Locals have had their say on where £20mn worth of government money should be spent in Percy Main and North Shields, ranging from facilities for young people, tidying up local areas and libraries and community centres.
This week North Tyneside Council bosses are expected to sign off the receipt of £20mn of Pride in Place funding from central government. The money is reserved for areas around Percy Main and North Shields, after having been identified as “doubly disadvantaged” according to government statistics.
The fund is designed to fund grassroots initiatives, organisations, and the general environment of the nearly 300 places selected for similar funding. The Local Democracy Reporting Service went to Percy Main to speak to locals to ask what they want to see happen over the next 10 years of the funding.
Jacquelyn Hancock, 61, who is just moving into Percy Main, said: “I came on the Metro, and I didn’t have any bother, but when I got here, the shop down there is too cramped, so I couldn’t do my shopping. I can’t support the local businesses, so that needs looking at and the state of the bins”.
Jacquelyn continued: “Libraries and community centres, where people can get together and help each other out and support one another”.
The retiree concluded: “It’s a blank canvas and I think they can do a lot to make people proud of where they live.”
Kirsty Fuller, 37, of Meadow Well, said: “More community stuff for the kids to do, for the younger kids. If they’re not doing anything with their time, they go around graffitiing and stealing the bins, etc. More stuff for the younger generation.”
Michael and June Glass, who have lived in Percy Main for the last seven years, would like to see more done about the potholes and local parks.
June, 78, said: “There are great big holes and they will only do the small ones and the pavements are all cracked.”
Michael, 79, added: “You go to the parks, and they are neglected for the children; they don’t spend any money on them.”
Local pharmacist Allan Hogg, 35, said: “It is a nice area, it’s got a nice community feel. One thing that lets it down is the trees and the greenery looking a bit shabby. For example, the Waggonways, that is a really nice place for people to walk, and that will promote healthy living. People are getting out more, especially with this lovely weather we are having.”
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