Spring 2008 Issue: 09

Newcastle: & Scotswood | Elswick | Kenton | | Walker | | Wingrove | Westgate | | | : Bridges | | Dunston & Teams | Felling | Lobley Hill & | Saltwell & Heworth | & Whitehills | High Fell Gateshead Children Name Streets When Gateshead Council and The street naming project is Government McInerney Homes needed some the first of a series of community street names for Bishop’s Park, projects that link the schools and announces housing development on the new development together Road, they asked and the children will be involved £millions local children for help. in many more projects over the for BNG The Children from Bede coming years. Community Primary School and Alan Murray of St Wilfrid's School The exciting work to improve St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic said: "This project has encouraged neighbourhoods in parts Voluntary Aided Primary School the children to research the local Top: Benwell Wardens of NewcastleGateshead agreed to work in partnership with history and environment. The Bottom: Scotswood Wardens will gather pace over the Council and McInerney Homes support of McInerney Homes the next three years after in researching their community to and Gateshead Council has been the Government announced create names for the streets within invaluable to the success of this Wins for Above: Iain Wright MP at the BoKlok homes site millions of pounds in funding the new development. project. We hope this partnership for regeneration in will continue to develop over the Benwell, NewcastleGateshead. In return, the children were given Minister meets brand new internet based software coming months" Scotswood £95 million has been in the form of computer mapping Raymond Foster of Bede awarded to Bridging that shows their community from Community Primary School Wardens Scotswood residents NewcastleGateshead (BNG) present day to the 19th Century. "The project has provided Wardens in Benwell and Communities Minister Iain Wright seemed very interested in the plans for the years 2008-2011 They also recieved a tailor-made opportunities to use technology Scotswood have been MP met with Scotswood residents for our area.” which will be invested in work web blog that they could use to with real purpose and to contribute celebrating after winning five in December to find out more to improve housing quality and Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright record and discuss their thoughts to community development in awards at a recent awards about the exciting regeneration choice in local communities said: “It's been really important for with each other and with a very constructive manner." ceremony, including Warden plans for their community. in NewcastleGateshead. me to see the area and talk to councillors and council officers. If you would like to look at the of the Year for the North East. The Minister was making his first residents about the history of Areas set to benefit include Suggestions for names came in children's work please log onto: Scotswood wardens won official visit to Bridging Scotswood, the present Walker Riverside, Scotswood, thick and fast as children researched www.e-strata.org awards for Excellence in NewcastleGateshead (BNG) when developments and, most Bensham and Saltwell their area and in total over 500 Community Safety and he met with residents Alma significantly, their ambitions for the and Felling. suggestions have been made Excellence in Working with Wheeler, Nellie Ternent, Audrey future. by the children. Bushell, Gwen Hind, Audrey Jim Coulter, Chair of BNG Young People. Benwell “Residents have been highly Kennedy and Joe Bell. said: “This funding is excellent wardens were recognised involved in the work here in news for NewcastleGateshead with awards for Excellence Alma Wheeler commented: “It was Scotswood and their ambition and and we will continue to work in Working with Young a great opportunity to meet with vitality are fantastic.” closely with residents to bring People and Excellence in the Minister and tell him all about During his visit, the Minister was improvements to communities. Community Development the future development. We're also given a tour of the BoKlok site The next three years will see and Peter Thompson really excited about the future and in St James Village, Gateshead. more new homes built and was named Warden we were all delighted to share our improvements made to of the Year for plans with him. The Minister benefit residents.” the North East. Below: Iain Wright MP meets Scotswood residents

Front cover and right: Local schoolchildren researching names for the Bishop’s Park development on Sunderland Road

