As a reminder, we are only able to comment on applications, we cannot grant or refuse applications. However, hopefully the council will take our views into account. Sometimes councillors need to be reminded also that planning matters should not be the subject of a party “whip” , even at parish council level! 

We commented against the application for a golf driving range in the Green Belt south of South Newsham Road. 

We are broadly in favour of the development for housing at the links , although there are matters of detail that need to be confirmed. 

We again are broadly in favour of the proposed reversion of the gym on King Street to a flat. 

The committee will now meet every 3 weeks, and hopefully will be able to influence County Council planners for the good of Blyth.

“Forums give you the chance to have your say - and get the facts about what the police and the police authority are doing to tackle crime in your area”

This will allow a permanent reinstatement of the damage caused by the burst water main, and the repair of the area caused by the bad weather.

I had hoped that the road would be partly opened for bus traffic at least (it is a major bus route) , but I have now received confirmation that it will be closed. Bus routes will be diverted via Union Street and Plessey Road, or via Hodgsons Road, Cowpen Road and Renwick Road. I will check which bus routes will take which diversions.  

I am very disappointed in this, but I have been told that this will shorten the closure allowing the whole work to be done in one tranche.

The closure is effective until 30th April, but will last as long as needed and hopefully the work will be completed long before then.

I know that we cannot account for the weather, or a burst main, but I cannot help thinking that a lot of the remedial work could have been avoided if Blyth Valley Borough Council (as was) had ensured that the work was done to the best standard.

The DWP and our local MP could not answer it, so the Minister has answered it. Well, I say answered but I should really say responded to it.

The reply was two pages of A4 paper that basically said that the payments are based on data supplied by the Met Office. It doesn’t explain why there should be such a difference between the Blyth postcode and the surrounding postcodes, or why Whitley Bay, Cramlington  and Bedlington are deemed colder than Blyth.

I’ll write back, and if I get an answer, I’ll let you know

It is held at the Buffalo Centre, Blyth.

There will be a 15 minute public question time to allow members of the public the opportunity to ask the council about matters that affect it.

Currently we disabled pass holders are restricted to between 9 in the morning and 11 at night, but from April we will be able to use the passes at all times.

I’m not sure about the time restrictions in other areas, but for Northumberland residents this is great news.

Blyth residents have suffered just as bad weather (some would say worse) than these area, so why are we discriminated against?

 When (or should I say if?) I get a reply, I’ll let you know.   Or if you know… pass it on.

The people that need short term loans are unfortunately the ones who will be attracted to this company (I’ll not mention its name here), but their APR is a staggering 2356% . No, I haven’t missed the decimal point, two thousand three hundred and fifty six percent!

At least Dick Turpin wore a mask!

But sorry, I’ll give praise where praise is due! For three weeks or so, the major  roads and the main secondary roads have been gritted twice per day every day. Today, the bin wagon arrived, as it has done throughout the holiday period, despite the weather and the road being icy.

So a large amount of praise for the workers at NCC who have done an excellent job to keep the roads open and to keep services running as close to normal as possible!

 The BBC local news yesterday aimed criticism at NCC for not gritting minor roads in the county, and “a certain politician” aimed criticism at the council leadership, but no-one, except perhaps that certain politician, can blame NCC for the weather!

I had a ‘phone call from a resdent yesterday on another matter, but in the conversation he said “The roads were always regularly gritted under Blyth Valley Borough Council”. Talk about showing your prejudices… BVBC didn’t grit the roads, NCC have always had that responsibility , BVBC never had the role!

So, a large pat on the back for the NCC workers for keeping the roads open and delivering the services, let’s not forget them!

The Emergency services are stretched enough, tonight of all nights, so be good and be careful.

2010 promises to be a significant year politically , with a general election coming up.

However, have a great New Year, and may all your wishes come true!

The collections will be on the normal days, there will be no putting back the collections by one day for the bank holiday.

 Oh, and this week it is the green bin

Further details are on www.northumberland.co.uk

 I’ll be available by telephone and EMail over the Christmas holiday, for any emergencies.

This year I’ll be sending my donation to the Parkinsons Disease Society.

If you read this and haven’t got a card, it’s not because I don’t wish you all the very best for Christmas, but because I’d like to make a contribution to a worthwhile cause rather than spend what otherwise would be a thrown away after a couple of weeks.

