NCC proposes to change the age ranges of all schools (apart from Ponteland Middle School which is now an Academy) to convert to a 2 tier structure. This is a decision which will have a huge impact on local education. Some are in favour. Some are against. But not to get respond would be a great shame - particularly if you oppose the present plan. It is more important now than ever for each parent/carer to give their views to the latest proposals. Fuller details from NCC can be found at http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Education/Schools/Consultations.aspx
Showing posts with label NCC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCC. Show all posts
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Tomorrow is also the last day for the Ponteland school consultation
This ends midnight 23rd June 2016. I have met many of the local families, governors, teachers and headteachers involved in this process. Three Friday's ago I met a group who were very opposed.
The present NCC proposal is here: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Document-store/School%20Consultation/Ponteland-Consultation-Document-FINAL.pdf
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
Northumberland County Council By Election tomorrow - if you are in W Hexham please vote for Tom Gillanders, a great local candidate
Tom is super local, a tireless campaigner for many great local causes, and passionate about Hexham. He will be a superb local County Councillor fighting for a fair deal for Tynedale. I urge you to support him tomorrow. If you have a postal vote and have not voted yet then you can still vote in person.
Sunday, 31 January 2016
Homes for the North group shows why we need a North East Mayor
Interesting debate Thursday in the House of Commons when a large group of northern housing associations came together to make the case for devolution and the consequential policy and overall solutions that would result in more and better homes. I attended the debate, spoke v briefly - and afterwards chatted to two of major housing providers that live and work in the north east and particularly Northumberland: Mark Henderson of Home Group and Keith Lorraine of Isos (see picture below) have many thousands of properties under management. The debate focused on many issues, but I found very interesting the much expressed complaint that in the north east we have multiple different local authorities, differing local housing plans, differing agendas to green belt, urban renewal and definitely different planning teams at the local authorities. The consequence is obvious - less building, fewer homes, greater costs to both local authorities / taxpayer and the developers, and an overall lack of any coordinated regional plan.
I am of the view that one of the benefits of a North East Mayor would be that regional overview.
Similarly, the impression of the housing needs not featuring in infrastructure renewal and expansion also featured. The flip side to that argument is how often does the housing developer reach out to the highways team, the combined local authority, and more particularly the LEP?
That development of an integrated approach and proper focused liaison rather than a wish list to the LEP will be one thing I hope Homes for the North take forward.
Finally, I challenged my two largest housing providers to look at the NCC estate - which is in excess of 100 properties - following the amalgamations of the district councils, and the movement of many things to Morpeth and beyond, and address their suitability for conversion into housing accommodation property. I remember in 2008 touring the two large former hospital sites at Stannington and Prudhoe - both had lain idle for many years at great cost to the taxpayer = well over £1 million dating back over 15 years in Stannington case. They were public land formerly used as public buildings and costing us a lot in security, whilst declining all the time.
I was determined that both would developed and one of my proudest achievements is the backing of both developments thereby releasing an unused state asset, providing much needed new housing and other benefits, without impacting on traditional unused virgin green belt.
I want a similar approach to the former Tynedale and castle Morpeth sites in my constituency, subject to the usual rules on consultation, planning and local views. Everyone in the Hexham constituency knows several buildings that have lain unused for years, quietly deteriorating at significant expense and nothing is done about them. The ball is in my local housing associations court.
In 2017 three things will happen:
- mayoral elections for the north east, with the significant changes this entails.
- a local authority that may failed to do a local plan will have its functions taken over by central government in order for such a plan to be produced under the housing act. Will Northumberland be finished by then?
- and local elections and I hope a fresh start as to the way in which Northumberland is run.
If you are interested in more detail their website is here:
http://www.homesforthenorth.co.uk
I am of the view that one of the benefits of a North East Mayor would be that regional overview.
Similarly, the impression of the housing needs not featuring in infrastructure renewal and expansion also featured. The flip side to that argument is how often does the housing developer reach out to the highways team, the combined local authority, and more particularly the LEP?
That development of an integrated approach and proper focused liaison rather than a wish list to the LEP will be one thing I hope Homes for the North take forward.
Finally, I challenged my two largest housing providers to look at the NCC estate - which is in excess of 100 properties - following the amalgamations of the district councils, and the movement of many things to Morpeth and beyond, and address their suitability for conversion into housing accommodation property. I remember in 2008 touring the two large former hospital sites at Stannington and Prudhoe - both had lain idle for many years at great cost to the taxpayer = well over £1 million dating back over 15 years in Stannington case. They were public land formerly used as public buildings and costing us a lot in security, whilst declining all the time.
