April 2025
April has been an incredibly exciting month with so much going on.
I'm sure many of you will have seen the announcement that One Harton Quay has been earmarked for student accommodation as part of South Tyneside College's move into South Shields Town Centre.
It would be wonderful to see this riverside landmark, which you likely remember as the BT building, brought back into use.
Part of our regeneration ambition has focused on strengthening links between the town centre and riverside and generating footfall between the main campus and the student accommodation would do exactly that, complementing the investment that is going into the Mill Dam area.
Our young people will also be educated and trained in state-of-the-art facilities, gaining the skills they need to access jobs in leading industries such as the green economy.
Speaking of industry, it was wonderful to welcome local businesses to the Mayor's annual Business Dinner earlier this month showcasing the talent and ambition driving growth across the Borough. This event allows us to bring businesses together to celebrate the innovation, strength and resilience of our business community, while helping to raise money for the Mayor's Charity.
It's fantastic to see new supported living complexes in Corcorde Way, Jarrow, and Hedgeley Road, Hebburn, now complete. These new bespoke homes are providing specialist accommodation for our residents with learning disabilities, autism and complex care needs.
Our residents have told us they would prefer to live independently in the community rather than go into residential care. These properties, delivered in partnership with Karbon Homes, are far more than just bricks and mortar. They provide a place people can call home, living independently but able to access any support they need.
I was delighted to join youngsters at Whitburn Primary School for their tree planting activities this month.
As a Council we are passionate about the environment and have committed to planting at least 3,000 trees a year in South Tyneside, and being part of the North East Community Forest means we can boost our tree-planting targets while supporting the wider regional response to climate change.
As well as improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions, planting projects like this help to improve biodiversity, further develop our wildlife corridors and enhance greenspaces.
It's always wonderful to see our communities getting involved, particularly when it brings our younger residents closer to nature.
Our incredible Armed Forces communities took centre stage this April with the launch of the wonderful Veterans' Walk in North Marine Park, asA Lasting Tribute to Proud Service.
The new path is set with commemorative stones dedicated to military personnel, paying tribute to the brave men and women who have and continue to service our nation in the air, on land, or at sea, with unwavering courage and dedication.
This special feature, close to Littlehaven Harbour, acts as a permanent reminder of their proud and valued service. It stands as symbol of our gratitude and respect for the sacrifices they have made while providing a place for quiet reflection and solace.
It was an incredibly poignant occasion. Events like these mean so much to me and my family especially as my late father Peter was a veteran.
Support for our Armed Forces continued with a special Anzac Day service when we paid tribute the members of the Australian and New Zealand and Army Corps who fought in the battle of Gallipoli during World War I.
Among those who served was our own South Shields-born Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, known as 'The Man with the Donkey'.
He is a local hero and I was honoured to join the people of South Tyneside in remembering Kirkpatrick and all his comrades for their incredible bravery at the foot of his memorial statue in Ocean Road.
Workers' Memorial Day was another important occasion when we took some time to reflect and commemorate all those people who have died, been injured or left ill due to their work around the world. Tragedies like this sadly still occur and have a devastating impact on families, friends and work colleagues. The special service in North Marine Park was very moving.
It was so exciting to see the line-up announced for our legendary Sunday Concerts.
Once again, we look forward to welcoming people to enjoy the free live music, entertainment and family friendly events as part of our This Is South Tyneside Festival.
Ahead of bringing fabulous big name acts the Borough, our spectacular Summer Parade featuring our amazing community groups will return embracing an 'Environment and Sustainability' theme.
I'm particularly looking forward to The NEXT! Big Thing, a new element in the festival programme showcasing north east musical talent. A selected few singers, bands or groups will then have an incredible opportunity to progress and perform live to a Sunday Concert audience. This is a fantastic platform for up and coming and aspiring artists starting out in their music careers.
Our summer festival has grown to become one of the biggest free festivals in the country, drawing in people from across the region and beyond.
As somebody who has worked in the hospitality industry, I know how important it is to bring visitors into the Borough and to provide free family fun for all our residents.
Councillor Tracey Dixon
Leader of South Tyneside Council