FOCUS

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Station
Published and promoted by Cllr Nick
Cott (Lib Dem) all at 11, Broomfield
Road, Gosforth, NE3 4HH
WEST GOSFORTH WARD

Road, South Gosforth.

Autumn 2010
ASHBURTON VILLAGE - BULMAN VILLAGE - HEDLEY FARM -
KENTON PARK - ST. NICHOLAS’ PARK - REGENT FARM - WESTFIELD

MAJOR SWIMMING POOL REVAMP

A major refurbishment of Gosforth Swimming Pool is planned between now and the Spring. The
programme, financed from £0.5 million of Council funds, will include new changing facilities, a
refurbished sauna and steam room and a new activities space for a range of purposes including
dance, pilates and yoga. A new improved air handling system will be installed. The Pool is expected
to reopen in April.

Negotiations for retaining sauna

Users of the sauna and steam room facilities had been concerned to hear that the facilities might
have had to close as part of the refurbishments to make room for the activities space; however,
Council plans were altered following discussions with West Gosforth councillors who wanted the
facilities to be retained.
Cllr Nick Cott said: ‘It’s been good to be involved in ensuring that the swimming pool facilities are
modernised and increased. We’re so pleased about the sauna. It has been good that the Council has
listened to the views of users, and this means no-one loses out.’

Cllr Jackie Slesenger’s column New traffic speed restrictions

Things are always busy in West Gosforth
and there are lots of issues to report on.
Across the Ward we’re supporting contin-
ued efforts to improve the High Street,
including the plans for the Trinity Square
project and the idea of a Business Improve-
ment District to help improve the experi-
ence for shopping and accessing services.
I was very pleased recently to see so
many people attend a meeting about a
cooperative enterprise in the area. Exper-
tise within the community could be a cru-
cial factor in bringing people back to our
local shopping streets.
There’s been a lot of investment in road
and pavement repairs, most recently the
improvements to Moor Crescent, Linden
Road, West Avenue and North Avenue.
The last few years have seen much more funding secured to tackle the backlog of
necessary repairs but we know there is still much to do. All streets are inspected
twice annually for basic repairs, and the on-going highways budget for the Ward
pays for much of the major works.
We are very keen to do more to protect our street trees. The autumn colours are
a reminder of how good it is to live in an area blessed with so many of them, but
they need to be maintained properly; so my colleagues and I are investigating
whether we can purchase some additional Council service from the Ward’s budget.
New statutory 20-MPH traffic restrictions are being installed across the area. These
are replacing the advisory 20-MPH schemes due to a change in the law which allows
for statutory restrictions to be installed without traffic calming. Some residents want
more traffic calming schemes in the area but the Council wants to monitor the impact
of the new restrictions before considering additional measures.
Licensing zone being reviewed
The licensing Cumulative Impact Area, which limits the number of licensed premises
in the High Street, is being reviewed. Councillors would like to see the boundaries
extended as far west as Linden Road to assist in preventing encroachment of licensa-
ble activity into streets adjacent to the High Street.
Premises licence concerns Landmark building’s future
Residents have expressed some concerns Local councillors have been involved in
about a proposed off licence at the former discussions over the future of Kenton
premises of Motor World at the junction of Lodge in Kenton Road. Trinity School, the
Salters Road with Ivy Road to be open until current occupant, is in the process of
10 PM. They feel noise and disturbance moving out. One idea is that the site
generated by the plan would impact upon could make a good venue for a hotel.
their amenity and have asked local council- It is also hoped that the building and its
lors to make representations on their be- attractive gates at the junction with
half at a licensing hearing. A similar Grandstand Road can be protected as
application last year was withdrawn. part of a development brief.

HIGH STREET ‘BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT’ IDEA

Councillors are working alongside representatives of business and Trinity Cafe Plan
It is proposed to create a cafe
Church to investigate the possibility of a Business Improvement District
in the two units in Gosforth
(BID) similar to one which has been introduced in the City Centre.
Shopping Centre, at the rear,
In a BID, 1% of the business rates for units in the area can be ring-fenced
which are currently unoccu-
for improvements which meet the objectives of the BID. These could in-
pied. The proposals include
clude measures to invest in better parking and environmental projects.
provision for an open frontage
The BID would be accountable to a board and could even employ its own
onto Central Park with a seat-
staff. Businesses in the area would have to vote on the proposals before
ing area outside. The suggest-
anything could go ahead.
ed seating area is currently in
Cllr Bill Shepherd said: ‘The BID in the City Centre has demonstrated some
Council ownership and would
clear benefits, particularly at a time of economic downturn. A BID for the
need to be leased to the cafe
High Street might help with the regeneration of shopping. It’s early days,
operator to facilitate the de-
but we hope that further discussions will yield support from businesses.’
velopment.

Working all year round for you in West Gosforth Ward

 First for news across West Gosforth Ward
Flooding prevention investigations taking place
The Council is undertaking some investigations to assist residents with their on-going concerns about flooding to
their property along Devil’s Burn adjacent to Montagu Avenue, Moor Court, Westfield and Moor Crescent,
following intervention from local councillors. Funding has been applied for to investigate drainage systems in the
area so that informed judgements can be made for the future policy. Residents are also being advised about how
they can look after the stream as it runs through their gardens, particularly where it runs underground.

