FOVALD appreciation of Susan Lydia Challoner

Plaque commissioned by FOVALD’s Lending a Hand group to show appreciation to former resident who donated the ‘gap in the wall’

The Friends of the Valley, Little Dene and Little Dene Park’s (FOVALD) Lending a Hand Group has recently commissioned a new plaque to tell the story of the ‘hole in the wall’ at Little Dene Park.

On Friday 8 February Catherine McKinnell MP was invited to unveil the plaque commemorating the gift by Susan Lydia Challoner of the ‘gap in the wall’ that gives us all a short cut on to Moor Road South.

The plaque has been commissioned by FOVALD’s Lending a Hand Group that now looks after the Little Dene Park in addition to the Valley and Little Dene.

Members of FOVALD, the Lending a Hand Group and local High West Jesmond residents attended the ceremony to learn more about the generosity of Susan Lydia Challoner and the history of this part of High West Jesmond.

Who was Susan Lydia Challoner?

The plaque commemorates a lady called Susan Lydia Challoner who lived in Moor Road South between 1936 and 1953.

The park, which we now know as Little Dene Park, was constructed by the Newcastle City Council in 1952-53.

Mrs Challoner, who died in that year, bequeathed the money to pay for the entrance from Moor Road South.

The ‘hole in the wall’ has become a very well used route for residents in Gosforth and High West Jesmond.

The original plaque commemorating Mrs Challoners gift disappeared around 1990.

As part of FOVALD’s environmental improvement plan for the Little Dene Park they decided to reinstate the plaque.

FOVALD’s Lending a Hand Group tapped into resident’s memories to find the wording that best reflected the original and they commissioned the new plaque from Thorpes of Gosforth.

FOVALD caring for our green spaces

FOVALD (Friends of the Valley, the Little Dene and Little Dene Park) a small voluntary organisation based in High West Jesmond.

They have adopted the Valley from the City Council and the Little Dene Park from the City’s Freemen (it is part of the Town Moor).

FOVALD also look after the original Little Dene as a nature resource.

On Tuesday mornings, FOVALD organise’s a group called Lending a Hand that does the maintenance & improvement work on the green spaces in this part of High West Jesmond, as well as keeping all the other verges and paths in the area tidy.

Many thanks to FOVALD and to the Lending a Hand group for their ongoing work to enhance our community green spaces.

Chris Morgan also writes to share some history

When the High West Jesmond estate was first laid out Moorfield stopped at the now triangular junction with Lodore Road.

The main way into HWJ from the Great North Road was by the path that cut across the Little Moor.

However there must also have been a path leading from that corner to the bottom of Moor Road where the Little Bridge still crossed the Craghall Burn. My mother remembered playing in the stream at that point.

It must have been very soon after WW1 that Moorfield was extended through to the Great North Road and the stream went into a culvert to emerge in the grounds of the old house, Little Dene.

Boundary of Newcastle

At this time the stream formed the boundary between the City and County of Newcastle upon Tyne and the County of Northumberland. On the surface the stone wall was the boundary.

The Little Moor is part of the Town Moor owned by the Freemen, but this part of the Little Moor was now isolated.

Little Park

In 1952 the Freemen released the area north of Moorfield to form a Coronation Park (there must have been thousands of others across the nation, it was a time of great euphoria and celebration), although it wasn’t known as such. We all called it the Little Park.

The flower beds created were almost totally of clay and little grew for decades! I believe they may still be a challenge.

When the park was laid out there was a path extending around the perimeter with a dead end spur ending beside the stone wall. If memory serves correctly my friend Tony Devine’s bike/trike/scooter ran away down the gradient and he crashed into the wall, badly breaking his arm.

Hole in the wall

A clamour grew to have the wall opened up to allow free passage onto Moor Road South. It may not have happened for 2 or 3 years after 1953.

A simple plaque was positioned and the name Challoner was on it. There may have been another name as well.

Twice a day nuns from the convent just up Moor Road walked through the gap to and from La Sagesse school at the top of Matthew Bank.

