Ouseburn pollution pledge after Lib Dems sweep North Jesmond by-election

Peter Allen held the North Jesmond seat vacated by long-serving Gerry Keating for the Liberal Democrats on Thursday.

The 64-year-old, who previously served on the council for nine years and was a prominent member under the authority’s former Lib Dem administration, secured almost 65% of the vote in what has in the past been a closely-contested ward.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after his victory was announced at the Civic Centre on Thursday night, he said: “What I want to achieve is actually very simple – do the simple things and do them well. Clearing up the back lanes,  repairing footpaths, repairing potholes, dealing with anti-social behaviour and also encouraging students to be part of the local community.

“And, above all, it is about cleaning the pollution out of the Ouseburn.”

The Durham University scholar had last week called on Newcastle City Council to consider legal action against Northumbrian Water over the damage caused by sewage dumping, after a report last year warned that pollution levels in the Ouseburn posed a “significant risk” to people’s health.

Coun Allen, who lives in Walkerville, added: “Something has to happen and happen quickly. We can’t keep putting sewage into our water. The risks of E. coli infections to kids and pets playing close to the water in places like Jesmond Dene is just not on. And the council cannot say it is not their problem, they own the Dene as the major trustee of the Armstrong Trust.”

He had previously been councillor for Walkergate between 2003 and 2012 and held the finance portfolio within the Liberal Democrat cabinet at the time when the party ran the city council.

The grandad-of-two also reserved praise for his predecessor, a well-respected and popular figure in Newcastle politics who stepped down due to ill health this summer.

He said: “Gerry and I have campaigned together for over 30 years. I was honoured to take over from him in the circumstances with him having to retire, and I wish Gerry and Lucy well. At door after door that I knocked on, I found people saying that if Gerry said I was a good guy then they would vote for me. I know they really appreciate everything that Gerry did over the years.”

The Lib Dems claimed 64.5% of the vote on Thursday, finishing more than 500 votes ahead of Labour on a turnout of 23.7%.

While previously considered one of the city’s tightest electoral races, with 50 votes or fewer separating Newcastle’s two main political parties in the ward in both 2021 and 2022’s local elections, the Lib Dems have been comfortable victors since.

Anger surrounding the Jesmond Low Traffic Neighbourhood, which was removed earlier this year by the Labour-run council after months of heated debate, was viewed as a key factor in the shift.

After Thursday’s by-election, the political makeup of the council is now: Labour 45, Lib Dem 23, Independent 4, Newcastle Independents 3, Green 2, Conservative 1.

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The full result was: 

Peter Allen (LD) – 740

Callum Buchanan (LAB) – 234

Stephen Dawes (CON) – 35

Anas El-Hamri (REF) – 26

Shehla Naqvi (G) – 93

Liz Panton (Party of Women) – 19