Believed produced by Jes Benstock while a student at the North East Media Training Centre, a documentary about the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (TWDC) and their plans to re-develop large part of both Tyneside and Wearside. Focusing on the developments along the Newcastle Quayside and Royal Quay’s at North Shields, the film speaks with both senior members of the corporation about the positives they believe they are bringing to the region, as well as councillors and members of...

Believed produced by Jes Benstock while a student at the North East Media Training Centre, a documentary about the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (TWDC) and their plans to re-develop large part of both Tyneside and Wearside. Focusing on the developments along the Newcastle Quayside and Royal Quay’s at North Shields, the film speaks with both senior members of the corporation about the positives they believe they are bringing to the region, as well as councillors and members of community action groups who are critical of the work being done and sceptical of the benefits it would bring to local communities. Underneath the Tyne Bridge crowds walk past stalls set up along the Newcastle Quayside as part of the Sunday market. A man wearing a sandwich board and carrying a sign containing biblical script walks through the crowd passing a puppeteer performing with a banjo player on a nearby bench. A video effect is used to slow the footage down and make the film appear jittery. As a Tyne and Wear Metro car travels towards North Shields passing over the Byker Viaduct, several newspaper headlines relating to development undertaken by the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (TWDC) superimposed over it. The car comes to a stop at North Shields changing to views of the nearby Tyne. More slow-motion footage of dignitaries walking into a large marquee, a banner across the entrance is for the TWDC with more newspaper headlines superimposed over it the footage. An except is played from a radio advertisement for the TWDC. Title: This is a Radio Advert for the Newcastle Business Park One of a range of schemes partly funded by a Government Quango A Quango which will be working in this region until 1997 The logo for the TWDC changes to a Liverpudlian comedian mocking and criticising the Newcastle Quayside development which features the building on a new Crown Court. He concludes by saying that in a few years’ the only time local people will see the quayside will be to attend court for the non-payment of the Poll Tax. Title: In 1987, the government created an Urban Development Corporation in the Tyne and Wear area A photograph of Margaret Thatcher and the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation logo again. Title: Why? John Scally, Director of Developments at the TWDC outlines a government principle that the private sector should lead the way with regards regenerating the inner-city. He goes into explains that to get the private section interested they need to provide attractive sites and bridge the gap between normal risk and higher inner-city risk through grant monies. Alistair Balls, Chief Executive for the TWDC sees the banks of the River Tyne as key community asset that have been scared by 'maturing industries'. As he talks about the need to have a professional body to deal with this legacy and help make the land reusable and profitable from the point of view of the community, an old industrial site along the Tyne seen from a boat on the water. Title: Newcastle: St Peter’s Basin The derelict St Peter’s Basin changes to a model of a proposed new marina development and a clip from a promotional video in which Margaret Thatcher helps to lay a foundation stone on the site. Dave Byrne from the Riverside Action Group talks about the development of the TWDC as well as the Urban Development Corporations (UDC) and is critical of their powers it has to take away planning decision from democratically elected local governments. He is also critical of the resources and funding it receives from central government. Title: Tyne and Wear Development Corporation has been given parcels of land along both riverbanks A map of Tyne and Wear featuring seventeen parcels of land granted to the TWDC for re-development along both rivers is followed by aerial photographs of some of these sites. Title: They have been charged by the government to “Do something about those inner-cities” Alistair Balls provides details of the two main task the corporation believes it has to do; kickstart the private section into becoming re-involved in development and to alter the image and perception of the area. Title: TWDC prepare the land ready for private developers to come and regenerate the area with new buildings From a boat on the Tyne views of the Newcastle Quayside. Title: TWDC assemble the land ready for developers using two of their powers Superimposed over the boat as it continues to travel downstream from Newcastle, the front page of the 1987 Town and Country Planning, England and Wales act and an artistic impression of what the Newcastle Quayside development would look like. Title: Power No. 1. TWDC can ‘vest’ (take control of) publicly owned land Again, over the boat continuing to travel downstream the front page of the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (Vesting of land) (Various Local Authorities) Order 1989. Over the following title