The Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan

Pegswood Division

Has one county councillor in a total

of sixty seven councillors elected for

the county of Northumberland.

Includes the civil parishes of Hebron,

Longhirst and Pegswood in the

Wansbeck Constituency.

Also includes Stobswood Ward

in the civil parish of Widdrington

Station & Stobswood, Tritlington &

West Chevington, and Ulgham in

the Berwick-on-Tweed Constituency.

FocusFocus Autumn 2014 edition

Pegswood Division

Liberal Democrats

Stronger Economy Fairer Society

Two years ago Morpeth Town Council and the parish councils of

Hebron, Hepscott, Mitford and Pegswood agreed to work

together to produce a local development plan for Morpeth and the

four immediately surrounding parishes.

This neighbourhood plan would be an additional plan to reflect local

views and with the county plan would have statutory powers subject

to passing a public examination on completion. It has to be a plan

which conforms with national planning policies and the plan being

developed by Northumberland County Council.

Over the last two years local councillors and volunteers have worked

hard on the neighbourhood plan despite huge difficulties, particularly

for Morpeth, Hebron and Hepscott. Developers have taken

advantage of the period before a county council development plan is

in place. They have gained planning permission on controversial

sites, either directly from the county council or on appeal, for more

than 700 houses in Morpeth and Hebron frustrating the local policies

being developed as a result of public consultation.

Morpeth and Hepscott face the prospect of a further 395 houses

being built at Stobhill if a developer’s appeal against refusal of

planning permission is successful.

To further frustrate the neighbourhood plan process the Labour

administration at County Hall has announced their intention to build

a new HQ in Ashington and sell off County Hall and the adjacent land

and premises in Morpeth for housing. The County development plan

has been delayed again. The next consultation is now not expected

to take place until December.

Despite all the difficulties local councillors and volunteers are

determined to complete the neighbourhood plan process. The public

will be consulted again in the new year and the plan subjected to

public examination in 2015.

David Woodard represents Pegswood Parish Council on the

neighbourhood plan steering group. More details of the Pegswood

chapter inside this FOCUS.

The public examination of the planning application for the Morpeth Northern Bypass was

completed on 15 July 2014 and the Examining Authority will report to the Secretary of

State for Transport on or before 15 October 2014.

It is unlikely that major changes will be made to the Bypass design. There is a

contractor appointed to start the work and then complete work in the Autumn of 2016.

I spoke at the hearing in Morpeth Town Hall to support the request of Pegswood Parish

Council for a pedestrian underpass to link a footpath in Howburn Wood to the footpaths

in the lake area at Pegswood Moor. The planning application required people to walk up

a 6 metre high embankment and cross a busy single carriageway.

Traffic on the proposed bypass is expected to increase substantially from the estimates

presented at the hearing. The new County HQ set to be built at Ashington and the 500

houses given planning permission at Northgate will add more traffic. We hope that the

Examining Authority report will recommend that a pedestrian underpass be provided.

David Woodard reports on the Morpeth Northern Bypass

FOCUS on some local issues for Pegswood Division

The footpath entrance into Howburn Wood from

the Pegwood Moor lake area. This is where the

planned Morpeth Northern Bypass cuts across

the footpath on a six metre high embankment.

The Pegswood chapter of the Neighbourhood Plan

No new official news releases have

been issued by UK Coal since June.

Now according to local sources crucial

talks are being held with an Indian

international mining company.

If successful these talks could see the

planning obligations entered into by UK

Coal at Potland Burn surface mine, near

Longhirst, and at the Butterwell

Disposal Point, near Ulgham, completed

with both sites fully restored to details

approved by the County Council.

Update on an uncertain future for UK Coal surface mines

If these talks fail then the collapse of the

company and the appointment of an

administrator is thought to be likely. This is

the worst possible scenario for the

employees of UK Coal and for a satisfactory

restoration at the two local sites.

Companies are waiting in the wings for the

collapse of UK Coal and the opportunity to

acquire the company assets and a minimum

of the liabilities. This was the scenario when

Scottish Coal collapsed in 2013 with many

sites in Scotland left unrestored. Butterwell Disposal Point

The Pegswood chapter of the Neighbourhood Plan

Julie Pörksen welcomes the announcement on travel help

Julie, a local Liberal Democrat campaigner, has welcomed the

launch of the party's pre-manifesto which sets out the vision

for Britain in the next Parliament.

The policies in the pre-manifesto, which has spreading

opportunity for the next generation at its heart, will be

debated and voted on by members at the upcoming Liberal

Democrats' Party Conference in Glasgow.

Julie Pörksen said,

"Some really positive changes have been delivered thanks to

the Liberal Democrats in Government, including giving lower

paid people a £700 tax cut and making sure pensioners get a

decent increase in their state pension each year.

"The pre-manifesto document sets out our promise of more

help for ordinary people in the next Parliament. Our focus will

be on a 'manifesto for the next generation' with a host of

policies aimed at improving opportunities for children and

young people, including plans to expand free childcare to all

two year olds, introduce free school meals for all primary

school children and triple the early years pupil premium.