Anyway, with the telephone, EMail, the Global interwebby thing, I can pass on Christmas wishes by other methods.

I’ll probably be on this site again before Christmas,  but in the meanwhile can I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year.

This post is just a brief one to keep you informed on progress.

The Town Council Finance Committee has started to look at next year’s budget. There is a range of services that the County Council are looking to devolve down to the parish (and town) councils.

We need to look at them and decide which, if any, we are taking on and how this will affect the precept. There is an argument that goes…. we paid for these under BVBC so by paying the Town Council to do them we are paying twice. But that is the simple position, by not having to do them the County Council can reduce the base budget by £400,000 over the county and therefore limit their council tax rise.

But the main point has been missed. It is a Labour government that has cut the payment to Northumberland County Council (among all local authorities) and it was a Labour government that imposed a single unitary council on Northumberland against opposition from all councils, political parties and members of the public.

Yet who are the main critics of the situation that the County Council finds itself in? I’ll let you guess!

Anyway, on what should have been a lighter note.

On Sunday I attended the Salvation Army Toy Service at Bedlington, and on Saturday I opened the Isabella Christmas Fayre.

These events should be above party politics, I was there in my Civic role as Deputy Mayor.

Yet on Saturday I received adverse comments from a Labour Party activist (not a councillor) about my presence, being a Liberal Democrat councillor.

So much for the season of goodwill !!

Without meaning to exclude anyone, I must give special thanks to the staff of Northumberland Council, Blyth Valley Arts & Leisure, to 1000 Squadron ATC, to certain Blyth Town councillors, to Sue Noddings our new town clerk,  and to Pudsey Bear for being the guest of honour.

 But special mention must go to those members of the public who braved the cold weather and came to see the switch-on.

I didn’t actually see the switch on, as I was working behind the scenes, but I had a look around when it was all over. The lights , and the Market Place features, looked really effective. I may have criticised the Market Place features in the past, but when they work they look fine.

The entertainment will start at 4:30 with school choirs, and Pudsey will switch the lights on at 5:30

There will be a collection for Children in Need, collected by 1000 Squadron Blyth ATC

Hopefully the press releases will appear in the local papers, Journal, Chronicle and News Post Leader. If you have Facebook, please sign onto the “I’m attending the switch on of Blyth Christmas Lights” event , and invite all your Facebook friends

Many thanks to everyone involved.

Okay, I know that all our tastes are different , but what stands out is the HUGE amount of money made.

Two Blyth Town Council councillors were due to appear to publicise Pudsey switching on the lights next Friday, but because of the terrible flooding in Cumbria being reported priorities changed.

But, until next Friday I have changed my profile ‘photo on here, and on my Facebook page. I challenge you to do the same and donate £1 to Children iin Need

There will be the usual 15 minutes of public question time, and the main body of the meeting will be around one item, the services that will we be taking on (or are expected to take on), in the 2010/2011 year.

 We will not be making a decision, but receiving a presentation from an officer of Northumberland County Council

It was a simple ceremony, but it was really good to see young people taking an active part in the act of Remembrance. It’s so good to see, that on the special day, the sacrifices made have not been,  and will not be, forgotten.

For administrative reasons the ceremony was at 9:30, so I thought I would make my way to Blyth Town Centre to observe my own 2 minutes silence. The bus wasn’t going to get into town on time, so I got off at Regent Street just before 11 o’clock. I observed the silence with a couple of other people who had got off the bus with me, and a young couple who had been to Herrons the jewellers to choose an engagement ring. They did not need to be told of the silence, they stood by their car and bowed their heads.

Good luck for the future to David and Lindsay, but mostly thank you for your simple act of remembrance.

Working with officers of Blyth Valley Arts and Leisure and Northumberland County Council , we have started the countdown to Christmas!

The switch-on will be on 27th November at 5:30 pm.

Thanks to great work by Fiona Wilson, my fellow ward councillor for Plessey Ward, we have got a true celebrity to perform the switch-on…… (drum roll………..) …………Pudsey Bear !!!

The event will be in support of the Children in Need appeal, and although the Children in Need night is the weekend before, we are really happy that Pudsey has taken the time to visit.

There will also be street entertainers, and we hope that the market and the shops will remain open late.

Full details of the night’s programme of events follows later.

These will have the dual purpose of adding some colour when filled with plants, and helping to stop parking on that strip of pavement. Well that was the idea, as today cars were parking between the planters and partly on the road, partly on the pavement, despite the double yellow lines.

