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Unbelievably it’s a year since Gateway News published its first edition. The idea was initially thought up by myself and my partner, at the time Claire Adams. As a local resident and also a local business person, it was evident that there wasn’t one free newspaper that adequately served the North of the Borough. This prompted us to do something about it.
After months of hard planning and research, in February 2005 we personally started to deliver Gateway News through people’s door. 20,000 newspapers is a lot of papers for two people to deliver, so we grabbed help from every which way possible, friends, family, relatives and fortunately we placed an advert in the first edition for delivery staff. Some of those who applied for the job then are still with us now; a big thanks to you all. The months went on and we continued to look at ways to improve the content, presentation and feel of the newspaper. On the second edition, we decided to go full-colour on every page. We also wanted the key people of the borough to be able to communicate with the residents they look after, so we decided to have the leader of the Council, Chris Ball, and MP John Austin write for us. Our focus right from the start was to be a local paper; each and every single item of news has a relevance to the area. We wanted to be more upbeat than the other newspapers, but still report on the bad. On reading other newspapers you would believe the north of the borough had nothing to offer but crime, trouble, violence and thugs. This clearly is not the case. A newspaper written by the community for the community is what we wanted. We have always called for residents and business people to use Gateway News to report good and bad activities in the area.
We also try to help charitable organizations and events, but being self funded we have to limit how much free publicity we are able to give.
Initial reaction to Gateway News was good, but a lot of errors were found in the earlier editions. Unfortunately most of the errors were found after going to press. Currently we have 5 people who are our copy editors, compared to none when we first started. Errors will happen but we have since tried to minimize them. Solely funded by ourselves, with no help or backing, Gateway News’s existence relies on our advertisers. It was not easy persuading businesses to advertise with a paper they hadn’t heard of ,and which didn’t exist at the time existed, but we continued to plug away. Slowly from 12 pages we have gone to 20 pages, and now it’s virtually impossible to live in the North of the Borough without reading or coming across Gateway News. I would like to thank all our advertisers who had faith in us from the start, in particular our front page advertisers; Adam & Eve Hairdresser, Diskworld, All Kent Windows and not forgetting Endowment Crisis, Faith Bookstore, Bexley College, Westmount Property, Shore Property, Soles & Heals, Dashwood, Clearwater Aquatics, Owens, Heath Carpets, Erith Playhouse, Town Cars and The Ship public house. Apologies if I have missed anyone. Claire, sadly left Gateway News in July, but still has a vested interest in the paper she helped to create; it wouldn’t have been possible without you Claire! Contrary to the reaction I get when I speak to people, Gateway News is not a big newspaper with lots of reporters, photographers, designers, advertising teams, editors, sub-editors or internet designers. In fact there is only one person who does all of the above jobs, which is me. Yep, that’s right, 1 person. from the layout of the newspaper to the paying of delivery staff and I’m the one that even answers the phone.
I have picked out a few of the memorable events and news from the past year.
The opening of Erith Town Centre, I believe, was a key step in the regeneration and revival of Erith. It was many years left deserted, but to see hundreds of people flock back on re-opening, and indeed the jobs which were created, was extremely pleasing.
Many joblosses occurred following the redundancies at The Pirelli Tower, which was demolished, changing Erith’s familiar landscape forever.
Her Majesty the Queen made a royal visit to Bexley, officially opening Bexleyheath Police Station, and greeted spectators in Bexleyheath Broadway, and then opened the all-new Crook Log Sports Centre.
Trust Thamesmead organized what could be Thamesmead’s biggest free festival to date with top names such as Liberty X, Alexander O Neal, Phixx and Javine, and a selection of the finest performers Thamesmead and its surrounding areas has to offer, showing off their talents.
2005 saw the Nordenfeldt scoop the first ever Gateway News People’s Pub of North Bexley, and we launched the Thames Gateway Bridge Poll to gauge public opinion. To date, hundreds have registered their support or disapproval of the proposed bridge and we have seen the results fluctuate from month to month.
In October North Bexley was battered by flash flooding, caused by torrential rain, leaving many residents flooded and questioning the adequacy of North Bexley’s drainage.
It’s been a good first year and I am looking forward to this year. Dwain
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