I’m delighted that after months of campaigning, we have been able to find a solution to help the 10,000-strong community of Ponteland with physical banking facilities.
My thanks to all who came as we make progress on the significant funding for community resilience locally from Northern Powergrid.
There is funding of up to 20k available for parish councils with a resilience plan for a community hub that requires funding.
Thanks to parish and community representatives from Allendale, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Humshaugh, Newbrough, Hexham shire, Slaley & Great Whittington for coming.
The Great Whittington application for £4,000 for their village hall was approved last night, 2 weeks after application.
We do it all again on Friday in Bellingham.
The dedicated Storm Arwen section of my website has the application form for NPG's community fund and a sign up page for the Bellingham meeting.
Please visit: www.guyopperman.co.uk/winter-preparedness-public-meetings or call: 01434 239 205.
I am organising two public meetings with Northern Powergrid to give residents an opportunity to hear about energy resilience improvements and planning for this winter.
Northern Powergrid will also be outlining how organisations can apply to its £7.5 million energy resilience scheme to reinvest in the hardest hit communities during Storm Arwen.
The public meetings are taking place on:
Monday 26 September, 18:30 - 20:00 at Hexham Mart
Friday 30 September, 18:00 - 19:30 at Bellingham Town Hall
If you would like to attend, please sign up at: www.guyopperman.co.uk/StormArwen or call 01434 239 205.
Today, the Chancellor delivered his ‘mini-budget’ which will help bring more growth and stability for people across Tynedale and Ponteland
My focus remains on supporting households and businesses through the price rises everyone is facing.
The key announcements today were:
Energy
Cutting everyone’s energy bills by £𝟭𝟰𝟬𝟬𝗞 this year through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
Supporting businesses, charities, and hospitals through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
Income tax
Basic rate cut – 20p to 𝟭𝟵𝗣
Top rate cut – 45p to 𝟰𝟬𝗣
National Insurance
Rise reversed – saving the average worker £𝟯𝟯𝟬 each year
Stamp duty
Abolished below £𝟮𝟱𝟬𝗞 and below £𝟰𝟯𝟱𝗞 for first time buyers
Supporting our local pubs
Freezing alcohol duty for beer, cider, wine and spirits to support our local pubs
Investment Zones
The Government has announced that it will introduce investment zones to drive growth and reduce tax burden for business. Formal invitations for local authorities to bid for these Zones will follow shortly.
For further information on the support available for households and businesses with the cost of living, please click HERE
As we continue to mourn Her Late Majesty The Queen, there are several ways people across Northumberland can pay their respects to Her Late Majesty.
Lying in State
From Wednesday, The Queen will lie in state for “four clear days” in Westminster Hall until the morning of her State Funeral on Monday, September 19.
A guide has been produced by the Government on how people can pay their respects during the lying in state - please click HERE
There will also be a National Minute's Silence at 8pm on Sunday 18th September
Laying of flowers
Following the death of Her Majesty the Queen, members of the public are invited to lay floral tributes at a number of locations around Northumberland as a mark of respect.
Northumberland County Council have asked that people laying flowers remove any cellophane to help protect the environment.
The following designated locations in Tynedale and Ponteland are:
The Queen was the best of us and a constant in a changing world. The shock to our country will be profound, as all our lives have evolved with hers. Thoughts and prayers with her family. They mourn their mother, and grandmother, as her country mourns her too.
God Save The King
The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news of Her Majesty's health.
My thoughts - and the thoughts of everyone across Tynedale and Ponteland are with Her Majesty and the Royal Family at this time.
I am Pleased that the Government have today announced emergency legislation to establish an Energy Price Guarantee.
This Guarantee with ensure that the average British household pays no more than £2,500 per year for their energy bills for the next two years, starting in October this year.
In particular, I am pleased to hear the Prime Minister confirm a Heating Oil, Park Homes and Heat Networks fund to protect those in rural areas from increasing energy costs. This is something that I had raised with Ministers and will directly support households in rural parts of Tynedale.
The £400 Energy Support Bill Scheme will be maintained, as will the £1,200 of support for the most vulnerable households already announced.
Businesses will be offered an equivalent guarantee for six months, and after six months further support will be provided for vulnerable sectors. The Government will work with businesses to review where this should be targeted.
For more information, please click HERE
Online booking for autumn Covid boosters opens tomorrow for people who are:
🍁 aged 75 and over
🍁 immunosuppressed
🍁 health & social care workers
Other eligible groups should wait to be contacted by the NHS.