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Northumberland County Council has secured £5m in national funding for major road improvements.

The authority successfully bid for its share of £75 million from the government’s national Highway Maintenance Challenge Fund.

Local authorities were challenged to put forward schemes which could make a real difference to road users.

Glen Sanderson, the County Council’s Cabinet member for Environment and Local Services: “This is absolutely fantastic news for the council,the people of Northumberland and all those who use our road network.

“We’re delighted to have secured this level of funding which, combined with a further £1.5m input from ourselves, will see improvements to 24km of highway along three key routes in the more rural parts of the county.

“These are crucial routes for the timber industry, quarrying and tourism and of course the residents who use these roads each day. The money, which will be spent this financial year, will fund a range of improvements, from strengthening the roads through to drainage work and resurfacing.

“The bid had widespread support from a range of partners as well as local MPs and is a further demonstration of this administration’s commitment to making long term improvements and investment on our county’s roads.

“We’re also pleased to be the only local authority in the region to have secured successive back to back awards from the national Highway Maintenance Challenge Fund.

“It is also testament to all the hard work put in by our highways team to have submitted such a persuasive and comprehensive bid and I’m extremely proud of them.”  
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Northumberland County Council has been praised for its role as a landlord at a regional awards ceremony.

At the Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes Awards last week, the council picked up highly commended in the Landlord of the Year category and commended in the Small Project of the Year (Under £250k) award.

The awards were in relation to a pilot project in Cramlington which has transformed a “Dorran” style property into a more energy efficient property. Dorran properties were a popular post-war style of construction, using concrete panels, and often have issues with insulation.

The pilot scheme, at a property in Allerhope, saw the council team up with external wall specialists, Alumasc Facades and Westdale services. A steel structure was added to the concrete panels to strengthen the external wall and ensure it could withstand the weight of new insulation and render. It was then finished with a unique “brick” effect render to modernise the property. All the windows in the property have also been replaced.

The scheme will now be rolled out across the estate with a further 82 properties set to receive the same work over the next two years.

Coun John Riddle, Cabinet member for Planning, Housing and Resilience at the council, said: “This is fantastic recognition for an innovative pilot scheme, intended to not only improve the energy efficiency of the property, but also the appearance.

“Our tenant is extremely happy with the work and has already noticed the benefits with the property feeling warmer and better insulated.

“We will now be rolling the project out over the next two years, to include all other council-owned homes on the estate. We hope this will have a really positive impact on the quality of life for the tenants but also the community as a whole.”

Ward councillor for the area, Mark Swinburn, said: “It’s great to see the success of this pilot scheme. I am really pleased to see that the scheme will be progressing across the estate for the benefit of all residents.”

Tyrone Lawton, Area Technical Manager for Alumasc Facades, said: “The council has done a fantastic job in transforming a dated dorran property to a modern looking, energy efficient home.

