After living 16 years in Blyth, then Whitley Bay, 21-year old Joshua Clark now lives in Newcastle where he is in his third year of studying politics and international relations at Northumbria University. He has also worked in the hospitality industry across the city while pursuing his studies. We asked him to tell us a little bit more about himself, what he thinks needs fixing in Jesmond and why voters should consider putting an X against his name on Thursday 5th May.

Why run for local election?

“In Newcastle, I see what students are going through and I see the way Newcastle City Council is run – it’s all Labour and Lib Dem. There needs to be a Conservative voice too. The council needs to represent students, but there’s no voice for them, especially surrounding issues with their studies and Covid-19. There has been no real representation in the council to help students with what they’re going through. Many student issues need to be addressed such as landlord and living situations, the cost of housing and supporting students during strike action by lecturers.

“I want to be that someone who supports the students of Jesmond in what they’re going through and generally support Conservative principles and make Newcastle beautiful – to make it environmentally friendly and safe, a place where people are proud to raise their families.”

What are the main issues that you would tackle in Jesmond?

“There are three main issues in Jesmond. Firstly anti-social behaviour – there needs to be increased police presence in the streets during the night-time. We can’t be having people on Saturday nights being drunk and disorderly and smashing bottles in residential areas.

“The second issue is housing – there needs to be good stock of housing for families. People don’t want little shoddy flats, they want somewhere that is appropriate for raising a family. For students, housing needs to be affordable, safe and liveable.

“Finally, people living in Jesmond want to see more green spaces – we need more trees, more beautiful spaces. Working together with North Jesmond, we would invest in Jesmond Dene and make it more of a place people want to visit, with no litter lying around. I want to see the council using the Dene to host community events, to build community spirit.”

What is your opinion of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme?

“We can’t get rid of cars completely, however residential areas need to be made for communities. We need to take a big look at how we do planning and consult the community on how they want that planning to be delivered. We need to give that voice to the people, rather than letting those in the city council organise it. Go door to door, talk to residents and let them have their say on this.”

How would you combat anti-social behaviour?

“The money we spend on the police shouldn’t be spent behind the scenes on desks. Getting paperwork done is important but what people want to see is bobbies on the beat. Residents want to see police patrolling the streets on Saturday night, stopping youths from fighting and smashing bottles. Yes, we have a space where we can have fun and drink, but it needs to be done in a way that respects the families living in the area.

“We also need to consult with the businesses, especially on Osborne Road. It would be beneficial to talk to the business owners about what works best for them. If they want more investment in CCTV and technology then that’s what we’ll do.”

How would you bridge the gap between local and student residents?

“It’s all about the Conservative value of building community spirit. It’s the Queen’s Jubilee this year, so let’s host street parties – get your scones and sarnies and get the community together on the streets to have a good time. We would host public events, Jesmond Dene would host good events for people to join in. When you know your neighbours, you respect them and that’s how you bring the community together.

“Linking back to housing, if the quality of housing is so good that students will stay in their flats until the end of their degree then they can form roots in the community. Whereas, if you move a lot you can’t really build that connection to the community. Good quality housing – and finding students good quality jobs – encourages people to stay in the community.”

What would you do to improve the environment in Jesmond?

“Through discouraging use of cars by students. If you’re travelling in and out of the region, you might bring your car to Jesmond. But when living in Jesmond, travelling by car isn’t necessary. We would encourage cycling, and schemes to encourage mobility.

“It’s also about building green spaces – what can we do to get youth groups, schools and other organisations involved in greening up the area. It stems from making Jesmond a beautiful place.”

JesmondLocal will be hosting its local election hustings on Tuesday 3rd May at Jesmond Library from 7:45pm-9:45pm. Submit your questions for the candidates via the event Facebook page. The event is open to all, so come along to find out more about the candidates, their priorities, policies and plans – and get a chance to have your say.