Thanks for an interesting video, Rob. This brings back lots of memories for me, having grown up near there in the 70s. I still remember going shopping there on Saturday mornings with my mam. Hexham House is due to be demolished in May by controlled explosion (there's a recent article in the Chronicle with more details). End of an era! I'm going to come down and have one last wander around the area before it all disappears for good.
Such as sad state to see now, I worked in Kwik Save back in the 90's, it was a very busy shopping centre, to see it gone to ruin is truly sad. But like most of the city suburbs it'll fall victim to gentrification, once the site has been fully demolished then new, overpriced, unaffordable housing will take its place, the nearest shops will at least a bus ride away to Sheilds road in Byker, not much left shopping-wise on Welbeck road.
I hope it will get remodelled. It really needs more than heron foods and post office. Pub would be nice. Primark. A nursery is a must. And city council should get involved, they removed all the bins, there's so much litter...
I still live in Walker not to far from here & hoping to move soon, it's a shame how it's turned out. Council couldn't give a flying about us either, but it doesn't help with the amount of smackheads & tramps smashing the place up 24/7. They all get shipped down to Walker to rot and be forgotten about. When I was a kid there was so much more around here and it's just dead now. Thankfully the block of flats (Hexham House) is coming down in November. Hope it gets restored one day.
