Alan, Michael and Robert would like to extend to all our website readers a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Details of the proposed works to the A19/A690 slip road have been received by all residents of Park Lea and some houses in West Park from the St Chad's Ward Councillors. Comments are awaited.

Also, information on new and revised bus routes have been received and passed to residents via the Newsletter which can be read in the sidebar of this site.

Alan

During Alan's campaign last May we promised that the election of a third Conservative Councillor would result in more work being be done on behalf of ward residents. This has certainly proved to be the case and the expertise that Alan has been able to bring in his long career in transport and planning has been very beneficial, as the size of his casework will testify.  
 
We do, of course, depend on the speed of action by the Council Officers once a matter has been raised with them and at times the quality of their response varies. In these cases we keep reminding them to address the issue, on other occasions this is not necessary,
 
It is always enjoyable to deliver newsletters around the ward because in doing so we meet many people and stop to have a chat. There is nothing better for us than personal contact with residents in whatever way and we are grateful for the feedback we receive either in person or through letter/e-mail.
 
Michael

We have all attended many meetings over the past few weeks and these include the Sunderland South Forum at the Holy Rosary, Farringdon; Police Engagement Meeting at Farringdon Fire Station; with Gentoo at their Silksworth Offices; Lakeside Residents Forum at Amalfi Tower Community Room; Herrington Heritage Society at Middle Herrington Methodist Church.

Robert was recently at St. Chad's Church Hall for a coffee morning. In addition we have regular meetings with Council Officers over the many parking issues raised, especially in Herrington.

On our November Herrington Newsletter, a copy of which you can find on our website, gives an outline of some of the groups that have been supported by us through the Community Chest Fund. In this present year we have definitely received more applications and, as a result, been able to support a larger number of organisations. We are very pleased with this outcome and feel that the word is spreading as to the availabilty of funds to a greater diversity of people.

St.Chad's Councillors have been out and about with local Police in the ward. On a walking tour of the Lakeside Village, Farringdon and Herrington they discussed current issues such as anti-social behaviour on the cycle path behind Farringdon School. Action was agreed and is ongoing. In addition they got to know more about how local Police patrol the area and how best to make contact with them. Several residents wrote in advance to the councillors to bring issues to them to discuss.
 
Robert

There has been no let-up in the number of issues that are of much importance to our ward residents in the past few months. These include the parking proposals that apply to West Park, Park Lea, Parkside, Parkside South and parts of Broadmeadows, which have now been passed through the relevant Council Committee and unless there are any last minute unforseable objections, implementation should commence in the near future. We have contacted the acting Council officer for an update as to this time-scale. Alan continues to be actively involved with the A19/A690 slip road widening scheme and is in very close contact with residents who may be affected, as well as attempting to get some answers from the relevant authorities. There are concerns at school car parking in Balmoral Terrace, while the Council have promised to put a clearer sign next to the bridle path at Foxcover Lane advising of non-vehicular use. Disappointingly there has been some examples of poor behaviour by youths using the new facilities at the Herrington Play Park with some late-night rowdiness reported. The Police have been asked to make regular visits to try and assist when this arises. Robert is closely involved in this matter. Michael has been busy obaining information from residents as to their preferred sites for new litter/dog fouling bins. Requests have been submitted to the Council on all those received.
 
There has been evidence of anti-social behaviour along the "mineral line" which has caused distress and inconvenience to the Farringdon residents who live nearby. We are in very close contact with the Police over this issue, but other than other isolated examples of bad neighbours, there have been no apparent major problems. The A690 Youth Group should be congratulated on their hard work with local youths during their many summer events which took place on the North Moor playing fields, while through the Community Chest applications we have been pleased to financially support various other group activities that have taken place within Farringdon.
 
We regularly attend the Lakeside Resident's Forum, chaired by Gentoo, which meets monthly and where we discuss issues raised.
 
Michael

The St. Chad's Councillors have been busy during the summer months dealing with local issues in the ward. Alan Wright has been responding to the issue of the closure of the A19/A690 slip road, due to be widened by the Highways Agency to accommodate increased traffic to Rainton Meadows.

Robert Oliver has been promoting youth activities in Farringdon both by sitting on a steering group for the summer activities programme and by helping with allocating funds. Michael Dixon has been busy with many housing enquiries from local residents throughout the ward but especially as a result of a very successful Farringdon ward surgery.

Election night on Thursday 1st May turned out to be memorable for St Chad's Conservatives, as their candidate, Alan Wright, became the third Conservative Councillor to represent the Ward. Alan's majority was a healthy 454 votes, which was a great result bearing in mind it was the Labour Party who were defending the seat.

The election campaign had proved to be enjoyable, with residents throughout the ward giving Alan, Robert Oliver and Michael Dixon a warm welcome, while even those with a different political persuasion were friendly and appreciative of the regular newsletters and contact provided. Alan took to canvassing very early and has made a great start to his time as Councillor by having already met hundreds of residents.

This result gives the ward three Conservative Councillors on the City Council, a complete turnaround since 2004 when, up to then, it was the Labour Party who had three St Chad's Councillors. This has involved continuous hard work on behalf of all the residents of the ward.

Commenting on the result Robert Oliver said

"We were thrilled with Alan's majority and thank all those people who voted for him. Alan was first-class during the campaign when meeting people, while it soon became apparent that the three of us all enjoyed each other's company. I am convinced we will make a good, united team of hard-working Councillors ready to do our best for all ward residents in the years ahead."

