Plenty of shows + events on in Tynedale this weekend - with Bellingham the biggest but lots happening in South Tynedale too

There are opportunities for all this weekend - Bellingham is the biggest show with its usual agricultural base, but there are other events on in the south of the patch: Allendale School hosts the annual Horticultural and Industrial show today whilst on Monday the Blanchland and Hunstanworth Show is always good fun. I should also point out that there is the Snods Edge Arts Festival from Saturday to Monday

Bellingham Heritage Centre exhibition well worth a visit, and a great railway carriage cafe next door

The Journal report of the new exhibition makes fascinating reading: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/bellingham-pictures-past-tell-lives-9373220
And there is a brilliant café right next door in an old railway carriage. Visit soon - it will be worth it on both counts.

Success after a long campaign as the rural fuel rebate goes live this Sunday in Bellingham & Kielder

As of Sunday the fuel prices in rural North West Northumberland will be coming down. This is the end of a 4 year campaign to make the case to central government and the EU that truly rural areas are hit by bigger transport and other associated costs. They have listened. I was up in Kielder and Bellingham barely 4 weeks ago and they were eagerly awaiting the change. It will make a big difference.
More details here: http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/great-news-on-rural-fuel-rebate-ne48.html

Sandstone Way opening - Northumberland's brilliant new cycle way: I will be cycling this with Ted this summer

The team who came along 2 weeks ago for the opening of the Sandstone Way have made the following video: http://www.sandstoneway.co.uk/listing/Sandstone-Way-Hexham-Launch-Ride

The Cycle Way is already transforming the local economies in Bellingham, Rothbury, Wooller and all places between Hexham and Berwick. In the summer I plan to cycle the route, time permitting with Ted, the original planner. Full credit to all the local groups who came together to make this happen, including the council, Northumberland national park, natural England and many others. A real team effort and further proof that Northumberland is the cycling capital of the UK. If I had to cite one group really supporting the Sandstone Way, amongst many, it would have to be the team at Cycle Pad: http://www.cyclepad.org.uk
The Journal report is here: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/sandstone-way-mountain-bike-trail-8896399

Great news on rural fuel rebate - NE48 region gets reduced fuel costs - my letter from Treasury

Dear Guy

RURAL FUEL REBATE SCHEME – FULL EU APPROVAL
As you are aware, the Government submitted an application to the European Commission last year for seventeen of the most rural areas on the UK mainland to receive a 5 pence per litre fuel duty rebate. I am delighted to confirm that the Council of the European Union has now given its full approval to the Government’s application.
The scheme will be implemented in the UK on 1st April this year, with retailers in NE48 in your constituency eligible for registration. Full instructions on how retailers can start claiming the rebate have been published on the HMRC website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-and-customs-brief-3-2015-rural-fuel-duty-relief-scheme/revenue-and-customs-brief-3-2015-rural-fuel-duty-relief-scheme
 
I am sure you will agree that this excellent news for motorists in remote areas of the UK who are facing particularly high pump prices. I would like to thank you for your continued support during this process.
DANNY ALEXANDER

The end of a very long campaign - my thanks to all the people who have helped make the case for better treatment and help for truly rural areas.
 

Cheaper fuel on its way for residents of Upper North Tyne

I am delighted that our campaign for NE48 residents is a further step closer to success.
Even though fuel prices are falling across the country, they are still higher in very rural areas. Places like Kielder and Bellingham are amongst the most rural areas in the UK. For people who live in these areas cars are a necessity, not a luxury. We have battled hard to reach this major milestone, and the campaign continues.
Full story here:
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/cheaper-fuel-way-motorists-remote-8456713

Congratulations to Heritage Centre in Bellingham recognised as best volunteer run museum in North East

I am a huge fan of the Heritage Centre in Bellingham - it is run by good people who work tirelessly to promote our history and our region.
This is what the award winners said about it:
Volunteer Run Museum

Winner: Bellingham Heritage Centre

Bellingham Heritage Centre is a true community run Heritage centre, a focal point of the community, and truly serving the local area as a hub for their heritage. The staff are all extremely friendly and knowledgeable providing a quality ‘spotlight’ on the heritage and history of the area.
 Bellingham Heritage Centre provides an excellent visitor service, catering for a range of different visitor needs. The hands on displays appeal to children and families, and the wealth of information appeals to railway enthusiasts and local historians alike in an imaginative and informative way.
 Their outstanding achievement is balancing the needs of serving the local area and catering for tourists from outside of the area using an impressive, quirky and friendly approach.

The big extra advantage of going there is the amazing Carriages tea room ten yards away, next door, located in an old railway carriage. The food is amazing and I well remember recovering there exhausted after a tough day on the Pennine Way hike.