Inconsiderate and illegal parking… …. park at one of the (still free !) car parks in Blyth!  If I can find out how to upload photos onto here I’ll post some examples, and I will NOT be hiding the number plates!

Until we can get premises arranged (see below) she can be contacted at blythtowncouncil@hotmail.co.uk

Premises. Our bid for the lease of premises has been accepted. We have appointed a surveyor to check them, and we are looking to appoint a solicitor to help with the legalities.

Once they are agreed I’ll be publicising the details.

For all of them I was impressed at the organisation by the Royal British Legion and other organisations.

There were many “nice”moments in the various ceremonies, but two stood out.

One of the lesser campaigns in the period since the war was the Radfan campaign in Yemen, and two ex-servicemen, who didn’t know each other, were at the Cowpen ceremony. But the most moving was the football match at Briardale Rd fields, where the referee called for a minutes silence before the match. You come to expect it at Premier League and “big” matches, but it was nice to see at park football level.

It’s funny how the existing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq have brought people to consider the country’s losses in many campaigns.

My last ceremony will be on Wednesday 11th at Blyth Community College. It’s great how even at schools they pay their respects.

 It’s a well used cliche, but “LEST WE FORGET”

As usual, there will be the 15 minutes public question time before the business of the council.

We should make some progress on the appointment of a town clerk, and on premises. Also, there’s an exciting prospect with the (my) proposal that we should investigate the possibilities of opening a Blyth Town Museum.

Unfortunately it seems that it also deleted an EMail from someone I know, and it has me worried that I may have deleted others.

So if you EMailed me while I was away, and I haven’t responded, please contact me again.

So, sorry, and here we go with some updates, in no particular order.

Blyth Town Council have been looking for permanent premises. I visited Ebor House (next to St Mary’s church) and I think they are ideal. However, it’s not up to me, so I await the reply from the Premises Working Group.

We have organised a small group of councillors to organise the town council’s part in the Remembrance Day events. Blyth will have four ceremonies, as usual. There is the Submariners service on the first Sunday of November, then Newsham service on the second Saturday and ceremonies at Cowpen and Ridley Park on Remembrance Day. I will be at the first two, and at one of the other two. I urge you to attend one if you can, to remember the fallen in the two world wars, and in other conflicts , including current ones.

The council’s 2009/2010 budget is still not agreed, but there is pretty much consensus among the political parties and final figures need to be agreed.

There have been calls for the town council to contribute to the “beautification” (is that a word?) of Blyth Market Place. I do agree, but find it ironic that the calls come from Labour Councillors, whose party designed the improvements to the Market Place.

Speaking of the Market Place, there are rumours that the Market Place went vastly over budget, and that the increase was made by the then leaders of Blyth Valley Borough Council, and it wasn’t even discussed at cabinet, never mind full council. I am tempted to put in a FOI request to get full costings. I wonder if the external auditor has investigated the overspend (if the rumoutrs are true of course) 

The traffic chaos caused by the new Academy schools contines. I know that NCC have done their best, but we said that this would happen, even when the then Labour run NCC first proposed the two academies.

There are probably more items of news, I will post them as they come back to me!

A great way to dispose of your old gold?

Or a thieves charter?

At least with “High Street” pawnbrokers there is a license system and some element of control. 

What do you think…?

I was talking recently to a constituent, who works for the Leisure Trust who run the chalets on behalf of the council. When the leases went out, under the old Blyth Valley Council, it was said that 10 would be for longterm lets, and that 10 would be for short term lets (from daily to weekly ).

Still with me?

The long term lets would be open to anyone from within Blyth Valley or from outside the borough.

Well the constituent told me that 5 of the chalets are let to either current or former Labour councillors. 

I’ll let you draw your own conclusions, if the allegations are true of course…..

EDIT 7th September.

I have been challenged by a Labour supporter locally to name names about this. I sent him the names, and explained that I was only told about this. He has backed down, giving rise to the suspicion that there might be some substance in the story. However, I will not name the current and former councillors on this site until I have proof of who they are.

My initial reading of the proposals show:-

• The number of Northumberland county councillors to remain at 67
• No changes to the electoral borders at either South Blyth or Plessey
• There are minor changes to Parish ward boundaries elsewhere in the county.

I’ll report later when I have had the chance to fully read the proposals.

 There will be displays of military vehicles and re-enactors will be present.