Michael

The first month of the New Year has been very busy, with newsletters delivered in Farringdon and Herrington. Both Robert and myself have had a further meeting with the Council Officers dealing with the parking problems from Doxford International. There is much frustration from the many who have their daily lives affected by this massive inconvenience, while other residents, not covered by the proposals, are concerned about the future parking trends once implementation takes place. We are Councillors from the main Opposition Party on Sunderland Council and as such not law-makers. We do, however, have a strong voice locally and see our role as representatives of all views, as we encourage the Council to try and expedite the issue. 

Robert has been dealing with an application to convert the former Chiropodist's Surgery on Cairnside into a Betting Shop. I am unable to enter into proceeedings as I sit on the relevant planning committee but I do know that he has had a big response from residents.  We regularly attend the Lakeside Resident's Forum which meets on the first Tuesday of each month and recently had some success in helping to obtain further seating around the Towers On an almost daily basis we receive some communication from residents about issues affecting them and this is part of the Councillor's role that I enjoy most, especially if it is possible to help solve an issue. However there was much drama at the recent full Council meeting, when after a vote was won by Labour Councillors to ask the press and public to leave the Chamber so that discussion could take place on what they considered was a sensitive issue, the Conservative and Independent Councillors walked out. In addition the Police had to be called to remove members of the public who refused to leave the gallery.

A very dramatic evening and I must say throughout the proceedings, from start to finish, the Labour Leader, Councillor Symonds, whom I quite like personally, was irritable in debate and seemed very downcast. I might be wrong but that was the impression I got, remembering that he only just managed to stave off a challenge to his leadership last May, by a handful of votes.

Michael

To write a few lines of reflection about a year which saw me elected as the second Conservative St Chad's Ward Councillor on the Sunderland City Council is certainly no hardship and I would like to thank all those people in the ward whom I have met or got to know in the past eight months for their kind reaction to me. Year-round hard and continuous work is something that Robert Oliver, who has been so very diligent on your behalf since 2004 and myself, believe is necessary for us to satisfactorily fulfill our duties as your Councillors. Not all problems or issues can be solved, but every effort will be made, whatever the outcome, in the months and years ahead, as it has been in the past.
 
Without doubt a major hope for 2008 is that there will be progress made on the vexed issue of parking in Herrington by employees from Doxford International. At the time of writing we are awaiting contact from the Council Officers for another meeting which we have requested and they have promised to get in touch after certain procedures have been met. Both Robert and myself have received much contact from understandably concerned residents and we sincerely hope a positive outcome can be achieved.
 
On the political front, in the very near future, we should be in a position to announce the name of our Conservative candidate who will be contesting the ward in the May 2008 council elections. The seat is being defended by Labour and we anticipate a very interesting battle ahead. When our candidate's name is known we will post it on our website.

Michael

We are always on the lookout for opportunities for young people in St. Chad's Ward. Last week we were made aware of a Midnight Football scheme run by the A690 group which is having a positive impact in the area. It takes place at Silksworth Sports Complex and has been attracting young people from throughout the area. These young people may, otherwise, have had little to do to but hang around and potentially get into trouble. With some funds left in the ward's Community Chest budget we are hopeful that we can make a significant contribution to keep this excellent scheme going.
 
Robert

In addition to the year-round ward work, there are duties that takes place in the Civic Centre and both Councillor Oliver and Dixon have been allocated positions on important committees by their party. Councillor Oliver sits on Children's Services and Councillor Dixon is on Regeneration and Community. These are ideal committees for both councillors, as Robert can use his expertise as a teacher as well as his interest in education. The same applies for Michael as a Chartered Surveyor by profession. 
 
Both Robert and Michael sit on the South Sunderland Area Committee, along with Councillors from the nearby wards of Silksworth and Doxford. Not long ago this committee was completely dominated by Labour Councillors, but this is no longer true (although to be fair the business is conducted whereby everyone can have a say). There are other committees of which we are members.
 
We both take these committees very seriously and ask the appropriate questions of Officers when they make their reports. By doing this we attempt to ensure that the proper scrutiny process takes place to the best of our ability. If used properly they can be the source of much information and knowledge.

Robert and Michael recently attended yet another meeting with the Council Officers regarding the ongoing parking problems, specifically in Broadmeadows and Park Lea. The Council have extended their original proposals to both areas and we were very keen to discuss this. The Council informed us that they were intending to contact all residents within a few days outlining all relevant details and requesting comments.
 
We are fully aware that there is much disquiet as to where the vehicles will park once the proposals are fully implemented and we raised this very issue with the Officers. At this stage the Council did not consider any extension to the latest proposals was necessary or desirable. Our own view is that the proposals, to date, have merit, but we will continue to keep an open mind as to whether they should be extended.

Local Conservatives had a fantastic result in the Washington East by-election on Thursday 28th September, caused by the resignation of the previous Labour Councillor, gaining the seat with a majority of 202 votes. The winning candidate was Angela Cuthbert who joins her husband Ian as the second Conservative Councillor for this Ward on Sunderland City Council. They will be a great team as Ian has already shown himself to be a very active Councillor since his election last May

Full credit must go an excellent campaign organised to the last detail by Angela and Ian, along with the many Councillors and members who spent countless hours either canvassing or delivering leaflets over many weeks. It was a real team effort and there was a great deal of satisfaction for a job well done.

There is no doubt that the Labour Party fully expected to hold this seat and you could sense the acute disappointment when the result was announced. The Liberal vote was halved from the May 2007 election.

So the Conservative Party have had three Councillors elected in Washington in the space of around 5 months, after being without a single one for 30 years. That is real progress and gives active members and supporters alike much hope for the future.