112459 CENTRAL Edition - Gateshead Housing Company

Above: Left to right, John Monaghan, The Gateshead Housing Company's Senior Tenant Liaison Officer, FHM’s Nicola Waddle,
Michelle Cherrett, Older Persons' Housing Manager, Councillor Kevin Dodds and Stewart Barraclough, FHM’s Site Manager.
Below: Bensham Court, which is set for £1m of improvements.
£1m boost for Bensham
high-rise residents
Residents at a high-rise block near Gateshead
town centre are set to receive over £1m of
home improvements over the coming year.
Bensham Court, which overlooks the Tyne Valley,
is getting 'Decent Homes' work as part of The
Gateshead Housing Company's efforts to give
people good quality homes to live in.
Over 120 residents will have new kitchens,
bathrooms and electrics fitted at the block, which
is only rented to the over 40s.
Further work will see improvements to the
accessibility of the block and landscaping to the
grassed areas around it.
Councillor Kevin Dodds, one of three councillors
in the area, said: "I am pleased the housing
company is working so closely with residents,
local councillors and Gateshead Council, to
literally change the face of housing forever in the
area."
John Monaghan, Senior Tenant Liaison Manager,
said: "As well as making improvements to homes,
we are also committed to improving whole
estates."
Work on improvements to the 126 flats is set to
be completed by late October.
To find out more about Decent Homes
improvement works in Central Gateshead
call 0191 433 5410 or log onto
www.gatesheadhousing.co.uk/decenthomes
Making a difference...
Less than one in six homes are now ‘nondecent’
after the company continued
with its Decent Homes programme.
Over 3,000 homes across Gateshead have
received Decent Homes work in the past
year, including over 500 in Central
Gateshead.
See pages 6 and 17 for more details.
April 2008 to March 2009
Making a difference in
Central Gateshead
11

12
How many homes have we let?
From April 2008 to March 2009 we let 1,666
homes across Gateshead, which is 91 less than
the previous year.
There were 603 houses available to let,
compared to 655 in the previous year. Flats
were the most regularly available property
type, with 699 lets (down from 721).
Two-bed properties make up nearly half of the
available properties (800), with all large fourbed
properties being less obtainable, with only
11 properties available last year.
Two-bed bungalows are in very high demand,
but only 84 became available across Gateshead.
April 2008 to March 2009
And in your neighbourhood...
The Central neighbourhood covers the town centre,
Sheriff Hill, Carr Hill and Bensham areas -
and 349 homes were let.
This area had the most lettings of flats (236),
because of the large number of multi-storey blocks
in the town centre.
It also had the fewest lettings of houses (71) and
bungalows (11).
The first table below shows all properties let from
April 2008 to March 2009 in the Central
neighbourhood, and across the whole borough.
The second table shows our total property stock (all
of the properties we manage) in the Central
neighbourhood and in the whole borough.
1. Properties let: Four-bed All
In Central
(all of Gateshead)
Bedsit One-bed Two-bed Three-bed or more sizes
Bungalows
-
(2)
8
(173)
3
(84)
-
(2)
-
(-)
11
(261)
Flats
14
(36)
87
(298)
126
(348)
9
(17)
-
(-)
236
(699)
Houses
-
(-)
-
(15)
33
(337)
37
(242)
1
(9)
71
(603)
Maisonettes
-
(-)
-
(-)
5
(31)
26
(32)
-
(2)
31
(65)
Sheltered flats
-
(25)
-
(13)
-
(-)
-
(-)
-
(-)
0
(38)
All types
14
(63)
95
(499)
167
(800)
72
(293)
1
(11)
349
(1,666)
2. Property stock: Sheltered All
In Central
(all of Gateshead)
Bungalows Flats Houses Maisonettes flats types
All sizes
164
(3,101)
1,971
(5,444)
1,271
(11,988)
248
(552)
39
(386)
3,693
(21,471)
If you want to know more about homes to let across the whole of Gateshead or just in your area
then ask at your housing office or log onto www.gatesheadhousing.co.uk/homechoice

Who’s Who
in Central Gateshead
Central Gateshead (including Sheriff Hill) - 0191 433 2730
Estate Officer
Michelle Georgeson
Estate Officer
Tracy Wilkinson
Housing Manager
Richard Finlow
Estate Officer
Joanne Raistrick
Decent Homes Team - 0191 433 5410
Tenant Liaison
Manager
Carole Nicholson
Senior Tenant
Liaison Officer
John Monaghan
Tenant Liaison
Assistant
Alison Bulman
Estate Officer
Glen Thompson
Neighbourhood Relations Officer
Jill Borrowdale
Housing Manager
Charlie Mein
Tenant Liaison
Assistant
Jean Laskey
Estate Officer
Rebecca Weightman
Neighbourhood Relations Officer
Vanda Graham
Tenant Liaison
Assistant
Lisa Orton
?
