Welcome to the Spital Tongues community newsletter, produced jointly by Newcastle City Council and Castle Leazes Halls, Newcastle University. Our newsletter will provide you with lots of useful information about services and opportunities to get involved in the local community.

A warm welcome to all studentsA warm welcome to all studentsA warm welcome to all studentsA warm welcome to all students

We welcome new and returning students to the city, and to the Spital Tongues area of the Wingrove ward where you’ll be living over the next year. The area is one of the most diverse, friendly and welcoming in the city with lots of green and open spaces for you to enjoy including Exhibition Park, Town Moor, Nuns Moor and Castle Leazes.

We hope you enjoy all the assets our city brings and that you’re successful with your studies. The city council works hard with staff in the university to bring together members of the local community for special events and performances. We hope you can take part.

We would also like to remind you that local residents of all ages live here all year round, and some do worry about the disturbance that some students cause to our settled communities. We ask for your help in making sure that the local community continues to benefit from your presence without any problems.

Academic Year 2011 Academic Year 2011 Academic Year 2011 Academic Year 2011 ---- 2012 2012 2012 2012

AutumnAutumnAutumnAutumn: Monday 26 September 2011 - Friday 16 December 2011 SpringSpringSpringSpring: Monday 9 January 2012 - Friday 16 March 2012 SummerSummerSummerSummer: Monday 16 April 2012 - Friday 15 June 2012

Semester 1Semester 1Semester 1Semester 1: Monday 26 September 2011 - Friday 27 January 2012 Semester 2Semester 2Semester 2Semester 2: Monday 30 January 2012 - Friday 15 June 2012

Spital Tongues Community Newsletter September 2011

Student intake weekend Student intake weekend Student intake weekend Student intake weekend

Students moving into accommodation for the 2011-12 Academic Year will arrive over the weekend of Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September. Students arriving at Castle Leazes Halls will be asked to offload belongings from their vehicles and then be redirected to park at the Blood Transfusion Centre, Holland Drive, in order to keep traffic congestion to a minimum.

Keeping safe Keeping safe Keeping safe Keeping safe

Walk safelyWalk safelyWalk safelyWalk safely

You may feel most vulnerable when on foot, particularly as winter approaches and the dark nights set in:

• Don’t walk alone and always walk with friends if possible.

• If it’s late at night, always get a taxi or a lift from someone you know well. Marshalled taxi ranks operate on Friday and Saturday nights from the Central Station, The Bigg Market and the Gate.

• Always keep to busy, well-lit areas and use main routes and paths.

• Never take shortcuts down dark alleys or through parks.

• Walk towards the traffic.

• Avoid passing stationary cars with their engines running and people sitting in them.

Safe as housesSafe as housesSafe as housesSafe as houses

Burglars may also be targeting houses in your area. Don’t let them get away with it:

• Always close and lock your windows, bolt your doors and use the alarm. Remember to lock your back yard gate and car too.

• Burglars often pose as officials to gain access to your house. Always ask for ID and check it carefully. Use the spy hole and door chain on your front door.

• Don’t tempt burglars by putting your property on display. Never leave anything valuable near a window and put your keys and phone in a safe place when you’re in the house.

• If you buy anything new, such as a computer or TV, don’t leave the box on display with the rubbish - it’s telling burglars that you have something worth stealing.

• Don’t leave valuables in the car, and always lock up your bike.

• Burglars will use wheelie bins to get over your back wall. Put your bin out on the day of collection and always bring it straight back in again. Don’t leave anything out that can be used as a ladder such as boxes or crates.

Be counted! Be counted! Be counted! Be counted! Register your detailsRegister your detailsRegister your detailsRegister your details

Making sure you can vote is important as it gives everyone a chance to have their say on issues which matter to them. That’s why everyone should return their voting registration form so they will not miss out during local, national and European elections.

Another good reason for returning your form is that credit and loan companies check to see if your name is on the register of electors. If you are not registered you may not be able to open a bank account, get a credit card, mortgage or any other form of credit, loan or contract.

Those who can register to vote are British citizens over 16 years of age who are also citizens of the Irish Republic, Commonwealth citizens, and citizens of other European Union countries, but they can’t vote until they reach the age of 18.

