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Detailed investigation work is getting underway ahead of proposed improvements to a world famous bridge spanning the River Tweed between England and Scotland. Northumberland County Council, Scottish Borders Council and the ‘Friends of Union Chain Bridge’ are working together on an ambitious £8m project to safeguard the future of the Union Chain Bridge near Berwick - the world’s oldest single span suspension bridge still open to traffic. The internationally significant bridge, constructed in 1820 and spanning the River Tweed on the Anglo-Scottish border requires urgent conservation and engineering repairs to secure its future. It has been on Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ Register since 2013. A funding bid for the restoration is now being prepared for the Heritage Lottery Fund, with a maximum of £5m available towards the bulk of the work. The County Council’s Cabinet will next month consider recommendations to contribute funding over three years towards the scheme, with both Northumberland and Scottish Borders Council ultimately contributing towards the project. Other stakeholders will also be making significant contributions. Ahead of this, site investigation work is getting underway on the bridge from June 26 for up to four weeks, which will mean the road will be closed to vehicles from July 3 on weekdays for a fortnight. The investigation work is important in providing a greater understanding of the status and condition of the bridge - and allowing a more robust bid to be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund. There will be local diversions in place for traffic during the week, the bridge will be open to pedestrians and cyclists at all times and to vehicles at weekends. Engineers have already spoken with local parish councils, nearby businesses and other key stakeholders and are speaking to the Hutton and Paxton community council this week. Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet member for environment and local services, said: “The Union Chain Bridge is of international significance but its condition has been of growing concern for a number of years. “Along with our colleagues in Scotland we are committed to safeguarding its future and status, both as a key transport link and as a contributor to the local tourism economy. “The site investigation work is vital ahead of any major project starting and engineers will be working to keep disruption to a minimum throughout.” The bridge itself is a single suspension span of 137m of timber construction supported from wrought iron chains by wrought iron hanger bars. If these vital repairs are not undertaken, the bridge would ultimately close to vehicles, losing its World status as the oldest surviving suspension bridge carrying traffic, causing serious loss to the local community. Councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure, said: “I am pleased we are seeing progress in the bid to retain the Union Chain Bridge as the world’s oldest single span suspension bridge still used by traffic. “The iconic crossing has provided a vital link between Scotland and England for almost 200 years, and we want that to remain the case. “The short-term closure of the bridge to vehicles will cause some inconvenience but will provide important information for its long-term future.” Robbie Hunter, Chairman of the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge said: “The Friends of the Union Chain Bridge are delighted to hear of the continued significant financial support from both Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council towards the restoration of the bridge, which is a unique part of the UK's engineering history. “However, the success of the project is reliant on receiving HLF funding and the Friends with their large community support, on both sides of the Border and internationally, will continue to lobby hard to ensure the success of the project, with the aim of restoration underway in time for its Bicentenary in 2020. It would be an unforgivable tragedy if we failed to save this engineering icon.” Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet will discuss the report on the bridge on July 11.

A new parking area has been established to help alleviate issues for motorists in Hexham. Land at the former Fire Station at Tyne Mills has been opened up and spaces marked out to provide all-day parking for people who work in the town. Northumberland County Council and local county councillors are working with the town council to find long term solutions to car parking issues in Hexham, and have reaffirmed their commitment to long-term improvements. Alongside work on permanent long-term car parking solutions, the council has been looking at sites that could be readily available - and further sites in addition to the fire station are also being considered. The temporary car park at the fire station is available now and provides up to 50 spaces. Parking will be free and there will be no restrictions or controls in place, although it is aimed primarily at all day parking for those who work in the town. Cllr Cath Homer, county councillor for Hexham East said: “I am very pleased that these interim arrangements are now up and running, and hope that they have a positive impact in alleviating some of the parking issues. “I am also pleased to say that the council is actively looking at both short and longer term solutions to the car parking issues we experience here in Hexham.” In relation to longer term solutions the council is assessing the suitability of a number of sites in the town - including the potential for a multi-storey car park or more extensive surface parking. Due to the historic and compact nature of the town centre, options to significantly increase overall parking capacity in the town are limited, however a small number of potential options are being explored. Sites that could have potential are being considered in relation to access and traffic impact, and where not owned by the county council discussions are taking place with landowners to allow options to be appraised. Cllr Glen Sanderson, cabinet member for environment and local services at Northumberland County Council said: “We are committed to making progress on improving the car parking situation in Hexham. We have identified some potential options and will be assessing these as soon as possible and consulting the local community.”

