Local pupils help to restore miners wheel in Gateshead village

Pupils from a Gateshead school took time out of class recently to help restore a landmark monument in their village.

Children from Kibblesworth Primary School joined staff and contractors to give a lick of paint to the village's old miners wheel which has not been maintained since it was transported from Shildon Colliery in the late-1980's.

Kibblesworth Colliery closed as a working colliery in 1974 and the only legacy remaining of the former pit is the wheel which is located in the centre of the village.

The children, aged between nine and eleven, live in the village and are studying a ten-week arts programme as part of their studies. They were nominated by their school to help staff from Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) North East, part of the Keepmoat Group and The Gateshead Housing Company.

Lamesley Parish Council is responsible for maintaining all monuments within the village and has been working with FHM and The Gateshead Housing Company to help restore the wheel. Local firms Mitie and ICI Paints AkzoNobel (Dulux Trade) have also helped to provide labour and materials.

FHM's lead resident involvement officer, Heather Miller, said: "This project demonstrates our commitment to building and sustaining local communities. In addition to developing new homes within the village, our wider commitment is to support local projects and initiatives involving local people.

"The wheel is symbolic to the village. By involving local school children, not only does it teach them the history of the village but they will also grow up to respect the area in which they live. The children were really enthusiastic and enjoyed painting the wheel. This is one of a number of projects we are supporting with Kibblesworth Primary School and I would like to thank all of our partners in helping to make this project happen."

The Gateshead Housing Company's Chief Executive, Bill Fullen said: "As well as making improvements to thousands of existing homes and starting to build new homes across the borough, we also want to make a difference to entire estates.

"By working with other organisations, schools and residents on this community project we can show the estate's past whilst helping to improve Kibblesworth for generations to come through new homes being built."

Kevin Dodd, Head Teacher at Kibblesworth Primary School said: "The project offers an excellent opportunity for the children to become involved in a real sense in helping to shape their community.

"It has provided an invaluable insight into how a village is developed through consultation, cooperation and planning and taught them the importance of being a responsible citizen through involvement as junior neighbourhood wardens, to ensure their community is a safe and happy place within which to grow and learn."

Martha James, Senior Marketing Manager, Dulux Trade commented: "Through our project 'Transforming Communities', we have been supporting Local Authorities and Housing Associations to transform community areas. Our projects have clearly highlighted what an impact even a small change like a lick of paint or a splash of colour can have on the lives of the people who live or visit there. As such we were very pleased to support this initiative in Kibblesworth and help preserve a small piece of the history of this village community."

The Chair of Lamesley Parish Council and Kibblesworth resident, Bob Harrison (72), was the last person working down the mine before it closed. He said: "The wheel is instantly recognisable by lots of people living in the area and shows people that the village originated as a colliery village - it is a reminder to people both young and old.

"It's great to see local school children getting involved in helping to restore to the wheel and hopefully they will understand where their parents and grandparents come from.

"I am pleased to see that Frank Haslam Milan and The Gateshead Housing Company are looking after the community - they are doing something in the village that people will appreciate."

Work is currently underway on a major new housing development within the village which will see 150 new homes built to replace the existing 1940's 'Airey' houses which are no longer fit for purpose.

The £14 million scheme, which will take three years to complete, is being developed by Keepmoat Homes and Keelman Homes - a subsidiary of The Gateshead Housing Company.

The scheme is one of a number of major projects in Gateshead to be supported by the Government's Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which has allocated over £12m to the borough over the past year. Gateshead Council has contributed the land and additional financial support to enable the new build scheme to go ahead.