In order for your name to be counted, please return the Voter Registration Form, which you should all have received, to the city council. This will tell you who has been registered to vote at your address. The form gives you the opportunity to opt for postal voting, to change details and add names to the register, including any 16 and 17 year olds at your address. Remember, if you don’t register we will assume that you don’t live there and you could lose your right to vote.

To find out more, visit: www.newcastle.gov.uk/electionsregister

Wingrove ward web pages Wingrove ward web pages Wingrove ward web pages Wingrove ward web pages

The city council has developed new web pages for your ward.

Visit http://wingrove.newcastle.gov.uk to find out about:

• Local services, activities and events • Wingrove ward committee • Who to contact if you need help • Grant aid and how you can apply • Reporting local problems • Promoting your local group • Avoiding local roadworks • Facts and figures about your area

Don’t tempt burglars by putting your property on display. Never leave

EnvirocallEnvirocallEnvirocallEnvirocall

Envirocall is your single point of contact for environmental issues in Newcastle for action on:

• refuse collection and bulky rubbish collection

• fly-tipping (dumping)

• litter and street cleaning

• graffiti

• grass and shrub maintenance

• pest control

• recycling information

• roads and footpath repairs

• street lighting

• noise nuisance

• gritting and snow clearance

Open: Monday to Saturday, 8am - 8pm

Phone: 0191 274 4000

Email: envirocall@newcastle.gov.uk

Website: www.newcastle.gov.uk/envirocall

Help us to keep Spital Tongues clean Help us to keep Spital Tongues clean Help us to keep Spital Tongues clean Help us to keep Spital Tongues clean and safeand safeand safeand safe

Your blue recycling wheelie bin and green refuse bins are emptied on a

Wednesday. The recycling collection service is every two weeks.

Please, only put your bins out the night before collection and take them back in as soon as possible.

You can find out your bin collection day online, including your garden waste (brown bin) and recycling waste (blue bin), by visiting the city council website, www.newcastle.gov.uk (enter bin collections in search).

Residents can arrange for the removal of additional household waste (over and above the weekly domestic refuse collection service) through Envirocall - please note there will be a charge for this service.

Fairtrade event on 2 March 2011Fairtrade event on 2 March 2011Fairtrade event on 2 March 2011Fairtrade event on 2 March 2011

During Fairtrade Fortnight, Castle Leazes held a coffee morning on 2 March, from 10am until 2pm, in the Fenwick Room, offering complimentary Fairtrade coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cakes and biscuits.

A large inflatable Fairtrade banana advertised where we were and about one hundred people attended including students, staff and members of the local community. Fairtrade event 2 March 2011.

It was nice to see staff and students sitting chatting, laughing and enjoying a cuppa with local residents.

Invitation to Christmas lunchInvitation to Christmas lunchInvitation to Christmas lunchInvitation to Christmas lunch

The management, staff and warden team at Castle Leazes Halls request the company of residents of Spital Tongues to join us for a three-course Christmas lunch on Friday 16 December, at 12.30pm, in Freemen’s Dining Room, Castle Leazes.

If you’d like to attend the event, please phone us at the Hall Secretaries’ office on 0191 222 8362 / 8368, email us at cllh-hall-secretaries@ncl.ac.uk or return the coupon below to us by Wednesday 30 November 2011.

Our dining room is fully accessible to wheelchair users. If you have any other support issues, please let us know.

Please cut here - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Please return this slip to Hall Secretaries’ office, Castle Leazes Halls of Residence, Spital Tongues, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4NY, by Wednesday 30 November. I will be attending the Christmas lunch on Friday 16 December 2011. My name is: ___________________________________________________ My phone number is: ____________________________________________

A new conversation A new conversation A new conversation A new conversation with our city with our city with our city with our city

It’s really important that you’re given the opportunity to have your say about council priorities, and how we spend your money, helping us to take your views and those of the wider community into account.

At Newcastle City Council, we want to change the way we currently do this, and use the ideas and enthusiasm of local people who really want to make a difference. That’s why we launched ‘Let’s talk Newcastle’ in July.

Let’s talk Newcastle involves a range of activities that will take place across all wards in the city. These will allow more co-ordinated conversations to take place at all levels, which, ultimately, link the things local people raise with the big policy decisions that are taken. There are four types of activities taking place:

Talkabout will allow us to have conversations with you about what you think our future priorities will be. Walkabout will allow visits to communities and local services to find out what local issues are. Thinkabout will give us the opportunity to gather information and advice from people about the strategic issues facing the council. Decideabout will provide local people with the opportunity to be directly involved in decision-making through ward committees and other events.

