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Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

David Osland @davidosland.bsky.social · 1d

Scrapping stamp duty will cost £11.6bn a year. But it won't house a single one of Britain's 240,000 homeless.

Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 18h

To lose one footbridge may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two footbridges looks like carelessness.

To lose three footbridges really cements what a roaring success outsourcing the City's Parks to Urban Green was, and how not a lot seems to be improving now they're back under direct control.

ChronicleLive - The Chronicle @chroniclelive.co.uk · 18h

Newcastle City Council has closed the Dene Terrace footbridge due to safety concerns, following similar problems that led to another bridge in Jesmond Dene being shut just weeks ago

Fresh safety fears at Jesmond Dene as council shuts second bridge

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

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Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Mandoline Blue 🕸️ @mandolineblue.bsky.social · 20h

Looks like No. 10 has blocked the launch of a crucial report from UK defence chiefs that says UK national security is under severe threat from the climate crisis/looming collapse of vital natural ecosystems, with food shortages & economic disaster potentially just years away.

FFS. I mean SERIOUSLY?

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 22h

National security threatened by climate crisis, UK defence chiefs due to warn

Report by joint intelligence committee delayed, with concerns expressed that it may not be published The UK’s national security is under severe threat from the climate crisis and the looming collapse of vital natural ecosystems, with food shortages and economic disaster potentially just years away, a powerful report by the UK’s defence chiefs is due to warn. However, the report, which was supposed to launch tomorrow at a landmark event in London, has been delayed, and concerns have been expressed to the Guardian that it may not now be published. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 19h

Another crash on Scotswood Road.

Two men driving tipper-style van and HGV injured after crashing near Scotswood Road in Newcastle | Chronicle Live share.google/7Ahu76XxXubn...

Will the Council look at road safety here or will it just be resurfaced exactly as it was before?

Two drivers injured after crashing near Newcastle's Scotwood Road

A section of Scotswood Road was closed while the emergency services dealt with the collision

share.google

Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 21h

We will stand strong where others back down. We will not pander to Reform.

We will fight to protect our environment, stand up for decency and the rule of law, and stop Trump’s America from becoming Farage’s Britain.

If you share those values, now is the time to join the Liberal Democrats.

Ed Davey writes to disillusioned conservatives:
Dear friends,

Our country is at a crossroads.

The Conservative Party under Kemi Badenoch is becoming more extreme and out of touch, chasing Nigel Farage instead of focusing on the issues that really matter to people. Meanwhile, Reform UK is growing in strength - threatening the tolerant, decent values that hold our communities together.

I know many One Nation Conservatives are deeply concerned about the lurch to the hard right in our country and under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership. Her plans to tear up the Climate Change Act and withdraw from the ECHR show she is abandoning traditional British values of tolerance, decency and the rule of law.

So my message to the millions of One Nation Conservatives who feel let down by their party and reject the divisive politics of Badenoch and Farage is to come and join us. Help us save our country and defend the values we all hold dear.

We will stand strong where others back down. We will not pander to Reform. We will fight to protect our environment, stand up for decency and the rule of law, and stop Trump’s America from becoming Farage’s Britain.

So if you share those values, now is the time to join the Liberal Democrats.

With best wishes,

Ed Davey

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Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Cycle Fun Montreal @cyclefunmontreal.bsky.social · 21h

😳Police trend of police not doing the job they are paid to do is quite a surprise, victims of crime say.
#YourTaxDollarsAtWork
road.cc/content/news...

Police blame media for "inaccurate" stories claiming they won't investigate bikes stolen from train stations if they've been left for longer than two hours... before confirming that's actually correct

British Transport Police insists bike theft victims should be reassured that "even if an offence is not investigated, it still provides valuable intelligence"

road.cc

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Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Luke Taylor MP @luketaylorld.bsky.social · 20h

British Transport Police's decision to not investigate bike thefts outside train stations where bikes have been left for more than two hours is really concerning. It could effectively decriminalise it.

Together with Lib Dem colleagues I've written to the BTP to get clarity.

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Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Richard Foord MP @richardfoordld.bsky.social · 1d

Michael Gove finally admitting what we already knew: the Conservatives' trade deal with Australia failed British farmers. Any future deal must be given proper scrutiny by Parliament so that farmers, consumers, and our environment don't lose out again. www.fwi.co.uk/news/gove-ad...

Gove admits Tory trade deals failed to protect UK farmers - Farmers Weekly

Former Defra secretary Michael Gove has admitted for the first time that the Australian trade deal negotiated by the previous Conservative government did

www.fwi.co.uk

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Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

American Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 1d

How to relieve traffic congestion, guaranteed:

Support density, sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and high quality public transit. Give people more reasons to stay out of cars and the road will open up to you.

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Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Iain Roberts @slowbikeiain.bsky.social · 2d

If you care enough about emergency vehicle response times to use it as an excuse to block bike lanes or low traffic neighbourhoods, you should be devoting every hour of the day to working out how to reduce the volume of motor vehicles on our roads.

