Now I’ve left Greens Place for Amble, yes my house in Green’s Place is for sale, I have time to sit back and reappraise the Slipway Shed Situation. This was from the day the bright new steelwork arrived at H Wilson’s slipway on River Drive.
Subject: Tyne Gateway
From: Melanie
Date: Thu, 5 Sept 2013 22:55:06
To: Mick Dawson
Hi Mick,
Your rantings always welcome.
You are correct in your observations, I spoke at length with the Head Planning Officer this afternoon who kindly emailed the original planning permission from 1996. He gave me the background etc on what is happening, and what they intend to put plans in for next.
As Matthew put it…’They demolished Historic Shipyards to build new houses and now they are building Shipyards in front of Historic houses!
A close eye needs to be kept on how this develops and who takes responsibility.
Melanie
On 5 September 2013, at 22:37, Mick Dawson wrote:
Hi Melanie.
It looks to me to be steelwork to make a cover over the existing slipway. However this may be far from the facts as this council are notorious for doing things through the back door.
A good example of this the public landings which you know quite a bit about:- The one at the Alum went a few years ago by an elegant sleight of hand and now the one at Redheads is about to go. It doesn’t make much sense to me as this town exists because of the river and why are they,the council, now turning their back on it. Water fountains beside the Customs House just do not count.
One needs little creeks and backwaters for people to grow up, develop and feel part of a place and also people like me in my old age to sit by and ponder about life’s changes. I could go on a lot more but your Councillor will say “get to the point” and I will have to shut up.
enough of my ramblings,
cheers Mick
PS. it is a shame to have to say this but you are probably wasting your time, “pissing against the wind ” in common sailors parlance, trying to involve Graeme.
From: Melanie
To: Graeme Watson
Cc: Some residents in Greens Place
Sent:Thursday, September 05, 2013 3:56 PM
Subject:Tyne Gateway
To the Chair of Tyne Gateway
Dear Graeme,
Please convene an emergency general meeting of all members and or prospective members of the Tyne Gateway Association to discuss the development on River Drive of the new shipyard which commenced without notice either from the companies and construction firm involved or from the Local Authority.
Regards,
Melanie Todd, Member of Tyne Gateway Association.
The closure of Readheads Landing went almost unnoticed at the time apart from a few activists concerned about the loss of a right of way and access to the river. Little did we know that it was the closure of this ancient right of way, mid August 2013, that would allow the Port of Tyne to fill in Tyne Dock and effectively put an end to UK Docks business on Commercial Road.
The redevelopment of the slipway on Riverside Drive which UK Docks own now appears to have become a priority. This had for a good many years (10+) not been used for much more than painting the North Shields Ferry. On Aug 13th or 20th UK Docks met with STC Planning and two or three weeks later* work began erecting the shed. One can only speculate what was said at this meeting but it would appear that UK Docks were given the go-ahead to develop the site as they wished.
* two dates were given for this meeting depending on which council official one asked. I suspect one was an official meeting and the other not. Either way only UK Docks and a few officials know what was agreed. Whatever decisions were made it is the nearby residents that will suffer and the council will have to pick up the bills and pay compensation claims.