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Residents and visitors to Northumberland will be given a rare opportunity to see some of the county’s hidden architectural treasures when the doors to many of its most historic buildings are opened to the public, free of charge.

The Heritage Open Days  event  is taking place between Thursday 7 and  Sunday  10 of  September.

The open days are free and fun and provide an excellent opportunity for people of all ages to explore the fantastic cultural heritage of Northumberland.  

A wide range of tours, events and activities are on offer. Dozens of  attractions are taking part including the ever popular  Cragside House in Rothbury. There will be the  the opportunity to look around local churches, Morpeth Clock Tower and the Rothbury Trenches.  There will also be the chance to look behind the scenes of Northumberland Archives at  Woodhorn Museum and get a rare glimpse into the work that goes into preserving diverse collections which  cover over 800 years of Northumberland’s fascinating history.

Northumberland county Councillor, cabinet member with responsibility for culture , arts and leisure,  Cllr Cath Homer said:
“ This hugely popular annual event provides free public access to historic  buildings and local landmarks,  many of which are not usually open to the public.

"It's an unmissable opportunity for residents and visitors to get a glimpse behind the scenes, and perhaps get a better understanding and appreciation of our county's rich cultural heritage.”

Heritage Open Days is England's largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,500 organisations, 5,000 events and 40,000 volunteers.

To view a full list of this year’s attractions visit https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
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Northumberland County Council has welcomed the Government’s announcement today of the preferred routes for the A1 Morpeth to Felton and Alnwick to Ellingham dualling upgrade.

Following further development of their proposals Highways England have now identified the Green route option for Morpeth to Felton, and the Orange route option between Alnwick and Ellingham.

Following a six-week consultation last year, three options were presented to residents and regional stakeholders for plans to widen the A1 between Morpeth and Felton, and one option to widen the A1 between Alnwick and Ellingham.

The council has long campaigned for dualling of the A1 north of Morpeth - recognising the significant economic and other benefits for the county and wider border and north east regions.  

The improvements will mean the creation of a dual carriageway on the entire stretch of the route between Newcastle and Ellingham - providing additional capacity and improving journey times and safety.

Cllr Peter Jackson, leader of Northumberland County Council said:  “This is fantastic news for Northumberland and will provide very significant strategic and economic benefits.  

“Dualling will promote sustainable growth along the A1 corridor as well as improved connectivity with Edinburgh and the Lothians and with Tyne and Wear and other regions to the south.  

“Existing businesses will have better access to markets for their goods and services, and to sources of labour, and the dualling will also encourage new businesses to become established - creating new jobs and economic growth.

“This announcement is a further confirmation of the Government delivering on its promises in Northumberland.”

Councillor Glen Sanderson, cabinet member for environment and local services said:  “We have been campaigning for dualling of this key strategic route for over two decades, and this announcement of preferred routes is the next important step to securing major improvements.

“The ‘green’ route for Morpeth to Felton was strongly favoured by the council and so I am very pleased that this will be going forward.  It addresses our concerns that the other routes would have had more impact on the A697 during construction.

“The dualling is set to make significant improvements to road safety on the route, something I am also a very strong campaigner for, with the Green route between Morpeth and Felton offering the best alignment for improving safety.

“We welcome the support of our MP who has worked so hard for this and look forward to working with Highways England as they progress this through the next steps.”

Highways England project manager Nanette Hoyle said today:  “We recognise the importance of this route and are delighted to announce the two options we are taking forward are the ones which the majority of people wanted in last year’s consultation.

“Over the last few months we have worked hard to identify the best possible options by working through the feedback from the events, along with safety, economic and environmental analysis and we are excited to share our plans with local stakeholders, businesses and the community.

“Work now continues, adding detail to the design for each of the dualling options and on planning how we will deliver them in a way that keeps traffic moving.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for taking part. There will be further opportunities to have your say as the schemes develop.”

The green option between Morpeth and Felton includes building a new carriageway to the west of the existing road between Priest’s Bridge and Burgham Park. This option will improve safety along the route and will also have benefits during construction in terms worker safety and efficiency. The existing A1 will act as a local road once the scheme has been completed.

The orange route between Alnwick and Ellingham involves upgrading the existing road to dual carriageway, widening either the east or west of the current road depending on the local features that need to be considered. This option also includes improvements at the South Charlton junction.

Highways England will be holding further public consultation events in the area during 2018 - offering communities the opportunity to discuss in more detail the design of the preferred routes, discuss the planning application and the next steps with the project team.  Further information will be released nearer the time.