Area Housing
Manager
Brett Routledge
Sheltered
Housing
Estate Officer
Central Gateshead
(inc. Sheriff Hill)
Christine Potts
Administrative
Assistant
Iain Crosbee
13

14
Easy ways
to pay
Did you know you can pay
your rent at over 200
PayPoint locations in
Gateshead and Newcastle
city centre, as well as at all
Post Offices?
All you need to do is take your payment card
and money to anywhere you see the PayPoint
sign including newsagents, supermarkets,
convenience stores and garages.
PayPoint locations in and around
Gateshead town centre
• 8 Till 10 - 101 Coatsworth Road
• Cellar 5 - 172-174 Prince Consort Road
• Costcutter - 201-203 Coatsworth Road
• Deckham News - 286 Old Durham Road
• Deckham Stores - 119 Split Crow Road
• Deckham Supermarket - 322 Old Durham Road
• Ivan's Value Stores - 168 Prince Consort Road
• Jackson Street News - 15 Jackson Street
• J and B News - 212 Durham Road
• Jenny Halls - 4-6 Brinkburn Avenue
• John Cowan Newsagent - 123 Coatsworth Road
• Lychgate News - Lychgate Court
• Metro News - 17 Interchange Centre, West Street
• Saltwell Newsagents - 60 Saltwell Road
• Saltwell Supermarket - Bensham Road, Bensham
• Teams Supersave - 3 Askew Road West
• The Corner Shop - 285 Rawling Road
• Total - Park Road, Felling By Pass
• Wine Bin - 324 Sunderland Road.
Post Office branches
• Saltwell Road - 66 Saltwell Road, Gateshead,
NE8 4XE
• Sunderland Road - 328 Sunderland Road,
Gateshead, NE8 3QP.
PayPoint locations in and around
Sheriff Hill
• A Sockett and Son - 578 Durham Road
• Carr Hill News - 80 Pottersway
• Charnwood Wine Store - 2 Charnwood Gardens
• Co-op North East - 23 Crowhall Lane
• Co-op United - 64 Beacon Lough Road
• Deckham News - 286 Old Durham Road
• Deckham Stores - 119 Split Crow Road
• Deckham Supermarket - 322 Old Durham Road
• Discount Wine Centre - 18 Crowhall Lane
• Finlays Newsagents - 117 Southend Road
• High Felling Discounts - 1 Richmond Terrace
• J and B News - 212 Durham Road
• Jenny Halls - 4-6 Brinkburn Avenue
• Jet Fuelforce - Sunderland Road, Felling
• Keller Cellar - 145 Balmoral Drive
• Long John Silvers - 3 Boxlaw
• Nisa Local - 26-28 Sheriffs Highway
• Sanghera News - 40 Sheriffs Highway
• Sheriff Hill Store - 9-10 Southend Terrace
• Wine Bin - 324 Sunderland Road.
Post Office branches
• Beacon Lough - 10 Boxlaw, Beacon Lough
• Carr Hill - 190 Carr Hill Road
• Sheriff Hill - 102 Sheriffs Highway.
Lanes are tidier than ever
Back lanes are cleaner and tidier than ever in
Bensham and Saltwell. But a campaign to
keep the area spick and span is being
stepped up.