I was determined that both would developed and one of my proudest achievements is the backing of both developments thereby releasing an unused state asset, providing much needed new housing and other benefits, without impacting on traditional unused virgin green belt.
I want a similar approach to the former Tynedale and castle Morpeth sites in my constituency, subject to the usual rules on consultation, planning and local views. Everyone in the Hexham constituency knows several buildings that have lain unused for years, quietly deteriorating at significant expense and nothing is done about them. The ball is in my local housing associations court.
In 2017 three things will happen:
- mayoral elections for the north east, with the significant changes this entails.
- a local authority that may failed to do a local plan will have its functions taken over by central government in order for such a plan to be produced under the housing act. Will Northumberland be finished by then?
- and local elections and I hope a fresh start as to the way in which Northumberland is run.
If you are interested in more detail their website is here:
http://www.homesforthenorth.co.uk
Saturday, 15 August 2015
Broadband rollout for Northumberland as updated by BT - slowly but surely the constituency is getting coverage
As always please get in touch if there are gaps, not spots, failure to deliver by BT or the NCC and I will do what I can to expedite the matter.
BT Advise that the rollout of phase 1 is as follows:
LIVE areas since May 2015
BT Advise that the rollout of phase 1 is as follows:
LIVE areas since May 2015
Ovington
Kirkwhelpington
Otterburn village
Bellingham (3 cabinets)
Falstone
Kielder
W Woodburn
Newbrough
Slaley (W of village)
Humshaugh
Lanehead, Tarset
Catton, Allendale
Allenheads
Blanchland
Once Brewed / Twice Brewed
PLANNED areas June-Sept
Simonburn, N Tyne
Horsley,
Slaggyford area
Halton Lea Gate
Longbyre nr Greenhead
Nr Coanwood, S Tyne (radio connection replacing long fibre build)
Comb Hill Rd, N of Haltwhistle
W Woodburn
Greenhaugh
Kirkharle
Redesmouth
Haughton
Stannersburn & Yarrow, nr Falstone
PLANNED areas Sept-Dec
Elsdon
Bingfield & Hallington
Blackheddon & the Highlander, nr Belsay
Friday, 10 April 2015
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
Saturday, 28 March 2015
Broadband Update - Phase 1 Roll Out continues as Northumberland gains greater broadband coverage & enhanced per house subsidy
Over the
last 4 and a half years we have sunk millions of pounds of government cash into
the roll out of broadband. Slowly but surely England's most rural county is
getting better and more broadband coverage. This last
few months the Northumberland County Council tell me they have done the
following:
"Further
cabinets have gone live in Corbridge, Wylam and Hexham meaning that all
cabinets are now live and accepting orders for fibre in these three
communities.
A further
cabinet is live in Ponteland. This builds
on the following areas that have been live for at least a month":
- Greenhead
- Gilsland
- Allendale
- Bardon Mill
- Great Whittington
- Haydon Bridge
- Haltwhistle
- Most of Ponteland
- Most of Prudhoe
- Riding mill
- Slaley
- Stamfordham
- Albemarle
- Stocksfield
- Wark
- Heddon on the WallI have held specific meetings on the problems in Matfen, which I am ensuring is in Phase 2 of the roll out. For phase 2 we have managed to lift the permitted government subsidy per property from £1700 per property to £2500. As I have said to many constituents who have contacted me - I am aware that there are other hamlets, and outlying areas, that we are getting BT and the NCC to address.NCC expect the following communities to be connected by the end of 2015:- Horsley- Blanchland- Whitley Chapel- Allenheads- Bellingham- Greenhaugh- Kielder- West Woodburn- Otterburn- Rochester- Byrness- Elsdon- Belsay- Kirkharle- Capheaton- Kirkwhelpington- Scots Gap- Whalton- Bingfield- HallingtonI was able to speak in last months broadband debate and my speech is here:
Thursday, 4 December 2014
Haltwhistle Football - an update
The long drawn out process to provide, improve and safeguard football pitches for the children and adults in Haltwhistle is something that Councillor Ian Hutchinson and I have been attempting to get a resolution upon for some considerable time. I have responded to locals concerns on the Haltwhistle Matters Facebook site but thought it would be right to set out what we have been doing about this issue on the blog, as that has a wider readership.
1. The Northumberland County Council own the Tyne River land next to the A69, and this land is earmarked for future business development. I and my team have met on several occasions with the organisers of the Junior teams who play there, and we have done everything possible to enhance and improve the number of pitches available. I have met many of the coaches, players and parents who give up their time and went to the 2013 awards ceremony: http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/haltwhistle-united-football-club-awards.html
However, given that the land is owned by NCC, and earmarked for future business development / jobs it is not a long term site, whereby stands and facilities can be added, unless and until NCC changes its views.