 It’s well worth a visit!

New bays, repairs to the pavement, and a new parking layout. I’m unsure about the blank space in the middle of the layout, it’s hard to describe, but I’ll get a photo later if I can …..

Firstly I send my best wishes to Jackie Tompkins, wife of Cllr Ian Tomkins (and therefore the Mayoress of Blyth) who has been in hospital for a couple of weeks. If you wish me to pass on your best wishes please contact me.

On with the other matters. There have been requests for a crossing across Plessey Road, near the Seahorse pub. Although I do support the call, the County Council have asked for time to see how big a problem this is likely to be. They have increased the size of the traffic islands, but I think that this site needs either a Zebra crossing, or a Lollipop attendant (or whatever they’re called these days)

The 20mph zone on South Beach estate is now in force, but until the Council get the signs erected they cannot enforce it. Come on, County Hall, get your act together!

The Academy School buildings are more or less complete, and how they dominate the areas. The Primary site (formerly South Beach First School will be ready in the next couple of weeks (I hope the lorries will then cease to use Fulmar Drive!) The Secondary site looks complete, and again hopefully will be open in time for the start of the new year.

On the weekend of 5th and 6th September, the Blyth Battery is opening its doors. together with a display of military vehicles and a Spitfire (whether this will be flying past or not remains to be seen) Further details to follow.

Finally for this section, the next meeting of Blyth Town Council is on 17th September. If you have anything you want raising, please let me know. I’ll be posting details of the exact venue later

You can show your support for his campaign, and keep up with what he’s doing, on our new Facebook group, Vote for Jeff Reid.  Please join the group, and invite your friends

We will continue to deliver Focus leaflets, not only at election time,  but we thought that we should start using the world wide inter web thingy .

The order takes effect on Monday next, 3rd August.

Already I have received mixed views, but most of the residents agree that it is time that speed was limited on this part of the estate.

The dissenting voices are all visitors, who do not agree with it. But residents views are, in this case, the ones that matter.

The site will be turned into the playing field of the new Academy.

Speaking of which, the building is nearly finished, and it should be open in September. It looks a nice building, it’s just too close to houses, too large, and will lead to even greater problems with parking. Apart from that, and the loss of what has been one of the finest first schools in Northumberland to a private Academy everythings fine. [/irony]

I don’t think that , as working groups, these are open to the public.

The next meeting of the Planning Committee is yet to be confirmed

The next meeting of the full Town Council is 17th September, at a venue to be confirmed.

If you have suggestions for agenda items, or possible venues for future town council meetings, please let me know.

 My details were taken, and I was told that my repacement would arrive well before the date of expiry of the old one (24th August)

The replacement arrived today, less than two days after my asking.

In society today we are too quick to complain, I am more than happy to recognise a job well done!!

It’s time we re-adopted it.

Penny Reid is an experienced councillor and will give her all for her constituents.

 Welcome to Cyberspace Penny

 Link to her site:- http://pennyreid.mycouncillor.org.uk/

We set up our first committee, the Planning (and Development) Committee, which will look at any applications that are sent to us for comments. We cannot decide these applications, but as consultees we can give our views, and bring matters to the attention of the County Council Planning Committee.

We have also set up three working groups, to look at Budget & Finance, Staffing and Premises. These will start the ball rolling (aaah , cliche !!) in getting the council established and running.

Once the membership of these Working Groups and Committee is agreed I will let you know the LibDem contact details

Having expected fireworks it was quite a low key affair, but certain forward steps were taken.

We took the decision to have town council status, which makes the position of Mayor available. So formally it is now Blyth Town Council. Apparrently it is the second largest parish / town council in the country, behind Yeovil.

Ian Tomkins was elected Mayor, and I was elected Deputy Mayor (!)

The council agreed to meet in a month or so, to further discuss options for the council, financial regulations and standing orders etc.

It’s an exciting prospect, but it raises as many questions as it answers. I am used to the workings of a Borough Council, as I’m sure are many of the new councillors.

But this is not Blyth Valley Mark II. We currently have no responsibilities, we have a very small budget, and as yet we do not know how it will be organised.

Tomorrow we vote on a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, and as we take on the Civic duties we’ll discuss the election of a Mayor for Blyth. We don’t yet know if the Chairman will be the Mayor, or whether the two positions will remain separate.