2 3 NewcastleGateshead… Work In Progress

Gateshead BoKlok showhome • Gateshead's regeneration received a major boost when the demolition of the Brandling maisonettes in Felling got underway. Former tenant Rebecca Lambert, who has now happily relocated to Chilside Road, Felling, was invited by Gateshead Council East Newcastle a new cobbled path scheme for to return to her former home to Belmont Green which is next to • The show homes on the River's help start the demolition of the the main Walker Road. The Gate site officially opened their blocks in Carlisle Road. The area cobbles will be laid in a path as doors to the public on Saturday will see substantial investment in part of a major landscaping of February 16. The homes offer top existing properties, new housing, Belmont Green. quality design, innovative interior environmental improvements and • Local residents and design and landscaped gardens. better services. schoolchildren have been put in The River's Gate properties range the picture to promote the Walker from two-bed apartments to Riverside project. They feature in Top: River’s Gate spacious four-bed homes. Prices Inset: Promoting Walker Riverside four giant billboards right next to start at £65,000 (shared- busy Walker Road. One of the ownership). To find out more, Farndale Park to date, they are posters features youngsters from please drop-in to the River's Gate only now £15,000 short of their St Vincent's RC Primary School. sales office or give the team target. They have been closely involved a call - 0191 275 9446. • The latest Benwell look inside. Contact 0800 028 3629 more than 2000 homes with the project with regular visits Neighbourhood Management to find out about opening times. in the area will benefit from • Local residents are making their to the new River's Gate Initiative Junior Wardens scheme Above: Rebecca Lambert helps the refurbishment scheme. mark in a 'gateway' park at the development. with demolition • Work has begun on major centre of Walker Riverside. Working has been taking place with year 6 external repairs and refurbishments • The exciting Gateshead Urban with a local artist they are getting pupils at St Josephs Primary • Bensham & Saltwell resident West Newcastle to nearly 100 homes in Arkwright Design training programme has the chance to put their hand-prints, school, Armstrong Road. The aim George McClean is celebrating On 25th January Street, Maxwell Street and part continued recently when residents names or other designs in • Benwell of the scheme is to help teach his new home and a stress free of Saltwell Road. As part of the learnt about new housing schemes Neighbourhood Management young people good citizenship moving day with the support work, the homes are benefiting in Manchester and Salford. Initiative hosted a Benwell Burns skills, and about their local of Gateshead Council's from brand new windows and Residents also went on a free Making Night at Dolphin Street Community environment. neighbourhood officers. George, doors, renewing of gardens, stone coach trip to see the regeneration cobbles Centre, with the help of local for Belmont • Scotswood Neighbourhood formerly of Armstrong Street painting and new rainwater goods. and exciting new developments fundraisers from the community. Green Management Initiative is where demolition work started The improvements are being being built around Teeside. Using The event raised over £200 implementing a pilot No Cold this month, said, “My flat is really carried out as part of the wider this experience Gateshead residents towards the installation of play Calling Zone / mini personalised first class - it's great! I was ready regeneration programme in have now been helping the Council equipment into Farndale CCTV for elderly residents living in to move and I feel I got really good Bensham and Saltwell and in time work with developers on real Park. The evening the Ferguson Lane bungalows. The help and assistance from the development sites in their area. included the addressing scheme aims to reduce/eradicate neighbourhood officers. Nothing Anyone interested in joining in of the haggis, a Scottish bogus callers and rogue traders, by was too much. Moving can be with this innovative and enjoyable and Burns themed quiz, allowing tenants to view who is at stressful but my move was made programme of events is bingo and a raffle. With their door via the CCTV link before very easy.” welcome. If you would like the help of local answering. The scheme is to get involved or would like residents, and local • The BoKlok show flat has now supported by BNG, Safe to know more, contact groups just over opened, giving potential residents Newcastle and YHN with support Andy McMillan at Planning £55,000 has been the chance to have their first look from and Aid North on 0191 222 5776. raised for at how their dream home could Trading Standards Above: Improvements in Bensham and Saltwell