Really pleased the Heritage Centre has won an award. I heard about the award a while ago but have only just got round to blogging the news.
Do pop in next time you are heading to the upper north Tyne or Kielder. It is worth a visit - and a small home made cake too?
To find out more of what is on offer look here: http://www.bellingham-heritage.org.uk/media/download_gallery/BHC_Flyer_8ppDL_Flat160414.pdf

The Bellingham Deanery Synod - MPs and Church leaders see the same problems

On Thursday I spent the day cris-crossing the Upper North Tyne, in one of the most fascinating and rewarding days I have spent for a while. I visited businesses like the Northumberland Shepherd Hut and Falconry Days, spent time with Parish Councillors, knocked on doors in West Woodburn and Bellingham, delivered Energy Booklets, enjoyed Evensong in Bellingham, and attended Bellingham Middle School for a 30 minute Q&A with the senior children, and had a good, albeit quick, chat with the Headteacher. I loved being back, as I used to live just outside Wark for many years, and was a resident there at the 2010 election. I know the Upper North Tyne well.

It culminated with the Bellingham Deanery Synod inviting me to a Question and Asnwer session in Otterburn Village Hall. I was there to address 3 key themes - youth employment, housing and connectivity in all its forms - from broadband to rural transport. However, over 1 and a half hours we discussed everything from Schools to business rates, our collective dislike of Ofsted's high handed approach, the rise in apprenticeships, the demographic problem, the movement of people around Tynedale, the way in which local communities can, sometimes, be judged by their youth football teams, the usage of local tradesmen, for big local projects, and pretty much all of the issues that affect a rural area like the Bellingham Deanery. I was struck driving home after a long day by how similar the roles of the Vicar and the MP are:
- Both are there to provide assistance.
- Both would prefer if we were "supporters", even in the broadest term- but both the Church and MPs are rightly obliged to provide assistance to one and all, without fear or favour. I confess to enjoying the look of surprise when I help someone who I know detests the political views I am purported to hold [even though I am a very different politician to what many people imagine I am]. I often tell the tale of the BNP supporter who was exceptionally nasty to me during the 2010 campaign, but who we helped 9 months later with a particularly difficult local problem.

- Both struggle to provide local solutions to local problems, and both can make a huge difference.

The starkest difference is that I can be dismissed by the voters from this job. But for my part I like that - if I am doing a really bad job I should be dismissed. There is no such thing as a right to a job for life in my profession certainly.

I was, however, really encouraged by the effort being made by the Church in the Bellingham Deanery to address the issues we all face. Mike Slade is, I know, doing wonderful work in Chollerton, and his ideas for Youth Advocacy and outreach were fascinating. However, possibly the highlight of the day was the realisation that Susan, the Bellingham Vicar, was going to try and get an apprentice.

I tried to convey my optimism for the years ahead for rural Tynedale:
- broadband is the key to so much: as we already live in the best place how good it would be if we were able to work from home or in a barn or local business unit in exactly the same way that we can in Newcastle or any other town?
In short, as the broadband extends I believe we shall see local communities reborn with entrepreneurs setting up businesses at home. I am already seeing this in Hexham, where businesses like PDL and Red Marine are providing state of the art computer based engineering, from small little offices in Hexham - something which would have been unheard of 5 or 10 years ago.
The broadband point was also echoed by the Bellingham Middle School children.

- housing and jobs: we discussed local plans for housing, but not in the detail I would have liked, but there was a lot to cover. I remain convinced that the Local Plans will address the housing needs. We did not get into the National Park problem of the lack of affordable housing, or ability to convert, but rural housing is a genuine and real problem. We discussed the lack of apprenticeships or opportunities in forestry and agriculture, but I made the point that these were not where the future rural jobs were going to be coming. In all probability, the future jobs would be home based start ups or jobs with the growing businesses of Tynedale - I gave the example of the 40+ new engineers at Egger in their new Academy. 

Thursday was a long  but fascinating day - I can only thank the Deanery Synod for inviting me and providing a brilliant discussion forum that even featured delicious cake! 

Tynedale Today - Bellingham, Wark, West Woodburn, Otterburn & several places in between

Today is all about the Upper North Tyne. I am off to Bellingham and beyond, taking in schools, businesses, councillors, and so much more, and spending part of the day with the vicar of Bellingham, Susan Ramsaran. If you have not followed her blog you should do so: www.NorthumberlandRector.blogspot.com

Rural Fuel Duty cut for the Upper North Tyne

Really pleased that Treasury has seen sense on this issue and made the application to Brussels: we are the only region in England to qualify. This could make all the difference to motorists shopping locally or travelling down to Hexham or Newcastle, where prices can be more than 14p per litre cheaper. Although the bid covers a wide geographical area, only two local garages will benefit from the deal, if it wins approval: the garages it will help are Bellingham’s Garage Services, and the Kielder Petrol Station. More details here:
http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/rural-drivers-in-fuel-cut-bid-1.1114596#

Beer Festival Season in Northumberland starts this weekend in Bellingham

This is the first Border Beer Festival. The 3 day festival is run by the North Tyne and Redesdale Community Partnership and takes place in the centre of Bellingham. There is a sponsors and VIP night on Friday and then the event really kicks in over the weekend
Saturday 1st June Tickets are £10, with lots of beer and live music during the festival; timings 10.30-10.30pm

Sunday 2nd June Tickets £10,11-5pm

All details available online
The Partnership supports the local community in a number of ways, including running the Drop In centre for local kids. The festival will showcase 30 beers from 12 Breweries in the North East, with a few surprise guests thrown in. The proceeds support local charities and good causes! There will also be a selection of ciders. Support your local events and head along - if time allows I will pop in