June 2017 news from Fawdon Liberal Democrtas

In January, Your Homes Newcastle asked tenants to vote for the improvement projects on the estates that would be funded through a share of £1million set aside from rental income. There were over 8000 votes cast, moderated by YHN's Tenants Panel to ensure some spread across the city but we're pleased that there are six schemes in our ward that will be taken forward over the next two years. They are : Fencing at Fern Avenue, Fawdon; Parking spaces, Hillsview Avenue, North Kenton; Parking spaces, Aln Avenue, Little Grange; Parking spaces, Redland Avenue, Fawdon; Parking spaces, Elm Grove, Fawdon; Seating - Kenton Road, courtyards. It will take time, but the improvements recently carried out at the frontages of the blocks in Mapledene Road, Elm Grove and Fawdon Lane show just what can be achieved, also new parking spaces at Kirkwood Drive, North Kenton funded by YHN.

Fawdon Community Library (inside the community centre) has just celebrated its second anniversary as a volunteer-run local library service, and has marked it with new signage above the entrance to the community centre. Read their latest newsletter here: https://fawdoncommunitylibrary.com/whats-on/#jp-carousel-298. Volunteers welcome.

After we made representations through the Council, we're please to report that the empty garages behind Edgefield Avenue shops have been tidied up ahead of their planned demolition.

The remedial works on the Hazel Walk Barratt Homes estate, North Kenton are not yet fully completed -some surfacing week has been awaiting the removal of a lighting column - wonder why it wasn't thought of earlier?

There are still issues about emissions from the Crown Packaging factory next to Aldi on Edgefield Avenue. We have asked for a meeting with council officers and the factory management to address residents' concerns about the odours.

Unfortunately it has been confirmed that the Council will make no money at all available for local road and pavement improvement work this year (it used to be £100,000 in each of the 26 wards). Belatedly, the modest money allocated from last year is now being spent - the pathway by the Haydon Close flats is now done; Park Avenue, Fawdon is currently under design for some road resurfacing and it is anticipated that this will be issued for construction shortly; Delamere Road (by the flats at Hillsview Avenue/Edgefield Avenue) is also under design for some pavement renewal.

We are still awaiting confirmation of work to the "iron bridge" across the Ouseburn at Red House Farm, but it has been promised.

There has been a lot of dumping on the "Black Path" running along the west of the ward from Kenton Bar to Kingston Park Road. Much of it was removed last month after representations, but the route is still subject to much littering and overgrown vegetation.

Kenton Park Sports Centre has been selected as one of a group of community organisations in the city that will

Thanks to Coxlodge Allotments for donating hanging baskets for use on Little Grange estate.

Thanks to a grant from the Fawdon ward committee the Rookie Sports team have been able to deliver rookie golf and other gentle activity sessions at the following venues in the ward - Akari Park House Care Home, Fawdon; Leagreen Care Home, Coxlodge; Kirkwood Court Care Home, N Kenton; Lea Green Court sheltered housing, Coxlodge; St.Clements Court sheltered housing, Red House Farm; Kilbourn House ExtraCare in Newlyn Rd, N Kenton

Feedback: "The sessions have been extremely well received at all of the venues, with 59 elderly people taking part so far. We had a delay in running sessions at St.Clements while their lounge was being refurbished, but that is now complete so sessions are continuing there. The funding is enabling elderly residents in the ward to remain active, learn new skills and improve their physical & mental wellbeing by taking part in our fun activities.

Feedback from residents and staff at all 6 venues is extremely positive. At Kirkwood Court residents with dementia and Alzheimer's as well as more severe mobility problems have been really enjoying taking part in rookie golf and other games. All of the groups want the activities to continue long term and we are looking with them at a mixture of funding streams, such as payments from the groups themselves and obtaining additional grant funding. One of the ideas for the future is to form a Fawdon Rookie Golf forum and support the group to apply for lottery funding that would allow the project to continue and also to grow. Additional grant funding would allow the groups to visit each other and play matches at each others venues, or at a communityl venue in Fawdon. Other community groups can be invited to join the forum. There is also interest in building an intergeneration element into the next phase of the project. This will involve coaching sessions for children at local schools or community groups to skill them up and have intergeneration matches with the elderly. Our intergenerational programme in other areas of Newcastle has proved an ideal way to forge good relationships between the different generations and encourage them to share skills and interests with one another.

"Rookie Golf is a brilliant activity. It's good gentle exercise and lots of fun. We would love for it to carry on and grow in the future". Rachel Waterworth, manager of Leagreen Court.