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 1d

Will look forward to seeing the revised scheme appear on the Planning Portal.

I just hope that the time and cost of paying the design team to value engineer the project, and construction price inflation over that period haven't eroded any potential saving.

Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 1d

(Potentially) great news for residents.

But I still think there are important lessons to learn from this project, both at an Officer and Cabinet Member level.

Designing a scheme that was dependent on a Utility Company diverting a major supply was always going to present a programme risk.

Cont.

ChronicleLive - The Chronicle @chroniclelive.co.uk · 1d

Newcastle City Council says that vital works which are blocking construction of the new Outer West Leisure Centre in West Denton should finally start this month

West Denton leisure centre building work update as council releases new images

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 1d

Great evening with the team from Dwellbeing at the Forum Cafe in #Shieldfield talking all things Planning and Licensing.

And how the Community can be represented effectively and fairly.

Some really thoughtful discussions and hopefully some fresh insights.

Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Jake Gotta @jakegotta.bsky.social · 1d

This is why safe bike routes are the cheapest & most effective climate solution possible right now

Gretchen Donart @gbdonart.bsky.social · 1d

My e-bike has turned my hilly suburban East Richmond area into a 15-minute neighborhood. Post office, hardware store, 3+ groceries, Kaiser, gym, waterfront all in easy reach for this creaky 74 yo.

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 1d

Queuing at the bar? 🫣

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Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Coach Jerry (referee 🔵) @gopher33j.bsky.social · 2d

As somebody with asthma who uses inhalers - SHUT THE FUCK UP. THIS ARTICLE IS SHAMING PEOPLE WITH A CHRONIC CONDITION.

"Significantly" My ass. You know what else does? AI Data centers - corporations - cows - asphalt - THOUSANDS OF OTHERS THINGS THAT ARE NOT MEDICINE.

Fuck you - fuck you again.

Inhalers contribute significantly to global warming, study finds

Millions of Americans using inhalers for chronic lung diseases like asthma may be unknowingly contributing to global warming, according to new research.

local12.com

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Reposted by Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Scottish Liberal Democrats @scotlibdems.org.uk · 2d

Starmer, Badenoch and Farage are all competing to pinch ideas from Donald Trump to make Britain more isolated and insular.

Instead, Liberal Democrats will make the case for internationalism, cooperation and working closely with our allies in Europe and across the Commonwealth.

Independent.

Liberal Democrat leader to make case for ‘co-operation’ on visit to Scotland.

07 Oct 2025.

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 2d

Really pleased to see colleagues have our street lighting partner on site installing new street lights today.

Photo of the street lighting being installed

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 2d

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 2d

Is this the time to consider at grade crossings around the New Bridge Street roundabout?

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 2d

Delighted to see this repair completed and the important pedestrian link reopened.

I do think we need to look at these bridges sustainability though.

They're all of a similar vintage and if the plans for the area gain traction, we could see most of the high level walkways removed.

Cont.

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 2d

'With power comes responsibility' - Hector Bellerin wins BBC Green Sports Award - BBC Sport share.google/SBxrytuBucP6...

Brilliant. Can you imagine the difference if @newcastleunited.com players could cycle safely to the training ground or the match?

Would set a fantastic example.

'With power comes responsibility' - Hector Bellerin wins BBC Green Sports Award

Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin talks about his attempts to live a more sustainable life as he wins the BBC Green Sports Award.

share.google

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 2d

Checks notes for the first thing planned at MetroLand.

A £40m Driving Range.

Former Newcastle Brown Ale site golf plan approved - BBC News share.google/9UwcqIjMWibE...

But it's ok, that'll have good cycling infrastructure?

Nope, a 3m shared path....

The cycling map, that ignores the barrier to cycling that is the A1.

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 2d

Yup.

Don't worry though, the Mayor has already committed the bulk of this Active Travel funding to cycle routes around a housing estate that doesn't exist.

Mayor welcomes active travel funding share.google/thirUiYbekao...

(Arguably something the developers would have had to do anyway).

Cont.

Mayor welcomes active travel funding

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has welcomed £9.5m in funding for walking, wheeling and cycling schemes in the region.

share.google

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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 2d

See Shields Road and the impact of Morrisons and the Byker Retail Park that now bookend the street.

But don't worry, the developers paid a posh sounding consultant to say that it wouldn't impact on the Kwiksave, Netto nor Presto...

(All gone).

And it'll boost the existing non-food shops...

Photo of the cover of a "report on the effects on existing shops and shopping centre of the proposal to develop land at Shields Road for a 82,000 sq ft food store.

Photo of the report. Says Iceland, Kwiksave, Netto and Presto were trading above national averages (before).

"very limited, if any, on existing food shops, while offering a substantial boost to other non-food and service facilities within Shields Road itself".

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