Jesmond, Sandyford & Shieldfield Area - Developments

[gregstone]

The proposal is for a business to operate the tours in exchange for a licence fee arrangement - no cost to the council. It is currently not legal to ride them on roads - although some want to change this - but it is legal to ride them "off road", so the Dene is OK.

[WilfBurnsFan]

Not so bad then. How do I sign up to be Segway Leader?

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by gregstone

The proposal is for a business to operate the tours in exchange for a licence fee arrangement - no cost to the council. It is currently not legal to ride them on roads - although some want to change this - but it is legal to ride them "off road", so the Dene is OK.

That's all right then Greg I'm sure Lord Armstrong will be turning in his grave at the very idea.

Not pre-judging the scheme but surely it will be restricted to some 'off road' arts of the Dene and not the main walks. Cannot be right that folk out for a pleasant walk have to contend with these 'silent machines'.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Steve Ellwood

That's all right then Greg I'm sure Lord Armstrong will be turning in his grave at the very idea.

Not pre-judging the scheme but surely it will be restricted to some 'off road' parts of the Dene and not the main walks. Cannot be right that folk out for a pleasant walk have to contend with these 'silent machines'.

I have to say, as a life long user of the Dene, I am a little concerned about this, along the same lines as Steve says.

Greg - Have all these aspects been considered and has a final decision been taken?

Perhaps we need to know more detail, before further comment.

[gregstone]

I would have thought Lord Armstrong would approve of innovation. Nothing has been decided - a private company has made a proposal, it is being considered. I would have though safety and liability would be the main concerns, though having seen them in action at the weekend, I don't regard them as fundamentally more intrusive or dangerous than riding bikes in the Dene.

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by gregstone

I would have thought Lord Armstrong would approve of innovation. Nothing has been decided - a private company has made a proposal, it is being considered. I would have though safety and liability would be the main concerns, though having seen them in action at the weekend, I don't regard them as fundamentally more intrusive or dangerous than riding bikes in the Dene.

Well Greg we will haven to wait and see the "small print" to see if this is going to be a system used to take folk on leisurely tours around the Dene or for "Segway Safari's" that seem to be popular with Hen and Stag Parties on the South side of the Tyne.

By the way, here's a former Newcastle Councillor who appears to have had the jump on you when it comes to riding a Segway

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...-segway-martyr

[jkkne]

Segways?

Are the council for real? Isn't this all very 1990s?

DO many tourists even go to Jesmond Dene, I can see a bunch of Segways going down really well especially with the dog walkers etc

Cringeworthy but so very Newcastle Council

[leauk]

I love Jesmond Dene, but I'd rather walk than use a Segway.

[gregstone]

just for sake of argument, I think (providing you got the legalities sorted out) a Segway tour running from say the Tyne Bridge along the Quayside, through the Ouseburn, and up to Jesmond Dene stopping at various points of interest would be quite a pleasant summer excursion - too far for most people to walk, but would "join up" the Ouseburn parks and the Quayside quite well.

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by gregstone

just for sake of argument, I think (providing you got the legalities sorted out) a Segway tour running from say the Tyne Bridge along the Quayside, through the Ouseburn, and up to Jesmond Dene stopping at various points of interest would be quite a pleasant summer excursion - too far for most people to walk, but would "join up" the Ouseburn parks and the Quayside quite well.

Sounds good Greg but what are the practicalities of the Segways going up the rise in elevation (i.e. hill) going from the Lower Ouseburn Valley to Jesmond Dene, unless of course NCC are going to open up the Culvert

[shiggy]

waitrose jesmond to open by november 2011

.

[jkkne]

Is Jesmond Dene going to be classed as 'private land' or otherwise wouldn't the use of Segways be illegal?

The use of Segways in continental Europe tends to be in massive open pedestrianised squares where they can see the compactness of the city centre (it simply wouldn't work in Newcastle as they'll end up swerving into the path of Stagecoach buses on Blackett Street or getting knocked off on Northumberland St)

I just don't think the Segway is a thing the British will ever embrace

[Rational Plan]

Unlike a lot of British cities, Newcastle has a highly desirable neighbourhood next to the city centre. Jesmond and Gosforth are minutes from Town, certainly within walking distance of the Hospitals and Universities. I was back up this weekend and stayed on the Osbourne road, and what a nice place to live despite the Student Lets all over the place. It made me think of a nice inner suburb of London, though nobody seems to drive as I could not get over how there were parking spaces left amongst these Victorian terraces and so little traffic.

[tomo90]

I worry that Jesmond will decline a bit with all the students there. West Jesmond (by the metro stop) has already become scatty.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

There's been students in Jesmond for years, I think it's hit a pretty reasonable equilibrium in terms of being scruffy.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by tomo90

I worry that Jesmond will decline a bit with all the students there. West Jesmond (by the metro stop) has already become scatty.

I have a long standing interest in the Jesmond area of Newcastle, having lived in it four different times now, since first moving there as a child in the 1960s.

My parents (at that time) were working for Newcastle University, so even before I became of 'student age' myself, I was quite involved with students, and where they were living, etc.

As Anger says, there have always been LOTS of students in Jesmond, arguably less now than in the 60s and 70s (there certainly 'seems' a lot less) with the increased availability of purpose-built student accommodation in other parts of the City.

As for the West Jesmond area of Jesmond . . . it has never (in my lifetime) looked better (cleaner, tidier, more well maintained gardens, etc) than it does now!! Ever since, a few years ago, the City Council re-surfaced the West Jesmond streets and marked out all the parking bays up and down each side of those terraced streets, it has looked so much neater.

Jesmond, West Jesmond, High West Jesmond (all areas of Jesmond!) have experienced many radical 'changed influences' over the last 40 years or so, but no matter what happens to it, one thing it never seems to do is "decline" . . . so I wouldn't worry about it tomo90!

[geordiejon]

Originally Posted by Rational Plan

Unlike a lot of British cities, Newcastle has a highly desirable neighbourhood next to the city centre. Jesmond and Gosforth are minutes from Town, certainly within walking distance of the Hospitals and Universities. I was back up this weekend and stayed on the Osbourne road, and what a nice place to live despite the Student Lets all over the place. It made me think of a nice inner suburb of London, though nobody seems to drive as I could not get over how there were parking spaces left amongst these Victorian terraces and so little traffic.

I totally agree with you- I can't think of many city centres that have one of the highest house prices/ best neighbourhood right close to the city centre. Jesmond is great- leafy,lively and more upmarket but walkable to the city centre. Jesmond has always had students and hotels but that is its attractiveness- a nice mixture of people.

[Newcastle Historian]

Jesmond Library closes for improvement works
BBC Newcastle "Tyne" Website, 14th March 2011


Jesmond Library was built in 1963 and has a Grade II listing

A Newcastle library has closed for two months for improvement works.

Jesmond Library was built in 1963, and the £40,000 scheme will recreate the original internal look of the Grade II-listed structure.

There will be also be a new front desk, automatic doors and self-service machines, similar to those installed at Newcastle's City Library.


Read More - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-12738376

[inmh88]

I saw 2 Segways being rode through Armstrong Park in the direction towards Jesmond Dene today. It really completely misses the point of having a pleasant walk in the park.

I also know that Mobious of Gosforth have been doing some sort of Design/Advertising work for it.

[Steve Ellwood]

Here's a story concerning the restoration of the 108 year old JESMOND DENE Villa which was built as a Baker and Confectionery Shop in the 19th Century.

Not however 'wor' Jesmond Dene, this one is in Greytown, New Zealand

This cutting is from The Dominion newspaper dated 12th January 2002.