February 10, 2019

HMO licensing

Some residents have asked what the rules are regarding HMO’s (housing in multiple occupancy).

There are a number of pieces of legislation that apply and these are set out on the Newcastle City Council website.

This legislation includes Article 4 Directions and the Mandatory Licencing of HMO’s (housing in multiple occupancy).

Both of these regulations apply in High West Jesmond.

We set out a brief summary below, and on our HMO page on this website but you should read the Newcastle City Council webpages for full details.

Article 4 Directions

An Article 4 direction removes various forms of permitted development right normally associated with a property.

The result of Article 4 Directions mean that in certain parts of Newcastle upon Tyne, planning permission is required to change use from Class C3 (family dwellinghouses) to Class C4 (HMO – housing in multiple occupancy).

The reasons for the directions are normally to prevent a form of development taking place that would be harmful to the character or amenity of the area.

Extant planning policy in Newcastle upon Tyne sets out where the change of use from a family dwellinghouse to a house in multiple occupation would result in the loss of a good quality, spacious and convenient dwelling suitable for occupation by a family by reason of its location and level of amenity, prejudicing the objective of providing attractive, sustainable and balanced communities.

The intensification of use of property could also have an adverse impact on residential amenity, through increased noise and activity.

High West Jesmond is covered by Article 4 Directions and there is a presumption against further housing in multiple occupancy as this would result in the loss of a good quality, spacious and convenient dwelling suitable for occupation by a family.

Read a summary on Article 4 Directions on our HMO page on this website.

Mandatory Licensing for HMO’s

The legal minimum standards and conditions for HMO’s are set out in the Housing Act 2004 and national Regulations. The HMO Management Regulations cover the legal duties for the day to day running of HMO’s

All licences granted are subject to conditions which the licence holder must comply with either immediately or within a specified period of time.

It is a criminal offence to let a property that is required to be licensed as a HMO without applying for a HMO licence.

Read a summary on Mandatory Licensing for HMO’s on our HMO page on this website.

February 10, 2019

Anti-social behaviour

We have heard of concerns from some residents recently regarding anti-social behaviour during the dark winter evenings.

Anti-social behaviour can be a number of things such as litter, fly-tipping, drinking in the street, nuisance neighbours, noise, abandoned vehicles, threatening behaviour.

We have updated our standing pages on this website to provide a link to anti-social behaviour information issued by Northumbria Police, Newcastle City Council and Newcastle and Northumbria universities.

Read more on this website about anti-social behaviour.

Contact Northumbria Police

The guidance sets out that you should call Northumbria Police on 101 if there is anti social behaviour in the street or for any other sort of crime.

Call 999 if it is more serious/ emergency.

Contact the Noise Team

Contact Newcastle City Council’s Noise Team to report noise from dwellings (unless people have spilled out onto the street).

The Council’s Noise Team no longer operates a regular night time service.

But you can call to make the complaint at night – by dialling 0191 278 7878 – and it will be followed up the next day.

Alternatively you can telephone the next day when you will be able to speak to a member of the council’s Noise Team.

You can also contact the Noise Team by email : psr@newcastle.gov.uk.

You can also read some guidance about Operation Oak and general noise, nuisance or other complaints to Newcastle University or Northumbria University on this website.

January 16, 2019January 28, 2019

Tributes paid to former Lord Mayor who has sadly passed away

The following announcement has been made by Newcastle City Council:

Tributes were paid today to a former Lord Mayor of Newcastle who has passed away.

Former Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Cookson died on Sunday 13 January after a short illness. He was 74.

He was Lord Mayor from May 2009 to May 2010 and became an Alderman in 2012. In 2006 he became Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport when the city council was controlled by the Liberal Democrats.

Leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Nick Forbes, said: “Mike was a real gentleman who cared deeply about our great city and served with distinction as Lord Mayor and as a Cabinet Member.

“My heartfelt sympathies are with his wife, family and many colleagues who will miss him dearly.”

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, Cllr Anita Lower, said: “Mike will be fondly remembered by councillors from all political parties.