the Rose and Crown public house. Title: Power No. 2. TWDC can force people to sell land and buildings with Compulsory Purchase Orders With the boat continuing its journey along the Tyne, the front page from a Public Inquiry into Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (East Quayside Newcastle upon Tyne) Compulsory Purchase Order 1989. An aerial view of a dry dock on the Tyne changes to a clip from a TWDC promotional video featuring a model of the East Quayside development. Alistair Balls says that the TWDC believes it should be using the money and powers it has to make a dramatic difference which will alter people’s perceptions of what the Tyne is and can be. However, Councillor David Corkey from North Tyneside (Chirton) believes it is highly questionable that the UDC can be allowed to bring in ‘draconian powers’ and override the wishes of local people to introduce major changes to the landscape. Returning to Alistair Balls, he concedes the TWDC is not accountable to the local authority, but that a body is needed to cut through normal processes. North Shields resident Dusty Usher is critical of quangos that have been allowed to run up and down the river and compulsory purchase properties and only offer low valuations to the owners. Title: Two of the schemes are TWDC’s ‘Flagship Projects’ The waters of the Tyne changes to a tableful of leaflets relating to these ‘flagship projects’, the camera focuses on the logo for the Quayside development. Title: Royal Quays (North Shields) and Quayside (Newcastle) A model of the Newcastle Quayside development featuring in a promotional video for the corporation. Title: Flagship No. 1. Quayside (Newcastle) The proposed development would stretch from Milk Market to the Ouseburn and as far as City Road From a boat on the Tyne the area along the Newcastle Quayside outlined above. Title: The whole area would be transformed if the scheme went ahead A montage of images showing the proposed quayside development is followed by images of the East Quayside Group over the following title. Title: The East Quayside Group was set up by local clergy and politicians to try and make sure that local people benefit from and development on Newcastle Quayside The Newcastle Quayside with cars parked nearby and the Tyne Bridge in the distance morphs into an artistic impression of the same site following development. Title: The private developer is Newcastle Quayside Developments Geoff Kell and Norman Banks from the East Quayside Group explains why they thinks the development isn’t good enough for Newcastle. Over views a model on the development the following title. Title: N.Q.D. is a consortium of Shearwater (national developers) and Stanley Miller (local builders) Over more views of the model the voice of a man who talks about another Shearwater development he has seen in Sheffield that appear to be the same as the Newcastle one. Michael Harris from New Quay Consultancy talks about a second Shearwater development called Ocean Village at Southampton which he has seen and is critical of its concept. Councillor Rick Anderson from Newcastle (Sandyford) talks about the poor relations that currently exist between Stanley Millers and the city. A montage of still images related to the titles below. Title: As yet, there has been no building on the site because everyone is waiting for the outcome of a Public Inquiry The Public Enquiry examined the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders to clear the site. Were the CPOs justified? Many local groups objected to the CPOs. The multinational Proctor and Gamble do not want their offices knocked down by the new scheme A boat sits on a quayside with men working around it. Again, a video effect is used to slow down the footage. Title: Ouseburn Watersports (a local leisure club) would also be removed from the site area Bob Langley from the East Quayside Group explains that Ouseburn Watersports was a good example of the removal of something good and local by something alien and from the outside. From another TWDC promotional video four men walk along the Newcastle Quayside followed by the model of the development seen earlier in the film. Title: The Public Inquiry heard that TWDC will spend over £27m of public money to change the shape of the riverbank so that NQD can build their ambitious scheme Alistair Balls and several other men in suits walk through a building site towards a waiting coach. Michael Harris is critical of the money that is to be spent ‘below group’ to re-sculpture the landscape as it doesn’t need it. John Scally says that while it hard to justify this on financial terms, he believes they can’t allow the ‘dereliction’ to drag Newcastle down. Michael Harris and Ian Falconer from the East Quayside Group both express concerns about the development work which could be damaging to the Quayside itself if not done properly. Title: The Public Inquiry was also worried about the impact of increased traffic on the whole area In a promotional video Alistair Balls stands chatting with a group of men. John Shaw, a local business, is concerned about added traffic congestion on Newcastle’s roads and bridges which are already too busy, he is concerned it will make the place a ‘ghetto’ where no one will want to go to. John Scally explains how the development will not add to the problem of congestion, but Councillor Rick Anderson is not convinced by their proposals. Lyn Boyd from