4 5 INFOCUS... BNG Achieves Creating Great Places Together Highest Rating

BNG is working to create great places to live developments in and , BNG has achieved the highest rating possible but cannot achieve this alone. It is vital that as well as workshops. HOW proved to be very in its latest assessment by Government BNG involves the local community in the popular with around 1,000 people attending the watchdog the Audit Commission. Rated as programme of work, listening to the opinions Fun Day at the start of the month. Following this, 'performing strongly', BNG received the high of residents and keeping people up-to-date in November, two 'Riverside Round-up' sessions score after an evaluation which identified a on plans for neighbourhoods. In this way, were held for the general public, looking back at number of BNG's strengths. These included BNG is able to carry out work that is right what has happened over the last six months and Left: Our commitment to BNG's use of housing information and research for today's and tomorrow's residents, with planning for the future. Community Engagement as well as its involvement of residents. The neighbourhoods transformed for the better. Across the river in Gateshead, an exciting training Above: We keep you report also highlighted that BNG works well in programme is taking place which is giving local informed with GreatPlaces partnership and has put together a programme residents the opportunity to learn about designing of work that meets the needs of different safety projects in Arthur's Hill and Gateshead; neighbourhoods, skills which will help them to plan communities. an information centre in Walker Riverside and regeneration proposals for their own communities. a regeneration nativity for children and parents Anne Mulroy, BNG's Director commented: Residents taking part in the scheme have been on in Scotswood. visits to housing schemes in the North East, “We are thrilled to have achieved learning about the opportunities and pitfalls of BNG's Anne Mulroy said: “We are committed this rating as it reinforces the fact planning schemes. to keeping communities involved throughout the whole lifetime of this programme of work that we are making real progress Youngsters have been particularly involved in and locally, there are many opportunities for Gateshead urban design training Benwell, where junior warden schemes have in transforming neighbourhoods residents to have their say. It is vital that There are many, many ways in which residents taken place with local schools to teach young in NewcastleGateshead. residents are a part of the exciting changes have been, and continue to be, involved with the people how to look after their community. Nearby that are taking place in their own communities.” work going on in the BNG area. Walker Riverside Scotswood has also seen children getting involved We are working hard to create is one area where there is ongoing active in the regeneration work, taking part in a We keep you up to date with what's happening better quality and choice of involvement from residents. For example, March photography project about their neighbourhood in BNG through GreatPlaces and our website housing for communities and 2007 saw Heart of Walker (HOW Consultation) and what they would like to change in their www.bridgingng.org.uk If you would like to get we have achieved a great deal take place, a month long programme of community. And in Gateshead, as you will have in touch with feedback or suggestions, you consultation events including visits to other read elsewhere in GreatPlaces, schoolchildren can contact us at: already, with new homes well are creating new names for streets in a new [email protected] underway in areas such as Far right: The Danger Rangers Middle: Consultation on development just off Sunderland Road. Bridging NewcastleGateshead Walker Riverside and Sunderland a plan for Scotswood and Benwell Below: Opening of Other ways in which residents have been the Walker Road Info Centre 1st Floor Road in Gateshead. kept involved in the work in their neighbourhoods Central Exchange Buildings include an information bus that went out and 128 Grainger St But there is still much work to about gathering opinions in Scotswood; school deliver and we will not rest on NE1 5AF our laurels. We will build on our Tel: 0191 277 2666 successes to date as we continue our work to create great places to live.” The Audit Commission is an independent body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively, to achieve high-quality local services for the public.

6 7 Landlords' Conference Win! Win! Win! Success Want to win £100 in vouchers for This year's North East Regional the Metro Centre or Eldon Square? Landlords proved to be as To be in with a chance of winning, popular as ever with more all you have to do is answer this than 120 private landlords question that is based on one of and letting agents attending. the stories in this edition of Great The event included speakers Places: who provided advice on On what date did the show matters relating to private homes at River's Gate in Walker renting, and people attending Riverside open their doors? were also able to take part in workshops. The day ended You can send your entries to: with a presentation from [email protected] Mike Heppell, a top motivational speaker, talking Or about excellence in business. Freepost to: This event is proving to Michelle Playford be a must for every landlord's FREEPOST RLSH-RXJZ-JRSA calendar and next year's Bridging NewcastleGateshead conference is already 1st Floor being planned. Central Exchange Buildings For more information, visit: 128 Grainger St www.privaterentedproject.co.uk Newcastle upon Tyne for the Newcastle Private NE1 5AF Get in touch Rented Project or Want to find out more about All entries must be www.renting-in-gateshead.co.uk Bridging NewcastleGateshead received by for the Gateshead Private and our work? Friday 6th June 2008. Landlords’ Association You can visit our website at Congratulations to Tracy Chapman Above right: Delgates at the www.bridgingng.org.uk of Walker who won the vouchers in North East Regional Landlords’ Alternatively you can call last issue's competition. Conference us on: 0191 277 2666 or email [email protected]

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