In the next of our series of interviews with May’s local election candidates, we spoke to Dr. Melissa-Jane Pearson – a medical professional wanting to make a difference on anti-social behaviour and green policies.

What qualifies you to be a councillor in North Jesmond?

“I originally trained [in the medical profession] in Manchester and I moved to Newcastle because I took a job in the private sector. I’ve always been involved in politics from very early on in my career, and since I moved here, I’ve looked at what I can change, what I can do to make it better, and why I should be here for the long-term difference I can make.”

Why are you standing as a local councillor?

“During my career I’ve drawn upon different things in general media and general politics to form what I think is a good place to live and what we need to do to change where we live to be the best place possible.”

The Newcastle Conservatives social media accounts say council tax in Newcastle has increased by 25% since 2017. What should happen instead?

“Olly [Scargill], the candidate for South Jesmond, and I, have agreed on the fact that the university have offered the service of the extra policing in Jesmond to help students feel safer is a great asset. It’s something that is nothing to do with taxpayer’s money – it’s something that the university has funded and something that we really need to home in on, and really make use of the service as much as we can. Your council tax is paying for a police service and we can lower that by using something as simple as what the University is offering us.”

Do you have any strategies to assist the bars and hotels in North Jesmond that will have suffered economically because of the lockdown?

“I think as individuals we should get out there and support our area – don’t always be going into Newcastle if you can go locally. Look what is around you and look what there is on offer in this area.”

Newcastle City Council hasn’t had a Conservative councillor since 1996. What makes you think you can win here in North Jesmond?

“Labour hasn’t had the opposition here, and they haven’t had it for some time – this is the first time we’ve really given them competition. We’ve got good ideas we really believe in – something as simple as how green we are. There’s no food recycling process here, which is something I had when I was a student, something I was very much involved with. All my friends used the service, whereas here we are just told we should just use the general waste bin. That to me shows that we are at a disadvantage when we compare ourselves to other cities in terms of how green we are.”

Some of your other policies include cleaning up streets and repairing road surfaces and potholes. How can you fund that while cutting council tax?

“I think it’s all about a redistribution of where we need services. So, if we’re using services that are being offered to us for free, for example the University offering a free service to us, that allows us to then redistribute our spending. You mentioned the roads, and there’s also no denying we do have problems with anti-social behaviour, and that’s why we’re working closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner to address those issues.

“For example, I’ve got three dogs, and I’ve had issues when I’ve been walking them when there’s been glass all over the floor. This is the type of issue that really does upset me, and I think as a council we can really make a difference on that sort of issue.”

Is there anything you would like to say to voters in North Jesmond, especially the large student population that lives here?

“Consider your environment and where you live, and the fact that you’re going to be here for some time. You should be able to go round and enjoy and appreciate the place you live in, and I think you need to invest in those areas, and we don’t invest enough in this local area. It’s a beautiful area to be, and it’s all about reassessing what resources we have – not just financially, but also in terms of other local resources.”

If you were elected to the council in North Jesmond, what changes would you like to try and make?

“I would work very closely with the Conservative candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner, which is Duncan Crute. He’s got some important issues he wants to solve in terms of anti-social behaviour. As mentioned, there is no denying that we have problems with anti-social behaviour in this area, and we want people to feel safe. I think it’s very topical in terms of what’s been going on in the news with regards to women feeling safe – I want everybody to feel safe, men and women equally, and the only way we can do that is to work really closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner.”

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