the East Quayside Group is dismayed that not enough local people have taken up the initiative more in give their views of the development. She’s concerned that only once it is completed that people will be alarmed by what has taken place. A local musical group perform a song protesting the Newcastle Quayside development. Title: There has been a louder response from local residents around the site of the proposed Royal Quays scheme A clip from a TWDC promotional video for the Royal Quays development. Over the following title John McDonald, Developer for Royal Quays explains that he wants the development to be part of North Tyneside and will mark the North-East as a region that’s going places. Title: The proposals from Royal Quays Development Consortium include retail, housing, leisure, and a small amount of industrial space Views of various areas of a model of the Royal Quays development, in voiceover a man explains the need for development in North Shields, but what has been proposed is not for the people of the area. Title: The Riverside Action Group was set up to oppose the plans for the Royal Quays They believe that the scheme is ill though out and will be of no benefit to the surrounding communities such as the run-down Meadow Well Estate Austen Rowley from the Riverside Action Group explains his criticism of the Royal Quays development and the building of a marina. He asks, who in North Shields owns a yacht? While John Scally tries to provide details on some of the positives with regards the whole 200-acre Royal Quays development, Councillor Rick Anderson believes that he sees the TWDC wanting to create its own gated village community similar to ones in the London’s Dockland’s that is separate from the areas around it such as the nearby Meadow Well estate. Councillor Anderson concludes by saying the site is also important as it is a ‘strategic industrial site’ with the potential to create jobs. From a boat on the Tyne the site of the Royal Quays development with pages from the Riverside Action Group proposals superimposed over it. Title: The Riverside Action Group have put together their own proposals for the area. Their plans include more industry and stress the need for job creation North Tyneside Council are also unhappy about the plans for Royal Quays Councillor David Corkey explains that if North Tyneside Council owned the land at Royal Quays they would use it for manufacturing and port related activities spending the £50m grant to create jobs and employment and thus create wealth. However, Sally Thomas the Community Development Advisor to the TWDC explains that Councillor Corkey’s plans are not realistic economically. The sequence ends with John McDonald, the developer at North Quays’, stating he believes there are opportunities for the industrial development and provides further details. From a Tyne and Wear Metro car the Byker Wall development and the Meadow Well estate passing at speed. Title: Both ‘flagship’ schemes are surrounded by inner-city areas which have two main needs. HOUSING and JOBS In slow-motion cars parked in front of a housing development. Title: HOUSING One of the cars drives out of the development through a decorative metal gate which closes behind it. Various voices from both the TWDC as well as local activist groups such as Pat Rivers from the North Tyneside Tennant’s Forum discuss housing predominantly for the Royal Quays development on North Tyneside. The biggest criticism raised with regards all the developments is affordability and the fear that residents maybe priced out of their own areas. Title: JOBS In slow-motion a building site with men working on it changing to men and women shopping inside North Shields Indoor Market, a newspaper headline about 20,000 job coming to the riverside is superimposed over the footage. Again, a variety of voices discuss the question of jobs that are to be generated by the corporation. While Sally Thomas from the TWDC is upbeat about the variety of opportunities that will be created in professions such as clerical, retail and leisure, other voices want to know more about how these jobs will benefit the local community as many of them will be in the service section, often part-time and low paid. A workman watches over a bucket of concrete being lowered onto a building site along the Tyne, John McDonald from the TWDC sees the positive with potentially 3000 people being employed in construction over the next 5 or 6 years. However, Maureen Madden, a resident of St Anne’s near the Newcastle Quayside speaks about security guards working for the Crown Court along the quayside who are paid only £1.50-an-hour. She also explains that as this is a non-union job they can’t complain as they will simply be replaced. She fears this will be the same in both the service and retail sector. Another clip from a TWDC promotional video focusing on housing and employment changes to Nancy Peters from the Meadowell Action Group who says that there are skilled people on Meadow Well, but all that’s available to them is as ‘cheap labour’. Again, more voices talk about what opportunities are available for local people on Meadow Well with Sally Thomas providing details about a ‘Community Recruitment Programme’ that will bring jobs and training to local people. However, several local residents want to see more permanent work in the areas in skilled positions that would give the area and its people a future. Title: The Government’s own watchdogs have criticised the UDC’s record on job creation The front cover of a National Audit Office report ‘Department of Environment: Urban Development Corporations’. Title: The National Audit Office describes the laws that set up UDC’s as ‘too vague’. The House of Commons Select Committee on Employment also criticised UDCs for having no policy on jobs The front cover of said Employment Committee third report entitled ‘The Employment Effects of Urban Development Corporations’. Dave Byrne from the Riverside Action Group cites evidence given to the select committee that UDC’s are not interested in job creation rather land regeneration and those people who live in these areas are largely irrelevant. Sally Thomas explains that while there isn’t any government legislation for the TWDC to have social and job creation role, she does believe it is important to the corporation to have one. However, Councillor Rick Anderson sees these comments in their literature more to do with PR than the needs of the local community. Title: Last year TWDC spend £1/2m on their community advertising campaign to try and persuade local people of the benefits of the ‘flagship’ schemes Again, slow-motion footage of shoppers wondering the Newcastle Quayside Sunday market with some of the advertising material mentioned above superimposed over it. Over a montage of promotional images that includes one of Margaret Thatcher visiting the development the voice of Alistair Balls explaining that through this promotional material he wants to give the corporation a ‘human face’. Michael Hines and Robert Mee from Robson Brown Advertising provide details of the ‘local community campaign strategy’ they have been working on to promote the TWDC. Another radio advertisement for the Royal Quays Exhibition with accompanying still images featuring two men in large sunglasses with both Michael Hines and Robert Mee explaining the relevance of the sunglasses as providing a ‘bright new future’ for Tyneside and for the campaign creating a mood of optimism and prosperity. The sequence ends with the campaign band seen performing previously now performing another song critical ‘yuppies and investors’ on the Tyne. Alistair Balls talks about the desire of the corporation to have a development that people wanted and so held the East Quayside Exhibition in the Guildhall to gather people’s feedback. A clip from a promotional video for said exhibition that features Alistair making a speech and local characters such as photographer Jimmy Forsyth unveiling a model of the various developments. Several local voices such as Denise Riach from the Meadowell Action Group are critical of these exhibitions with the one person even stating that having it at the Guildhall was insensitive to the local community. Others complain that the exhibition didn’t come to them or it was simply an exercise in affirming decisions that had already been made. The process wasn’t to decide a development rather a developer. Again, slow-motion footage of stallholders along the Newcastle Quayside and people shopping changing to a model of the Newcastle Quayside development. Alistair Balls discusses the next stage of the consultation called the Community Monitoring Panels. He believes these are important for winning over some of the sceptical local community groups to big business. Lyn Boyd from the East Quayside Group says that she has attended some of these meetings but feels it doesn’t go far enough with little being achieves while many promises are made. Geoff Kell also from East Quayside Group believes decisions are being made elsewhere other than with these panels. More slow-motion footage of people wondering past stalls selling jackets with one store holder sticking his thumb up at the camera. Wallace Wilson from the Racial Equality Council believes if these Community Monitoring Panels are to have an effect, then communities need to be represented as a whole. However, Sally Thomas admits that not all community groups are included but believes that representation is sufficient. Graham Stock, Planning Student from University of Newcastle thinks the TWDC need to stand back so they can see which parts of the community they are not representing. Angie Ford, Secretary of the Shieldfield Social Club for the Disabled explains that due to access issues at all the venues no disabled person is able to attend so they don’t know what is going on. Although Sally Thomas isn’t aware of these issues, the interviewer does ask shouldn’t she be seeking out these groups? She states that limited resources are a reason why she hasn’t done so. Alistair Balls, John Scally and Sally Thomas from the TWDC talk about what community development means to them, they believe it is importance within the corporation and talk about what resources are being used. However, voices such as Geoff Kell from East Quayside Group are critical of their true commitment by stating that less than 1% of their budget is being committed to community development. Michael Hines and Robert Mee from Robson Brown Advertising talk about a corporation community programme and taking part at the 1990 Gateshead Flower Festival that would include VIP tickets for members of the local community to visit a dome which takes them on a journey through time. Slow-motion footage of the TWDC marquee seen at the start of the film constructed near or on the site of an old shipyard. Alistair