Northumberland County Council has offered emergency accommodation to survivors of the Grenfell fire in London. Daljit Lally, the interim Chief Executive of the County Council made contact with the Chief Executive and Director of Housing from the Royal Borough Kensington and Chelsea Council to make the offer. In preparation the County Council has made arrangements for housing to provide immediate temporary or permanent accommodation in Northumberland for two families from today, Monday 19th June 2017. Peter Jackson, Leader of Northumberland County Council said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. There is currently a crisis in housing people who have been displaced by this terrible tragedy in Kensington. “Even though we are some distance from London, we were keen to offer support.” In addition to offering accommodation for those affected by the tragedy, a proactive review is underway by county council departments to look at records of premises which operate stay put policies, or have external cladding applied to them, to provide confidence and assurance that safety issues have been properly considered and risk assessed. Paul Hedley, Chief Fire Officer at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service said: “Our thoughts are with all those involved in the Grenfell Tower fire and our colleagues in the emergency services. "Across the country, this tragedy has touched us all. Whilst Northumberland does not have any residential tower blocks of the type involved in the Grenfell Tower tragedy, there are residential low rise premises of up to 4 storeys. There are of course also premises within Northumberland which we know are fitted with external cladding and we are working to establish the type and make of those panels. “I would like to reassure Northumberland residents that we unaware of any concerns about the safety of any multi-storey residential premises within the county. “As part of a wide range of measures, we will also be liaising with external partners and contacting premises across the county to provide an offer of support, advice and guidance on fire safety matters and asking that they take steps themselves to satisfy themselves that there are no safety concerns for the premises for which they are responsible.”

A comprehensive scheme to improve one of Northumberland’s most congested roads is now complete. The £740,000 scheme to reduce congestion on Cowpen Road in Blyth was carried out in three stages consecutively, speeding up the work and improving the traffic flow. The project involved the removal and improvement of traffic lights, road widening and the creation of an additional lane on the exit from the Asda roundabout. New road markings are also in place on the A189 roundabout and approaches, along with improved road signs. Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services, said: “This scheme is a great credit to our staff who worked tirelessly to get the various stages of the work done as quickly as possible. “We did everything we could to minimise disruption and it’s important we bear in mind why this work was done in the first place - to improve safety, reduce congestion and improve journey times for the thousands of people who use this road every day. “Feedback has been very positive and the standard of the work is first class.” Local County Councillor Susan Davey, who long campaigned for the changes and helped secure funding from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “It’s fantastic that this long-awaited and desperately needed scheme is finally complete. “I am delighted that these adjustments have had a marked improvement on the flow of the traffic. The opening of Spencer Road on the industrial Estate has not only taken away the heavy lorries from the main body of the road but have helped the Port of Blyth to consider the relocation of their entrance. “As with all works and an ever increasing number of vehicle on our streets, monitoring of this road will remain a high priority.” Ray Browning, Programme Manager at the North East LEP, said: “This was an important upgrade to help alleviate pressure at peak times at key junctions benefiting not only the local community but also importantly helping efforts to attract new investment and jobs into the Blyth Riverside Business Park and the enterprise zones sites around Blyth Harbour where the North East LEP is also supporting infrastructure investment.”

Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland has been hearing about the final plans for the seventh annual LOVE Northumberland awards, which she is due to present to winning groups and individuals on Wednesday 5th July. During a visit to the Alnwick Garden the Duchess heard about some of the great entries that have been received for this annual celebration of initiatives that improve and enhance the environment of Northumberland. Her Grace also chatted to local historian and broadcaster John Grundy, who will be the presenter who announces the winners this year, and to Jeannie Kielty, representative of main sponsors The Banks Group. Applications have now been judged and individuals and representatives of shortlisted groups are being invited to the awards event, which is set to be held in The Alnwick Garden pavilion. Jeannie Kielty from the Banks Group said: “We have been very pleased to support these awards since back in 2012, and I am continually impressed by the range and standard of new applications we receive each year. There is a wealth of groups and individuals out there with some fantastic stories to tell about how they help to improve their local areas. “The spirit of the LOVE Northumberland Awards matches our own commitment to supporting the communities in which we operate, and we’re very pleased to be able to help to recognise the contributions made by local people in enhancing their county’s environment in the last 12 months.” New cabinet member for environment and local services at Northumberland County Council, Councillor Glen Sanderson, was unable to attend the visit due to other council commitments, but said afterwards: “I am very much looking forward to being involved in the LOVE Northumberland Awards this year. It is very good to be able to celebrate all the excellent work done by local people right across the county. I very much look forward to hearing about all the great applications - and wish the best of luck to all shortlisted entries who are coming along to the ceremony on 5th July.” Nominations for awards were invited from schools, community and voluntary groups and individuals in seven categories for projects that preserve and enhance the environment or that address local environmental issues or problems. The judging panel was made up of representatives of the council and sponsors and supporters of the awards.

The Undertones will be headlining ​The Northumberland Live Festival at Blyth this weekend June 24th, playing timeless classics including; ‘Here Comes the Summer’, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’, “My Perfect Cousin” and the power pop anthem “Teenage Kicks.” Review by http://neconnected.co.uk "In support to The Undertones will be new wave power pop band, Cryssis, who regularly pack out stadiums in their base country of Germany. Add to this local talent in the form of Ashington singer song writer Peesh, Durham based pop rock band, Twister and up and coming new alternative indie band Pacific who are tipped for the top. Also on the bill will be he Real Gone Gadgies, Arieanne Masters, The Exciters, Endless Sky and Little Moth. There will also be performances from Bad Apples hip hop crew, Blyth Samba and a few surprises too. As well as the musical attractions, the Festival will have its much looked forward to array of street theatre, superb food from the counties finest food suppliers and a family activity area which will keep all ages entertained. Also dropping in will be the Royal Logistics Corps Parachute Display Team, The Silver Stars who will perform daredevil manoeuvres as they descend onto the beach area. The fun starts at 10am and will continue until around 9pm. Parking is limited on site and a free park and ride service will be in operation run by Phoenix Taxis from the library in Blyth town centre." For all the latest information on the event follow the Northumberland Live facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NorthumberlandLiveFestival

Northumberland County Council in partnership with Silx Youth Project, a Blyth based organisation has launched a guidebook aimed at helping first time housing tenants. The Young Tenants’ User Guide has been developed directly with Silx Youth Project, based upon their own practical experience of working with young people and aims to provide information on everything a tenant may need. Aimed at 18-25 year olds, the guide tackles issues such as finance and how to keep on top of your bills, budgeting and saving money on utility bills, and how to claim for benefits they are entitled to. It also explains what a tenancy agreement is and the importance of understanding what tenants are responsible for and the council as the landlord, including what can happen if those responsibilities are not met. The idea for the guide came from feedback from young people in the Blyth area who were struggling to manage in social or private rented accommodation. John Riddle, Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet member for Planning, Housing and Resilience, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to work with Silx on this invaluable project. “We’re keen to support young people in being able to take that next step into adulthood, by moving into their new home. “However, we recognise they can find themselves in a vulnerable position and at risk of losing their tenancy, if they don’t have the skills or knowledge of what is involved in running a home. This guide covers everything they need to know to have a positive experience and to fulfill their potential as a home owner in the future.” The guide also includes tips on how to stay safe in your home, as well as issues such as sexual and mental health. Each new young tenant will be given the guide at their tenancy introduction meeting with a council housing officer, copies are also available from the Silx offices on Church Street, Blyth. Chris Antony, trustee of Silx, said: “We were finding that more and more young people in the Blyth area were struggling with all the different aspects that come with managing and surviving in a social or private rented accommodation. “Issues such as getting into debt, or anti-social behaviour in their home, were leading to young people not be able to progress with their tenancy. “We hope that this guide will give young people the information and support they need to understand what is involved in running their own home.”