 I’ll keep you informed of any develoments

In Blyth, Lib Dems won 8 out of 16 (see elsewhere), in Cramlington it was 5 Lib Dem, 4 Labour and 3 Conservative, and in Seaton Valley it was 6 Labour and 3 Lib Dem.

In the former Wansbeck area, Newbiggin went 6 Lib Dem and 2 Independents (no Labour!), in Ashington elected 14 Lib Dem and 7 Labour . Bedlington is now two parish councils, in East Bedlington it is Lib Dem 5 Labour 6, and in North Bedlington it is Labour 6 Lib Dem 3.

 As I said, interesting!

The Lib Dems have won 8 of the 16 seats available. The winners are:-

Wensleydale                          Penny Reid and Daniel Lovatt

South Blyth                            Lesley Rickerby and Ian Tompkins

Newsham                               Peter Lovatt and Cilla Isles

Plessey                                    Fiona Wilson and Alisdair Gibbs-Barton

With the election of one Independent councillor in Croft , it means Labour cannot win control of the council.

There were some notavle losers:- Dave Stephens (former leader of Blyth Valley Borough Council) lost in Croft, Deirdre Campbell (wife of the MP) lost in Plessey, and Gordon Knox (the last Mayor of Blyth Valley) lost in Wensleydale.

A note of congraatulation to Daniel Lovatt, one of our winning candidates in Wensleydale , he won at the grand old age of 18! He is surely one of the youngest councillors in the county.

The full results are at:- http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4625

Work is under way to clean up a Northumberland stream and reduce the flood risk for people living nearby.

Newsham Burn, in Blyth, passes through South Beach estate, draining surface water, but also picks up debris.

In heavy rainfall the water level rises quickly, and if the stream became blocked it could flood up to 20 houses.

The Environment Agency says it is now working to remove vegetation and silt, and has replaced the trash screen to cope with higher flows.

Trash screens filter out debris and vegetation from watercourses, and although they are essential to prevent blockages, they themselves can sometimes become blocked.

Agency spokesman Les Collingwood said: “The work we’re carrying out should ensure the burn is in the best condition to cope with future sudden storm flows.

“This work can’t prevent flooding, but it should significantly reduce the flood risk for South Beach estate.”

 A welcome move… and a mention on the BBC.

The Lib Dem candidates are:-

Cowpen                                                    Heather Lovatt,       Sandra Stanger

Croft                                                         Gordon Calvert

Isabella                                                     Sylvia Calvert,         Peter Stanger

Kitty Brewster                                         Bob Harris,               Walter Rickerby

Newsham                                                  Cilla Isles,                 Peter Lovatt

Plessey                                                      Alisdair Gibbs-Barton, Fiona Wilson

South Blyth                                               Lesley Rickerby,      Ian Tompkins

Wensleydale                                              Daniel Lovatt,           Penny Reid

There are 16 seats up for election, and Liberal Democrats are fielding 15 candidates.

It has the same boundaries as Plessey division of Northumberland council, which is held by Jeff Reid , Lib Dem leader of Northumberland Council.

My running mate is Fiona Wilson, former BVBC councillor for South Beach ward.  South Blyth (which contains South Newsham) is being fought by Ian Tompkins and Lesley Rickerby

If you can offer any help in the run up to the election, please contact me through the usual channels.

• Northumberland Council have taken over the running of the departments formerly run by BVBC, and it has gone smoothly so far.

• The traffic lights are working well, and an informal survey of local residents shows support for them.

• The construction work at the school continues apace, and I’m led to believe that the school will open in September.

•  The construction work at the shop(s) is nearly finished, the new shop will be open in less than a month.

Despite the bad press put out by the local Labour party, the world hasn’t ended and the sun did rise this morning. In fact it has been a rather pleasant day. I had hoped that the new council would be allowed to get on with sorting out the mess, but I heard today of a senior Labour figure in the county getting his knickers in a twist about something and nothing up at County Hall.  More details later.

I asked for the banner at the top of this website to be changed to reflect Blyth Valley’s demise, when / if I’m elected to the new Blyth Town Council I’ll have to ask for it to be changed again. 

I really must take this chance to thank the electorate of firstly South Beach , and then the newly formed South Newsham, ward for their continued support over 16 years. Has it really been that long since I was first elected?

 In time I’ll bore you all with all the changes that have been made in the two wards, and the successes of the council as a whole and your Lib Dem councillors in particular in that period