In the last four months, no fewer than 21
persistent fly tippers have been handed fixed
penalty notices by Gateshead Council for
dumping rubbish in back lanes in Bensham and
Saltwell.
The latest fly tipping figures indicate this has had
a marked effect on the amount of waste now
dumped in back lanes.
In July 2008, 256 cases of fly tipping were
reported, and by December this had reduced by
83 per cent.
The work to clean up the Bensham and Saltwell
back lanes is part of Gateshead Council's 'It's
Your Gateshead' campaign, which aims to
encourage residents to take a pride in their
neighbourhood.
As well as fly tipping, the campaign, supported
by the housing company, aims to tackle issues
such as graffiti and littering.
Anyone with information on fly tipping, or
who wants to confidentially report a fly
tipper, can contact Gateshead Council on
0191 433 3000.
A campaign to reduce fly-tipping has had a
dramatic effect in the Bensham area.
Your estate, your views
The Gateshead Housing Company wants your views on how we could make your estate even better.
One way to do this is to come on an Estate Tour - see page 18 for details of your next tour.
But, if you can't make a tour, you can still give us your views and we will make sure your housing office,
our Neighbourhood Relations Team or other services get to hear about it.
Simply fill in the form below and return it to us - no stamp is needed.
Important: You don't have to give us your name and address - but it will help us to give you feedback if
you do. You must tell us the estate you live on though, to help us look at the issue.
Your name:
Address:
Tel: E-mail:
Or
The estate I live on is:
I think my estate is:
What is the most important issue you think the company should tackle on your estate?
(Please just tick one - the one you think is most important)
Untidy gardens Youth disorder Cleaning/grounds maintenance
Better lighting Community facilities Other (please specify)
Please give this to any of our employees, drop into your housing office or post to us (no stamp is needed) at
Freepost Plus RRZG-CLYL-XKRU, The Gateshead Housing Company, Keelman House,
Fifth Avenue Business Park, Fifth Avenue, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, NE11 0XA.

Swanway set for revamp
A Central Gateshead housing estate is set
for a revamp, after Decent Homes work saw
major improvements to homes.
The Swanway estate in Sheriff Hill is set to see a
run-down area improved with a number of longterm
improvements to its look.
Left, Glen Thompson, Estate Officer and John Monaghan,
Senior Tenant Liaison Officer for the housing company on the area
of land set for a revamp.
The housing company is currently looking at a
range of planting and landscaping measures to
improve the area, which has been used for
youths congregating, as well as for moped and
bike riders.
Land, which is currently unused, will be turned
into open spaces for people
of all ages on the estate to
use.
The work, which could start
later this summer, will see
grass areas seeded, trees
planted, new footpaths
created and new lighting
installed.
Estate Officer, Glen
Thompson, said: "The
Decent Homes work in the
area made a real difference
to people’s home.
"Hopefully, once plans are
agreed, the improvements
to the rest of the
Swanway estate will make
living here even better."
Residents ‘see through’ plans
Residents at two Central Gateshead highrise
blocks are set to see at first hand almost
£700,000 of improvements to their homes
this summer.
Over 400 new windows are being fitted at
Newbolt and Tennyson Courts, which are close to
Gateshead Stadium Metro and Sunderland Road.
Work has seen
hundreds of new
windows being
installed from the
outside, using
cradles
suspended from
the 100-foot
high blocks.
The operation has seen existing
windows removed and replaced on
each level of the 11-storey block,
with contractors working at
dizzying heights.
The new double-glazed windows
will not only improve the look of
the two blocks, but also help
tenants, especially elderly ones, to
reduce their heating bills.
Carole Nicholson, The Gateshead,
Housing Company's Tenant Liaison
Manager in Central Gateshead,
said: "The new windows will not
only make the flats warmer later
this year, but also improve the look
of both blocks to the thousands of Metro
passengers and drivers that pass them each day."
To find out more about Decent Homes work
in Central Gateshead call 0191 433 5410
or log onto www.gatesheadhousing.co.uk/
decenthomes
Windows are replaced at the high-rise blocks.