An ambitious programme of extra verge cutting and weed spraying is getting underway as the county gears up for the main tourist season. The county council is drafting in extra resources over the coming weeks to carry out additional grass cutting along highway verges across the county. The work is vital to ensure that vegetation does not restrict visibility for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. In addition to the road safety benefits, these works also improve the look of an area and keeps the network in better condition by preventing plants taking hold on the side of roads. As well as bringing in more staff the council is leasing two more tractors with special cutting equipment over the summer. Weed growth on pavements and kerb edges is an on-going problem across towns and villages in the county, especially during periods of warm wet weather when weeds grow very quickly. In order to improve the appearance of the county extra weed spraying is being done on pavements and kerb edges, so that residents should notice weeds dying back before being cleared away. Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services, said: “One of our priorities as a new administration is to improve the condition of the road network and invest in improvements that benefit everyone. “Our county brings in millions in tourism each year and it’s important our streets and highways are well maintained, both for safety and the overall look and feel of the place. “We’re committed to reversing the previous administration’s cost cutting on highway verge maintenance and weed control and have taken immediate steps to improve these key areas of activity to ensure Northumberland is looking its best ahead of the main tourist season.”

A special flag raising ceremony was held today at County Hall in Morpeth to mark national Armed Forces Week. The ceremony was part of a countrywide programme of events to celebrate and recognise HM Armed Forces - past, present and future. Servicemen and women and war veterans were joined by civic leaders and members of Northumberland County Council staff and the public to pay tribute to all those service personnel who put their lives on the line in war zones across the world. The Armed Forces Flag was raised on the flagpole outside County Hall and will fly all week ahead of Armed Forces Day, which falls on Saturday 24 June this year. Civic Head of Northumberland County Council, Councillor Anthony Murray said: “ Behind the flags, parades, and other events up and down the country to mark Armed Forces Day, we should remember that, as we speak, in this country and overseas, these brave people are putting their lives on the line - on the ground, in the air, and on the oceans - to keep us safe and to build a better world for our children. “ We must also remember that each one of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and reservists is also a wife or a husband; a father; a mother; a son or a daughter and recognise that the pressure on their families is considerable. I want to thank all those who support their loved ones in our Forces. “ Nor should we forget the commitment of our Cadets, or the adult volunteers . Of course, those serving in our Armed Forces will one day move into the larger family of veterans and Armed Forces Day is a celebration of our veterans’ community too, whatever their age. This is a day when we can show our patriotic support for all of these heroes, and their outstanding contribution to this country. They are a constant reminder to younger generations that preserving our way of life and the things we hold most dear is sometimes hard won, and never guaranteed. ”

The Matthew Project, based in Bedlington, has received a bundle of products from Asda Blyth that was donated to help those feeling financial strain. Items handed over included tinned goods, biscuits, crisps and toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes. The project provides food parcels for individuals, families and homeless people in the Bedlington and Blyth areas following referral by organisations such as social services, Citizens Advice, Barnardo’s and Sure Start. Leadership group member Maureen Chilton said: “It is thanks to the kind donations of individuals, churches and supermarkets such as Asda Blyth that we are able to continue to provide our vital service and lend a helping hand to those in need.”

Ian Lavery has urged the Conservative-led administration at County Hall to announce its intentions for some key sites to ‘put mine and my constituents’ minds at rest’. The areas highlighted in the Wansbeck MP’s letter to Northumberland County Council leader Peter Jackson – sent last night – include the town centre development in Newbiggin and future leisure, library, parking and school provision in Morpeth. He also raises concerns about Arch, the local authority’s development company, and calls on the Tories to make a pledge not to reduce council jobs or services or pass any of them to the private sector. But Coun Jackson has hit back today, accusing Mr Lavery of ‘unnecessarily scaremongering residents and council staff’. He pointed to the example of the Pipers Place development in Bedlington, as he has said the planning permission process for this scheme should not be slowed down – an outline application for the mixed-use project was approved by the council earlier this month.

A woman who grew up in Bedlington and today lives in Australia recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Hilda Pearson, born on May 29, 1917, completed her schooling at about the age of 14 and left to do domestic work further south. This money was sent home to help the family – her parents were John and Abigail Worn and she had two sisters, Emma and Rachael, and two brothers, Stanley and Sidney. Her father was a coal miner.

