Tynedale community round-up (part two)

Horsley

Maurice Holliday

National lockdown restrictions have brought about some changes for businesses in the village. On a positive note the antiques centre in Horsley is accepting orders using the internet. Similarly Hearth artists are doing the same and some artists can post work to customers. Check the websites for further information. The construction work continues at a pace at the water treatment works and many units are open at the South East Farm business park. The Hearth cafe is open for take away food and drinks. Please note that the weekday opening times have changed to 9.30am - 2.30pm. Weekends remain as 10am to 3pm. It has produced a new menu to start the year on a high with winter warmers.

Sadly the village church and the Lion and Lamb public house remain closed.

Several residents have spotted barn owls around the village at dusk on the cold, clear moonlit days over the Christmas period.

New Year in the village was a very quiet time. People obviously followed the government advice and stayed at home.

The village Christmas tree was adorned with home made innovative decorations by families in the community. If anyone would like to keep their decoration please come along and collect it.

Ground water levels around the parish remain high particularly in areas where there is clay soil. The ground area around the ford at Spital is more suited to hippos. Many rights of way cross the clayey glacial moraines left by the Tyne valley glacier when it retreated 20000 years ago. Please take care as paths here are slippy and very muddy. Care also needs to be taken when using the stone stile on the Ovingham path west of Water Lane. The stones in the dry stone wall are unstable.

Bellingham

Birtley Nail

The whole of Bellingham became a skating rink last week as a sharp freeze followed heavy rain to create endless sheets of thick ice. The parish council has responded by alerting residents to Northumberland County Council’s snow wardens scheme, under which an individual or a group of community volunteers can sign up to help clear snow and ice from public footpaths in their local areas. The county provides a snow warden kit which comprises a snow shovel, bag of salt/grit, a thermal hat with a head torch, a pair of thermal gloves and a hi-vis vest. Three of the more youthful members of the parish council have already enrolled onto the scheme and anyone who wishes to join them can fill in the application form on https://www.parish-council.com/bellingham/.

Plans to cast Bellingham adrift from its traditional Tynedale home and lump it in with Rothbury, Wooler and Seahouses in a new parliamentary constituency based in Berwick have been formally dropped - at least for now. The project - aimed at reducing the number of MPs from 650 to 600 - was kicked into the long grass during successive hung parliaments, as MPs realised they would be like turkeys voting for Christmas. But with the Conservatives now holding a healthy majority, the Boundary Commission is once again playing the numbers game across the country. This time, the commission has fought shy of reducing the number of MPs, which will stay at 650, but is looking to standardise the number of voters in each constituency to between 69,724 and 77,062. As the Hexham constituency of which Bellingham is part currently has an electorate of just 60.499, changes are inevitable. The Boundary Commission will announce its new proposals this summer, with a view to them coming into play in 2023. The proposal to cast Bellingham into North Northumberland caused consternation when it was announced three years ago, with voters pointing out that Instead of popping the 17 miles to Hexham to see their MP, Bellingham constituents could face a possible 120-mile round trip to visit their MP in distant Berwick. Wark and Birtley were to remain in the new Hexham and Cramlington seat, while West Woodburn, Otterburn and the rest of the Rede Valley also switch to Berwick and Morpeth. Bellingham of course has strong historic links with the Hexham seat, for former Hexham MP Geoffrey Rippon, the man who gave the go-ahead for Kielder Water and negotiated Britain’s entry into the Common Market lived in the parish at Mantle Hill, and when he was elevated to the peerage, he took the title of Baron Rippon of Hexham and Hesleyside.

Slaley

Helen Savage

The weather has done its level best to keep everyone indoors recently, but we’re all very much aware that being shut in causes all sorts of other problems. Please remember that Slaley Pyramid of Care is still here for you if you are in any kind of difficulty in these tough days, especially if you’re having to self-isolate and can’t get basic supplies or medicines. If you’re not sure who your area rep is, please phone Olwen Savage on 01434 676852 and she’ll be only too pleased to help. If you just need to talk to someone, the Pyramid of Care is ready to listen.

Because there are cases of the virus in and around the village at the moment, everyone is being extra careful, but please don’t forget your mask if you need to dash out to the community shop!

January will be a wee bit less dry in Slaley this year, not least because of the community shop’s latest Zoom wine-tasting with me on Thursday evening (January 21). I’ve unearthed two cheerily special bottles to try at home, which you can pick up from the shop. Please get in touch if you’d like to take part (helensavage1@gmail.com ) – numbers are limited.

Finally, but most importantly, our huge congratulations go to Colonel Nick English who was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours for exceptional service to army aviation. Nick’s rightly proud mum and dad, Louise and Brian live at Colpitts.

Humshaugh

Herbie Newell

Humshaugh was greatly saddened to learn of the death of former resident Alan Robson. Alan lived in Humshaugh for over 30 years with his late wife Bunty, and amongst other contributions to our community Alan served as the treasurer of the village hall committee and St Peter’s Church. He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with Alan and Bunty’s family.

Notwithstanding the last-minute change in Government policy on school opening, Humshaugh First School reopened last week after Christmas for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. Very many thanks to all the school staff for their flexibility and dedication. The understanding and support of parents in these challenging times is also greatly appreciated.