“He was a great ambassador for his community. Along with his wife Dorrie, he served as Lord Mayor and gave distinguished service to the city.

“He bore his illness with great dignity as he did all things and I personally will remember the support and encouragement he gave to me.

“Our thoughts are with his family.”

Mr Cookson leaves a wife and son.

Notes to editors:

In 2010 Mr Cookson was the first Lord Mayor in 900 years to swear in women as hereditary freemen of Newcastle.

He was first elected as a councillor on 4th May 1978 representing Gosforth ward until 1988.

In 2000 he was elected to represent South Gosforth ward and following boundary changes in 2004 he represented East Gosforth Ward until 2011.

The above news story was issued by Newcastle City Council and included on the Newcastle City Council website.

January 14, 2019

Killingworth Road could re-open from May

The following announcement has been made by Newcastle City Council:

Newcastle City Council is advising motorists that Killingworth Road could re-open to traffic from May providing the weather conditions remain stable.

The council say current project timelines, barring severe weather events such as last year’s Beast from the East, could see the road partially open to traffic before summer.

Due to on-going construction works, initially only one-way (south bound) traffic and pedestrians could be accommodated in the available road space. Estimates show two-way traffic could use the road from July onwards.

Essential work by contractors is still taking place around the Metro bridge which has pushed back the early 2019 re-opening. Further construction work is required before the road can safely be re-opened to traffic and pedestrians.

Project manager, Jon Higgins from Newcastle City Council said: “We appreciate the inconvenience the extended closure on Killingworth Road has had on the travelling public and we would like to reassure motorists that we are working closely with contractors to open the road as soon as possible.

“Current estimates show that we could have one-way traffic using the road in May, but this is heavily based on no further complications such as severe weather conditions further hampering progress on site.

“We know this is disappointing for motorists and we appreciate their patience during the extended road closure, but safety is paramount before we can allow traffic and pedestrians back on Killingworth Road.”

The project was beset with difficulties during the gas pipes replacement programme with Northern Gas Networks which caused it to severely over-run.

Engineers have been reviewing the timeline to compensate for the delays but with multiple contractors involved and complex engineering work required the project has slipped back.

Contractors are currently finalising piling works to construct new retaining walls next to the Metro bridge. Once this is complete, construction teams can access the site under the bridge to do final road-widening works.

A phased opening is planned which will allow traffic and pedestrians with safe routes through the roadworks. As the scheme progresses, further road space will become available and two-way traffic will be introduced.

The council will continue the last stages of the works with installing widened footpaths, cycle lane, bus lane, vehicle lane and safer crossings.

Construction work will continue into early 2020.

Once complete, the project will improve air quality, reduce journey times and improve public transport reliability on one of the major commuter routes into the city.

The above news story was issued by Newcastle City Council and included 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.

January 6, 2019

Christmas tree – recycle it, don’t leave it in the back lane

Do not dispose of your Christmas tree in the back lane. Please remember to do your bit and recycle it by taking it to one of the council’s household recycling centres

It’s always a sad day when the Christmas tree has to come down. But the good news is that any real trees can be recycled!

If you bought a real Christmas tree this year, you need to make the effort to dispose of it responsibly – don’t leave it in the back lane as Newcastle City Council will not collect it as part of household rubbish collections – you need to take it yourself to a household waste and recycling centre.

‘Real’ trees are recyclable and can be shredded into chippings which are then used locally in parks or woodland areas.

Remember to remove all tinsel and decorations and any pots or stands.

Find out more about recycling Christmas trees on the recyclenow.com website.

Find out more about recycling at Christmas on the Newcastle City Council website.

Council will not collect Christmas trees from back lanes

Newcastle City Council’s website says that Christmas trees should be taken to one of the city’s household waste recycling points.

Christmas trees will not be accepted by Newcastle City Council as part of your wheelie bin household rubbish – so please do not leave them in your back lane.

Local Christmas tree recycling points are located at the Newcastle City Council household waste recycling centres (listed below).