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Autumn 2008 Issue: 11

Neighbourhood improvements in and Saltwell

Newcastle: & Scotswood | Elswick | Kenton | | Walker | | Wingrove | Westgate | | | South Heaton : Bridges | | Dunston & Teams | Felling | & Bensham | Saltwell & Heworth | & Whitehills | High Fell Bensham and Saltwell residents Homes prove a hit with buyers sign up for property improvements Nine refurbished homes in New Mills have been snapped up by buyers The improvement programme “I took part in the work because it is is seeing substantial new within weeks of going on sale. in Bensham and Saltwell has a good, long-term offer. The whole investment in existing properties, The houses, converted from proven to be a hit with residents area is definitely looking a lot better.” new housing, environmental unpopular flats, offer three good-size and Gateshead Council has improvements and better services. The second phase of work will be bedrooms, a large-living area and a agreed to extended the carried out to homes in Watt Street, Councillor David Napier, Cabinet private garden. All of the properties programme - with around 50 Telford Street, Hedley Street, spokesman for Housing, says: have been given extensive local households already signing Newton Street, two blocks in "Local residents played a crucial improvements both internally up to benefit from the latest Saltwell Road and one block in part in devising a Neighbourhood and externally. phase of work. Whitehall Road. In addition, planning Plan for Bensham and Saltwell, The homes attracted a lot of interest permission has been given for and this identified a large number due to their affordable price, high similar improvements to a further of fairly simple improvements we quality work and good location close 129 homes in Westbourne Avenue could make to radically improve to the city centre. As a result, all nine and Windsor Avenue which will once the area. houses were sold within seven again reflect a pre-Second World "The planning permission which weeks of being put up for sale. War street scene. has been granted is another major Mrs Hobson has signed up to step in our six-year project to make benefit from the improvement those improvements. scheme. She relocated to Telford "The work will not only improve the Street a short while ago from Improvements on Saltwell Road appearance of these homes, it will Trevethick Street. She commented: The improvements, which include improve the appearance of the “I think the improvements are a new boundary walls, metal railings whole street and, we hope, will put really good idea and the end product and gates - reflecting the original a bit of pride back into the area. will make the whole area look better. Joyce and Margaret, local Walker Residents, taking part in the Week of Action features removed at the start of the That's good news for everyone." I can't wait to see the finished work. Second World War - follow on from I feel more confident about the Refurbished homes at New Mills previous refurbishment work in area and I'm planning on Week of Action Bensham and Saltwell. Properties Councillor Bill Shepherd, Newcastle staying here for many years will also have improvements to City Council's Portfolio Holder for to come.” their existing windows and doors, transforms Walker Regeneration and Housing said: including the restoration of stone The improvements are Over 250 people including local carried out was stunning, a “This scheme proved to be a great mullions to some properties, as being carried out as part school children, residents, testimony to the effort everyone success because it offered local well as repairs to paths and steps. of the wider regeneration Newcastle City Council, Places had put in. Personally I would like people the chance to buy affordable of the Bensham and homes in a popular area.” Mike Ridley-Smith who owns a for People, Bridging to thank everyone for a fantastic Saltwell area which private rented property on Maxwell NewcastleGateshead, Your Homes week. I think that this is a great The work has been funded by BNG, Street and has taken part in the Newcastle, Groundwork, East End opportunity to use this week Your Homes Newcastle and Single improvements said: “I think that Alliance and other Partners, took as a platform for better things Housing Investment Pot (SHIP) the work so far has been fantastic. park in the 'Week of Action' and for the park. funding. Consultation was carried worked alongside a grounds “It would be great if this work out with local residents prior to the maintenance workforce, to Right: Mrs Hobson outside her home in could be continued and not let work taking place. Telford Street improve Walker's Riverside Park. this week be a one off.” Further Stuart Bagnall from Your Homes Front cover: Mike Ridley-Smith outside The volunteers carried out an to the 'Week of Action' a Friends Newcastle said: “We are delighted his property which has benefited from enormous amount of work, of Riverside Park Group has with this scheme, which has enabled the improvement scheme completing almost a year's worth been set up to continue the us to provide much needed of tasks in one week. Steve good work. affordable housing. The properties Williams, local resident said: If you would like to assist the have been completed to a very high “Specific areas were concentrated group in their work, do not standard and by converting on each day to have maximum hesitate to contact the Walker unpopular flats and bringing them impact and I must say that at Riverside Information Centre back into use as family houses, the the end of each day the visual on 0191 275 9207 for further whole area has been improved.” effect of the work that had been information.

