BREAKING! Police Investigate Armed Hold-Up At Sandgate Service Station

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are searching for two men over an armed robbery on a service station at Sandgate early Friday morning.

The pair entered the Metro Petroleum outlet on Maitland Road at about 1.40am and threatened the 24-year-old male attendant with a large Samurai sword and a baseball bat.

Police say one of the men then jumped the counter and removed the cash drawer and other items before the pair fled - they were last seen heading towards Mangrove Road.

It's believed they then jumped into a getaway car.

Police say the attendant was unharmed and they're appealing for any witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers.

UPDATE: Police Operation At Mayfield

BY IAN CROUCH AND MADELAINE MCNEILL

A man has been taken into custody following a standoff at Mayfield which lasted almost 10 hours.

Listener Peta, who lives nearby, has told 2NUR-FM News the man fell from the roof sometime before 10am on Friday after climbing up and refusing to come down.

It's believed the man may have been under the influence of drugs.

The 25-year-old has been taken to Newcastle Police Station where inquiries will continue.


EARLIER:

Negotiators have been called to assist with a Police operation at Mayfield.

It's believed officers were called to a unit block on Maitland Road near Fitzroy Street just after 12.30am on Friday to a Concern For Welfare.

2NUR-FM News understands a man is holed up on the roof of the building.

Newcastle Fire Command says they sent an aerial appliance to assist but the vehicle could not fit down the drive.

Officers for the Tactical Response Group, Police Rescue, Highway Patrol and General Duties officers are at the scene.

Truck Loses Load Of Vegetables At Sandgate

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are urging motorists heading north on Maitland Road at Sandgate to drive with caution after a truck lost its load of vegetables.

It appears the truck was turning from Maitland Road onto the Inner City Bypass just after 4.00am on Wednesday when the load shifted.

No-one's been injured and emergency services are at the scene.

1 of 3 northbound lanes (lane 2) is closed.

A council crew is o the way to assist with the clean-up.

BREAKING! Elderly Pedestrian Dies In Hospital After Crash At Mayfield

BY IAN CROUCH

An elderly man has died in hospital overnight after being hit by a car at Mayfield.

Police say the 89-year-old was crossing Maitland Road near Gordon Street at about 5.30pm on Thursday when he was knocked down.

He suffered significant blood loss as the result of his injuries and was rushed to the John Hunter Hospital but sadly died.

Police say it appears the elderly man was at fault.

Police Investigate Armed Robbery At Mayfield Service Station

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are investigating an armed robbery at a Mayfield service station.

A man entered the 7-11 on Maitland Road at about 5.00pm on Sunday and threatened the console operator with a knife.

Police say the man was handed an amount of cash before leaving the store.

He's described as being in his 40's, about 178 centimetres tall with a stocky build.

He was wearing a light coloured jumper, blue jeans and a baseball cap and had his face covered.

No-one was injured during the incident.

Vacant Coles Development May Finally See Some Action

BY CATHERINE ALLEN

The ongoing odyssey that has been the building site on Maitland Road in Mayfield, may finally see a resolution.

Supermarket giant Coles has handed in modified plans for the development of a new store at the site, to Newcastle City Council.

The latest proposal plans for a slight reduction to the internal layout, decreasing the size of the Coles store and increasing space for other specialty shops on the site.

Construction on the project was put on hold in mid-2017 following several impediments, the most challenging of which was an upgrade to the traffic lights at the intersection of Maitland Road and Havelock Street.

The supermarket's new plans do not address this issue however, a spokesperson for the company has said that they are working with the council and local authorities in relation to the issue.

Iver Davies the Interim Chairman of the Mayfield Business Association said they would welcome the Coles development going ahead.

"We've been disappointed that it has taken so many years to get to this stage but at least its happening," Mr Davies said.

"We have been most upset with the condition that the sites been left in because it's just been earthworks and it looks extremely untidy.

"It's a real positive for Mayfield and it will give us three huge supermarkets".

Construction on the $17 million project is planned to recommence in around six months time.

Newcastle Herald.

Mayfield Coles Supermarket To Finally Get Off The Ground

BY IAN CROUCH

It's hoped work will finally start this year on the Coles development at Mayfield.

The 17-million dollar supermarket development on Maitland Road has been on the drawing board since 2010 but has been plagued with planning issues.

Coles has made more amendments to the plans and expects to start construction in 6 months subject to its new development application being approved.

Nearby residents and business owners say they've had to put up with an unsightly mound of dirt at the development site for years.

Artist's Impression Of Proposed Coles Mayfield Development

Man Injured in Two Car Crash at Hexham

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A man's been taken to the John Hunter Hospital following a crash on Maitland Road near Sandgate Road this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the two-vehicle smash just before 8 o'clock, where they treated a man for suspected neck and head injuries.

He was still conscious and breathing, while traffic on Maitland Road is now returning to normal after a northbound lane closure.

Motorists are being advised to drive carefully this morning as a thick fog blankets the Hunter.