Funding sought for sports and leisure News shorts

Funding is being sought for improved facilities at the Coxlodge Centre in Ashburton Road: Limited waiting re-
Jubilee Road. Plans include refurbishments to the Community Centre, strictions are to be installed outside
better access and parking, improved changing facilities, renewal of the property numbers 17 & 19.
bowling green and a play area for young children. A community steering Brackenfield Road: Problems with park-
group has been formed and residents in the local area have been invited ing reported by residents are being ex-
to give their views. amined.
Chollerford Close / Birtley Close: Envi-
Funding for Square scheme Maintenance taking place ronmental improvements are to take
Fundraising is still taking place for a landmark scheme Road resurfacing schemes have taken place in Linden Road, Moor Cres- place at the play area.
to create a community square outside Trinity Church in cent and West Avenue. Pavements have been relayed in North Avenue. Graham Park Road: Engineers have
the High Street. The Council has been working with the Other streets currently being recommended by Council engineers for agreed to consult on a road safety
Church to contribute to some of the project costs be- priority future investment include road resurfacing schemes for Graham scheme at the junction with the High
fore a bid is made to various funding organisations. It is Park Road, Meadowfield Road, Northfield Road, Oaklands Avenue, Re- Street at the beginning of next year fol-
hoped that construction could begin as early as next gent Road, Sheldon Grove and Woodlands and pavement schemes in lowing concerns about parking and ac-
year. Rothbury Avenue and Westfield. These recommendations are drawn cess.
from technical surveys undertaken twice annually. Hawthorn Road / High Street: An appli-
Cooperative idea popular cation has been received for a telecom-
Residents attending a recent meeting, organised by the Recycling for all flats Car Club Bay munications mast to be erected.
Ward Committee following representations, have High Street: The Sanderson - Young
The Council has started a programme to The Council is consulting on &‘Great Coffee’ shop has applied to
shown interest in developing a cooperative business or
ensure all residents who live in flats have the installation of a single open until 10 PM.
another similar type of social enterprise in Gosforth.
access to recycling facilities. This has parking bay for a car club in Kenton Road: A petition has been pre-
One possibility is to try to develop a business which
been to the benefit of residents in the Ivy Road. Common Wheels sented to install a crossing near to
could be located in Ashburton Road, where residents
area. Some blocks have been provided Car Club is a social enter- Westfield School.
would like to see an anchor store, but some residents
with communal recycling bins whilst oth- prise and allows members Kenton Road / Montagu Avenue: Engi-
are also interested in similar projects in other parts of
ers have been provided with the regular to rent cars for a period of neers are now examining detailed op-
Gosforth. Residents are working together to develop
City bins, depending on space. Material as little as an hour. Mem- tions to assist traffic exiting right from
their ideas into more detailed proposals. Councillors
collected will be paper, cardboard, plas- bers of the club can collect Montagu Avenue, during peak times.
have offered further advice and support should it be
tic bottles, glass bottles, cans, textiles and return the car from the Moor Place: Consultation with resi-
required
and household batteries. Flats benefiting designated bay. This busi- dents is to take place about mainte-
Revised development approved from the new scheme include at Albany ness operation might be nance of an unadopted back lane
A plan has been approved to erect a house in the Mews, Beechcroft, Brookfield, Colling- useful for occasional car us- following complaints.
grounds of the former Moorlands Hall, adjacent to Elm- wood Mews, Graham Park Road, Lanes- ers and could be a means of Princes Meadow / Emblehope Drive:
field Square, Elmfield Road, North Avenue and Beech- borough Court, Moor Court, Montagu helping to promote environ- Double yellow lines have been installed.
field Road. The scheme replaced earlier plans, which Court, Regent Farm Court, Regent Farm mental protection and con- Salters Road / Yeavering Close: Trees
were withdrawn, for a two-storey extension to the side flats, Regent Road and The Elms. trol of congestion. are being re-surveyed and new protec-
of Moorlands Hall.
Noise complaints tion orders are to be created with the
The Hall is in a very poor state of repair and residents
have complained. The developer has presented a re-
Green scheme Residents in Dodd’s Farm aim of protecting the tree-line.
Part of Princes Meadow green area is have complained about Wansbeck Road: On-going discussion is
vised plan to restore the building and this is subject to
being landscaped and some additional noise from the adjacent Cox- taking place to address anti-social be-
public consultation.
play facilities are being sited there. This lodge Club. Licensing officers haviour outside St Hugh’s Church. The
follows a successful Council bid to Cen- from the Council have issued Council and police are working with the
tral Government for funding play areas a letter advising Club repre- Church to tackle the problem.
across the City. Local residents have sentatives of the licensing West Avenue: An application has been
been involved in planting wildflowers conditions and are monitor- approved to convert the Masonic Hall
and the siting of new trees. ing the situation. into a Quaker meeting venue.

Contacting your West Gosforth FOCUS Team

Please get in touch if you need our help
Liberal Democrat Councillors

Cllr Nick Cott, FOCUS Editor Fiona Hall,

11, Broomfield Road, Gosforth, NE3 Liberal
4HH, Democrat
Tel. 246 1571 / 07740 851241 MEP,
E-mail: nick.cott@newcastle- Northeast
libdems.org.uk Euro-Region,
55a, Old Elvet,
Cllr Bill Shepherd¸
Durham, DH1
27, Bath Terrace, Gosforth, NE3 1UH,
Tel. 284 8473 3HN
E-mail: bill.shepherd @newcastle- Tel. 383 0119
libdems.org.uk E-mail:
fiona@fionahal
Cllr Jackie Slesenger, lmep.co.uk
2, Westfield Park, Gosforth, NE3 4XX,
Tel. 285 3337