We continue our series of interviews with May’s local election candidates by speaking with Deborah Burns. Running for the Liberal Democrats in Jesmond’s local elections for the last four years; this is Burns’ first time standing for North Jesmond.

Why run for this year’s local election?

Last year’s cancelled elections would have seen me run for North Jesmond in 2020, but that wasn’t to be. So, 2021 is the first year I will stand in this ward. However, I may already be familiar to local residents, as my children have both attended West Jesmond Primary School (my youngest, Fran, is still there in Year 5). I am often to be found at the school, shopping on Acorn Road, or at Bell’s Yard. Failing that, they may have seen me on a ‘ward walkabout’ with Gerry Keating, our long-standing North Jesmond councillor.

I have been a candidate for the Liberal Democrats in local elections for four years now. The decisions that are made on a local level directly affect each and every one of us on a daily basis, and I feel it is therefore important that those decisions are fully debated. For example, Liberal Democrats are strongly opposed to the £45m the council is spending on renovating the Civic Centre – following Covid, there are many ways to use that money more effectively.

It is vital that one party does not dominate local decision making; in a Labour-run council, the election of more Liberal Democrat councillors gives residents a louder voice, and helps hold the local authority to account. We can see that in North Jesmond, where we have one Lib Dem councillor [Keating] who challenges local decisions where required. In areas such as Gosforth – where there are three Lib Dem councillors – residents have an even stronger opposition.

You’ve been unable to carry out regular conversation with residents this year: how can they still make their views heard?

Whilst it has not been possible to visit people in person, technology has enabled us to ensure we remain in contact with residents. Perhaps, in times such as these, it is even more vital that we work to strengthen our community and understand one another’s perspectives. My experience tells me that Jesmond residents tend to be actively engaged in the local community, and that means that communication channels are extremely important to them. Both Gerry [Keating] and I are always contactable via email or telephone, and have continued to discuss local issues with residents during this challenging time.

Running for South Jesmond in the last election in 2019, you identified traffic as a primary health and safety issue. Are you just as passionate about this or have other issues taken precedence since then?

All areas close to the city centre are feeling the impact of high levels of traffic coupled with inadequate infrastructure. The resulting poor air quality is a long-standing concern. The Council’s initial response was the imposition of a congestion charge; the unpopularity of this scheme led to a change in the plans. Lib Dems are concerned that the current proposals will not achieve the desired improvements, and have put together our own suggestions as to how the situation could be improved – park and ride schemes, School Clean Air Zones, and anti-idling zones, as well as an end to diesel buses in the worst-affected areas.

Tensions caused by heavy traffic can lead to dangerous behaviours – frayed tempers, poor parking and more. It is crucial that we plan for the future in terms of transport and create a realistic vision of how people will move around the city in a sustainable fashion. If Jesmond is to become a LTN (Low Traffic Neighbourhood), there will be many benefits, but it will require longer term thinking and greater consultation between various stakeholders than we have seen in recent years.

On this note, the Council has recently invested heavily in the new electric scooters, which are clearly very popular, especially with younger residents. Whilst I remain largely in support of alternative modes of transport, there are serious concerns around the safety of the scooters. Many people I speak to have witnessed incidents whereby the safety of either pedestrians or the scooter user has been compromised, and feel many accidents are waiting to happen. Successful implementation and regulation of the scheme seems to be lacking, and this could have serious consequences.

You also mentioned that traffic surrounding West Jesmond Primary was a cause for concern.

Regarding schools, it is widely known that a number of schools across the city have recently seen the banning of cars during drop-off and pick-up times. I hope that the Council can look at ways to make this happen for other local schools, including West Jesmond Primary. Traffic at the school was somewhat less of a safety issue when we had dedicated crossing wardens; since the local authority cut those, tensions have most definitely risen. Whilst I understand that there are parents from further afield who may feel they need to drive, ensuring the safety of the children must remain paramount. I would like to see the trialling of a school street scheme in Jesmond, with the impact on all community members monitored before any final decisions are taken.

Of course, other traffic issues persist in North Jesmond. One is relating to parking permits, where the Council has tightened the eligibility for permits to such a degree that those streets where residents are requesting them do not qualify.

Another is the installation of new infrastructure (such as the new traffic lights on the junction of North Jesmond Avenue and Osborne Road or, more historically, the changes to Brandling Park) which a number of residents have reported as unnecessarily costly and confusing. The need for improved and safe infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians is clearly essential if the city is to grow in a sustainable manner, but we question the quality of the current provision, and feel that there is a lack of foresight and joined-up thinking in this area.

How has the pandemic influenced your stance on community behaviour as well as local safety?

The most recent issue we have seen regarding the impact of COVID-19 is that of littering as restrictions ease and outdoor gathering is permitted. It has been widely noted across the city that the amount of waste abandoned following gatherings in local parks and green areas is extensive. On the greens in front of Highbury, this clearly is a problem. Of course, if we wish people to dispose of their waste appropriately, we must provide bins for them to do so. The current problem highlights the poor decision of the Council to remove approximately 40% of the city’s litter bins. Liberal Democrats see the introduction of measures to maintain effective street cleansing as one of our priorities for Jesmond and the wider city.

There are planning issues in the Jesmond Dene Conservation Area and the Liberal Democrats are following the discussions closely; we will raise residents’ legitimate concerns wherever appropriate. We would like to see the local authority enforcing planning policies, and confining all further HMO (Houses of Multiple Occupation) approvals to the city centre.

Community safety has become an issue of greater concern during the pandemic, and some residents may have felt more isolated during this period. Additionally, some parts of the ward have reported a rise in anti-social behaviour. It seems to me that a ward councillor can actually do a great deal to support residents simply by regularly being out in the community and taking the time to stop, talk and listen to local concerns.

And lastly, can you offer any advice on voting safely this year? 

Postal voting is a clear route to safe voting, so I would urge all those who wish to vote to apply for a postal vote by 20^th April. However, having attended a meeting with those involved in organising the ballot, it does appear that measures are being put in place to ensure safe voting is also possible at the ballot box on the day. How people choose to cast their vote will, and should, remain a matter of individual choice.

You can meet and quiz all the local election candidates when JesmondLocal hosts a Zoom version of its traditional local election hustings on Tuesday May 4th from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

This online event is free, but to be able to attend, you must register. Details of the Zoom link and passcode will be emailed to all registrants just a couple of hours before the event begins. We will also be emailing registrants with details of how they can put their questions to the candidates.

To get your free ticket, register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jesmond-local-election-hustings-2021-online-tickets-152269302583