Wildlife is blooming in a corner of Prudhoe thanks to a group being supported by Northumberland County Council and Northumberland Wildlife Trust. The Spetchells Conservation Interest Group (SCIG) have been working hard over the past year to ensure a rosier future for the rare wildlife on the chalk hills at Tyne Riverside Country Park in Prudhoe, known as The Spetchells. The group has raised over £5,000 and put in countless volunteer hours to remove invasive cotoneaster shrubs from the top of the hill, making the land once more ideal for solitary mining bees and the dingy skipper butterfly, as well as a range of specialist chalkland plants such as wall rocket and dyer’s greenweed. Funding has come from a range of supporters, including Northumberland County Council’s Community Trust, Greggs, SCA, Thompson’s of Prudhoe, Jewson’s, Waitrose and Northumberland Wildlife Trust. This has enabled the group to buy information boards, training and tools to enable work to take place. The County Council’s Green Spaces team and Northumberland Wildlife Trust enabled the project to go ahead and also ensured the volunteer work was supported with logistics and tool storage. The Spetchells are an artificial landscape of chalk, created as a by product of the old ICI factory that was on the site SCA now occupies. The area is unique in the north east of England and now hosts the biggest chalk grassland habitat in the region. Many unusual species of plants and animals are found there, and SCIG formed last year to tackle some of the issues on site that now threaten them. Councillor Glen Sanderson, Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services, said: "We’re delighted at the finished work on the signs and the ongoing support of the very knowledgeable volunteers of SCIG, which have enabled huge progress on site through their efforts. “The site is a real asset to the local community and is already attracting a variety of endangered species.” Dr Keith Shaw, who has spearheaded the group, said: "The area is a popular beauty spot, but there were real concerns for the botany and insect life which needed huge effort to overcome. "We are so pleased to now offer signage to help people understand the site better, and with all the support we have had in returning this site to favourable condition, although there are further challenges ahead." Naomi Waite, Magnificent Meadows officer for Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: "This site had been designated a special Local Wildlife Site many years ago for its populations of Dingy Skipper butterflies, but the whole site is important. It’s great so many people have helped reclaim our wildlife on site, it’s already making a big difference in 2017." The group will continue to meet to improve the grassland, offer talks to the public and monitor the wildlife. For more information contact countryside@northumberland.gov.uk

Parents need to apply for 30 hours ASAP and well before the 31st August 2017 deadline if they wish to access a place next term (September 2017). A delay in applying may mean parents will not be able to access a place until January 2018 You can apply for free childcare here All 3 and 4 years old are entitled to 15 hours a week (570 hours a year) of free childcare and the government will begin to offer an additional 15 hours of free childcare per week to all eligible working families starting September 2017. For further information and to check whether your child is eligible to receive the additional 15 hours childcare, click here Northumberland County Council has been part of the pilot scheme offering 30 hours of free childcare, if you have taken part in the pilot scheme and your child will remain eligible for 30 hours free childcare in September 2017 then you will need to apply under the national scheme to continue to receive your additional entitlement.

Work on a £1.5 m scheme to restore Hexham House and create a new wedding venue for the town is now in its final stages with the venue on track to be opened to the public in September. Northumberland County Council will be holding a series of open evenings later in the summer so couples planning to get married can view the venue and meet and chat with members of the Northumberland Wedding co-ordination team. Hexham House is a Grade II* listed building located within an award winning park with views of the Abbey from almost every room and will undoubtedly be a beautiful and popular place for couples to get married. The house is undergoing a major face-lift to convert it into a wedding complex, with the creation of a new register office, two wedding ceremony rooms and seven luxury self-catering holiday apartments complete with bridal suite. The interior of the building in Gilesgate is having a full upgrade and refurbishment and every effort is being made to ensure that any work is in-keeping with the heritage of the 18th Century house. Northumberland County Councillor Nick Oliver, cabinet member for corporate services said: “ The redevelopment of Hexham House is a really exciting opportunity, both for people planning to get married and the town itself. It is set to be one of the finest register offices in the North of England and will provide a great opportunity for those couples who are looking for an elegant setting that is also great value for money” Hexham House will not provide reception facilities and couples will be encouraged to contact local providers for this aspect of their wedding. The first couple to be married at the venue in September have chosen nearby Hexham Abbey for their reception and evening function. Prices for a wedding ceremony in the House range from £345-£395 Monday - Saturday and £500 on a Sunday or a Bank Holiday. Bookings for weddings can be made through the council’s ceremony coordination team Tel: 01670 602870 email: alnwickreg@northumberland.gov.uk.

