What's happening in Fawdon Ward this month, and latest news
Coming up this Saturday 8th, from 12 noon to 4pm - free Family Fun Day in the park in North Kenton. The park is accessed via Hillsview Avenue/Newlyn Road/Kirkwood Drive/Halewood Avenue. The event is funded by the Fawdon and Kenton Ward Committees. All welcome. Fingers crossed for sunshine! Activities will be in the hall of Kenton Park Sports centre if it rains.
Coxlodge Allotment Association has an Open Day on Saturday 15 August, 12pm-2pm. Last year they were awarded funds from the Council's UDecide programme and on 15th August they would like to showcase what they have achieved with this money and hopefully start recruiting individuals and other community groups to make use of the new facilities which include a classroom, composting toilet and community plot whereby individuals or groups can adopt one or two beds to grow in. All welcome.
The free summer play session for 5 to 12 year olds continues every Wednesday and Friday between 12 noon and 3pm at St Mary's Church, Mapledene Rd, Fawdon (behind the community centre) until 28 August. Sports and games, cooking, arts and crafts - lots to choose from, plus a free lunch. Why not bring your kids along? Supported by your local Ward Committee.
Feedback from last week's local ward meeting.
* Residents are having great difficulty in getting in (and especially out) of Foxton Avenue because of the increased volume of traffic along Fawdon Lane - no doubt accentuated by the mess the Council is making of the Great North Road and traffic finding another route. We have asked for a yellow box at the junction.
* Concerns were voiced to the police about under-age drinking on the streets in several parts of the ward and especially "proxy sales" (youngsters asking/pressurising adults to buy alcohol for them); the police and the council are following this up. Local The police also reported to the meeting that they been active in dealing with motorcycle disorder and several bikes have been seized.
* Agreed to explore the possibility of starting a youth project locally through the "Key Fund" who say "We motivate young people to prove they can think, plan, do and review a project that takes them through a journey of discovery and skills development. Our model is designed to link our supporters and the wider community to be part of that journey"
* There are still significant funds available from the ward Committee to support local projects - let us know if you have any ideas
Thanks to St Clement's Court/Anchor Housing on Red House Farm for hosting the meeting.
Welcome to Liz Coates who has joined Newcastle Tenants and Residents Association as manager of the Fawdon Community Centre. Liz says: "In my new role I'll be looking to build good relationships with local people, secure funding for activities, and help Fawdon Community Centre to become an even more vibrant and busy hub for people of all ages". If you have any ideas you can contact Liz on 285 2724 or via info@newcastletenantsfed.org.uk.
The road markings at the Jubilee Rd/Kenton Road junction in Coxlodge will be repainted at our request. They had faded badly and some drivers need a little help to realise that they can safely move to the right in readiness for turning without blocking traffic that wishes to go straight on. We did manage to get the lights rescheduled to give a little more time for traffic going east/west and that has reduced the tailbacks, although we remain puzzled why the pedestrian lights sometimes trigger without anyone being there.
Refurbishing the iron bridge over the Ouseburn north of Acomb Crescent, Red House Farm may turn out to be the direct responsibility of the Great Park Consortium after all, and may not need to be funded from the resources made available for local environmental improvements through the Red House Farm Residents Association. Both the Association and your councillors are following this up.
Discussions are continuing between the Council and the Coxlodge Community Centre management committee about the possible transfer of the centre to the association as part of the Council's "asset transfer" programme.
The council house modernisation programme on Little Grange trundles on, the latest delay being that one of the subcontractors has gone bust so we hear. Your Homes Newcastle has had to intervene because of the slowness of the work and the poor quality of some of the jobs. We have complained about the dreadful state of the compounds where the contractors are storing removed material from the houses.
No further progress to report on the issue of Red House Farm Football Club and the pitches on the field on Kingston Park Road - we await a leaflet and consultation programme from the club on their alternative proposals to the ones that failed to receive the backing of the Council's Planning Committee way back in February.
Well done to the volunteers, young and old, who did a litter pick up in the park at North Kenton and some planting around the sports centre entrance.
Don't forget about the volunteer-run community library inside the community centre on Fawdon Park Road - membership is free, and we've added 400 books to the stock since we opened - many thanks to the volunteers and to the book donors. Now with longer opening hours - Mondays 11am to 5pm; Tuesdays 10am-2pm; Wednesdays 10am-1pm; Thursdays 2pm to 5pm; Fridays 10am to 1pm.
Fawdon Ward covers the following areas: Fawdon, Coxlodge, Red House Farm, Little Grange and part of North Kenton; however there is to be a review of the boundaries of all the wards in Newcastle and of the number of councillors. Residents will be asked for their views once there are proposals to consult upon, but we will make the case for a reduction in the overall number (and cost ..) of councillors, as we have suggested at recent council meetings to set the budget/council tax.
Congratulations to North Fawdon Primary School for achieving its best-ever Year 6 SATS results in reading, writing and maths.
At a time when Newcastle City Council is cutting jobs and services and is unwilling or unable to fund libraries, pools, parks, street cleaning, and pavement repairs, it is plain unacceptable and inappropriate to significantly increase the council's debt to fund refurbishment of the Civic Centre and its offices, as the Council plans to do - and it's madness to borrow £45 million to make £32 million in long term savings. If you agree then please sign our petition - go to www.facebook.com/fawdonward.libdems or www.newcastle-libdems.org.uk and click for the petition.
Next councillors' surgery - Tuesday 11th August, 5.30 - 6.30pm in a room at St Mary's church, Mapledene Road, Fawdon. Call in if you have any issues or problems to raise - no appointment needed. Every second and fourth Tuesday.
The summer edition of Focus has now been distributed to most of the ward, and we will deliver the balance in the next few days (last week's rain slowed us down, as the delivering is done by local supporters - do feel free to offer if you have a hour or so spare once a quarter! - we would be very grateful).
Some residents ask for an electronic version of the Focus newsletter, which you can find elsewhere on this website.
Regards - and enjoy the rest of "summer"
David Faulkner, Brenda Hindmarsh, Tracy Connell
david.faulkner@newcastle.gov.uk; brenda.hindmarsh@newcastle.gov.uk; tracy.connell@newcastle-libdems.org.uk