Gosforth eFocus No 25
GOSFORTH TOWN MEETING 27TH NOVEMBER
There are a lot of controversial issues around Gosforth at the moment such as,
• Proposals for a red route
• Plan to reduce parking at Salters Road
• Post Office being relocated away from the High Street
• Dedicated cycle lanes being installed
• Major junction changes throughout the Great North Road
We as your local councillors would like to invite you to come and discuss these or indeed any other issue you may have. Therefore we are organising this informal "Gosforth Town Meeting" for all those living in Parklands, East Gosforth and West Gosforth wards on Thursday 27th November at 6pm at the Gosforth Civic Hall
Depending on numbers we may split into groups so you can join in any particular discussion you prefer.
However the format will be as formal or informal as you want. Or of course if you would just like to speak privately to one of your councillors on any matter then please come along.
Should this meeting be successful then we plan to have more in the future.
CUTTING CORNERS ON HEDGE CUTTING
Two years after our first requests - that was followed by many others, naturally - the hedge at the Great Park end of Greenfield Road has been cut!
It appears that Newcastle City Council now has only one machine left to deal with the whole city. The other JCB was auctioned off (raising £7,000). The workers complained that items are being disposed of without any conversation with them on their opinion of what is needed.
£16 MILLION PUPIL PREMIUM CASH BOOST FOR NEWCASTLE SCHOOLS
Disadvantaged primary school pupils in Newcastle are set to benefit from a £15.97 million to boost attainment, the Liberal Democrats have announced.
The pupil premium funding for 2015/16 will help teachers support those children at most risk of falling behind their colleagues.
It means primary schools will receive £1,320 for every pupil who has registered for free school meals at any time in the last six years.
Evidence shows raising the attainment of pupils by the end of primary schools has a direct impact on future exam results.
Cllr Nick Cott, who speaks on education for Newcastle Liberal Democrtas, said:
"Every child should be able to reach their full potential, whatever their background.
"The pupil premium will get extra money to schools in Newcastle, targeted at the children who need it most. The whole class benefits when fewer children are struggling.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT GOSFORTH RACECOURSE
Newcastle City Council Planning Committee will consider an application to build "eco friendly" houses in the two walled gardens within the Gosforth Racecourse (one currently occupied by a garden centre) on Friday 28th November. (See the Newcastle City Council website Ref 2014/1457/01/DET : Summary is : Erection 14 dwellings [comprising 8 dwellings in the north walled garden and 6 dwellings in the south walled garden] including formation of accesses and demolition of existing garden centre buildings, hard and soft landscaping and demolition of the Silver Ring stand and the Tote building)
So far there have been relatively few comments from the 100 plus consultees, but it's not too late if you have strong views on the application.
NEW TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM ON GREAT NORTH ROAD
We are continuing to receive reports of issues connected with the new lights, filter lanes and pedestrian crossings. We bring them to the attention of Council officials, but please keep us in formed of incidents as they arise so we can see if remedial actions are being effective. (And see next story - buses have CCTV on board which can give evidence of what is happening)
BUSES SPEEDING ON ESTATES
Here's what Aviva said when we complained :
"We downloaded CCTV and agreed with the residents' concerns, however the driver in question is currently on sickness leave and will be seen formally on his return to work. Naturally we do not condone drivers exceeding the speed limits and view such incidents as totally unacceptable. I will have my Revenue Inspectors carry out some covert speed check on the estate in the coming weeks and should the local constabulary decide to also carry out speed checks then again we would fully support this action."
BRUNTON PARK FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME - UPDATE
The latest monthly progress update for the Brunton Park flood alleviation scheme with a look ahead over the next four weeks. If you'd like to receive a copy regularly email
You can also keep up to date by accessing their dedicated website www.bruntonparkfloodalleviation.co.uk which is updated every two weeks.
YOUR HOMES NEWCASTLE
Their Annual Report can be downloaded from here. http://www.yhn.org.uk/about_us/strategies,_plans_and_reports/yhn_annual_report.aspx
NEXT IN GOSFORTH CENTRAL PARK
Christmas Wreath-Making on Sunday 14th December. Bring your children to make their own garlands
If you'd like their emailed newsletter, write to g.centralpark@binternet.com
Councillors from all three wards - and very many local residents - attended the Remembrance Day ceremony in the park. The hard work done by volunteers (with a little help from Ward grants) provided a splendid backdrop to a moving event.
