Success?

One of the most interesting things about the demolition programme imposed on Saltwell and Bensham by the planners of Gateshead Council is the propaganda battle to win hearts and minds.

Over the last 7 years newsletters have popped through letterboxes proclaiming success when there is quite a lot of failure. Originally this was all branded BNG (BridgingNewcastleGateshead) to celebrate the undemocratic quango that was funding government cash into the area to demolish homes. They tried to make us love an unaccountable bureaucracy that was largely dominated by millionaire developers and representatives of the building industry.

So how do you make people fuzzy and warm over demolishing their home and how do you get them accepting of the new One Core Strategy, published last year, which requires 4000 more demolitions. Easy - just don't mention the 'd' word!

So the "Live Gateshead - Love Gateshead" newsletter celebrates renovation, rebuilding parks and nothing about demolition. Instead wonderful warm words about future new building plans.

Meanwhile in the real world the economy is going down and there is no prospect of people having a deposit to buy any potential new build. The newsletter is a celebration of fantasy rather than real information for residents.