B0 newcastle

0 Have your say HE may be the new Lord Mayor of Newcastle – but David Down says he’s still proud of his Portsmouth roots and wouldn’t rule out returning to the city. Cllr Down was inaugurated as Newcastle’s figurehead on May 23, more than 50 years after he got a job as a civil servant for Portsmouth City Council.The 70-year-old had his first taste of local politics when he worked as a junior clerk at Portsmouth’s civic offices in the 1960s.However, he never imagined he would one day swap the civil service for politics, especially not at the other end of the country.Cllr Down, who moved to Newcastle in 1995, said: ‘Not in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen.‘But this was the right thing to do, I have taken the opportunity and am going into it wholeheartedly.‘It was exhilarating and amazing to be named as Lord Mayor. ‘Having started working for local government all those years ago, I did find it quite … [Read more...] about The Portsmouth boy who is now the first citizen of Newcastle

More needs to be done to ensure Sunderland is "more than a day trip from Newcastle in travel guides". That is the view of Councillor Robert Oliver, leader of the city's Conservatives.His comments come after recent remarks from the newly-elected leader of the Labour-controlled city council, Coun Graeme Miller, who told the Echo how he wanted to hear from the public about what they would like to see take shape on the former Vaux site, adding that "‘a city does not stand still".Back in January, regeneration work on the site was halted after the collapse of construction giant Carillion. In March, the council and development partner Siglion said new tenders had been issued.But Coun Oliver believes the site has become "an emblem for stuttering regeneration" on Wearside.He told the Echo: "Setting out his stall as the new leader of Sunderland City Council, Coun Graeme Miller said that, ‘a city does not stand still’, but to many residents that has been the problem in recent … [Read more...] about Sunderland should be ‘more than a day trip from Newcastle in travel guides’ says city’s top Tory

0 Have your say Sunderland needs to be ‘more than a day trip from Newcastle in travel guides’ according to the city’s top Tory That is the view of Councillor Robert Oliver, leader of the city's Conservatives.His comments come after recent remarks from the newly-elected leader of the Labour-controlled city council, Coun Graeme Miller, who told the Echo how he wanted to hear from the public about what they would like to see take shape on the former Vaux site, adding that "a city does not stand still".Back in January, regeneration work on the site was halted after the collapse of construction giant Carillion. In March, the council and development partner Siglion said new tenders had been issued.But Coun Oliver believes the site has become "an emblem for stuttering regeneration" on Wearside.He told the Echo: "Setting out his stall as the new leader of Sunderland City Council, Coun Graeme Miller said that ‘a city does not stand still’, but to many … [Read more...] about Sunderland should be ‘more than a day trip from Newcastle’ says city’s top Tory

A SWINGERS club is set to open in the heart of Newcastle - and will offer randy Geordies bondage gear, a hot tub, and pot noodles. 'Shhh' - thought to be the city centre's first swinger's venue - also boasts a dungeon and a Moulin Rouge-inspired boudoir. Boss John Harrison said: “It has been a long time coming. There is a need for this in Newcastle.” “I think there was one in Newcastle years ago, but that was when people were more sheltered with their views. He claims to have been "inundated" with membership requests ahead of the grand opening on August 3. The former sauna offers special events such as "Frisky Friday" and "Greedy Girls" - as well as "Trans-friendly Thursday". Annual membership costs as little as £10, and promises a “safe, clean and friendly club for adventurous adults and voyeurs”. John - who used to run a pub - added: “It is a venue predominately for couples coming to meet other couples. SHAME IN SPAIN Vile Facebook page mocks … [Read more...] about Inside new swingers club in Newcastle that has dungeon, hot tub, leather swings – and Pot Noodles behind the bar

A COUPLE were found dead at home in Newcastle just weeks after they started dating. Taxi driver Tony Lightburn, 35, was found lying next to girlfriend Rachel Wiszniewska, 36, last Saturday morning. Cops are not treating their deaths as suspicious. Pals lined up to pay tribute to "lovely" Rachel and "big character" Tony. Hayley Murray, who went to school with Tony, said: "They hadn't been together very long but she seemed like a lovely girl and they both seemed really really happy together. "He was as daft as a brush, he was a little tinker, but me and him were always the ones that stuck-up for one another. "I only met Rachel once but she seemed lovely." A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "At 9.43am on Saturday we received a report of concern for welfare for two people. "Police and emergency services attended the address where they found an unresponsive male and female. WORST FEARS Missing Brit Grace Millane was ‘murdered by Tinder date’ as cops arrest man, 26 TINY … [Read more...] about Couple who had just started dating found dead together at Newcastle home