Postponed – High West Jesmond Community Picnic

High West Jesmond Community Picnic on Sunday 16 June 2024

UPDATE – POSTPONED

We are saddened to announce the postponement of the event scheduled for Sunday 16 June 2024 due to the soggy venue and a 70% risk of rain on Sunday. We will be back in touch in due course, if and when the British Summer arrives! Our apologies if this spoils any plans that you might have had for Sunday.

Everyone welcome!

Come along and join in the festivities in High West Jesmond.

The High West Jesmond Community Picnic will take place on Sunday 16 June 2024 from 1pm onwards.

Bring along your picnic rugs/ chairs/ tables/ food and drink.

Community sharing table

It would be so much appreciated if you could bring a little bit extra food and put it on the sharing table for all to enjoy – last year this was a great success!

Further details

Games and activities

Music

Plants for sale

There will be NO CHARGE for attending this event.

Please bring cash for the tombola or if you wish to buy plants.

Location, Date and Time

Location – Little Dene Park (corner of Moorfield and Lodore Road, High West Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne).

Date – Sunday 16 June 2024.

Time – from 1pm.

Organised by

This High West Jesmond community event is being organised by volunteers from the High West Jesmond Residents’ Association and the Friends of the Valley, Little Dene and Little Dene Park (FOVALD).

We hope that you can join us and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday 16 June.

February 25, 2024

Have your say on a new political map for Newcastle City Council

A new pattern of wards is being developed for Newcastle City Council.

The following news release was issued by Newcastle City Council:

The Local Government Boundary Commission has decided that the number of councillors in Newcastle should be 78, the same as now.

The Local Government Boundary Commission wants to hear what residents and organisations think about their local area. A 10-week consultation inviting proposals will run until 1 April 2024.

The Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries.

It is reviewing Newcastle to make sure councillors represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements help the council work effectively. It wants to be sure that its proposals reflect community ties and identities.

The Commission is interested in views on which communities should be part of the same ward. What facilities do people share, such as parks, leisure centres or schools and shopping areas? What issues do neighbouring communities face that they have in common, such as high numbers of visitors or heavy traffic?

Have there been new housing or commercial developments that have changed the focus of communities? And are there roads, rivers, railways, or other features that people believe form strong boundaries between neighbourhoods?

The Commission will use local views to help it draw up proposals for new ward boundaries. There will be a further round of consultation once the Commission has drawn up those proposals.

Launching the consultation Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We want people in Newcastle to help us.

“We are starting to draw up new wards for Newcastle. We want our proposals for new electoral arrangements to reflect communities. We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.

“Residents and local organisations can help us understand community ties and identities at this early stage of the process.

“It’s easy to get involved. Go to our website. Or you can e-mail or write to us.

“Just tell us what you think and give us some details why you think that. It’s really simple, so do get involved.”

People can give their views via our website at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/newcastle-upon-tyne/feedback

People can also give their views by e-mail at reviews@lgbce.org.uk, and by post:

Review Officer (Newcastle upon Tyne)

LGBCE

PO Box 133

Blyth

NE24 9FE

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body accountable to Parliament. It recommends fair electoral and boundary arrangements for local authorities in England. In doing so, it aims to

Make sure that, within an authority, each councillor represents a similar number of electors
Reflect the electoral cycle so that each ward is represented by three councillors
Create boundaries that are appropriate, and reflect community ties and identities

The above news story was issued by Newcastle City Council and is available to read on the Newcastle City Council website. It has been included here for information and does not necessarily represent the views of High West Jesmond Residents’ Association.

June 20, 2023October 15, 2023

Flexible plastic recycling with new blue bag trial

Newcastle City Council has joined four other local authorities across the UK in piloting the FPF FlexCollect project

The following news release was issued by Newcastle City Council:

Flexible plastic recycling with new blue bag trial

“From June 5, 5,000 homes have been able to recycle flexible plastics such as plastic bags, wrappers, packets, and film, which are currently some of the hardest items to recycle.

Residents are provided with a new blue collection bag for their flexible plastics.

This is placed in their existing recycling container in their blue bin, which is then collected and pulled out at the material recycling facility.

The eligible households received information about the trial last month.

At present, the only way for residents to recycle plastic bags and wrapping is at supermarket collection points.

Cllr Jane Byrne, Newcastle City Council Cabinet member for a Connected, Clean City, said: “Improving the quality of recycling and reducing waste are among our key priorities so I am delighted more than 5,000 homes in Newcastle will be taking part in this exciting trial.

“Residents will be able to recycle a wider range of plastics which is another step towards making our city greener and more sustainable.

“The trial will gradually expand to more homes over the next two to three years.

“The pilot supports the fantastic work we are doing to improve recycling rates in the city, from engaging with communities to highlight the importance of recycling to reducing contamination through the use of indoor recycling smart bags.

“I am also proud that the pop-up recycling centres continue to be very popular with residents, making recycling easier for those without access to a vehicle and helping to tackle on-street fly-tipping.”

With only 8% of flexible plastics currently being collected from homes, the industry is stepping up its game ahead of the introduction of compulsory kerbside collections planned for 2027 across the UK.

To tackle this issue, key players in the industry, including manufacturers and brands, set up the Flexible Plastic Fund in 2021.

The £3m FPF FlexCollect project was then launched in May 2022 and is co-managed by a consortium comprising the project co-funders, Ecosurety, RECOUP, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK and WRAP.

