This week on Look North’s political correspondent Mark Denten looked at how the branding of Gateshead has slipped into the term Newcastle- Gateshead , depriving Gateshead of an individual identity. The Gateshead locals interviewed were less than happy with this scenario!
It is true Gateshead shares transport links and services with Newcastle creating a diverse area to live in. Obviously there has been an effort to raise the profile of Gateshead by placing the Sage and the Baltic south of the Tyne. Yet I wonder to what extent the redevelopment of the town centre in Gateshead has been pushed down the list of priorities because of the argument that all the facilities of Newcastle are yours.
The constituency boundaries have been redrawn for this next election so that all of Gateshead is represented by only one MP. Gateshead has historically been independent and there is little evidence I have come across to suggest that locals want to change this. I believe Gateshead does have a distinct identity all of its own. Newcastle on this occasion can stay out of this one