You can find out more about the A1 in Northumberland scheme at www.highways.gov.uk/A1inNorthumberland  
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A carnival atmosphere was created in Northumberland as tens of thousands of people turned out for the second stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain .
From Kielder to Blyth, the spectators lined the streets creating a wall of noise as the cyclists powered their way around the 211km course.
And the county’s beautiful countryside provided an impressive backdrop for one of the most exciting events on the racing calendar.
Despite the huge climbs and tricky corners, the riders weren’t short of passionate support from the pavements.
People transformed their streets and gardens into a sea of red and yellow - the colours of the Northumberland flag - by hanging metres of bunting and flags to welcome them.
For the start of the race, hundreds of people descended on Kielder Dam as more than 100 riders were introduced to the crowd.
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The county took centre stage in the international spotlight today ( Monday 4th) as the Tour of Britain, the UK’s premier cycle race, rolled through the county giving residents the opportunity to see some of the world's top teams and riders competing on their doorstep.

A carnival atmosphere swept across Northumberland as elite cyclists set off from Kielder for the second stage of Britain’s most prestigious cycle race.

The riders passed through 28 communities, covering over 200kms, culminating in an exciting finish in Blyth.

Kielder Water & Forest Park  was filled with an electric atmosphere from early morning, with cycling fans coming along to get up close to the riders before the start of Stage 2 of the race which is  being televised  live  in 120 countries.

Northumberland County Council Civic Head, Cllr Anthony Murray and young future star of  cycling  Roisin Lally from Hexham  waved the Northumberland flag to set the riders underway.

Communities joined in the spirit of the occasion by decorating the route the distinctive red and yellow colours of the Northumberland flag while thousands of people turned out to welcome and cheer on the cyclists and give them a fantastic Northumberland welcome.

A series of  community events were held in towns along the route  focussing  on all things pedal powered to provide Northumberland residents, of all ages the perfect opportunity to have a go at cycling.

Northumberland County Council has worked closely with race organisers Sweetspot, start sponsors Northumbrian Water and finish sponsors Blyth Town Council to bring the race back to Northumberland. It was last here in 2015.

Leader of Northumberland County Council, Councillor Peter Jackson said :

“It has been a fantastic day for the county.  We are blessed in Northumberland  with amazing natural scenery and wonderful people and it is great that we got to show  this off to the competitors and all those who watched the race unfold on television.

“In 2015 the Tour of Britain gave a real boost to the local economy - to the tune of £2.2m - and we’re confident this year’s stage which was entirely in the county, will be great news for businesses in Northumberland and our ever increasing tourism industry.”

“ It was great to see so many spectators lining the route cheering the riders on and so many communities getting  behind the event and decorating  their towns and villages . I’d like to thank the organisers of the Tour of Britain, the emergency services and our council  staff who all worked very hard behind the scenes to ensure the event ran smoothly and safely.”

Jackie Sewell, owner of Tomlinson’s cafe and bunkhouse in Rothbury  helped to co-ordinate efforts to decorate the town. She  said: “ The Tour of Britain coming through Rothbury  created an amazing atmosphere. It is such an iconic event and fantastic sporting spectacle and we are so proud to have been a part of it.”


 
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Chimney Fire Safety Week 2017

By Bot, in News,

Northumberland County Council, along with Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) are once again supporting the annual Chimney Fire Safety Week running from 4th to 10th September.

Chimney Fire Safety Week raises awareness of safe chimney fire use and information about how to prevent a fire occurring, highlighting the importance of having chimneys swept regularly and only burning suitable fuel.

Chimney Fire Safety Week is held during September each year as the mornings get darker, the nights draw in and temperature begins to fall. It is this time of year that people with open fires and log burners start to fire up hearths and grates that may not have been used for several months. This is a time when it is vitally important to have the chimney swept to ensure it is clean and free from soot, leaves, birds’ nests and other debris. Carrying out the sweeping process will reduce the risk of a fire occurring or the build up of the poisonous gas, carbon monoxide, within the property.

In the past twelve months, NFRS have responded to 60 chimney fires county wide, this involved the response of a total of 120 fire engines to safely deal with the fires. The aim of Northumberland Council and NFRS is to make Northumberland a safer place to live and create a safer working environment for firefighters.

