The people of Jesmond are getting a raw deal from their recently elected MP, reckons one local resident.

Nick Brown holds surgeries in Walker and Byker

Labour’s Nick Brown now represents Jesmond, following its inclusion in the Newcastle East constituency. The MP holds constituency surgeries once a month, but according to local resident Jane Cooper, the two locations he is using – the Allendale Community Centre in Byker and the Jubilee Club in Walker – are too difficult to get to for many people who live in Jesmond.

“These two locations are only one mile apart from each other, and the nearest is 2.5 miles from where I live and well over 3 miles from the north part of North Jesmond ward,” says Cooper. “Jubilee Club is in the eastern part of Walker ward, and Allendale Community Centre is just within Byker ward, but only yards from the Walker boundary.

“The route by public transport from my part of Jesmond involves walking a distance of over half a mile and using either two buses or a metro and a bus. I wouldn’t like to do this journey with young children, or if I had difficulty walking.” According to Cooper, the three different cycling routes given by Cyclestreets all contain warnings of very busy roads.

“I think the residents of North and South Jesmond wards deserve better than this,” says Cooper.