Newcastle’s new Labour leader has pledged to review plans to pave over Hippy Green and wants to keep grass on the popular city centre square.
City council bosses revealed plans last month for a major overhaul of Old Eldon Square, as part of a wider £50m revamp of the city centre. Concept designs showed how the area’s four turf sections could be entirely removed, to be replaced by new paving, seats, fountains, and planters surrounding the war memorial instead – with local authority officials saying that the grass “significantly restricts” how the space can be used.
But those plans could soon be shelved, after new Labour chief Nick Kemp signalled his desire to protect the green space. Coun Kemp, who last month won the contest to replace the outgoing Nick Forbes, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I am very keen that if I am the council leader in May we would start with a refreshed view of what we can do in Old Eldon Square, which retains the provision for our services personnel and is something that the people of the city can enjoy. And that does include safe green space, in my mind.”