2. Most of our present efforts are devoted to the School pitch and its improvement and usage for the wider public, young and old.
In June, my office contacted the youth team organisers to see where I could help. We arranged a
meeting between my office, Councillor Hutchinson, the relevant senior officer at the County Council, the head teacher of Haltwhistle Campus and two reps from the youth football teams. This meeting went ahead at the school on 24th June.
It was agreed that the school and the County Council would speak with a representative of the football team (who were unfortunately unable to attend the meeting due to unforeseen personal reasons) so that they could come to an agreement whereby the school would let the teams play on their pitches and use their changing facilities. A formal agreement would need to be signed by all parties, and this would be sought at the earliest opportunity. This would then be approved by the school Governors. Once this agreement was signed, the County Council and the school could then look at what would need to be done to the pitches to make them playable/improve them.
The next contact I received about this issue was from the school in July, who stated that they were going ahead and discussing an agreement. I agreed that this was a good idea and offered my support.
I requested and received an update from a senior manager at the Council in August which confirmed that talks were proceeding.
The next communication my office received was in September, to confirm that the school’s facilities manager and the football pitch would be meeting up to discuss further. I agreed that this should happen and again offered my support if there was anything further I could do. I have received no communication from any person involved in the discussions since, and so have no reason to believe that things are not progressing as out been outlined in our previous discussions. I have always said to everyone involved in these discussions, both publicly and privately, that my door is open if they need to me to help, and that remains my position. I, and the caseworker who has helped with the day to day negotiations, can be contacted on 01434 601 420.
3. I am not going to go over the disputes concerning the village green status of the pitch north of the town, as that is a whole different story for now, but more details can be found here: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/haltwhistle-conservatives-manager-embarrassed-clubs-7230856
If constituents have any specific concerns, or are aware of any problems in the process, then please feel free to contact me. I am acutely conscious of the desire of many to get better football facilities in Halty. There are genuine reasons why this has not been simple or speedy; however, I do believe we are beginning to see real progress.
1. The Northumberland County Council own the Tyne River land next to the A69, and this land is earmarked for future business development. I and my team have met on several occasions with the organisers of the Junior teams who play there, and we have done everything possible to enhance and improve the number of pitches available. I have met many of the coaches, players and parents who give up their time and went to the 2013 awards ceremony: http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/haltwhistle-united-football-club-awards.html
However, given that the land is owned by NCC, and earmarked for future business development / jobs it is not a long term site, whereby stands and facilities can be added, unless and until NCC changes its views.
2. Most of our present efforts are devoted to the School pitch and its improvement and usage for the wider public, young and old.
In June, my office contacted the youth team organisers to see where I could help. We arranged a
meeting between my office, Councillor Hutchinson, the relevant senior officer at the County Council, the head teacher of Haltwhistle Campus and two reps from the youth football teams. This meeting went ahead at the school on 24th June.
It was agreed that the school and the County Council would speak with a representative of the football team (who were unfortunately unable to attend the meeting due to unforeseen personal reasons) so that they could come to an agreement whereby the school would let the teams play on their pitches and use their changing facilities. A formal agreement would need to be signed by all parties, and this would be sought at the earliest opportunity. This would then be approved by the school Governors. Once this agreement was signed, the County Council and the school could then look at what would need to be done to the pitches to make them playable/improve them.
The next contact I received about this issue was from the school in July, who stated that they were going ahead and discussing an agreement. I agreed that this was a good idea and offered my support.
I requested and received an update from a senior manager at the Council in August which confirmed that talks were proceeding.
The next communication my office received was in September, to confirm that the school’s facilities manager and the football pitch would be meeting up to discuss further. I agreed that this should happen and again offered my support if there was anything further I could do. I have received no communication from any person involved in the discussions since, and so have no reason to believe that things are not progressing as out been outlined in our previous discussions. I have always said to everyone involved in these discussions, both publicly and privately, that my door is open if they need to me to help, and that remains my position. I, and the caseworker who has helped with the day to day negotiations, can be contacted on 01434 601 420.
3. I am not going to go over the disputes concerning the village green status of the pitch north of the town, as that is a whole different story for now, but more details can be found here: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/haltwhistle-conservatives-manager-embarrassed-clubs-7230856
If constituents have any specific concerns, or are aware of any problems in the process, then please feel free to contact me. I am acutely conscious of the desire of many to get better football facilities in Halty. There are genuine reasons why this has not been simple or speedy; however, I do believe we are beginning to see real progress.
