The Local Papers (2)

There’s a few relevant things in the last couple of week’s local papers.

The Conservative manifesto launch was covered; an important point is that the manifesto is consistent with the Conservative ethos of value for money and enterprise but also reflects a survey of 10,000 households across the County to identify people’s priorities. A link to the manifesto is here… although having walked around the Division in the snow and rain delivering copies, hopefully readers will already have a copy that isn’t in the bin yet.

The launch of the BamburghMemories facebook page set up by the Bamburgh Heritage Trust is covered with an illustration of an old postcard. The page has a growing number of photos as a fascinating glimpse into another life and is an important part of the Trust’s activities in widening knowledge of Bamburgh’s heritage. Hence the name.

There’s good coverage of Belford’s flood defence system which has been developed in conjunction with Newcastle University and the Environment agency by storing excess water in overflow ponds so the run after heavy rain is slowed down. It’s an innovative idea (it says) which could be used elsewhere.

The European Regional Development Fund has provided additional funding to help the county's broadband campaign, which should help businesses access better broadband services. There’s a link on the right on this page with information aboiut the campaign and which lets you sign up to provide evidence of need for better broadband services. Please sign up if you haven’t already.

There a brief summary of the Cemex presentation of their plans for Cragmill Quarry. I went to the exhibition, covering the expansion of the quarry (which is broadly consistent with the original plans as outlined in the book “Further Aspects of Belford”), the eventual plan for de-commissioning and the potential use of a railhead to increase the market for the stone quarried there. There’s some implications for a few houses in the last point which have to be dealt with but overall it looked beneficial to me.

And there’s a lot of coverage of the stranded ship at the Farne Islands. So far it’s an interesting diversion rather than a cause for environmental concern.

The plans for a development of houses (affordable and at market), holiday lodges  and a health care village for older residents between Kingsfield and Seahouses Golf Club are summarised. This will be on a greenfield site at the edge of the village so issues of scale, infrastructure and so on need to be resolved but there are advantages of providing a mix of housing and some employment opportunities. The plans are only outline at this stage.

And finally, there’s a brief note that Pat Scott (LD) is retiring as a County Councillor having served the Division well for 18 years. Good luck to her in her retirement. I hope that if I am elected n 2^nd May I will be able to earn the respect of our electorate in the way that she has done over her 18 years in office.