretch of cycle track between Park Avenue and the Broadway junction on the Great North Road, which it fully accepts. They have told us that their sub-contractors did not paint the original markings in line with appropriate standards, nor were able to rectify to the necessary quality.
The Director of Communities has instructed the highways delivery team to replace this stretch of cycle lane in its entirety to ensure these mistakes are rectified to the appropriate quality, and to seek reimbursement for the cost of these works from the sub-contractor.
The moving of the electricity supply for the relocated bus shelter will not be completed in time for remedial works to be completed this week, so it will now be carried out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
AN UPDATE FROM NORTHUMBRIA WATER ON MAINS CLEANING
Cleaning work at the junction of Salters' Road, Church Road and High Street was completed by 8pm on Tuesday 4 August, a few days ahead of schedule. We understood that this junction was a highly traffic sensitive area and would like to apologise for any delays caused while we carried out essential cleaning works.
With this section now finished, we plan to return to Kenton Road and Elmfield Park to complete our cleaning works starting here on Wednesday 12 August 2015. A letter has been sent out to customers living close to our planned areas of work today which includes further information. This is the final section of trunk mains cleaning in Gosforth and we plan to complete this work by Wednesday 26 August 2015. Following this our cleaning programme will move to Longbenton and will continue in Newcastle city centre.
Further information about the trunk mains cleaning can be found on our dedicated website www.themainevent-nwl.co.uk.
COULD £45 MILLION BE BETTER SPENT?
The cost of the refurb and rent-out project for the Civic Centre is soaring even before it has been approved and work started. If you feel as strongly about this as we do, follow the link and sign the petition! https://www.change.org/p/newcastle-city-council-halt-plans-to-borrow-a-further-45m-to-refurbish-the-civic-centre?
GOSFORTH CENTRAL PARK - VOLUNTEERS REPORT
Many of you will have seen our display of wildflowers in the nature area (between the Tennis Courts and the Health Centre). As well as the three main beds - full of cornflowers, poppies, cow parsley etc. the rest of the area has smaller plots planted with a selection of flowers and shrubs. The grass has been allowed to grow naturally with paths mown to allow easy access. The area will be harvested in the next few weeks, like a hay meadow, and then we will look forward to planting a Willow 'tunnel'
The first year of this nature area has been a great success thanks to our volunteer Jane, who has involved school children in planning and taking part in planting out the wildflowers. We are hoping that it will become a resource for teachers and encourage the next generation of Park volunteers.
It has been gratifying to see the reaction of members of the public. That section of the Park (along with the colourful herbaceous border) is possibly the most photographed bit of Gosforth! We have received numerous words of appreciation and encouragement and it appears to give much pleasure to many people.
STORAGE OF MANURE
In response to a question about the storage of manure near Whitebridge Park, a council official responded:
"I have dealt with this issue in the past on behalf of the residents of Ferndale Avenue (Melton Park) and on each occasion I have to admit there was a large amount of manure being stored on the field. The complaints were related to odour but within a few days the odour had gone and the top 'crusted' over hence no further action was taken.
"Manure gives off hydrogen sulphide and used to be deemed a waste by the Environment Agency who regulated its storage. However, it is now recognised that once this gas mixes with air it becomes dilute and poses, if any, a low risk to human health. Manure is now excluded from regulation.
"There is general guidance relating to its storage but this is more to do with storing it away from a watercourse so as to avoid contamination. I appreciate the storage of manure so close to residential properties could be considered inconsiderate but unfortunately there is nothing to prevent the farmer from doing so or regulating the amount stored in one place."
Dairy farmers are currently seeking the support of the public over the price of milk. But they can disregard the public when it comes to this by-product…
GREAT PARK
The Consortium have now issued a statement about the Bund area to the rear of Barmoor Drive. It can be found on the Great Park Web site http://www.newcastlegreatpark.com/update-landscaping-bund-at-the-rear-of-barmoor-drive/
The Great Park Cell F play area near the football pitch is now open. There are few finishing touches to be carried out this week but the fencing has been removed and the play area is open for people to use.
