This May Jesmond residents will have their say in the running of NE2. In the run up to the election, we will meet all the candidates running for council seats in Jesmond. Today, the Liberal Democrat candidates for North and South Jesmond: Gerry Keating and Tom Woodwark.

Gerry Keating – North Jesmond

Gerry Keating is standing for re-election in North Jesmond in next week’s election.

A Cambridge graduate, Keating has extensive experience in north east politics, sitting as a county councillor from 1981 to 1986 and a city councillor for Blakelaw in 1986-2012. In November 2014 he was elected councillor for the North Jesmond Ward in a by-election.

Keating taught politics and Latin at the Royal Grammar School and has a long affiliation with Jesmond. He takes an active role as a councillor in the community, which he says, is the most important way to engage with residents. He joined the Liberal Democrats (then the Liberals) while at university, saying he had “sympathy for the underdog”.

When asked about what he considers to be the main issues in North Jesmond Keating refers to bins, transport and problems with the electoral register.

In recent newsletters, which he produces, Keating has focussed on the rubbish collection, which he says are an issue in in two-thirds of the ward. He considers it is important to make sure bins are brought in, and has campaigned for bins to already be inside property areas when new students arrive in September. He is against the introduction of communal bins – currently piloted in the back lanes of terraces in South Jesmond – being instated in North Jesmond.

Keating also considers transport to be important, saying he doesn’t believe the priority between transports isequal. He is in favour of residential parking permits, which he believes have improved congestion in the ward. He stopped driving 16 years ago and travels by bike, Metro or bus and is keen to promote walking and cycling where possible. He regularly conducts traffic surveys around the ward.

Keating believes errors on the electoral register are problematic when it comes to voter engagement, noting that there are many names on the register of houses where no one lives, particularly with students.

In JesmondLocal’s hustings event earlier this week Keating said his priority is on developing Jesmond and to use authority to fix things rather than “setting up visions in the sky”.

Tom Woodwark – South Jesmond

Tom Woodwark did not respond to repeated interview requests for this pre-election profile.