I know this is one that I have mentioned to some of you before, but it is such a good example of what I am talking about that it bears repeating to those who already know of it. There is an elderly lady who lives near Shields Road. She is not as good on her feet as she once was. She loved to get out and about, including getting the bus to Whitley Bay.

But Shields Road was such an obstacle, being wide and with much traffic that it was impossible for her to get across it. This made her a prisoner in her own immediate neighbourhood. She couldn’t get to the shops or other places she wanted to go. And there were other people in the area who were in the same position. She told me about it, and I took up the issue with the Council.

Once again praise and thanks are due to the Mayor, John Harrison, and the officers concerned. They saw the need and acted quickly. The refuge was put in as soon as possible, and a number of people have regained their freedom. It may not matter to everyone, but it has made a huge difference to the lives of some of our fellow residents.

These good stories are just a couple of examples of what can happen, and what is happening, when you have a combination of active local representatives and good council officers. It is what I believe local politics should be all about, and I’m delighted our local Labour Party is backing me.