CURRENT CAMPAIGN:

Our STOP campaign is off and running! An action meeting was held in the community hall on Sun 20th November and the following activities and dates agreed:

• A petition campaign over the next few weeks to collect signatures and submit to the full council on December 14^th.
• Model letters for residents to send in will be available as the Council are testing strength of feeling by responses they receive. 

 
What's happened so far...
 

• We held 2 petition signing sessions on Tuesday 22^nd November. The first at the doctor's surgery on Tilmouth Road 10am and again at Throckley Primary School Hexham Road at 3.00 pm
• We had quite a successful day and the second session was attended by a Chronicle reporter.  The campaign is to be featured in the Chronicle on Wednesday 23^rd November.

 
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
 

• Campaign Day - Saturday 26^th November 2011
• Outside Sainsbury morning session between 10 - 11 am
• Outside Sainsbury afternoon session between 1-2 pm
• Outside Newburn Christmas Fayre held in St Marys Church Hall between 2.15-3.15pm

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. We have petition sheets, table etc - you need only help for an hour! 

WE NEED TO GET THE STRENGTH OF LOCAL RESIDENTS CONCERNS TO THE PROPOSALS FOR NEWBURN WARD KNOWN TO NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

We urge everyone to attend the second meeting at Walbottle School on Monday 28th November between 6 – 8 pm.
 
PLEASE URGE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS TO 

• Send letters of objection to the Freepost address BELOW (these are being counted and the Council notified) 

Planning

Gateshead Council
Freepost NEA3381
Gateshead
NE8 1BR

• Write to the Press
• Write to Catherine McKinnell and /or go to her Ward surgery and write or email Ward councillors. 

For further information on the campaign, contact Idwal John by Tel: 0191 264 2688 or e-mail: garden_60@yahoo.co.uk or visit the STOP Website

Register your support and find campaign information also on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Throckleys-Open-Places/177948698965435

CAMPAIGNS- ONGOING:

• O2/Vodafone telecommunications mast on GE Autocare site

  TRAG has sought the opinion of residents living in and on the outskirts of Throckley village and have been overwhelmed with the objections and negative comments received in relation to the proposed erection of a telecommunications mast within the heart of our village.   TRAG has therefore objected to the proposal to site an O2/Vodafone telecommunications mast on the GE Autocare site in Throckley on the grounds of loss of visual amenity and potential ill-health problems. A copy of the objection letter dated 18th May 2011 can be found in the O2/Vodafone dropdown list in the Our Campagns tab above.

  The impact of the proposed mast is so great that residents believe this should not be a Newcastle City Council delegated officer decision, as it is at the present time,  but should be submitted to the full Planning Committee where residents objections can be heard.

  Following a successful campaign by local residents this application was withdrawn.

  However, the following correspondence dated 23rd July 2011 has been received :-

  This is the pre-application consultation stage which is 14 days before the official application is sent to Newcastle City Council Planning Department. TRAG expect the application date to be around 5th August and there will then be 22 days to deliver local residents objections i.e. 27th August. TRAG therefore ask local residents to raise their objections to any TRAG member, in person or via the website or directly to Newcastle City Council Planning Department.

  Latest Update from TRAG

  It has been pointed out by a local resident that the letter states the mast meets ICNIRP which has the backing of the world health organisation. However, the world health organisation have recently reversed their view, and now say that mobiles may cause cancers...

  For more information see     

  http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/cell-phone-use-possibly-cause-brain-cancer-sa?source=NWWNLE_nlt_daily_pm_2011-05-31

• Parking problems in Hexham Road, Throckley

  Since the CPE (Civilianised Parking Enforcement System) came into force in Feb 2009 local residents have been increasingly concerned with the level of illegal parking on double yellow lines on Hexham Road, particularly in the vacinity of Dillons Fish Shop. To date (April 2011) we have noticed no improvement. Car and van drivers ignore the restrictions on a daily basis. We have informed Transport Managers of various companies from time to time when their drivers offend but feel we can do no more. In spite of raising our concerns to the Council regarding the potential dangers to pedestrians, it seems a 'nobody in authority cares' culture.

  Members of TRAG attended the DCC (Development Control Committee) Meeting held on 19 February 2010 to alert the Committee to the implications for the proposed new entrance to Prospect House and also to the parking problems and hazards due to illegal parking on Hexham Road. Cllr Keating and Cllr Stokel-Walker supported TRAG and their personal requests for action were much appreciated. When TRAG members returned to Throckley soon after attending the meeting, two Parking Enforcement Officers were already patrolling Hexham Road making their presence known.

  Between February and April 2010 local residents contributed to a report containing observations and parking issues and this report has been submitted to Cllrs Keating, Stokel-Walker and Curthoys as suggested at the DCC meeting - a copy of this report can be found in the 'Our Campaigns' page via a link.

  TRAG would welcome your comments and/or suggestions on how we can tackle this problem going forward. Please contact a member of TRAG directly or leave a message on the TRAG website contact page.

CAMPAIGNS - ONHOLD:

• Henderson Water Treatment Works proposed redevelopment

  Whilst the current economic crisis and the impact this is having on house building and house sales, may mean that there will be a lull in housing developments for the next year or two, the threat to Throckley village is still there. Local authorities are being encouraged by the Government to work with developers on community owned housing.

• Throckley Filling Station

  Site Of Throckley Filling Station, Wooler House And Beaulieu House, Hexham Road, Newcastle upon Tyne - Erection of 5 town house with integral garages and one 3 storey block of 10 flats with basement car parking, cycle parking (10 spaces) and refuse storage and associated roads, access and car parking (18 spaces) - planning application withdrawn.

• O2 radio mast at Quicksilver

  O2 submitted a planning application to Newcastle City Council to erect a 25 metre telecommunications mast on the Quicksilver Removals site in Throckley - planning application withdrawn.

RECENT SUCCESSES:

• Coach Road/Hexham Road flower beds

  Local residents have been successful in the long campaign for a complete make-over of the flower beds on each side of the road, in particluar requesting the removal of the bark and pathetic rose bushes.  Newcastle Council has carried out much needed improvements with a lawn, Rowan and Hawthorn trees.      THANK YOU!

  TRAG members greatly appreciate the attention Stagecoach UK Bus has given to the relocation of the bus stop in Coach Road and for the benefit of local residents and Stagecoach customers, we look forward to continued co-operation in the future.

AND FINALLY:

• Drove Road Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, TRAG are supportive of this campaign led by TRAG member Idwal John.

  TRAG are supportive of this campaign led by member Idwal John. Our aim is to continue to keep TRAG organised and aware, so as to be in a position to inform residents and possibly challenge any further proposals or planning application submissions that local residents feel are not in keeping with the ambiance of the village and the surrounding area.  We know residents are not against all new developments in Throckley but we need to ensure that through TRAG the views of local residents are raised and that these views are taken into consideration by both developers and the City Council alike when planning decisions are made.

TRAG members would like to thank all local residents for their past and future support as we continue, through our campaigns, to raise and successfully deal with issues of concern which make a real difference.