An ambitious bid to overhaul the centre of Bedlington was given the go-ahead last week, alongside less popular plans for hundreds of new homes. An outline application for a mixed-use development on a site to the north of Front Street, which includes land formerly occupied by the Tesco store, was unanimously approved at last Tuesday’s meeting of Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee. On the same night, another outline proposal – for up to 500 new homes on land south-west of Glebe Farm, Choppington Road, was also approved – by 11 votes to one.

Northumberland County Council has welcomed the expansion of a major international company in the county. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $18 billion and approximately 55,000 employees globally. Its Cramlington site specialises in the production of Single Use Technology products and services used in the biotech industry. This week a new Customer Evaluation Centre (CEC) to showcase the company’s latest innovations was officially opened. The state of the art centre, which includes meeting spaces, will be used by customers taking part in training sessions, workshops and seminars. Council leader Peter Jackson performed the opening ceremony at the new centre. He said: “Thermo Fisher Scientific is a growing and innovative company that plays an important role in the economy of Northumberland. “We’re delighted that the investment in the Customer Evaluation Centre will help to underpin continued growth at the site in Cramlington. “The County Council's new direction is to encourage investment in world class manufacturing sectors such as the pharmaceutical and life sciences leading edge companies which we have in our county. “Our aim is to create more and better job prospects for our county, not only attracting inward investment but encouraging our existing businesses to build for the future."

Local people are being asked for their views on the county’s highways and transport services – from the condition of roads and footpaths to the quality of cycling facilities. Their answers will be compared with the views of other members of the public across England and Scotland, thanks to the National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction survey. Northumberland County Council is one of 112 local authorities to sign up to a standardised survey that will ask members of the public exactly the same questions, whether they live in Norfolk, Nottinghamshire or Northumberland. The survey, which is being run for the tenth year, is the largest collaboration between local authorities offering the opportunity to compare results, share in best practice and identify further opportunities to work together in the future. The questionnaire will be sent to a random sample of at least 3,300 of the county’s residents from 19th June, followed by a reminder, with local and national results to be published in mid-October 2017. Since the survey is based on a sample, residents that receive a copy are being urged to take part. Residents that receive the questionnaire can complete the survey online if they prefer, a short link will be printed on the front of the questionnaire and they will be required to enter a code before completing the questionnaire. The results will enable the council to find out what people in Northumberland think about these important services. The County Council has been doing the survey since it started and the feedback sits alongside other engagement it carries out via town and parish councils to help it determine and prioritise future works and improvements. Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services, said: “As one of the country’s largest counties with over 3,200 miles of road, we fully understand the importance of maintaining and improving our network. “This survey is another way for us to get a greater understanding of residents’ views on a range of transport and highways issues and enable us to work together to improve the lives of our many communities. “Residents views are extremely important to us so I hope very much that people are able to find the time to fill it in and let us know their thoughts.”

Work to re-plant around 150 trees in the grounds of County Hall in Morpeth is continuing - with the help of local young people. The council has already undertaken work to re-plant trees along Queen Elizabeth Avenue on the open space area at the front of County Hall, to restore this attractive tree-lined footpath which is heavily used and enjoyed by both staff and local residents. Now members of the local 6th Morpeth St Aidan's Brownies have joined councillors and staff in the planting work. The planting scheme will retain the existing colour theme by replanting with the original varieties of purple leaved Norway Maple and Golden leaved Sycamore. Additional trees will be planted on the open space in front of County Hall and in the quadrangle at the centre of the building that is used by councillors and staff. Tree species will include oak, lime, maple, wild cherry, silver birch, rowan and alder. Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Local Services and the Environment, said: “We fully appreciated the level of public concern over the felling of the trees and have listened to the views of local residents. “Workers have been busy removing the stumps of the felled trees and replanting new ones in the County Hall grounds and the area is already looking better. “We’re delighted that local young people have been getting involved with the re-planting and helping create a green legacy for the county’s future. “The work also demonstrates our commitment to remaining at and improving the current County Hall site.” The trees were cut down in January as part of plans by the previous administration to build a retail park, new first school and 200 homes on the land. This scheme was halted by the County Council’s new administration.