Saturday, 26 April 2014
The Weekend Read: How do you recreate a "new" - old - station like Gilsland?
Dr. Beeching did for Gilsland Station 50 years ago, but the infrastructure remains and the Gilsland Railway Station Campaign was front page of the Hexham Courant last week, and rightly so. The full story is below but I am acutely aware that the local campaigners have gone to huge lengths to ensure the campaign has full support from both Rory Stewart MP and myself, the local councillors, Network Rail, The Tyne Valley Rail Users Group, the local community and businesses, and most importantly, the 2 County Councils. The strength of the case made is without question:
- it would revitalise a local community on a multitude of levels
- it would help Hadrians Wall and Pennine Way Tourism
- it would aid business investment in the cross border area
- and promote greater use of the trains, which is something we all want
The Campaign to Open Gilsland Station (COGS) was set up last year; I have held a series of meetings with many of the people involved not least Northern Rail, Rory Stewart MP and Network Rail; the COGS study, as helped by Councillor Alan Sharp, has revealed that the project could take five years, and cost up to £2.5million. This is no small sum, but it is genuinely doable. This is not a pipe dream project. It does tick the boxes, albeit we still have plenty to prove. If Gilsland station re-opens, it will be a remarkable victory for a community which lost the facility almost half a century ago.
But then we come to an understanding of what is called the GRIP Process. This may sound like some medieval judo hold and, to a degree, it is ... but I will try and explain it and outline the plan of action:
GRIP stands for the Governance for Railway Investment Projects: this is how such projects have been approached for a long time by Network Rail; it has 8 specific stages. Some might see these as bureacratic, but there is a degree of logic to the process, and as public money is going to be used in the process - then, in particular, in these tricky times- a need to ensure the money is well spent is required.
This from the Network Rail site:
"Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) describes how we manage and control projects that enhance or renew the national rail network.
GRIP divides a project into eight distinct stages.
1.Output definition
2.Feasibility
3.Option selection
4.Single option development
5.Detailed design
6.Construction test and commission
7.Scheme hand back
8.Project close out"
The Gilsland project is already well through the early stages, with the feasibility study yielding positive results, and the 2 Councils are looking at ways to take the project forward. The 5 year estimate is realistic - this is not going to happen overnight. But the planets are aligned and we have a formidable team of supporters. Money will always be the problem, but if we take this GRIP process stage by stage I genuinely believe this will happen.
Fuller details on the story here:
http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/gilsland-it-s-full-steam-ahead-for-2-5m-rail-dream-1.1131325
- it would revitalise a local community on a multitude of levels
- it would help Hadrians Wall and Pennine Way Tourism
- it would aid business investment in the cross border area
- and promote greater use of the trains, which is something we all want
The Campaign to Open Gilsland Station (COGS) was set up last year; I have held a series of meetings with many of the people involved not least Northern Rail, Rory Stewart MP and Network Rail; the COGS study, as helped by Councillor Alan Sharp, has revealed that the project could take five years, and cost up to £2.5million. This is no small sum, but it is genuinely doable. This is not a pipe dream project. It does tick the boxes, albeit we still have plenty to prove. If Gilsland station re-opens, it will be a remarkable victory for a community which lost the facility almost half a century ago.
But then we come to an understanding of what is called the GRIP Process. This may sound like some medieval judo hold and, to a degree, it is ... but I will try and explain it and outline the plan of action:
GRIP stands for the Governance for Railway Investment Projects: this is how such projects have been approached for a long time by Network Rail; it has 8 specific stages. Some might see these as bureacratic, but there is a degree of logic to the process, and as public money is going to be used in the process - then, in particular, in these tricky times- a need to ensure the money is well spent is required.
This from the Network Rail site:
"Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) describes how we manage and control projects that enhance or renew the national rail network.
GRIP divides a project into eight distinct stages.
1.Output definition
2.Feasibility
3.Option selection
4.Single option development
5.Detailed design
6.Construction test and commission
7.Scheme hand back
8.Project close out"
The Gilsland project is already well through the early stages, with the feasibility study yielding positive results, and the 2 Councils are looking at ways to take the project forward. The 5 year estimate is realistic - this is not going to happen overnight. But the planets are aligned and we have a formidable team of supporters. Money will always be the problem, but if we take this GRIP process stage by stage I genuinely believe this will happen.
Fuller details on the story here:
http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/gilsland-it-s-full-steam-ahead-for-2-5m-rail-dream-1.1131325
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