2 3 into BNMI, 80 Ellesmere Road, Benwell to collect you nomination form.You can nominate more than one person. The closing date for the awards is Friday 31st October. For further information please contact Kirsty on 0191 277 1470, or email [email protected]

The Scotswood Neighbourhood Centre and the Muungano Community Association East Newcastle received Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service • Do you know an individual or a exciting plans for the area, like the West Newcastle group who lives or works in Scotswood Expo, interviews by local Walker, who has gone that extra • Two groups of volunteers in residents and music shows. Bev mile to make Walker a great place Scotswood and Benwell have been Ogle, Community Development to live? Do you know a business or recognised with Queen's Awards Officer for Scotswood commented: organisation in Walker, who has for Voluntary Service. Audrey “We wanted to give local residents supported the local community? If Kennedy, Audrey Bushell, Nellie the chance to tell listeners all about so, this is your opportunity to show Ternent and Gwen Hind received their community, and the exciting your appreciation by nominating their award in recognition of their plans for the future. Excelsior them in this year's Pride, Passion, work in running the Scotswood Academy pupils Thomas Dalglish Potential awards. Nomination cards Neighbourhood Centre. The drop-in and Joshua Lake designed the will be distributed within the Walker Learning how a house works at Road centre provides a range of services station's logo. The broadcast was Eye and are available from the including advice on welfare and funded by BNG and overseen by Information Centre on Walker benefits, a freephone to the community radio station NE1FM and Road. You could also complete the Jobcentre and a credit union. the Newcastle City Council's NewcastleGateshead… nomination card on line by Meanwhile, the Benwell-based Scotswood Regeneration team. Newcastle Muungano Community accessing the Walker Riverside Work In Progress Association also received the • Residents in Benwell are set to be website: www.walker- Queen's Award in recognition of its recognised for their achievements riverside.co.uk. The closing date within their communities with the landlords have been given licences efforts to promote the needs of for nominations is the 7th Gateshead announcement of the 2008 Benwell and Gateshead Council's Private Newcastle's African community. The November 2008. • McInerney Homes gave local Community Awards. The awards Rented Sector team continues to group was set up four years ago and • The Walker Riverside youngsters an opportunity to see will give local residents the chance work with another 40 landlords. provides general advice, translation Community Engagement team the brand new homes being built at to nominate their friends and Since the implementation of and referrals to agencies, amongst has begun working with local Bishops Park, off Sunderland neighbours who have made a Selective Licensing, there has been other services. young people on the development Road, showing them 'how a house difference in their community. The a big increase in membership of of the first Walker 'Teen Eye' The works'. 19 five year old children • Residents in Scotswood took to winners for each category will be the Gateshead Private Landlords newsletter has been developed from Bede School in Gateshead the airwaves when Scotswood presented with an award at the Association, which now has over following feedback from young visited the development to help Regeneration Radio broadcast live Benwell Neighbourhood 400 members. For further people who stated that they them with their project entitled 'My from the Excelsior Academy at the Management Initiative (BNMI) annual information please contact Mandy wanted their own local publication. Home, My Street'. The children end of September. The broadcast Christmas party. Please fill in the Reed on 0191 433 2956. The Teen Eye will provide an learnt about the different stages of included news on the nomination form online at update on what's happening in building a home, as well as how to • There was a great response to www.ourbenwell.org.uk or call Walker, from a young person's make a house 'greener' with Gateshead's photography point of view. The Team is now also insulation and solar panelling competition which invited local residents to enter photos around promoting jobs and training • It has been one year since the theme 'Neighbourly opportunities within the Information Selective Licensing was Gateshead.' The winner was Derek The winning picture (top left) of the Centre and is receiving very introduced in Sunderland Road and Kell and runners-up were Chris Neighbourly Gateshead photography positive feedback from residents. the scheme has been a great Cowie, Atma Singh Gill and Robert competition with the three runner-up If you are a local business who has success. Under Selective entries Tennant. The winners and runners- a vacancy, can offer training or Licensing, all landlords in the up were presented with vouchers were displayed in the main business support, do not hesitate Sunderland Road area need a and certificates by the Mayor of reception in the Civic Centre from to contact the Information Centre licence in order to rent out a Gateshead Councillor Maureen Monday 6th October to Friday on 0191 275 9207. property. To date 150 individual Chaplin. All competition entries 10th October. Left: Thomas Dalglish, Bev Ogle and Joshua Lake launch the Scotswood Regeneration Radio