"I particularly welcome the proposal for all 16-21 year olds in

England to be given a Young Person's Bus Pass. It would help

young people with the cost of travel by offering a minimum

two thirds discount on bus travel in England. Bus companies

would then be able to add their own discounts on top of that.

"This would help our young people who need to use public

transport to get to school or college, apprenticeships and

work, or who just want to get around.

"Alongside this I will continue working for the reinstatement

of free transport to school or college for 16-18 year olds in

Northumberland, to make sure our young people can pursue

their education without being penalised for living in a rural

area."

Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith added,

"Julie has been campaigning hard to get the County Council

to bring back free transport to school and college for 16-18

year olds. Today's announcement shows that the Liberal

Democrats are serious about making sure all young people

have greater opportunities, whether they live in an urban or

rural area."

Liberal Democrats plan to pay for the Young Person's Bus

Pass by abolishing free TV licenses and Winter Fuel Payments

to pensioners who qualify as higher rate taxpayers.

Update on an uncertain future for UK Coal surface mines

Four years ago Pegswood residents were consulted over a

Parish Plan. The response helped to produce a plan that has

guided the parish council to do the things that residents cared

most about. Examples are better communications, better play

facilities and environmental improvements in the village.

Last year residents were consulted again about a vision for

the future development of Pegswood. The response has

guided the work being done to produce a development plan

for Pegswood within the wider Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan

(see page 1).

The aim is to produce a plan which will protect the open

countryside, the woodland, the wildlife and landscape

corridors around Pegswood. This land would be given ‘Green

Belt’ status for a period of at least 50 years. With an inner

green belt boundary development needed and supported by

the public would still be able to take place over time.

Councillor David Woodard is the lead member of the parish

council’s planning working group and their representative

on the steering group of the Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan.

David says, “The development needs for Pegswood are

not confined to housing alone. We have to consider the

future need for recreation and employment land and the

need for improved bus and rail transport links.

“Our vision is to produce a plan where the environment

within the Pegswood area is protected and improved, with

additional housing being close to the village centre to

support existing businesses and community facilities.

“The Parish Council will respond to the next consultation

on the County Council’s development plan in December.

In the new year residents will be consulted again before

the Neighbourhood Plan’s public examination.”

News and views from the local FOCUS team

and Northumberland Liberal Democrats

Promoted & Published by David Woodard on behalf of Morpeth & District Liberal Democrats at 11 The Croft, Ulgham, Morpeth NE61 3BB

Printed by Azure printing, Unit 1 F, Pegswood Industrial Estate, Pegswood, Northumberland, NE61 6HZ

A consultant’s report included with a planning application for a housing

development on the St. George’s hospital site has recommended that traffic

lights be installed.

Lib Dem Les Cassie, a councillor for the Morpeth North Ward, says,

“I, together with my colleagues on Morpeth Town Council, do not understand

why the developer is still proposing traffic lights despite our very clear input

when consulted. The Town Council has already agreed to release a small piece

of land opposite the junction so that a proper size roundabout can be installed.

“After the disastrous experience at the Telford Bridge surely supposedly expert

traffic consultants have learned their lesson. I will strenuously oppose this plan

for traffic lights.”

Traffic lights at the Morpeth Health Centre road junction ?

Sir Alan Beith MP and Liberal Democrat campaigner Julie Pörksen, who hopes

to take his seat in next year’s general election, have both been taking part in

meetings recently on the A1 North of England feasibility study.

Before the Scottish referendum Sir Alan, during a transport infrastructure debate

in the House of Commons said, “Would it not be a good idea to make it clear that

we care about the link between the North East and Scotland? An announcement

on dualling the A1 would be very helpful.”

Now the people living in Scotland have voted. In the Scottish Borders 66.6% of

the voters showed that they care and value the link with England. People living

south of the border in Northumberland will be relieved that the existing cross

border co-operation can continue.

Julie says, “There is a great deal of work going on to suggest we may see some

progress on the A1, but what we need is a commitment.

The Mousen bends and the Morpeth to Felton stretches of the A1 already have much of the preparatory work done. It would

be really straightforward to get construction underway on these two stretches.”

The Scottish Referendum and Dualling the A1

FOCUS takes time to deliver. If you can help reduce the

delay by delivering a few copies in your area then please

contact David by email at david@woodard.plus.com

or by text at 07803 704 679

David’s website www.davidwoodard.uk has been live

for more than two years and over 200 articles have been

posted in that time. Many residents say they visit on a

weekly basis to pick up on local news and views that do

not always appear in the local press.

The Labour leadership at County Hall says Independent county

councillors are free to vote as they wish. They say that the

extra responsibility allowances they awarded to Independent

councillors have no influence on how they can vote.

But since the May 2013 election three Independent councillors

have consistently voted with Labour. Labour with 32 county

councillors are two seats short of having a majority of seats.

Labour have yet to lose a vote in the council chamber.

How independent are the Independent councillors?

FOCUS and David’s website LABOUR SAY but you decide