NFRS Chief Fire Officer Paul Hedley said: "NFRS and NCC have a long term aim of improving the wellbeing of residents in Northumberland and central to this is the prevention of fires and other emergencies, with the result of reducing death, injury and damage to property.

“NFRS offer free home safety advice and, where necessary, the fitting of free smoke alarms. It is also recommended that anyone with an open fire, woodburner or gas central heating system install a working carbon monoxide detector to their property to create a safer living environment. For any further advice contact your local fire station."

Councillor John Riddle, Chair of Northumberland Fire Authority, added: “Fire safety is of utmost importance and it is imperative to continually raise awareness about how to safely maintain and use fires within the home.

“Northumberland Council and NFRS are committed to relaying the safety messages of Chimney Fire Safety Week to all residents in the region to help prevent chimney fires from happening and ensuring maximum enjoyment from your open fire or log burner in the home.”

Key tips to help prevent chimney fires include: Ensure a fireguard is in front of the fire at all times. Spark guards can prevent serious property fires. If you have had a fire ensure you extinguish the flame before bed or leaving the house. Never use petrol or paraffin to light your fire. If you have a wood burner, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on fuel loading and air flow. If you plan to reopen an old fireplace, seek professional advice from a certified chimney sweep.
If you suspect that you have a fire in your chimney breast follow the three safety rules below:  
1. Get yourself and others out of the property
2. Call the fire service out on 999 immediately
3. Stay out of the property until after the arrival of the fire service.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Fire/Home.aspx#chimneyfires
http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Fire/Home.aspx#firefacts-didyouknow
http://www.hetas.co.uk/
http://www.chimneyfiresafetyweek.co.uk/
https://woodsure.co.uk/  
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Don’t let dodgy spirits haunt you

By Bot, in News,

Residents and shopkeepers are being asked to look out for cheap illicit vodka after it was found on sale in pubs in the Berwick area.   

The illicit vodka has been passed off as Smirnoff Vodka and Glens Vodka. Generally the alcohol content of these products is below the legal and declared strength of the products.

Tests have found industrial alcohol in a sample and also that the product is not vodka and as such it was mis-described.

Now Northumberland County Council’s Business Compliance and Public Safety Unit, is warning people to be on their guard.

Councillor John Riddle, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Resilience said: “We need retailers to protect their customers by refusing to buy in products like this. They don’t know what’s in it and are trusting that it is safe to drink. Our message is that you just can’t be sure and shouldn’t buy it.

“Only buy from reputable suppliers who will provide the necessary paperwork that allows our officers to trace the supply back down the chain. We have made some shops put conditions on their licences controlling how they buy in spirits and the records they have to keep but can consider prosecuting others. We will look at taking licences away from the worst offenders.”

David Sayer, Business Compliance and Public Safety Unit Manager, added: “We currently do not know the scale of this problem.

“Trading Standards Officers have found illicit and counterfeit vodka in a number of pubs. The sellers have bought the bottles from itinerant sellers and have no paperwork to show who they bought it from. The fact that we are finding industrial chemicals in the samples tested shows that it is not even vodka. We suspect that industrial alcohol is being diluted and then sold as vodka.”

Any shopkeeper or publican who has bought such vodka and still has it in stock can surrender it to Trading Standards, who also want to hear from retailers who have been approached by anyone selling the product and from residents who have concerns about product they have bought.

Trading Standards can be contacted on 01670 623870 and ask for the Duty Officer.

If a member of the public thinks they may have bought fake vodka from a shop or a pub or club, they should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506
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Today ( Monday 4th September)  is the day that  Northumberland will come  alive with the sights and sounds of the Ovo Energy Tour of Britain - the UK’s premier cycling race -  and there is plenty of opportunity  to catch a piece of the action.

Thousands of spectators are expected to line the route to cheer on the world class cyclists, including UK favourite  Mark Cavendish  as they speed through 28 communities and cover over 200 kms  in Stage 2 of the race.

The race is due in the following communities at the times below. Please note these are approximate race  arrival times. Fixed and rolling road closures will be in place so please arrive in plenty of time to your chosen viewing point.


