My Story

By Darren Metcalfe

West End regeneration. About 15 years ago at the time a big announcement was made by the then Labour government: the west End of Newcastle was going to go through a regeneration period, out with the old houses and in with the new. With a new period of housing that will be build. Through this period I have lived in various houses to which to this date have been demolished. Mainly in Scotswood and in some parts of Elswick as well to which I have to ask this question: what new housing has been built apart from the modernisation of Forrest park flats. 15 years later living back in Scotswood there’s nothing there now, not even Horsham Park that’s gone, where’s everything gone? So much for the regeneration it’s more like degeneration. I’ve lived in Robert Street, Patoria Street, Armstrong Road and White House Road in Scotswood and Northborne street and Westmorland Road in Elswick. It’s the memories that get wiped out as well as the area, as well as the community spirit all at once. I know that the house we live in at the minute will be getting demolished in a few years time, will there be a Scotswood after that?