The new leadership at Northumberland County Council is putting plans in place to improve communication and engagement with local communities. One of the first services to introduce changes to the way it operates is the highways department which will be bringing local town, parish and ward councillors into the heart of its decision making process. In future, these stakeholders will be fully informed and consulted when highways improvement schemes, or Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) are being considered in their community to ensure that all parties are fully aware of the issues and the proposed work. Northumberland County Councillor, Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Environment & Local Services, said: “We have listened to what residents have been telling us and want to ensure that local people have more power and say in decisions that directly affect them and the communities in which they live.” At the start of each highways improvement scheme, the County Council will draft a brief and this will be discussed with these local community representatives to ensure that the issue of concern has been fully understood and that the problems that need to be resolved have been identified. If a scheme requires a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), the local town, parish and ward councillors will be consulted, followed by consultation with statutory consultees and any residents directly affected. The new arrangements also seek to improve upon the existing arrangements for involving local communities in the preparation of the highways investment programme. Council officers will write to local town, parish and ward councillors annually to share the issues that have been raised within their community and to agree local priority projects for the following year. Subject to funding and eligibility criteria, these projects will then be incorporated into a draft programme which will be reported to the new Local Area Councils for final local comment, before being formally approved. The new council administration at Northumberland County Council is to introduce five Local Area Councils: North Northumberland, Tynedale, Castle Morpeth, Ashington & Blyth and Cramlington & Bedlington to replace the previous four Area Committees. These area councils will meet monthly, have added responsibilities and aim to bring decision making closer to local communities. Councillor Sanderson added: “The introduction of five local area councils and improved partnership working with local communities will help ensure that our investments in highways improvement schemes are tailored to meet the needs of the community and deliver better all-round results. “With over 3,000 miles of roads connecting hundreds of communities, ensuring that we provide the most effective highway improvements with the funding available is a priority for this council.”

A new system of local democracy will allow communities across the county “to create their own futures”, the new administration has pledged. Northumberland County Council has implemented a restructure of committees across Northumberland which will give town and parish councils a more active role and a greater say in what happens within their local areas. The restructure of committees to create five new local area councils across Northumberland will see the return of democracy and accountability to local areas, allowing them to decide and determine their own futures, based on the needs of the local community. The new local area councils will include; North Northumberland, Ashington & Blyth, Castle Morpeth, Tynedale and Cramlington & Bedlington and will meet bi-monthly to consider planning applications, road spending and petitions. The introduction of the local area councils will allow local people across Northumberland to have a greater influence on the decisions that directly affect them and their communities. Council leader Peter Jackson said: “We want to work with communities to help them create their own futures, rather than impose large projects or developments on them. “These new Local Area Councils are one way to develop a better future for the whole county. For example in north Northumberland we would fully expect the local area council to work very closely with the major towns of Alnwick and Berwick on local development plans for those communities. “We want to be clear this is not a return to district councils, but about bridging the gap between an autocratic, centralised county council and communities. “We value the work that town and parish councils are doing and wish to work closely with them, bridging the gap with a county council some see as distant and unengaging.” “And not only will the restructuring of the committees ensure the County Council’s policies take into account the needs and aspirations of local communities, it will also provide savings of £250,000 over the next four years from reductions in allowances, which can be ploughed back into essential daily services.” To find out more information and times and dates go to the ‘meetings’ section on the front page of the council website at www.northumberland.gov.uk

Today's event at Woodhorn Museum is a celebration of North East culture, mining heritage and local history View the full article

The Bedlington graduate was able to sit up for the first time in years after making it through an operation to fuse her skull and neck together View the full article

Votes have been counted and MPs declared for the four parliamentary constituencies in Northumberland. The candidates declared as MP for each of the constituencies are as follows: Berwick-upon-Tweed - Anne-Marie Trevelyan, The Conservative Party Candidate Blyth Valley - Ronnie Campbell, Labour Party Hexham - Guy Opperman, The Conservative Party Candidate Wansbeck - Ian Lavery, Labour Party The elections were run by Northumberland County Council and all four counts took place overnight last night at Blyth Sports Centre. The turnout for the Northumberland constituencies was 71.5% for Berwick-upon-Tweed; 67.1% for Blyth Valley; 75.1% for Hexham and 68.4% for Wansbeck. Click here to see the declartion of results

See the full standings, new MP, results and reaction from the Wansbeck constituency following the General Election 2017 vote count View the full article