Housing on hold in fight to save park
HOUSING plans that sparked outrage in Newcastle’s outer west are on hold, after councillors were told the project had deprived a disabled youngster of his beloved play space.
Campaigners are bidding to stop plans for 60 new homes on a field next to the West Denton Community Centre and to reinstate a neighbouring skate park which Newcastle City Council demolished recently.
The ‘Save Our Field’ campaigners were led by seven-year-old Dylan Kirkley, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, as they called on city leaders to return the overgrown field to former its use as a football pitch and to immediately rebuild the skate park.
In response, the authority has agreed to pause the building project until the new year, saying that election candidates were using the controversy to spread “false rumours and misinformation”.
Presenting a petition with more than 2,000 signatures to Wednesday night’s full council meeting, former
Denton councillor Sarah Cross said the loss of the skate park had deprived Dylan of one of the few activities that “makes him feel part of his community”.
His mum Kirstie said afterwards the youngster, from Westerhope, “absolutely adored” the skate park as it allowed him to play with his friends while they were on bikes or scooters and he was in his wheelchair.
She said her son was “really positive” and “quite proud of himself” after hearing the council would pause its plans, adding: “This gives us a bit of a reprieve and some breathing space, so it is good news. But the fight is not over and we will continue.”
The building plans, which the council is developing alongside Tolent and Karbon Homes, also include a specialist unit for young people in care.
Coun Ged Bell, the authority’s cabinet member for employment and culture, said that politicians seeking office were “stigmatising” children in need by spreading rumours of a “borstal” opening on the land.
He added that the controversial plans have “clearly been turned in to a campaign issue” for the general
Save Our Field campaigners from West Denton, led by seven-year-old Dylan Kirkley, outside Newcastle Civic Centre election and he was “not prepared to let our need for homes, or the need to look after children, become a political row”.
Coun Bell said: “We’ll continue to listen to residents and review our approach in 2020.”
On the future of the skate park, he added: “Whatever the future is for this site, you’re right to say Dylan that all children, regardless of their background, need somewhere to play. The skate park was vandalised in March and we repaired it but it was damaged again in May, so it was fenced off by the council to prevent further problems. “When we reviewed the site it was clear there was a risk of accidents here and a decision was taken to remove the park. “Whatever happens next, we need to get young people something suitable in the area, and I’ll be working with officers to look at what we can do here.”
Kirstie Kirkley
A VOLUNTEER group which supports one of the North East’s most beloved and iconic buildings has raised more than £90,000 towards its continuing restoration and conservation.
The Friends of Durham Cathedral raised an amazing £92,332.24 for Durham Cathedral’s Foundation 2020 campaign, which centres on the creation of an Endowment Fund to ensure the ongoing maintenance and conservation of its buildings.
The Moment in Time Appeal launched in October last year with the idea of encouraging the Friends to sponsor a specific minute of cathedral time in perpetuity. This is based on the fact that it costs £3 per minute to care for the Cathedral’s historic buildings.
Each member was encouraged to raise £100 for Foundation 2020 through fundraising and sponsored activities, and thanks to matched funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, all of the money raised by the Friends was doubled.
And the efforts stretched right around the world with members worldwide sharing their memories of Durham Cathedral, and why the project is so important to them. One generous donation came from Australia with a simple note: “I consider Durham Cathedral the most beautiful building in the world”.
Michael Galloway, chairman of the Friends of Durham Cathedral, said: “We have had an amazing response to the appeal, including support from our international members from Australia, Canada, Japan and Europe too.
“It is great to know that the conservation of Durham Cathedral is important to so many people.”
The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of Durham, added: “It is wonderful to know that Friends of Durham Cathedral around the world have chosen to support Foundation 2020 through the Moment in Time Appeal.
“Being able to share our faith and heritage globally is part of the cathedral’s strategic vision, and appeals like this really help towards this aim.”
This gives us a bit of a reprieve and some breathing space, so it is good news. But the fight is not over.