Dog owners are reminded again that they MUST pick up dog mess in all public places, including roadside and other footpaths. School staff and volunteers had to pick up a large quantity of dog mess last week in the small wood just over the burn on the footpath between The Square and Haughton Lane. Could dog owners please make picking up dog mess everywhere and every time a New Year’s resolution!

There is a virtual parish council meeting tonight (Thursday) at 7pm. The agenda and details of how to join the meeting are at: https://northumberlandparishes.uk/humshaugh/documents and all residents are very welcome to attend.

St Peter’s remains open for private prayer, and all are welcome to regular Zoom services at 10am each Sunday - please contact rogerlangford37@outlook.com for the link.

Redesdale

Emma Anderson

THE current lockdown means that North Tyne Youth (NTY) can’t meet in person and is, instead, going digital, until the February half term, offering activities that young people can do safely and in a fun way online. The planned Star Party is still going ahead on Tuesday, January 19, between 6.30pm and 8pm. Young people can meet online with NTY’s Space Scientist from the comfort of their own homes. He will then be present every Thursday until half-term, keeping young people up to date with all things related to the night sky. The young people will need an internet connection. On Tuesday, January 12 and 26 January and February 2 and 9 February, between 6pm and 9pm. Bookable time slots are available for young people aged eight to 18 to meet and chat one-on-one with a youth worker or as a small group of up to six friends. On Thursday, January 21 and 28 and February 4 and 11, between 6pm and 7pm, the eight-12s Club takes place. The 13-18s Club takes place between 8pm and 9pm and between 7pm and 8pm, there will be a Stargazers Drop-in with a Space Scientist. To find out more, please call or text Lisa Robinson, NTY’s Youth Development Worker, on 07826 020949 or email her at Lisa.Robinson@northtyneyouth.co.uk. She will provide a registration form for any of the activities detailed above and advise how to book NTY’s free online sessions.

Acomb

Julie Foster

Stay Safe - Save the NHS - Stay Home. Now we have progressed into Lock Down, for those of you in need of support, either with practical shopping or collection of prescriptions or just a bit of contact, socially distanced, Acomb’s Volunteer Support Network remains in place with each volunteer having responsibility for a designated area. Forgotten who your volunteer is or aware of anyone needing extra support, then contact Lorna on 07711 334521 Those who are clinically vulnerable are adviced to shield at this time. Further details are available at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus - Hands - Face - Space

Although the latest government guidelines allow for face to face services in churches, the clergy and pcc of St. John Lee and Warden with Newbrough have decided, in the face of current high infection rates, to suspend services in the churches until mid February. Zoom services will continue and can be accessed by contacting Rev. Jeremy Thompson on revjjtt@gmail.com. The churches are open for private reflection and prayer under Covid secure guidelines.

Heddon

John Stewart

Thank you very much to Northumberland County Council workers who have continued to work throughout the winter offering their exceptional winter services ensuring that our bus routes are safe and ensuring that travel disruption is kept to the minimum especially at the time of when the temperatures have dropped dramatically.

I note that some houses have recently been sold in the village and I would like to welcome the new residents to who are here to join our great community and I am delighted to welcome you to our neighbourhood and hope that you enjoy our wonderful village as much as we do and we look forward to meeting you and your family. In addition, we have more great news of some members of our community who are to give birth this year, have recently been engaged and have weddings scheduled this year which we all hope can take place this year and will not be put on hold due to the coronavirus. Although new residents will be moving into the village, we cant forget those who have sadly departed us and who have contributed in many different ways providing the continuation of the excellent community spirit. We thank you all.

As I walk around the village on my daily walks it is of great delight to notice how clean the village is with the increasing low volume of litter, especially on the verges of the main roads leading into and out of the village. I know that a major impact of this is that traffic travelling through the village has reduced in the last few months due to the local and national lockdowns restrictions. Hopefully the low litter will continue and we can all work together to maintain a great environmentally friendly village and county.

I thank Northumberland County Council for its quick response with the report sent regarding the street light HK24 which is located on the B6528 Hexham Road that has recently had its lamp out. Unfortunately they were unable to resolve the issue on their visit last week as it would seem that there is a problem with the lamp post, light or electricity supply. However as this is not a standard issue, it may take longer than normal to resolve. Together if we all work together, we can improve the safety of all in our community.

Those living the Vallum Estate, don’t forget that road surface maintenance is scheduled to be carried out commencing today (January 14). It has been requested that no cars are to be parked on the side of the roads during the dates that the work is to be undertaken. Marius Avenue - below the junction with Camilla Road (January 14), Valerian Avenue (January 18), Antonine Walk (January 21) and Camilla Road (January 25).

Last Thursday, residents in Heddon joined again for the return at our doorsteps clapping for the heroes. Let’s all come together united again in these difficult times.

Christmas time is usually one of the busiest and most lucrative times of the year for our local businesses and Covid-19 restrictions have certainly had a major impact and been a footfall for non essential businesses. I would urge you to continue to support local businesses during these difficult times when and where you can and keep our cherished businesses afloat beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. Once again thank you to the local businesses who have been able to offer adjustable services continuing to deliver exceptional services to the residents and the community. As we continue to work together, we can become greater and stronger as a community! Take Care, Stay Positive, Stay Healthy, Stay Safe!