Tyneside Committee
Rosemary Dodd reports
Cullercoats
The Committee has been studying the proposals for the Cullercoats Conservation Area and Bev Bagnall commented on the Draft Character Appraisal on behalf of the N & N Society. It is a well-researched document which will provide positive guidance for the area.
Walbottle
Subsequent to the June committee meeting I have attended a public consultation to discuss the boundaries of the proposed Walbottle Conservation area. Comments will be made to the City Council by the end of July.
Stephenson Quarter
Questions at the AGM about the Society’s involvement with the Stephenson Quarter development were referred to the Tyneside Committee. Sadly the Stephenson Trust had not approached the Society during the deliberations. Sadly also the opportunity to ask sharp questions of the developers was not taken when a presentation was made to the Society, at which members of the Stephenson Trust were also present, at the Mining Institute in January. The Tyneside Committee noted these things, but there had been four contributions in CITY AND COUNTY indicating that there were concerns, the development had been debated at most Committee meetings during 2008, and individual Committee members had visited the site and engaged in conversations in support of the Trust. The Journal newspaper had published articles about the failure of the development plans to protect the Trust.
The current situation is that the Trust has moved out of the building, but the building itself, which is listed, has been saved thanks to the vigilance of the Trust. Nevertheless, lessons need to be learned.
City and County
August 2009
