Blooming good show put on by hanging baskets in street

Feb 7 2008 By The Journal

A ROW of terraced homes in Gateshead are enjoying a splash of winter colour, thanks to a new scheme by Gateshead Council.

Homes along part of Sunderland Road in Gateshead – many of which have received major facelifts under the Bridging NewcastleGateshead housing pathfinder – have been offered their own flower-filled hanging basket completely free-of-charge in a project aimed at encouraging civic pride.

More than 50 residents have said ‘yes please’ to the brightly coloured hanging baskets, which will be re-filled in the spring with summer-blooming flowers.

Sunderland Road is a main gateway into central Gateshead and is heavily used, particularly during the rush hour into central Gateshead. The winter hanging baskets are seen as an excellent way to introduce colour and texture to Sunderland Road and brighten up the frontage along this route.

Hundreds of homes on the south side of Sunderland Road have had major external improvements thanks to funding from Bridging NewcastleGateshead and the Gateshead Housing Company. On the north side of Sunderland Road, work is now under way on a major new mixed tenure housing development by McInerney Homes.

A number of local residents have also agreed to become street representatives for neighbours in discussions with Gateshead Council about the future of the area. Many have also agreed to care for neighbours’ baskets as well as their own.