Making a difference
in Central Gateshead
The housing company has been doing a lot to
improve Central Gateshead with the help of
customers – here are just a few recent examples:
Bensham and Saltwell
Former football
manager Lawrie
McMenemy MBE
recently toured parts
of Gateshead to see
how much it has
changed in recent
years and look at ongoing work to improve
housing.
The visit was part of a DVD being made to
promote housing market renewal in the
Bensham, Saltwell, Brandling and Felling areas of
Gateshead.
Around £8m is being spent to make simple
improvements to existing houses in the area as
part of the Bridging NewcastleGateshead
pathfinder scheme.
Bensham and Saltwell
More than 90 people from Bensham and Saltwell
have signed up to represent their neighbours by
becoming Street Representatives.
The 'Street Reps', who come from all walks of
life, are acting as a focus for information about
the area's redevelopment.
Gateshead Council
intends to roll out the
Street Representative
programme across
the borough.
To find out who your
Street Rep is call
Deborah McKenna, Neighbourhood
Management on 0191 433 2699.
Sheriff Hill - Hodkin Park
Children from South Street school in Gateshead
have been lending a hand to make Hodkin Park
in Sheriff Hill a more pleasant place for everyone
in time for the summer.
The pupils planted new herb beds as part of a
package of improvements to make the park
lighter and more open by pruning and clearing
dense trees and shrubs, and replacing them with
more appropriate and inviting planting.
Working with local residents, the Police and
The Gateshead Housing Company, Gateshead
Council have
cleared dens and
hideaways in the
park to make
local people feel
safer when in
the park.
15

16
Local information
Housing offices
Your housing office can offer you a range of
services, including advice on rent or to make
payments, neighbourhood nuisance issues
and benefits advice.
In Central Gateshead the housing company
has offices at:
Central office (including Sheriff Hill)
Gateshead Civic Centre, Regent Street,
Gateshead, NE8 1HH
• Monday - 8.45am to 5pm
• Tuesday - 8.45am to 5pm
• Wednesday - 8.45am to 3.45pm
• Thursday - 8.45am to 5pm
• Friday - 8.45am to 4.30pm
Tel: 0191 433 2730
E-mail: centraloffice@gatesheadhousing.co.uk
Decent Homes Team
This team covers Central Gateshead, including the
town centre and Sheriff Hill and works with Frank
Haslam Milan Limited for the improvements.
Tel: 0191 433 5410
E-mail fhm@gatesheadhousing.co.uk
Tenant and residents’ groups
Tenant and resident groups are made up of
volunteers from the local community.
Groups encourage residents to get involved with
local issues, with meetings open to everyone.
Tenant and resident groups in your area are at:
Argyle Residents' Association
Margaret Walker 75 Milton Square, Argyle
Estate, Gateshead, NE8 3HJ Tel: 0191 477 7165
Bensham Court Tenants' Association
John Biggs 88 Bensham Court, Bensham,
Gateshead, NE8 1XY Tel: 0191 440 4312
Claremont and Cotfield Tenants'
Association
Jean Garrett 27 Claremont Walk, Bensham,
Gateshead, NE8 1TZ Tel: 0191 490 1386
Claremont Place Residents' Group
Alan Pollock 1 Claremont Place, Bensham,
Gateshead, NE8 1TL
Tel: 0191 490 0543 E-mail:alansp@gmail.com
Deckham Forum Focus Group
Evelyn Brown Gateshead Council,
Gateshead Civic Centre, Gateshead, NE8 1HH
Tel: 0191 433 2415
Marian Court
Marilyn Young 94 Marian Court, Gateshead,
NE8 2JU Tel: 0191 421 1771
Regent Court Tenants' Association
Betty Hoggins 104 Regent Court, Gateshead,
NE8 1HA Contact via Evelyn Brown
Tel: 0191 433 2415
Sheriff Hill Older Persons' Group -
'Golden Oldies' Luncheon Club
Lynda Ainsley 150 Carr Hill Road, Gateshead,
NE9 5LY Tel: 0191 440 4037
Parking nightmare is over
Left to right, Councillor Bob Goldsworthy, Charlie Mein, Housing Manager for The Gateshead Housing
Company and resident Ian Megaughin see resident Ray Cook (in van) officially open the car park.
