A section of the leaked emails from April 2014

Leaked emails from April 2014 show the arguments local councillors had amongst themselves – and with council planning officers – over the scope and scale of consultation on the future of Acorn Road.

In a letter published this morning but sent last month by Pat Ritchie, Newcastle City Council’s Chief Executive, to Nick Brown, the regional MP who had raised concerns over the way in which the consultation over the shopping street was carried out, Ritchie wrote that “ahead of the consultation, discussions were held with ward members in North and South Jesmond. The Assistant Director of Development, in conjunction with members, decided that only residents for North Jesmond would be consulted on the proposals.”

Emails outlining these discussions dating from April 2014, seen by JesmondLocal, show councillors divided along party lines when trying to thrash out who should be consulted on the proposals.

South Jesmond offer was on table

Jon Higgins, a council officer overseeing transport investment and development for Newcastle City Council, told all Jesmond ward councillors at the time that “we will be consulting in North Jesmond. I am prepared to also cover South Jesmond if required.” Higgins added that “I see Acorn Road as a resource for the residents of Jesmond and not just North Jesmond and so I am happy to consult both if required.”

Both Jesmond wards have undergone an election since the April 2014 email discussion, with Cllr Tom Woodwark, a Lib Dem representative for South Jesmond, replaced in May 2014 by Arlene Ainsley, a Labour councillor. In North Jesmond, Cllr Peter Andras, a Lib Dem councillor, stepped down over the summer, replaced by Cllr Gerry Keating (Lib Dem) in August 2014.

Former councillor Woodwark did not offer a comment in the email chain on whether his constituents in South Jesmond should have been consulted, while then North Jesmond councillor Andras wrote that “the only consistent and practical approach is to keep the consultation within the North Jesmond ward boundaries.”

Geographical divisions

The remaining two South Jesmond councillors disagreed, believing that their constituents should have a say on the proposals. Cllr Felicity Mendelson wrote to her fellow colleagues that “Acorn Road is a Jesmond wide resource just like the library and the pool..This is recognised by the fact that S[outh] J[esmond] Ward contributes to these as they are used and valued by people living in both Wards. So is Acorn Road. This is about ensuring a positive future for Acorn Road which we all agree does need improvements.”

Cllr David Hardman added that “it is essential that all Jesmond residents from both North and South Jesmond are included in any consultation about the proposed scheme as Acorn Road is a commercial centre for the whole of Jesmond and any changes effects all residents in different ways.”

In response, North Jesmond councillor Peter Breakey pointed out that “a line clearly needs to be drawn somewhere. The road is situated in North Jesmond and North Jesmond residents should be consulted about the proposals.”

He added: “speaking as a Jesmond resident myself, I would not expect to be formally consulted about changes in eg the Clayton Road shopping area. That is an area which is not dissimilar to Acorn Road.”

‘Too hard to achieve’

At points the debate becomes strained. After one tetchy exchange Higgins, the council officer overseeing transport investment and development for Newcastle City Council, interjects in the email chain, writing that he has “been left with the impression that a discussion for the benefit of Jesmond residents between the councillors in Jesmond is simply too hard to achieve”.

Read next:

• Council to conduct further consultations on Acorn Road proposals
• Acorn Road: who wants what?