Two grants were approved by the various Gosforth Ward committees to go to the Friends group. The first is for horticultural training no doubt making the volunteers green fingers even greener! The second is for railings to be put up to protect and enhance a new herbaceous border that is being developed.
You can view their Facebook page without joining, just go to: www.facebook.com/fogcp
STATION ROAD, SOUTH GOSFORTH
There is a plan to help the shops on Station Road in South Gosforth
which
would see some 30 minute stay on-street parking bays created in the area of the Chip shop and Thyme Sq
uare
café, as well as 4 hour bays at the end of Sandringham Road. There is also plan to install a raised kerb at the existing bus stop on the south side of Station Road. If you would like to see the Traffic Regulation Order then please contact
East Gosforth Councillors
.
THANK YOU McDONALDS
After discussion with Parklands Ward councillors, McDonald's at the north end of the Great North Road has put up an additional waste bin. They carry out regular litter patrols through the day, not just picking up waste coming from their restaurant!
GAS SAFETY CHARITY GRANTS SCHEME 2014-15
Are you a home-owner aged over 60 and in receipt of a means-tested benefit? Or are you a home-owner aged over 60 and in receipt of only your state pension? Or are you a disabled home-owner aged over 21?
If so, you could be entitled to any of the following free of charge (depending on total cost): a water-heater, a gas safety check, gas service, gas boiler repair, gas boiler combustion analysis, a gas cooker, a gas fire, gas pipework, or a gas meter.
The grants to pay for this come from the Foundation for Independent Living Trust. If you'd like a grant and think that you may qualify, please ring Clare Matthews on 0800 111 4418 or on her direct line (only Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday):
0191 499 9495.
NEW ON NEWCASTLE LIB DEMS WEBSITE
Don't it make you feel proud? BBC magazine features Newcastle wildlife
Document: Nov 14, 2014
Child poverty - response to Newcastle City Council from Lib Dem Schools Minister
Article: Nov 14, 2014
Labour admits Coalition law on Social Value is working so well, implementation is being expanded
Article: Nov 13, 2014
Communal bins - what's going on?
Article: Nov 12, 2014
Facts and figures on EU trade
Article: Nov 11, 2014
Reforming young people's mental health services is a crucial mission for us in delivering a fairer society
Article: Nov 10, 2014
Kept in the dark over Central Motorway display screen policy
Article: Nov 9, 2014
The facts on free movement of people in the EU
Article: Nov 7, 2014
Firefighters pensions - Newcastle Liberal Democrats write to Minister
Article: Nov 7, 2014
What your £34 a year EU membership gets you
FROM NEWCASTLE TO NEW YORK
United Airlines will begin operating a New York service from Newcastle Airport commencing on Saturday, 23rd May 2015 with the departure timed for 0930. It will be operated by a Boeing 757-200 aircraft and, for the very first time, offer a regular scheduled service from our airport to New York's Newark Liberty International Airport. Flights will operate Westbound on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with return Eastbound flights on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The last Westbound departure of the 2015 season will be on Monday, September 7th 2015.
Added to the very heavily used Dubai flight from Newcastle, this casts a different light on the demands for extra runways in the south east for inter continental travel.
MEANWHILE, IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Shale Gas and Oil (4 Nov 2014)
Lord Shipley: My Lords, I join in the thanks to the noble Lord, Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market, and pay tribute to his leadership over the several years in which he has chaired us in several complex and important inquiries. This report is one of those and it is a very helpful contribution to the debate on shale oil and gas, which of course is primarily about gas
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Gosforth eFocus is brought to you by
David Down, Pauline Allen and Robin Ashby .
Liberal Democrat Councillors for Parklands Ward
Reporting email : david.down@newcastle.gov.uk
Henry Gallagher, Peter Leggott and David Slesenger .
Liberal Democrat Councillors for East Gosforth
Reporting email : henry.gallagher@newcastle-libdems.org.uk
Jackie Slesenger, Bill Shepherd and Nick Cott
Liberal Democrat Councillors for West Gosforth
Reporting email : wgosforth@newcastle-libdems.org.uk
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