START Kielder  Water & Forest Park at 10.15am
Bellingham                 10:40
Otterburn                    11:00
Elsdon                        11:05
Rothbury                    11:45    
Alnwick                      12:10  
Eglingham                 12:30
Chatton                      12:45
Belford                        1:00
Bamburgh                   1:10
Seahouses                  1:20
Beadnell                      1:30
Embleton                     1:35
Longhoughton             1:45
Lesbury                       1:50
Hipsburn                      1:55
Warkworth                    2:00
Amble                           2:05
Widdrington                  2:15
Widdrington Station      2:20
Ulgham                         2:25
Longhirst                       2:30
Morpeth                         2:40
Guide Post                    2:45
Choppington                 2:50
Bedlington                    2:50
Blyth                             3:00
Seaton  Sluice              3:10
Seaton Delaval             3:15
FINISH Blyth  around  3.30 pm.

For full route details, race timings, community activities and information on road closures and parking restrictions log on to  www.nlandtob.com
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Free fire safety advice to businesses

By Bot, in News,

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) and the Council’s Public Protection Teams will be offering businesses safety messages as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council UK Business Safety Week 2017.

The week runs from 11th - 17th September and aims to make sure businesses and their staff have the information they need to prevent, protect and respond to fire incidents in the workplace. Organisations can also access information on how to comply with the legislation  that controls how their business is run.

The week has been scheduled to run at a time when many businesses will be recruiting extra members of seasonal staff in the run up to the Christmas period.

Head of Fire Safety with NFRS Craig Ducat said: “New recruits may not have the same level of fire safety awareness as permanent members of staff, and may not be aware of the steps needed to protect themselves, their customers and colleagues.

“We’ll also be offering businesses input from our Public Protection Teams and traders will be able to discuss current issues and find out where to go for advice if they need it in future.

“The week is also a good opportunity to remind employers of the need to review fire risk assessments and training and make sure existing staff know the importance of fire safety.”

Across the country fire services will be asking businesses to ensure they have taken action to prevent fires in the workplace, take action to protect themselves from arson and make sure all staff know how to respond appropriately in the event of an incident.

Northumberland County Council wish to promote the advice available to businesses regarding regulations, through a series of ‘drop in’ sessions. Business representatives will be able to speak to regulatory inspecting officers from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Northumberland County Council’s Trading Standards, Licensing and Environmental Health Services which will be held at:
  West Hartford Fire Station on September 11th  from 9am-1pm Hexham Fire Station on September 12th from 9am-1pm Pegswood Fire Station on September 13th from 9am-1pm Alnwick Fire Station on September 14th from 9am-1pm
Councillor John Riddle, Chair of Northumberland Fire Authority, added: "I’m delighted that we’re again working with small and medium size businesses to help them ensure that they are able to operate in a way that is safe from the terrible effects of fire.

“These businesses make a huge contribution to our economy and local communities and we want to help them to do this in a sustainable and safe way."

Business representatives can find advice on fire safety in their business on the NFRS website  by searching for “fire safety” via www.northumberland.gov.uk or by phone to Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service  on 01670 621140 or via firesafety1@northumberland.gov.uk
 
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Millions of pounds could be generated for Northumberland’s economy on Monday as the next stage of Britain’s top cycling race gets under way. The county is hosting the second stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, starting in the heart of Kielder before a dramatic finish on the coast of Blyth.
And tens of thousands of spectators are expected to line the streets as the 211km route is decorated in red and yellow bunting and displays - the colours of the Northumberland flag.
The cycling extravaganza is being shown live on ITV4 and will be broadcast in more than 120 countries.
Coun Richard Wearmouth, Northumberland County Council’s cabinet member for economic development, predicts the race could be another big hit after it generated £2.2m for county two years ago.
He said: “In 2015 the Tour of Britain gave a real boost to the local economy and we’re confident this year’s stage which is entirely in the county, will be great news for businesses in Northumberland.
“In 2015 only the final three hours were broadcast live on TV - this year we have the complete stage broadcast throughout the day worldwide from Kielder to Blyth.
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The eyes of the world will be on Northumberland on Monday as the eagerly anticipated OVO Energy Tour of Britain returns to the county.
The streets are expected to be decked in red and yellow, the colour of the Northumberland flag, as thousands of spectators gather to catch a glimpse of the cyclists.
Northumberland will host an entire stage of the race, starting in the heart of Kielder before a dramatic finish on the coast of Blyth.
And the excitement is building as the world’s elite riders get ready to whizz through 28 towns and villages, covering a total of 211kms.
Northumberland County Council leader Peter Jackson said: “The race will travel through some fantastic scenery and pass iconic landmarks including Bamburgh Castle and Alnwick Castle.
“The tour is to be broadcast in over 120 countries and we look forward to providing a warm welcome to the competitors and supporters and showcasing our beautiful county and communities to a huge global audience.”


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