Talk to usTalk to usTalk to usTalk to us

Of course, you don’t have to take part in one of these activities to talk to us. There are a number of other ways you can get involved.

We’d like to talk about why you love living in Wingrove. Tell us about the things that you like and those you’d like to improve. So, let’s talk. Fill in the slip below and send it back to us at Freepost Let’s talk or email letstalk@newcastle.gov.uk or dorothy.procter@newcastle.gov.uk.

Please cut here - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Name

Address

Phone Email

I’d like to talk about

Email: letstalk@newcastle.gov.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/letstalkNCL

Facebook: www.facebook.com/letstalknewcastle

Dame Allan’s new nursery and junior Dame Allan’s new nursery and junior Dame Allan’s new nursery and junior Dame Allan’s new nursery and junior school takes a step forwardschool takes a step forwardschool takes a step forwardschool takes a step forward

The governors at Dame Allan’s have appointed the main contractor for their new Nursery and Junior School at Hunter’s Moor. Durham based Esh Construction have begun work on the construction of the new Nursery and Junior School. You can already see the framework of the building taking shape.

Principal, Dr John Hind, said: “This new building will bring all our Nursery and Junior School boys and girls together on one site and will enable us to develop further our family ethos within our distinctive diamond structure. It will also mean that the separate Boys’ and Girls’ Schools will be able to make better use of our site in Fenham, alongside the Sixth Form in its own dedicated Queen’s Building.”

Dame Allan’s have begun an advertising campaign for the new school, with adverts appearing on Tyne Tees Television, in the press, at metro stations and bus stops and on buses. The two pupils featured in the adverts, together with pupils and staff from the current Junior School, will be holding an Open House on 24 September to talk about the new School. If you would like more information, please visit the website: www.dameallans.co.uk.

We will of course continue to keep neighbours up to date with the plans for the work phases, but if you do have any enquiries, please contact the main school on 0191 275 0608, enquiries@dameallans.co.uk.

Main picture shows (L to R) Elliot Ward, chair of Governors at Dame Allan’s, Andrew Edge, head of the Nursery and Junior School, with Paul Redman of Esh Construction show pupils Ben Sumner and Ria Barber plans for the new School at Hunter’s Moor.

The Lakeside Explorer ProjectThe Lakeside Explorer ProjectThe Lakeside Explorer ProjectThe Lakeside Explorer Project

This fabulous project, created by the Exhibition and Brandling Park Trust, funded by Community Spaces and Newcastle City Council, is now all but complete.

The project has run smoothly and uses recycled materials which should last almost indefinitely. The project aims to bring people and nature closer together in the heart of the city. Visitors will be able to walk through reed beds created either side of the boardwalks.

All that is left to do is the installation of seats and some planting, which will be carried out by the community later in the autumn/winter. The board walks are now open and some reeds have been planted.

If you would like to be involved in the planting session, or any of the activities organised by the Exhibition and Brandling Park Community Trust, please contact Keith Pimm, keithpimm@btinternet.com.

Get involvedGet involvedGet involvedGet involved

Spital Tongues Community Working GroupSpital Tongues Community Working GroupSpital Tongues Community Working GroupSpital Tongues Community Working Group

This informal working group welcomes local residents, representatives of community groups, ward councillors, city council and university staff, and the police, to meet twice a year to act on issues which affect anyone who lives or works in, or visits, Spital Tongues. If you are interested in getting involved, contact the ward co-ordinator or call in to the next meeting on Thursday 13 October at 6pm in Castle Leazes Halls.

Spital Tongues Community Centre Spital Tongues Community Centre Spital Tongues Community Centre Spital Tongues Community Centre

Spital Tongues Community Centre held a highly successful re-launch event in July following a major refurbishment. With a new committee on board, the centre is now developing a host of new activities, including a book club and yoga, with plans afoot to set up pop-in sessions, games nights and a film club.

The centre, which is located on Morpeth Street, is also available to hire for parties, meetings or regular bookings at very reasonable rates. For further information about activities at the centre and bookings, please contact Travis on 07531 514 307.

