Gosforth eFocus No 35 - 5th June 2015

* Resurfacing of the road on Rotary Way and Great North Road at the approaches to the A1 roundabout at North Brunton Interchange was due to star on Friday 5th June But someone at the Council failed to notice the race meeting.....So it's been put off for a month or so.

CLOSURE OF SALTERS BRIDGE

The council's Highways Department has written to Gosforth Garden Village residents to inform them that they are issuing a temporary traffic regulation order the effect of which will be to close Salters Bridge to all vehicles. The order could come in to place as early as September and be in force for 18 months.

After that the Village residents could be given an opportunity to keep the closure in place.

Councillor Henry Gallagher of East Gosforth Ward said, "Personally I do not think any change should have been made without a vote of all the GGV residents. It just seems the right thing to do when the council is planning a change that will affect more or less every household."

Councillor Pauline Allen of Parklands Ward said. "This affects all Gosforth motorists (and surprisingly the road on the est side of the bridge is actually in the Parklands Ward) There is going to be added congestion and delay in Gosforth and at the Regent Centre traffic lights, so I urge all Gosforth residents to familiarise themselves with the proposals and make their views plain."

You can see the official letter here - http://newcastle-libdems.org.uk/en/document/traffic-and-highways/salters-bridge-closure.docx

There is a drop-in session on Wednesday 10 June - 3 to 7pm at Gosforth Garden Village Association Hall for anyone who would like to discuss the proposals.

SAVE WOOLSINGTON WOODS AND THE GREENBELT

Nearly 7,500 people have already signed a petition to save these woods from development. You can too at https://www.change.org/p/newcastle-city-council-save-woolsington-woods-2/share?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=318905&alert_id=hcNfeFAVGS_vigWSFUadJoH1Bb%2FRurkVtopzT1wTAMhq3SOgguoPGc%3D

CHURCH ROAD NO ENTRY SIGNS

A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) has been issues for the following changes:

· There will be a "No Entry (except cyclists)" at the junction of each of Moor Road North, Belle Vue Avenue and Rectory Grove with Church Road.

· The three streets are not being physically blocked-off at Church Road.

· Motorised vehicles will still be able to exit each of the three streets at the junction with Church Road.

· Obviously emergency service vehicles will access streets as required.

· There is a small addition of double yellow lines on Church Road beside Alwinton Terrace.

These measures if approved would radically change the traffic flow in that central part of Gosforth. The full notice including how to make comments/objections can be seen here - http://newcastle-libdems.org.uk/en/document/traffic-and-highways/church-road-no-entry-tro.docx

COMPLETING THE NO COLD CALLING ZONES IN PARKLANDS

Just a few small areas are currently excluded, following years of pushing by local councillors. At their last Ward Meeting they decided that NCCZs should be extended to the Berkeley Square north of Broadway West and Greystoke/McCracken areas on either side of the Great North Road. A consultation exercise will start shortly. The cost to Ward funds will be around £650.

From Monday 8 June 2015, Newcastle City Council will be sending questionnaires to around 10,400 local residents for the 2015 Newcastle upon Tyne Residents Survey. The aim of the survey is to gather robust, statistically valid data on residents' views of their local communities and public services. It will also ask questions about people's health and wellbeing, including economic wellbeing, to help Newcastle and our partners plan services.

The work has been contracted out to an independent contractor, M.E.L. Research Ltd., but will be overseen by staff in the Policy and Communication Team. If local residents have questions about the survey, or need it in a different format such as large print, they can contact M.E.L. Research as follows:

Telephone: Call the M.E.L. Freephone helpline on 0800 073 0348 FREE FREE FREE (alternative number: 0121 604 4664).

Email: bianca.murray@m-e-l.co.uk

The survey can be completed either using the printed form, or online. The covering letter provides the details of how people can complete the form online if they want to do this.

The last Residents Survey ran in 2012. The survey serves a number of purposes, including:

• Informing policy and helping to identify priorities

• Shaping the design and delivery of services

• Tracking how well services are performing

• Giving an overview of how residents' views have changed over time.

• Helping fulfil our duties under the 2010 Equality Act, by publishing equality-related information.

The Council expects the response rate to be around 25%. Topline results for the survey will be available from 17 August 2015, with detailed results available in September 2015.

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