“The council has gone that extra mile by putting their tenants first: helping with energy efficiency, saving on utility bills but also dramatically improving the appearance of the property.”
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Thousands of music lovers rocked out as The Commitments brought a touch of soul to the Northumberland Live festival.
The “World’s Hardest Working Band” headlined the day-long event on Saturday, which drew in the crowds to Bedlington’s Gallagher Park.
The eight-piece band - headed up by frontman Dave Finnegan who played bouncer and drummer Mickah Wallace in The Commitments film - played all the classics, including Mustang Sally and In the Midnight Hour.
They were joined on the bill by The Sleeze Sisters, The Understudies, Just So and Unplugged.
Festival-goers also enjoyed a range of food as well as a display by the Royal Logistics Corps’ parachute display team The Silver Stars.
Northumberland Live organiser, Mel Jackson, said: “The day has been fantastic - it has been jumping.
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Resting in her bed, Holly Oakley often wonders what life lies ahead for her.
The 16-year-old claims she has been left a “prisoner in her own home” after taking the controversial HPV vaccine.
Holly says she has been left virtually housebound by the human papilloma virus injections, which help prevent cervical cancer.
Once part of Newcastle United’s academy, the teenager now suffers from severe fatigue and is often too exhausted to get out of bed.
Mum Vicky, 46, is certain her daughter’s health problems are linked to the Gardasil vaccine, which is routinely offered to 12 and 13-year-old girls to protect them against cancer.
She said: “Holly was energetic and full of life. After the vaccines her life would never be the same again. There needs to be more information about the risks.
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A pensioner is in a critical condition after she was hit by a van while crossing a road in Bedlington on Friday morning.
The 78-year-old woman was crossing Hartford Road in the Northumberland town just before 10am when she was hit by a Ford transit tipper van, which was also towing a trailer.
The woman suffered serious head and leg injuries and she has been taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where her condition is described as being “critical, but stable”.
The air ambulance was called to the scene, but paramedics opted to drive the elderly woman to hospital instead.
Police closed the road for two hours while the woman received medical treatment and was driven to hospital, but it has since re-opened.
Officers investigating the crash are now appealing for witnesses and a Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “A Ford transit tipper van towing a trailer was travelling south on Hartford Road when it collided with a 78-year-old woman who was crossing the road.
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Police are appealing for witnesses following  a collision Hartford Road, Bedlington in Northumberland at 10.07am, on Friday, July 28, when an elderly woman pedestrian was injured.
A Ford transit tipper van towing a trailer was travelling south on Hartford Road when it collided with a 78-year-old woman who was crossing the road.
The woman suffered serious injuries and was taken to the RVI for treatment.  Her condition is described being critical but stable with suspected serious head and leg injuries.
The road was closed for two hours to allow for the casualty to be dealt with and the scene to be investigated.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting reference 270 of 28/07/17
 
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A trusted care home manager pocketed nearly £7,000 from a vulnerable resident by secretly using her bank card.
Greedy Shirley Ward was in charge of withdrawing cash for the victim’s day-to-day living expenses while she was staying at Melrose House Care Home, in Cullercoats, North Tyneside.
But, the 58-year-old soon started helping herself to the money, taking almost £7,000 over a 12-month period and hiding bank statements so her deceit wasn’t detected, a court heard.
The fraud was only uncovered when the bank account of the victim, who suffered from emphysema and asthma and needed a constant oxygen supply, was completely drained of funds and struggled to pay for her place in the home.
And it was only after Ward was dismissed for an unrelated matter that her scam came to light and the police found the hidden bank statements and three of the victim’s bank cards, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Now, Ward, of Hartford Crescent, Bedlington, has avoided being immediately sent to prison after she pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and was given a suspended sentence.
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With less than 50 days to go until the Tour of Britain races through Northumberland,  businesses, community groups and local residents are being called upon to help decorate the route and help turn the county red and yellow - the colours of the Northumberland flag.

The people of Northumberland are being asked to take part in the colourful project painting and displaying their old or unwanted bicycles to celebrate the Northumberland stage of the race which takes place on Monday September 4.

Businesses can also get involved by dressing their streets and shop windows with red and yellow bunting, flags, flowers or cycling displays.

The Northumberland stage of the race is due to start  in Kielder Water & Forest Park  and finish in Blyth, passing  through  28  communities along its 211 km route.

In 2015 The Tour of Britain swept through the county creating a wave of excitement as some of the world’s top cyclists, including Sir Bradley Wiggins cycled through our communities.

Residents and businesses dressed the route in the distinctive red and yellow colours of the Northumberland flag and thousands of spectators lined the route to cheer on the cyclists and give them a fantastic welcome.  It is hoped that this year  local communities will be just as involved.

Northumberland County Councillor, Cath Homer, cabinet member with responsibility for culture, arts and leisure  said:

“ The  Tour of Britain is the UK’s largest professional cycle race and is broadcast all around the world so it is a great chance to showcase the county as a fabulous place to visit and cycle in.


“We want to  add a real splash of the Northumberland  red and yellow  colours to the race route and would really like local residents to help us by getting creative and getting involved.  We’ve spoken to  the parish councils along the route  and would really like local people to support them in decorating  their communities.”


The eight-stage race runs from 3- 10 September with the Northumberland stage taking place on Monday 4 September –  full Northumberland route details can be found at www.nlandtob.com  


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