Next year the country will be remembering the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.  This air campaign waged by the German Air Force the Luftwaffe against the United Kingdom was the first of its kind.  In the end Britain won, but without that famous aircraft the spitfire we all may have been doomed.  Spitfire designer, Reginald Mitchell was born at 115 Congleton Road, Butt Lane.  Mitchell’s design was so sound that the Spitfire was continually improved throughout the Second World War. Over 22,000 Spitfires and derivatives were built.

Now I have an idea to bring Reginald Mitchell back home.  I propose to create a Reginald Mitchell Peace Garden on Congleton Road at the junction adjoining to Cedar Avenue.  I hope to get permission to transform the piece of land owned by JCDecaux.  Newcastle Borough Council sites the Butt Lane Christmas tree on this corner every year in December.

As part of the project I will be working with the Butt Lane LAPs to apply for funding for park benches, flower tubs, remembrance signage and a litter bin.  At the moment the site is run down and not maintained by anyone.  A location like this in the centre of Butt Lane should be utilised to create a seating area that everyone in the community can enjoy.  Residents have already offered their support by volunteering their time to help with the project.

I will also be proposing that one of the benches be in memory of Ada Nield Chew who was born on a farm in Butt Lane.  Ada joined the suffragette movement and fought for the rights of women to vote and to stand for electoral office amongst many other things.  We should be celebrating the lives of great people from our community to inspire our younger people to dream and do something great in the future.  We must remember our nation’s heroes at a local level.

I hope to keep you updated on our progress with the site.  Do you support this project?  Please comment and let me know.