With 13 candidates standing in the newly unified Jesmond ward at Thursday’s Newcastle City Council elections, JesmondLocal thought it might be helpful to voters if we asked each of them the same set of questions, from what they love about the area to how they would tackle its biggest challenges.

We’re publishing their responses in batches. Here are the first three: James Coles, Marianne Kell and Finley

James Coles, Liberal Democrat

1. Who are you and what are your interests and hobbies outside of politics?

I’ve been a resident in Jesmond since around 2012 (with a small period away in London) and a councillor for North Jesmond since 2024. Outside of politics I enjoy good food and good wine. I know a lot of people don’t necessarily count going out for food as a hobby, but it’s one of life’s great pleasures and it’s incredible to have so much of that right on the doorstep in Newcastle and Northumberland. I really enjoy cooking at home too.

2. What do you love most about Jesmond?

I love where it is. It’s got plenty of amenities right here, plenty of small businesses making amazing things, but it’s so close to the city centre as well that walking into town is easy and convenient. The amount of open and green spaces also make it a pleasure to just be around.

3. Where is your favourite place in Jesmond?

Most probably Jesmond Dene. Having a park like that this close to a city centre is a real privilege. I love walking from the Dene through the parks virtually uninterrupted all the way to the Quayside.

4. What is Jesmond’s most pressing need?

The biggest issue is how congested the area can feel. A lot of larger and larger properties, a lot of cars, a lot of bins in the back lanes. This has led to significant pressure on residents and council services. It’s key to relieve that pressure by encouraging smaller groups and fewer cars.

5. How would you improve relations between Jesmond’s permanent resident and student populations?

First and foremost, by ensuring students are more involved in community life in the neighbourhood. There are so many wonderful, small groups and associations here that I think most students would really enjoy being a part of. Giving them a better sense of belonging will also mean some students are going to be less likely to be messy and inconsiderate. It then helps facilitate the dialogue between town and gown which can, understandably, be quite fractious.

6. What would you do to make it easier to get around Jesmond?

One of the things that my colleagues and I have really been pushing for is more joined up thinking. If cycle and foot networks are better joined up, then it’ll be easier to get around Jesmond. We also need to improve public transport, Metro reliability is a perennial issue and it’s deeply frustrating to get onto the platform the station to see that there is a gap in service or delay. The Q3 is broadly excellent, but the cost is prohibitive so we need to implement a price reduction too.

7. Any final thoughts?

All these issues really require people to look under the bonnet rather than painting over them. We’ve spent almost two years analysing the problems and this has yielded big results. We’ve changed the HMO licensing rules, because of issues around those. We’ve unlocked £20 million for the council by looking at the numbers. We’ve implemented new parking zones because they were causing problems. We’ve done our homework and brought in solutions, which is something I’d love to carry on doing.

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Marianne Kell, Green

1. Who are you and what are your interests and hobbies outside of politics?

I was born in Gateshead, and moved to Newcastle 12 years ago after a decade away in London and Finland. I trained as a Swedish/Finnish–English translator, but now work in economic and social research. My two main passions are music and books: I play electric cello and sax in two local bands and love discovering new music (anything from post-punk to fado). I’m an avid reader, recently devouring the first four novels of Knausgaard’s Morning Star series, and impatiently awaiting the fifth.

2. What do you love most about Jesmond?

It buzzes during term time, when students are around! I love the independent businesses, especially Pink Lane Bakery on Acorn Road, and the green spaces: Jesmond Dene on one side, the Town Moor (and its cows on the other – I once saw a brilliant film about them at Star & Shadow Cinema by local artist Michele Allen). Jesmond’s history is interesting, including finding Yevgeny Zamyatin’s blue plaque on Sanderson Road – I didn’t know of his Jesmond connection, and “We” is one of my favourite books!

3. Where is your favourite place in Jesmond?

Besides Jesmond Dene and the Town Moor, there are fascinating nooks and crannies. St Mary’s Well is my favourite: a tiny hidden spot of tranquillity with an intriguing history, only a few miles from Newcastle’s bustle. The Dene is also really special, and we’re lucky to have it. NHSN’s summer evening bat walks there are brilliant. In late summer, with a bat detector, you can hear pipistrelles’ chirrups as they flutter overhead — a great experience!

4. What is Jesmond’s most pressing need?

I would say it’s better regulation of HMOs, for both tenants and the wider community. There are many responsible landlords, but not all rental properties are properly maintained, affecting residents’ quality of life and the area’s look, feel and cohesion. Stronger regulation would help ensure safe, decent housing and stop parts of Jesmond becoming “student enclaves”. Students are definitely welcome and important, but we need a healthier balance with longer-term residents.

5. How would you improve relations between Jesmond’s permanent resident and student populations?

I’d focus on creating more chances for students and permanent residents to meet as neighbours, rather than seeing each other as separate groups. Students are a vital part of Jesmond, often living away from home for the first time. Welcome packs, community events and clear information about bins, noise, local services and volunteering could help. One Jesmond street holds a start-of-term event to welcome new student residents, and I’ve heard it works really well, so I’d support more of that.

6. What would you do to make it easier to get around Jesmond?

I’d support schemes that make it easier to get around Jesmond and improved walking and cycling infrastructure – at the moment cycling infrastructure is a bit piecemeal. In particular, I’d like to see secure on-street bike parking, like the bike lockers used in many London boroughs. If people have somewhere safe and convenient to keep a bike, more will feel able to cycle regularly, reducing reliance on cars over time and making streets calmer.

7. Any final thoughts?

Tim, Ludovico and I make a great team, and we’re asking people to vote Green for a more positive, open and transparent way of doing local politics. We know Jesmond residents want representatives who listen, communicate clearly and work constructively across the community. Every Green vote puts pressure on the status quo, bringing fresh energy and practical ideas.

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Finley Weatherill, Labour

1. Who are you and what are your interests and hobbies outside of politics?

Outside of politics, I’m a passionate musician and regularly play piano and participate in ensembles for audiences around the North East. I am also a Law Student at Newcastle University and have always had an interest in the legal system and international law which closely informs my approach to politics.

2. What do you love most about Jesmond?

Jesmond has a real sense of community. I love the greenery in the streets that really gives the area its character. The vast choice for restaurants, cafés and pubs really make it a vibrant place to be. I’m really looking forward to move into my West Jesmond house in July.

3. Where is your favourite place in Jesmond?

I absolutely love going for walks in Jesmond Dene – a highlight of Jesmond. I also love to go out with my friends to Soho Jesmond for the Sunday pub quiz and Wednesday social events.

4. What is Jesmond’s most pressing need?

As both a student and Labour candidate, I see the issues of the housing market in the area. Too many students are paying high rents for poor quality housing while long-term residents feel the strain of an imbalanced system. There needs to be raised standards, exploitative rents need to be tackled and there should be a housing mix that serves the whole community.

5. How would you improve relations between Jesmond’s permanent resident and student populations?

There needs to be raised standards for HMOs and landlords so waste, noise and poor maintenance are reduced at the source. I’d also strengthen communication between students, residents, and the council – working with the Universities to promote clear expectations around living in Jesmond.

6. What would you do to make it easier to get around Jesmond?

I’d focus on working on reliability and affordability of both buses and the Metro. Locally, I’d push for better-maintained pavements, crossings and cycle-routes to make it easier to get around without a car.

7. Any final thoughts?

I would be honoured to be elected as a Labour councillor for Jesmond and will do my best to serve the community and make sure residents feel heard and represented.