Residents at a high-rise block in Gateshead
town centre are now able to park safely and
securely thanks to The Gateshead Housing
Company.
The company recently installed barriers and key fob
access to Warwick Court after residents became
unable to park due to shoppers and other workers
using their spaces.
Now, space has been created for over 80 residents
to park, without having to resort to using side
streets or pavements.
And, while work is being carried out to improve
nearby Regent Court, residents from that block are
also getting to use the new car parking spaces.
£800,000 to solve
life's little problems
Repairing footpaths, new signs and
improving street lighting are just some of
the schemes across Gateshead that will be
carried out this year.
Over 40 schemes suggested by residents and
local councillors to improve neighbourhoods are
included in the list of works approved to take
priority during 2009.
The ward improvement schemes are mainly small
scale ones, which although not costing huge
amounts of money, will make big differences to
areas and peoples' lives.
Gateshead Council will be spending up to
£800,000 on 41 ward improvement schemes.
Bill Fullen, Chief Executive of the housing
company, said: "Getting things right at a
neighbourhood level and listening hard to our
residents is something we are very committed to.
“We hope Gateshead Council's scheme will help
make all of Gateshead a little bit better."
Ray Cook, who has lived at the block for nine
years, said: "It's much better to have a safe and
secure spot now."
Ian Megaughin, who has lived in the block for
seven years, said: "The barriers are working well
and we aren't having any parking problems now."
Councillor Bob Goldsworthy, one of three
councillors in the area, said: "A number of
residents had brought up parking problems caused
by workers and town centre shoppers.
"We got together with the housing company,
and I am delighted that we have solved the
parking problems.”
Ward
improvement
schemes in
your area for
2009 are:
• Boundary wall
repairs to former
Windmill Hills School site
• Introduction of access points to the back of
Milton Square
• Improved street lighting on Humber Gardens,
Deckham
• Resurfacing of back lanes in Eastbourne and
Westbourne Avenues, Windsor Avenue and
Rectory Road areas
• Improved lighting and remove one of the
shelters at Hyde Park Street Park
• Improved car parking beside Enfield Road.

April 2008 to March 2009
How did we perform in...
Central Gateshead?
Rent arrears
In Central Gateshead total rent arrears reduced
by £75,000 and average arrears reduced from
£99 in April 2008 to £80 in April 2009.
HomeRepairs
In Central Gateshead 99.30 per cent of all repairs
were completed on target. 96.84 per cent of
appointments were made and kept. These were
both improvements on last year’s performance.
Anti-social behaviour
From April 2008 to March 2009, 96 per cent of
closed cases were resolved without legal action
in Central Gateshead. In total, 243 new cases
were opened and 159 actions were taken.
Letting homes
In Central Gateshead we took on average 37
days to let properties during 2008/09. This was
two days quicker than in 2007/08.
Decent Homes
From April 2008 to March 2009, 513 properties
received Decent Homes improvements in your
area. Boroughwide, 3,524 homes received
improvements during the year.
Empty homes
At the start of April 2009 there were 56 empty
homes out of 3,693 in Central Gateshead. This
was a reduction of 17 on the previous year.
Estate Tours
There have been 219 Estate Tours carried
out in Central area from April 2008 to
March 2009. 37 per cent were attended
by residents. Across Gateshead 1,167
tours were carried out, with 57 per cent
attended.
If you want to know more about how we
perform across the whole of Gateshead
or just in your area then ask at your
housing office or log onto:
www.gatesheadhousing.co.uk/performance

Central
• Town Centre
• Sheriff Hill
We will tour all estates
including sheltered housing
and blocks of flats on at least
a bi-monthly basis.
Residents will be offered the
opportunity to accompany
the Estate Officer during
these tours.
