Gateshead council has at last approved a plan, subordinate to legal agreement, for the development of Trinity Square. Millions of pounds will be invested in the regeneration of Gateshead town centre, as well as an agreement to finance improvements to more than 1,800 houses; all as part of an £18.5 million development for the borough.
A year ago on March 5, 2010 the Labour party announced that Ian Mearns had been selected as their prospective parliamentary candidate for the Gateshead. Mr. Mearns was chosen after a postal ballot of Labour party members in the Gateshead constituency and after his selection said "I really felt it was important that the Constituency Labour Party had the chance to select a local person who cared passionately about the place and had a fundamental understanding of the needs and aspirations of local people. I give a promise and a commitment of tireless work for Gateshead and for everyone that lives here". He has encouraged his constituents to take advantage of free health check-ups, and supports the campaign of the British Lung Foundation to ban smoking in cars carrying children.
Ian Mearns MP for Gateshead and his professional team, Cllr Angela Douglas (Housing and Regeneration) and Cllr Martin Gannon (Environment), want to provide an infrastructure for Gateshead ensuring greater successes in encouraging residents. They intend to keep operational costs low without jeopardizing present standards or the environment.
The communities of Gateshead have benefitted from local residents who have made massive contributions to their area and have recently been honoured at a ceremony given by the borough council, which recognizes the hard work and dedication of those who go out of their way to make Gateshead a good place to live, work and visit. An award made even more special by the winners having been chosen by their own communities.
The risk of being a victim of crime in Gateshead has fallen to its lowest ever level, making it one of the safest places to live in Tyne and Wear. There were reductions in almost all the main categories of crime, registering fewer than 62 crimes per 1.000 populations within the last year, according to the council's source. On a regular basis, residents in Sunniside and Whickham and other surrounding areas of Gateshead are invited to online meetings with Northumbria Police.
Gateshead authority will be developing a 7.5 hectare site over the next few years to offer some of the most advanced housing in the borough. It will include safe public areas, hi-speed internet communication and places for the relaxation and leisure for the residents. But there are still a few problems to be dealt with, such as the roads. Accommodating strategic highway infrastructure has taken precedence over the wider needs of Gateshead town centre.
The area produces more than 110,000 tonnes of household waste every year, enough to leave the town waist deep in rubbish and equivalent to the combined weight of 550 Angels of the North. Currently, 75% of this waste goes to landfill. On average, each person in Britain throws away their own body weight in rubbish every seven weeks. The average Gateshead household produces about 1 tonne of waste per year, the same weight as a family car or around 509kg per person. The community needs as much involvement as possible from the people to reduce waste.
By Victor Yanulevich
