ndependent BIDDICK &

ALL SAINTS NEWSLETTER

November 2007

Steve PATTISON Independent Candidate for Biddick

Steve Pattison
& All Saints
STEVE HAS BEEN THE CANDIDATE in 2006 and 2007 and is making
steady progress against the sitting councillors. In 2006 he came
second with 471 votes and in 2007 he came second with 719 votes.
Steve achieved 34% of the votes cast, the Labour elected candidate
had 39% of the votes cast.
As you can see his vote is constantly increasing and he is convinced that 2008
will see him as the victor. Once one Independent is elected a second will follow
as in Westoe and Fellgate & Hedworth wards. We will then see the end of the
domination by absentee Labour councillors.
Steve was very pleased with this result and said, ‘A big thank you to
everyone who voted for me. When we were out canvassing we talked to
hundreds of people who wanted to see local politics change and to get rid of the
national parties. However I do understand that some people felt this would never
happen. We have proved it can happen and I will be concentrating on persuading
another 150 of you to vote with the 719 Independent voters of
this year to make this happen.’

REPORT IT! For the past two years Steve has been working to represent
the people of the area in every way he can. One of the issues
he took up was that of the underpass on Brockley
• GRAFFITI / FLY TIPPING / Avenue/Chesterton Road. Steve commented, ‘Many of you have
STREET LIGHTING / BROKEN PAVEMENTS / been in touch about feeling unsafe when using the underpass
POT HOLES - ring 427 7000 due to the lack of lighting and groups of youths congregating
• HOUSING REPAIRS - ring Fix It hot line there. I reported this to the Council on a number of occasions
0800 694 6900 and as a result a questionnaire was distributed about what
should happen there. I will ensure that there is full consultation
Don’t accept a poor environment or service, if with the people of the area and make sure that your views are
you get no help please contact listened to.’
Another issue has been the lack of response from South
Steve Pattison Tyneside Homes to replace doors and kitchens. Steve has
86, Sheridan Road, worked with residents on this matter, ‘I am collecting a list of
South Shields, NE34 9JF names and addresses of people who have been visited by
inspectors, been told either doors and kitchens need to be
Telephone: 420 0517 replaced and then find there will be no action because of lack of
Mobile: 0791 093 6952 money. This will be handed in as a petition to our Community
Email: Area Forum and to South Tyneside Homes to show them we will
not lie down and do nothing.’
stevepatti1@blueyonder.co.uk
 IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING IN THIS NEWSLETTER OR TO RAISE
WASTE DISPOSAL POLICY
ANY OTHER ISSUES PLEASE CONTACT:

THE COUNCIL IS CURRENTLY CONSULTING on the draft waste disposal policy which it
is required to produce in order to meet targets set by the Government. At the
September meeting of the Council Cllr. Jane Branley raised two issues which are of
great concern to residents. One is that of two weekly collections and the other the
site of a waste treatment plant.
Cllr. Branley explained, ‘I wanted to get it on record what the Council was
proposing about fortnightly collections and which sites were being considered for
a waste treatment plant. I was assured that there were no intentions to have either
in the borough.’ The Council wants the views of people about the new
policy so please make your views known. The policy can be obtained from the Town Hall or from the Council web site. Cllr.
Branley added, ‘We have to be constantly vigilant about what the Council is doing. Many things that residents do not want
happen because no one speaks out against them’.

ON VIEW
THIS MAGAZINE IS DISTRIBUTED to all residents throughout the Borough
at great cost to us the Council Tax payers. To many people it had become a
vehicle for Labour councillors to get publicity. The photos and stories were
manufactured by the press office and often had little or nothing to do with the
Labour councillors featured. In one recent edition Cllr. Paul Waggott, Leader
of the Council, appeared no fewer than five times. Coincidentally he is up for
re-election next year!
Cllr. Jane Branley, as leader of the Independents, raised this with the Chief Executive. Her comments about In View were
dismissed, however there was not a single article that included a Labour councillor in the next edition! A magazine/Council
fanzine is now being produced for every Community Advisory Area. Once again this unbiased publication contains good news
stories about the area. It also gives you the opportunity to send your feedback in to the Council. Please do so as according
to the Chief Executive all of the comments received were favourable. This does not reflect what you the residents tell us on
the door step. If you want to help to end the spin please make your views known.

PARKING ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

THE COUNCIL NOW HAS RESPONSIBILITY
for the control of parking and has contract-
ed out this to APCOA. You may have seen
their workforce in action and they are a
more active presence than previous wardens.
They are often out on Sundays and have
been very active in areas with residents only parking schemes,
fining people who do not have the required disc. Be warned!
If you have a complaint about parking ring 424 7612.
The Council is producing a new Residents Only Parking policy
and many streets in Westoe will be considered for such a
scheme. If you want your street to be added to the list please
contact Steve Pattison. However, it is likely to be at least a
year before any action is seen in this ward.
THIS CAN BE ANYTHING from noisy neighbours, graffiti,
and gangs of underage teenagers drinking in the street to
vandalism. Whatever it is it can blight certain areas and the
lives of people living there. Often if a councillor raises these
issues reported to them by residents they are told there are
no records of reported incidents. Please use the 101 number
even if it is only to ensure that the Police and the Anti Social
Behaviour Unit know of the problems.
Incidents are taken seriously and are followed up. If this does
not happen let your councillors know and we then have
grounds on which to make a complaint. If you have not
reported what is happening in the first place we find it very
hard to prove that the situation needs intervention from the
appropriate agencies.

Printed by CVN Print, Maxwell Street, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE33 4PU. Published by Jane Branley, The White House, Westoe Village, South Shields, NE33 3EB.