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Progress has continued to be made on the town centre scheme that is designed to regenerate Bedlington in the last few months.

Northumberland County Council’s regeneration company Arch is going through a tendering process for contractors to build the scheme having had significant interest from potential retailers.

The tendering works are due to conclude soon with the scheme due to come to a board meeting in the near future to get final sign off.

Speaking about the scheme Cllr Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member for economic development, said: “Right from the start of the new administration we said that regenerating Bedlington Town Centre would be a significant priority and work has continued through the last few months to realise this.

“We have been in regular contact with the local county councillors who have been pushing hard to make sure that we get a scheme that works well for the town.

“I look forward in the very near future to giving full details of the scheme that is to be put before the board including the timeline for the works to be undertaken.”

Bedlington Central Cllr Russ Wallace added: “The regeneration of our town centre is absolutely crucial to the future of Bedlington.  I am therefore absolutely delighted that the development is moving rapidly into the construction phase.”

To find out more about the latest progress go HERE  
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Northumberland County Council has agreed a budget to save £65m over the next four years while making ambitious plans for the future.

Councillors approved efficiencies of £8.2m for the coming year, £21.1m in 2019-20, and rising to £65.1m over the term of the Medium Term Financial Plan 2018-2022.

Council Leader Peter Jackson said: “We’re pleased to have agreed our budget which allows us to balance our books, and do the right thing for the people we serve. But the hard work starts now.

“The next three years will be more challenging than ever, and may have a impact on the way we deliver services.

“However, we’re bold and ambitious for the future, and by approving this budget we’ll be much better placed to help support a thriving local economy and deliver value for money for the communities we serve.

To protect vital services and significant demand in services, the council has reluctantly decided to a Council Tax rise of 2.99%. While this rise in line with inflation, it equates to 85 pence per household per week for a Band D property.

Coun Jackson added: ”We’re still very much ambitious for our future, and for the future for the people of Northumberland, and our capital programme of £588m is the biggest ever delivered in the county.

“Over the coming years we pledge to continue investing in Northumberland’s future and making sure we get a fair deal for the whole county - one that works for everyone.”
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More than £750,000 in cash and suspected Class A drugs has been seized by police after raids in Gateshead this week.
The raids were conducted by officers from Northumbria Police on Monday following an intelligence-gathering operation into the suspected supply of Class A drugs in the North East.
During the operation £250,000 in cash and more than 5kg of what is believed to be cocaine was seized which has an estimated street value of more than £500,000.
Detective Inspector Don Gibson, who has been leading on the operation, said it was satisfying to be able to take a significant amount of what are believed to be Class A drugs off the street.
He said: "We have carried out months of intelligence gathering into suspected drugs supply and this has enabled us to seize a significant haul of what is believed to Class A drugs.
"It is believed to be cocaine and so what we have seized could be worth as much as £1 million which is one of the biggest seizures we have had.
"Illegal drugs have a huge impact on our local communities whether that be through the supply itself or the associated violence and disorder that comes with it.
"Our officers will continue to gather intelligence on any suspected illegal activity and would encourage the public to report suspicious behaviour to us.
"By working together to take illegal substances off the streets, we can continue to make the Northumbria area a safer place for residents and visitors alike."
During the raids four men and one woman were arrested by police and this morning the four men were charged in connection with the seizures.
They appeared before magistrates in Bedlington today charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Three of the men were remanded in custody until the next hearing at Newcastle Crown Court while a fourth man was released on bail.
The woman arrested following Monday's operation has been released under investigation.
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Moving tributes have been paid to a top Northumberland badminton player who has died at the age of 85.
Lynn Lacey, nee Jordan, represented the county for around 25 years and won a string of tournaments, but also went on to become a good tennis and golf player.
Her real name was Lydia. However she became known in the sporting world as Lynn after her name was misspelt on a team sheet when she was a teenager and the wrong name was subsequently used in press reports about her.
Lynn, of Bedlington, has now died after a battle against cancer. Her funeral took place on February 13.
Her husband Tom Lacey has paid tribute to her and spoken of her long and successful sports career.
Lydia was born in Walker, Newcastle, and was the youngest of five siblings.
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If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years of Sunday pub roast-guzzling, it’s that a beautiful exterior is no indicator of the quality of grub that lies within.
The General Havelock is a boozer that reminded me not to judge too much on appearances; the place might not please the eye, but its Sunday dinners certainly please the stomach.
The pub has neither a spectacular location, situated as it is close to the A189 Spine Road near Blyth, nor, it has to be said, a well-kept air, with its peeling paintwork on the windows, rather battered furniture and visible mould in one corner of its restaurant. A slight smoky haze, presumably from the kitchen, pervaded both the pub and restaurant section, and I even discovered the lock in the cubicle in the gents’ toilets wasn’t working.
However, if you don’t mind your pubs being a bit rough around the edges, the General Havelock’s food will more than make up for what it lacks in the way of refinement.
You’ll have to be happy to launch straight into your roast, as there are no starters served – and no other choice of main course. A standard-size pork, chicken or beef meal is £7, or you can opt for a small one for £6. Choosing lamb adds £1 to the bill.
I was unsurprised when Mrs E ordered beef, having noticed that particularly wanton look that she gets in her eyes when she hasn’t had any of the stuff for a while. I, on the other hand, struggled to make a decision, so appreciated being offered the option of a bit of all the meats by our friendly server.
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Northumberland County Council is backing a flagship campaign to get up to half a million people out and about cleaning up their local communities this March.

The Great British Spring Clean is a campaign with a simple aim: to bring people across the country together to clear up the litter that blights our towns, villages, countryside and beaches.

Litter remains a huge problem across the country, causing harm to the environment and wildlife, with councils in England having to spend over £700 million on street cleaning  services every year.

Running from 2 to 4 March, and promoted by Keep Britain Tidy, the Great British Spring Clean wants to inspire hundreds of thousands of people to get outdoors, get active and help clear up the rubbish that lies around us.

Northumberland County Council will be encouraging and supporting groups and individuals who want to ‘do their bit’ to help clear up the litter from streets, parks and beaches.

Officers will be on hand to give advice, and essential equipment can be loaned to groups who want to collect litter.  Council teams can also arrange to pick up the bagged waste afterwards.

An ‘environmental prize’ that supports community clean up activity will be offered by the council to the group which collects the most litter during the Great British Spring Clean weekend, with their prize presented at the annual Love Northumberland awards.

Last year’s winners received a Superbin, a large steel litter bin with a storage compartment for volunteers litter picking equipment.  

Councillor Glen Sanderson, cabinet member for the environment and local services, said: ‘We are justifiably proud of our beautiful county and are determined to keep it that way.

“We are delighted to be supporting the Great British Spring Clean and encourage as many groups, individuals and organisations as possible to take part.

“We can offer equipment, waste collection and all the advice and guidance that groups might need.  Together we can make a real difference and clean up the environment on our doorsteps.”

If you would like to loan equipment such as litter pickers, hi-visibility vests, gloves and rubbish bags you should email nicola.wardle@northumberland.gov.uk or phone 01670 622997 by Friday 23rd February.

To find out more about campaign, and register your event visit www.greatbritishspringclean.org.uk  


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