Spital Tongues Local History SocietySpital Tongues Local History SocietySpital Tongues Local History SocietySpital Tongues Local History Society

Join members of the group to find out about the history of the area and share your memories. The group meets on the third Monday in the month at 7.30pm in the Apostolic Church, Ancrum Street.

Greening Wingrove Greening Wingrove Greening Wingrove Greening Wingrove

This environmental improvement programme is aiming to solve problems such as fly-tipping, bin collections and refuse, and develop new ideas put forward by local residents and groups.

We hope to improve selected front streets and back lanes; introduce a show-case feature at a crossroads; work with local schools, students and landlords on environmental awareness and projects; use arts projects to address empty or bleak spaces; and hold an annual Greening Wingrove Garden Festival.

The Greening Wingrove Forum guides the programme. Its quarterly meetings are open to all. The next meeting is on Tuesday 29 November at 6pm in the Robert Stewart Memorial Church hall, Wingrove Road.

Beware bogus callersBeware bogus callersBeware bogus callersBeware bogus callers

Northumbria Police is reminding you to be on your guard against bogus callers. Although most people who call at your home are genuine, there have been recent cases of old and vulnerable people being targeted.

Some simple steps to protect yourself from bogus callers:Some simple steps to protect yourself from bogus callers:Some simple steps to protect yourself from bogus callers:Some simple steps to protect yourself from bogus callers: • Be cautious of anyone you don’t know who arrives at your door

unannounced (cold-calling).

• Check who is calling – use the spy-hole or look through the window. Talk to the caller through the door or use a door chain.

• Always check the ID even if you’re expecting callers. Genuine officials will always carry identification. If necessary, ring the organisation to check. Never use a telephone number given by the caller as it could be fake – find the number in your telephone directory.

• Remember to close and lock the door while you check the ID.

• Don’t let visitors hurry, pressurise or confuse you.

• Never invite unannounced callers into your home even if they are offering help. If unsure, ask the caller to come at a later date and have

someone with you then.

• Never agree to any cold-caller doing any work at the door, or hand over any money. And never accept an offer to drive you to withdraw money.

• Look out for elderly friends or relatives and ask them to be extra vigilant. In an emergency call 999. Call Northumbria Police on 03456 043 043 for all other incidents or advice. Visit www.northumbria.police.uk for more information.

Wingrove ward councillorsWingrove ward councillorsWingrove ward councillorsWingrove ward councillors

Councillor Joyce McCartyCouncillor Joyce McCartyCouncillor Joyce McCartyCouncillor Joyce McCarty 166 Wingrove Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 9BX 0191 273 4727 joyce.mccarty@newcastle.gov.uk Labour

Councillor Nigel ToddCouncillor Nigel ToddCouncillor Nigel ToddCouncillor Nigel Todd 1 Croydon Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5LN 0191 273 6418 nigel.todd@newcastle.gov.uk Labour

Councillor Irim AliCouncillor Irim AliCouncillor Irim AliCouncillor Irim Ali 8 Middleton Avenue Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 9NB 0191 241 4489 irim.ali@newcastle.gov.uk Labour

Councillors’ surgeriesCouncillors’ surgeriesCouncillors’ surgeriesCouncillors’ surgeries

Labour surgeries are held monthly (except in August or after Bank Holidays), 6 - 7pm, unless otherwise stated: 1st Tuesday of the month - Community House, 4 Clarewood Green, North British Estate off Stanhope Street. 2nd Tuesday of the month - Robert Stewart Memorial Church Hall, Wingrove Road. 3rd Tuesday of the month - Community Centre, Morpeth Street, Spital Tongues. 3rd Wednesday of the month - CHAT Shop, Philip Street, Arthur’s Hill. 4th Saturday of each month - Moorside Primary School, Beaconsfield Street (shared surgery with Westgate ward), 10am - 10.45am.

Wingrove ward committeeWingrove ward committeeWingrove ward committeeWingrove ward committee

The Wingrove ward committee is made up of the three councillors. They represent all residents in the Wingrove ward.

Ward committees give local people an opportunity to have their say about issues in their neighbourhood. Council officers and other agencies are then tasked to get things done and improve local neighbourhoods.

Wingrove ward committee meetings are held every month (except in August and December), at 7.15pm, in various venues across the ward. Details of the meetings can be found on local noticeboards, on the Wingrove ward web pages http://wingrove.newcastle.gov.uk and in Citylife.