Great Park Community Centre will have an End of Summer BBQ Tickets on sale now! Adults - £5.00 (£4.00 for GPCC Members) (includes a burger in a bun, sausage & salad selection) Children - £3.50 (£3.00 for GPCC Members) (includes a burger in a bun, sausage, salad & cordial) *Adults and children's Vegetarian options available* *Free Entry, BBQ Tickets must be purchased in advance* Introducing... 'The Rose Den', serving a range of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks on the day. Sunday 6th September, 1:30pm onwards
LITTER BINS IN NORTH GOSFORTH
As the Council reviews the provision of litter bins with a view to reducing their number, Parklands ward councillors have been working with local businesses to get them to help with new ones.
Gosforth Park Racecourse will be installing/replacing missing bin on Lamp Column 235G98 which will be emptied by the ward team. However, it may be removed when the ward litterbin review takes place. McDonalds will be installing two Lamp Column Bins on Lamp Columns 254G98 and 246G98 which will be emptied by them.
We applaud the public spiritedness of these two businesses and look forward to further such initiatives (such as flower tubs)
As an aside, you can report street lights not working at http://sseenterprise.co.uk/solutions-for-business/lighting
(Newcastle is in the list of local authorities' links in the bottom right corner. There, one can zoom in to the particular road and each light in the road is identified by its unique reference number (that's stuck on the light itself, in the format noted above). Great though it is, it's far quicker and more straight forward to use the phone.
WIDENING THE A1
Cllr David Down has asked about the timing of works related to increasing capacity and reducing the speed limit between the Kingston Park Road and Rotary Way turn-offs on the A1 Western By-pass. (Basically the scheme seems to be narrowing lanes and central reservation to allow an extra lane, but because they'd be narrower dropping the speed limit to perhaps 50 MPH. An upside of this would be a decrease in noise immediately adjacent to the road)
Highways England Major Projects Directorate has taken over these works, and he has been told that the scheme is in the early stages of development. Engineers are currently reviewing the evidence for all feasible options, so that they can make an informed decision on the most suitable option. The project team is currently preparing a webpage which should be available later this month and will be updated regularly to provide the latest position.
BRUNTON PARK
The flood mitigation scheme rolls forward. In the current phase, there are closures of Princes Road and diversion of the 46 bus. Soon the car parking in front of the shops will not be accessible for a while. So if you're coming to them (excellent merchants!) please leave a little extra time to find a considerate parking place and to walk there.
MORE VOLUNTEER NEWS
A community café that a Liberal Democrat councillor helped to set up has just opened in Shieldfield. It's open from 10 - 1 on Mondays Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 26 Wretham Place, NE2 1XU.
Feel free to drop by! Only £1 for a cuppa and biscuit, there are books and board games to relax with too! You might like to visit if you want to get a feel for how to set up a similar facility in your own neighbourhood as well - we'd be happy to advise. The Fawdon Library, now run by volunteers, is going strong, and always happy to receive donations of books in good condition.
SPEED LIMIT ON GREAT NORTH ROAD
Residents have asked us if the speed limit could be reduced. We are told that as the road is a dual carriageway with very limited direct frontages it does not readily lend itself to being a 30mph road and to reduce the speed from 40mph to 30mph is unlikely to gain support from Northumbria Police.
Whilst residents' concerns are understood Newcastle City Council say they would need to look at this request and prioritise it in the usual way, by considering existing speeds and historical road safety information.
MEANWHILE, IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Lord Shipley has been particularly busy. You can see some of his contributions to debates before the Summer Recess at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/search/?s=speaker%3A25000+section:lords&o=d
AND FINALLY…
An American view on taxes and spending, but resonance here too
http://www.moveon.org/share/72e232/hollywood-legend-ed-asner-has-outraged-republicans