4 5 Potential funding to help develop INFOCUS... new homes more quickly

Residents designing their neighbourhoods Gateshead and Newcastle are set ground that has been used for to benefit from further investment heavy industry in the past. after the Government awarded the This is a great opportunity for and help to design their to have a area 'New Growth Point' status. neighbourhoods. Craig Ellis, Senior look at examples of good design. Newcastle and Gateshead to Planner from Gateshead Council This research then allowed them to New Growth status means we can deliver more housing, making sure who oversaw the training draft a 'wish list' of design provide new homes more quickly that the right homes are built in the explained: elements they would like to see in by helping to pay for right locations at the right time. their own neighbourhood. 'infrastructure', such as "We wanted to give residents an We will find out how much funding Meanwhile, a group of adult improvements to open spaces, insight and understanding into how we will get for 2009-2011 around residents worked with experts to roads into new housing sites. to design a neighbourhood so that Christmas. produce an animated film which In addition, the funding could they could have a real say in the We will give you an update on our shows what they would like to see be used for cycle ways that regeneration plans for their area. work around Growth Point status in the new public spaces planned encourage people to leave the car We had a great response from the in future issues of GreatPlace . for the Heart of Walker. community, and all of the at home, and for work to deal with participants who signed up for the The film was given its premiere in scheme quickly got to grips with the local area and is also available the skills needed to design a on You Tube. Funded by BNG, the neighbourhood. The residents' project has been carried out by enthusiasm was great, and they Northern Architecture working with Win! Win! Win! Planning Aid North training will be able to now put the skills Newcastle City Council. Clare they learnt into practice in planning Wood from the Walker Riverside Want to win £100 in You can send your entries to: Involving residents in our work sessions. The events proved for their neighbourhoods." Regeneration Team explained: vouchers for the Metro [email protected] is vital to the long-term success popular, with more than 50 Over in Walker Riverside, a project “We wanted to give residents, both of our programme; we need the residents signing up for the Centre or Eldon Square? Or called Sharing Places has given youngsters and adults, the chance opinions, thoughts and ideas training, which included a series of residents of all ages the chance to to get involved in designing the To be in with a chance of winning, Freepost to: of the community to understand practical workshops where get involved in the planning public spaces in their area. all you have to do is answer this what work is needed in each residents learned how to analyse a Michelle Playford process to create new public Through working with designers, question that is based on one area. place and discover what makes a FREEPOST RLSH-RXJZ-JRSA spaces in Walker. the residents were able to gain of the stories in this edition of great place to live. Bridging NewcastleGateshead Residents can get involved in the design skills which they then used G : A group of young residents were 1st Floor work in their area in a variety of In addition to training sessions, the in producing a film and design invited to work with designers to How many refurbished Central Exchange Buildings ways, through activities such as course participants were also taken guide. The work that they come up with their own design 128 Grainger St fun days and public exhibitions; out on tours to new housing produced will help us as we start homes were snapped guide for the area. up by buyers in New youth schemes such as the junior developments in the North East. to develop plans for Walker NE1 5AF wardens or popping into an The year long course finished with To help them do this, the Riverside's public spaces.” Mills? information centre, like the a small number of residents youngsters took part in a visit to All entries must be one which exists in Walker. attending the Commission for received by Friday Architecture and the Built 12th December 2008. In addition to these opportunities, Environment (CABE) summer Walker youngsters taking part in the in the last year, schemes have also Sharing Places scheme school where they were able been run which have allowed to further improve their residents to learn about urban design skills. Now, all the design, skills which they are then course participants are set able to use to plan for their own to put their new-found neighbourhoods. knowledge to good use The Planning Aid North (PAN) scheme in Gateshead was launched in spring 2007 when residents living in Felling, Teams, Bensham & Saltwell were invited to attend a number of information

6 7 BNG Residents' Panel

Do you live in the BNG area and want to Interested? have a say about our work? All you have to do is complete the form below and send it freepost to: Come and have your say on: • What type of houses we build • How we involve you Michelle Playford, • What financial packages we offer house buyers Bridging NewcastleGateshead And… FREEPOST RLSH-RXJZ-JRSA • Gain skills, knowledge and experience in 1st Floor, Central Exchange Buildings regeneration and housing. 128 Grainger St How can you get involved? Newcastle upon Tyne Join the new Residents’ Panel and have a say on our work. NE1 5AF We want to recruit a selection of people who live in the Or ring Michelle on 0191 277 2665 to find out more. BNG area to join the panel as volunteer members. Closing date Friday 5th December 2008. In return for your comments and views, we will provide training on topics like housing design, consulting with local people, publicity and private landlords.

Name: ...... Address: ...... What skills and experience can you bring ...... to the Panel? ...... Contact number: ...... Email: ...... Why are you interested in joining the BNG ...... Residents' Panel? ......

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