Just a reminder that a meeting of High West Jesmond Residents’ Aassociation (HWJRA) takes place tomorrow evening, Tuesday 23 January 2017 at 19:00 in the Ouseburn Room at Trinity Church on Gosforth High Street – we hope to see you there.
Moorfield trees mysteriously chopped down
Trees on allotments felled
Three beautiful trees that have stood alongside the fence next to Moorfield just inside the allotments were mysteriosly felled yesterday.
The trees have stood there for decades and there was no consultation with local residents and other members of the High West Jesmond community who have appreciated the trees.
“Tidying up”
Local residents have noted that there is no justifyable reason for their removal and have been told by the council’s Allotments Officer that he “was tidying up the allotments“.
Look at theses photographs before and after and judge for yourself.
Please protest and make your voice heard and join us in making sure no more vandalism like this takes place in our community.
HWJRA meeting on 24 January 2017
Meeting for Residents of High West Jesmond
There will be a meeting to update on the proposed changes to Blue House Roundabout and Jesmond Dene Road, and the proposed introduction of Communal Bins.
The meeting of High West Jesmond Residents’ Association will be held on
Tuesday 24 January 2017 at 19:00
at Ouseburn Room, Trinity Church, Gosforth High Street
The meeting will hear from our Chairman, Nick Moore who has attended 6 meetings of the steering group for the development of Blue House Roundabout and Jesmond Dene Road junctions.
The steering group has not yet reached its final conclusion but this will be an opportunity for residents to be updated on work and to contribute thoughts about the proposals to date.
Also, following the recent news that the Council is proposing to introduce Communal Bins to our area we have invited our local Councillor Dominic Raymont to the meeting who will be able to share the latest news and listen to resident’s views on this issue.
We hope as many residents as possible will attend this meeting so that we can get a clear picture of the views of residents on both issues.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Fiona Bruce
HWJRA Secretary
2016 FOVALD Annual Report
Friends of the Valley and Little Dene Annual Report
2016 Committee Annual Report
Compared to 2015, which we celebrated as the centenary of the first use of the Valley by residents of High West Jesmond, we decided that 2016 should be a quieter year.
Council rejects our application for Village Green status
Our only event in the summer attracted more rain clouds than customers and in October we received an official letter from Newcastle City Council (who itself was the only objector against our application) informing us that following review by Newcastle City Council our application for Village Green status had been rejected – 2 years and 4 months after it was submitted!
Despite all the hard work of the High West Jesmond community we decided not to appeal.
The Landscape
Despite this, the Valley bloomed as usual.
Loads of snowdrops (2017 versions out now!), followed by all the daffodils in the spring and the wildflowers later in the summer.
The “field maples” continue to grow and extend the colour show every autumn; no obvious signs of “ash die-back” have been spotted; fruit trees, and a couple of “lime tree whips”, have been introduced along the northern edge (thanks to Frank S and Jon R).
In the Little Dene, the holly & hawthorn understory is growing very slowly but the fallen ash trees help to provide a protective environment for insects and small mammals.
In the summer months the Dene is almost impenetrable for us humans!
Wildlife
Our 4th bird survey was carried out on 9 May 2016 – and proved to be the most productive.
A total of 22 separate species were recorded, including goldfinch, goldcrest, dunnock, blackcap, chiffchaff, coal tit, great tit and blue tit to name but a few!
The report suggested ways to further improve the Little Dene and the Valley surrounds for the bird population. Minimising disturbance is always beneficial.
Several bird boxes have been placed on trees on the edge of the Little Dene and there are 1/2 bird feeders close to the Valley (thanks to Paul W for making them and Frank S for placing them!).
Apart from finding a dead male fox inside a hollow tree trunk early in 2016, we had no reports of foxes having been seen on the Valley or in the Dene.
However, grey squirrels remain present, no doubt attracted by the abundance of hazel nuts! The other sad note to report was the finding of a deceased hedgehog in the middle of the Valley. Let’s hope that some are still surviving in the Valley surrounds and gardens.
Works on the Valley
The “hollow” in the centre of the Valley showed signs of further deepening last summer. After fencing it off for a couple of months, the Council deemed it safe and filled it with topsoil – so, it’s a “hollow” no more!
Maintenance work on the culvert underneath the Valley also meant that a chunk of the Valley next to Newlands Road was used as a site compound for several weeks in October. The work was successfully completed.
Use of the Valley
The only event that was promoted, the Hog Roast, was sadly a wash-out. However, those that did attend received good value for money –“ plenty of pork in the butty”!
A big thank you to the usual band of helpers, plus the individuals and organisations that supplied equipment.
The Valley appears to be attracting more dog walkers – either because more people have dogs or because it’s just a popular venue for dog walking or perhaps both! In terms of community connections that’s probably a good thing, but, on the other hand, dogs and wildlife are not the best partners.
The Valley remains reasonably well used by students, young people and children during the warmer months. It would probably be helpful to quantify usage by carrying out a usage survey in 2017.
The Valley remains a much used and valued community open green space that we all agree must remain available for use of the community.
Committee of Friends of the Valley and Little Dene
December 2016
Council proposal for communal bins
Plan for replacement of wheelie bins with communal bins
Newcastle City Council has announced its intention to replace the current individual “wheelie -bins” with communal bins to the back lanes of High West Jesmond. These would provide one bin per every four houses.
City Council proposal
Further detail is available at the council’s website newcastle.gov.uk/environment-and-waste/rubbish-waste-and-recycling/communal-bins
It’s likely that the change would be implemented in Summer 2017 though this depends on the final council budget being approved.
Local opposition to communal bin proposals
There is already some local opposition to the proposals. Our local councillors in East Gosforth ward are against the proposal and have launched a petition at newcastle-libdems.org.uk/en/petition/no-to-communal-bins-petition
High West Jesmond Residents’ Association would be keen to get the views of local residents so that we can take a view of local opinion and, if necessary, make appropriate representations to the council and our local MP.
If you have any comments about the introduction of communal waste bins then please send feedback to us via the normal channels or via the Contact Us page.
Blue House – updates from steering group meeting
Steering Group considers views of residents
The Blue House Roundabout Steering Group has now met 5 times, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday 12 December.
There are two proposals for the Blue House junction that are under consideration. These are available to view on the Blue House Roundabout Steering Group website bluehousegroup.org (the first proposal is under “Meeting Four” and the second proposal is under “Meeting Five”).
Both the proposals are for a roundabout which is broadly in the same footprint as the current roundabout. One of the roundabouts has a higher capacity and involves the demolition of the Blue House, the second has a lower capacity and does not involve the demolition of the Blue House.
With both proposals there would be additional pathways for pedestrians/cyclists along the edge of the current moorland, and a pedestrian/cyclist crossing over Jesmond Dene Road just east of the roundabout.
There is also an “early stage” proposal for the revised junction layout along Jesmond Dene Road and its junctions with Osborne Road and Moorfield. This is available to view under “Meeting Five” section of the website.
Jesmond Dene Road existing movements kept
This proposal maintains all the traffic movements that are currently available (including right turn into Osborne Road).
The steering group is going to look at projected performance data for the two roundabouts at the next steering group meeting and will also look in more detail at the Jesmond Dene Road proposal.
Following that, it’s intended to call a meeting of High West Jesmond Residents Association early in the new year to discuss further.
If you have any comments on the proposals for Blue House Roundabout and Jesmond Dene Road then please send your feedback to us via the normal channels or via our Contact Us page.