Newcastle and Somerset have joined South Gloucestershire, Cheltenham and Maldon in taking part in the pilot.

Gareth Morton, spokesperson for FPF FlexCollect and Discovery Manager at Ecosurety, said: “We are pleased to see the FPF FlexCollect project building steadily, with now five local authorities on board to help us gain valuable insights into how to successfully collect and recycle household flexible plastics.

“We are looking forward to share openly our learnings at the end of this year to get the UK ready for widespread collections by 2027.”

Thomas Merry, Commercialisation and Innovation Manager for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK and FPF Project Director, said “The addition of Somerset and Newcastle to the FPF FlexCollect project complements the current pilots well, with the urban inner-city area of Newcastle and Somerset’s rural population providing an interesting contrast with pilot areas already up and running.

“This will build on our learnings so far, providing valuable insight into participation rates and volumes from different communities.”

For more information about the trial and recycling plastics, visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/environment-and-waste/rubbish-and-recycling/recycling/recycling-plastics.

April 16, 2023

High West Jesmond Coronation Picnic

High West Jesmond Community Picnic on Sunday 7 May 2023

In celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III

Everyone welcome!

Come along and join in fun and games to celebrate the King’s Coronation.

The High West Jesmond community Coronation Picnic will take place on Sunday 7 May 2023 from 1pm onwards.

Bring along your picnic rugs/ chairs/ tables/ food and drink (and some fizz) to raise a toast to the King.

Community sharing table

It would be so much appreciated if you could bring a little bit extra food and put it on the sharing table for all to enjoy – last year this was a great success!

Coronation Cake

As part of the event a special Celebration Cake will be baked and will be cut at 2.30pm.

Further details

Live music

Children’s games and activities

There will be NO CHARGE for attending this event.

Location, Date and Time

Location – Little Dene Park (corner of Moorfield and Lodore Road, High West Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne).

Date – Sunday 7 May 2023.

Time – from 1pm.

Organised by

We hope that you can join us and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday 7 May.

March 15, 2023March 15, 2023

HWJRA statement on proposals for possible road closures

Statement by High West Jesmond Residents’ Association regarding proposals for possible road closures in High West Jesmond

The western end of Moorfield as it meets the Great North Road, High West Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne

High West Jesmond Residents’ Association (HWJRA) is aware that, at a public meeting held in Gosforth last week, proposals for possible future road closures were shared with members of the public.

Many of these proposals, including a possible closure of the west end of Moorfield, would have a significant impact on High West Jesmond so it is of great concern to us that none of the 600 households in High West Jesmond received a letter inviting them to the meeting.

We will be taking this matter up directly with the council and insisting that High West Jesmond residents are fully involved in any consultation process.

At this stage we don’t feel it would be appropriate to comment on the specific proposals as they haven’t been properly explained to us and we haven’t had the opportunity to share them with local residents to gauge opinion.

It is now our intention to get this information from the council and share it through our usual communication forums.

We have been assured by our local councillors that the proposals were initial ideas only and that full consultation will take place before anything is implemented.

About High West Jesmond Residents’ Association

High West Jesmond Residents’ Association (HWJRA) was established to support the residents of 600 households in the local area.

You can read more on the High West Jesmond Residents’ Association page.

February 17, 2023February 27, 2023

Council to apply for new traffic enforcement powers following consultation

Proposals for council-led camera enforcement of the yellow box restriction at the junction of Christon Road and Great North Road, in Gosforth.

The following news release was issued by Newcastle City Council:

“Newcastle City Council is applying to government for additional enforcement powers covering a range of traffic regulations that are currently the responsibility of the police.

The government invited councils to apply to take over these responsibilities and, as part of the process, councils had to consult on proposals that set out how this would be beneficial and improve road safety in at least one location.

Consultation

A six-week consultation on proposals for council-led camera enforcement of the yellow box restriction at the junction of Christon Road and Great North Road, in Gosforth, has recently been completed.

The majority of those who responded supported the proposals, with some raising additional concerns about traffic issues in other areas.

A number of safety concerns had previously been raised regarding the Christon Road and Great North Road junction and the fact that the yellow box is often blocked by vehicles at peak times.

This has resulted in some drivers using the wrong side of the road to avoid having to wait to turn right out of Christon Road and travelling through the junction at times when the pedestrian lights are on green, signalling that it is safe for people to cross.

Cllr Jane Byrne, cabinet member for a connected clean city at Newcastle City Council, said:

“We’re grateful to the people who took the time to respond to this consultation to share their views on whether enforcement would help to make this junction safer.

“This is a busy junction both in terms of vehicles and the number of people using the pedestrian crossing.

“There’s been a lot of concern about safety at this junction, particularly for local school children who use the crossing on their walk to school.

“We believe that enforcement at this location will help to keep the junction clear and reduce the number of drivers carrying out dangerous manoeuvres, making it safer for everyone.”

Council to apply for enforcement powers

Following the outcome of the consultation, the city council will now apply to government for the enforcement powers.

If approved, the council will be able to install cameras and begin enforcement at the junction of Christon Road and Great North Road, although for the initial six months drivers who breach the traffic restriction will be issued with a warning letter only for a first offence.

Other areas in the city could also be considered for enforcement action where this could also lead to improved road safety.

Any further proposals would be subject to additional public consultation, although there would be no further requirement to apply again to government.”