We will identify and take
appropriate action with regard
to any issues detracting from
the appearance of an estate.
Feedback from the Estate
Tours will be provided to
residents.
We will publicise the dates
of all Estate Tours.
We will monitor our
performance and publish
the results.
Tours can take up to two
hours depending on the
size of the estate, you can
join in at any part if you
do not want to take part
in the whole tour.
July-Oct Tours
Town Centre and Sheriff Hill For more information contact: 0191 433 2730
Ventnor Crescent
Tuesday 18 August – 11am
Tuesday 20 October – 11am
Claremont
Wednesday 12 August – 2pm
Wednesday 14 October – 2pm
Coatsworth
Tuesday 11 August – 10am
Tuesday 13 October – 10am
Worcester Green
Tuesday 28 July – 10am
Tuesday 29 September – 10am
Adelaide Court
Tuesday 18 August – 10am
Tuesday 20 October – 10am
Brisbane Court
Tuesday 21 July – 10am
Tuesday 22 September – 10am
Melbourne Court
Tuesday 18 August – 10.30am
Tuesday 20 October – 10.30am
Sydney Court
Tuesday 21 July – 10.30am
Tuesday 22 September – 10.30am
Park Court
Tuesday 18 August – 10am
Tuesday 20 October – 10am
Priory Court
Tuesday 18 August – 10.30am
Tuesday 20 October – 10.30am
Peareth Court
Tuesday 18 August – 11am
Tuesday 20 October – 11am
Regent Court
Thursday 20 August – 11am
Thursday 22 October – 11am
Warwick Court
Thursday 13 August – 11am
Thursday 15 October – 11am
Abbot Court
Wednesday 19 August – 11am
Wednesday 21 October – 11am
Monk Court
Wednesday 19 August – 10am
Wednesday 21 October – 10am
St Mary’s Court
Wednesday 22 July – 10am
Wednesday 23 September – 10am
Chandless
Thursday 23 July – 10am
Thursday 27 August – 10am
Sunderland Road
Thursday 6 August – 10am
Thursday 8 October – 10am
Newbolt Court
Wednesday 29 July – 9.30am
Wednesday 30 September –
9.30am
Tennyson Court
Wednesday 29 July – 10.15am
Wednesday 30 September –
10.15am
St James’ Village
Thursday 30 July – 10am
Thursday 1 October – 10am
Argyle Estate
Thursday 30 July – 11am
Thursday 1 October – 11am
Abbey Court
Thursday 23 July – 10am
Thursday 24 September – 10am
Milvain Close
Tuesday 28 July – 3.30pm
Tuesday 29 September – 3.30pm
Mount Pleasant
Wednesday 5 August – 11am
Wednesday 7 October – 11am
Acquired Property (Shipcote)
Tuesday 18 August – 2pm
Tuesday 20 October – 2pm
Marian Court
Thursday 13 August – 2pm
Thursday 15 October – 2pm
St Cuthbert’s Court
Thursday 13 August – 10am
Thursday 15 October – 10am
Fieldhouse
Thursday 6 August – 2pm
Thursday 8 October – 2pm
Deckham
Thursday 16 July – 11am
Thursday 17 September –11am
Sheriff Hill
Tuesday 21 July – 9am
Tuesday 22 September – 9am
Carr Hill
Tuesday 21 July – 9am
Tuesday 22 September – 9am
Blue Quarries
Tuesday 14 July – 10am
Tuesday 15 September – 10am
Florence Avenue
Thursday 10 September – 11am
Centurion Way
Tuesday 14 July – 10am
Tuesday 15 September – 10am
Bensham Court
Tuesday 25 August – 11.30am
Tuesday 27 October – 11.30am
Milvain Close
Tuesday 28 July – 3.30pm
Tuesday 29 September – 3.30pm
Mulgrave Villas
Thursday 23 July – 3.30pm
Tuesday 22 September – 3.30pm
To find out more about Estate Tours in your
area contact your housing office or visit www.gatesheadhousing.co.uk/estatetours