Ball and others make their way inside. Councillor Rick Anderson talks about how the UDC is good with the hype but isn’t as good with the consultation as they don’t have the expertise to consult with the local community. Alistair Ball believes the corporation does all it can to take onboard what people want, but it has to be ‘commercially sensible’. Geoff Kell states that the TWDC arrived whether the people of Newcastle wanted it or not, he also realises that they don’t need to consult the local communities. Title: There is only one person that TWDC must consult by law A photograph of Chris Patten Secretary of State for the Environment changes to Alistair Ball explaining that the TWDC have boundaries with responsibilities given to it by the government, but with few communities within it. He states that its main remit is not dealing with these groups or people rather dealing with dereliction. Eric Robinson, a regional development expert from Newcastle University says that if people can’t challenge the corporation, then there is little change of a democratic solution. Alister continues by saying he and the corporation aren’t trying to do anything in secret, but another dissenting voice believes safeguards need to be in place. The Liverpudlian comedian seen at the start of the film makes a dark joke about privatisation and the National Health Service changes to another clip from a TWDC promotional video showing work being carried out to prepare land for development. Title: Since the filming of this programme the continuing high interest and mortgage rates have caused our flagships some problems Slow-motion footage showing some of these development site. Title: The property market has collapsed in London, and subsequently many building firms up and down the country have gone bust Local builders Stanley Miller (part of NQD) went out of business in May this year The logo for Stanley Miller Title: What do these changes mean for the Quayside and Royal Quays? John Scally from the TWDC talks about the need for flexibility within the corporation’s plans so as not to build homes and buildings that are not used. Dave Byrne from the Riverside Action Group sees the problem for the corporation in that the market is not going in accordance with their plans and also that the political climate is also changing. Because of these points he believes if local groups are able to hold the line and prevent further development, then new prospects will arise in 1992. Alistair Ball believes it’s the purpose of the corporation is to make development occur and bring regeneration to the area. It is not enough to walk away and say ‘not much happened’ as he is under a lot of pressure to achieve something. A final montage of voices from various local actions groups about what could be done to change the development for the betterment of their communities including through the use of the media. Margaret Nolan from the Meadowell Action Group believes that for a scheme to succeed it needs the local community to be consulted from the start. She is critical of the TWDC for wanting to separate ‘them’ from ‘us’ and uses an analogy of the recently fallen Berlin Wall. John Scally believes that the homes, schools and facilities built by the corporation will be bought and used by people from Tyne and Wear. The film ends on Nancy Peters from the Meadowell Action Group who reject the development and believes they are all been ‘taken down the river’. Title: Are we being sold down the river? From a boat travelling along the Tyne a large barge passes in the opposite direction. Title: Since the competition of this video there has been little building work on the Quayside. The result of the Public Inquiry has been challenged in the High Court. This means more delays Over the closing credit, a boat travelling downstream along the River Tyne passing under both the King Edward VII and Queen Elizabeth bridges, in the distance the Redheugh Bridge. Title: Made with help from Newlands, Trade Films, NEMTEC/Stonehills TV, Visionshift, JVC UK, Tyne and Wear Development Corporation, Procter and Gamble Thanks to East Quayside Group, Tyne and Wear Community Relations Council, Council for Voluntary Services, St Anne’s Tenants’ Association, Ouseburn Watersports, Newcastle University, Department of Planning Newcastle City Council Newcastle Poly Construction Dept., Tyne and Wear PTE, Hindson Print, Newcastle Quayside Developments, Robson Brown Advertising, The Public Inquiry team, Leser Landau, Storey, Sons and Partners, Transport and General Workers’ Union Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, Cultural Industries Research Unit, Trade Union Studies Information Unit, Docklands Consultative Committee, Newcastle Architects Workshop, Sheffield University Department of Criminology Amber Films, Side Gallery, Swingbridge Video, North Tyneside Council Community Care, Meadow Well Action Group, North Shields Peoples’ Centre, North Shields Indoor Market, Riverside Action Group Meadow Well Community Right Centre, Royal Quays Development Consortium, North Tyneside Tenants’ Forum, Citizens’ Advice Bureau (North Shields), Riverside Action Group And thanks to ALL the people who came and spoke to our touring videobox and all the people who agreed to be interviewed End title: Special thanks to Shoestring, Geoff Kell, Jackie Fitzsimons, Sue Wilkinson, Austin Rowley, Bob Davies, Nicola Bacon, Fred Robinson, Andy and Maria