LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In 1974 the Local
Government of England and Wales was extensively re-organised. In 1995, there has
been much debate over further changes but the Government decided to maintain the
status quo of a county and district authorities in Northumberland.
As part of the 1973/74 re-organisation Belford Rural District Council was abolished
and a new, larger authority, based at Berwick, took over its duties. Belford is
now administered by Berwick-upon Tweed Borough Council, an amalgamation of the
old Berwick Borough, Belford, Norham and Islandshire and Glendale Rural District
Councils.
We remain within Northumberland County which retains a strategic policy-making
role and responsibility for Education, Social Services and other services. The
Parish Council retains its role in dealing with small local issues directly but
perhaps more importantly, bringing a view from the Belford perspective to the
deliberations of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council's Councillors and Officers
through consultation and representation at meetings.
Our representative on the Borough Council is Mr Don Aitchison, our County Councillor
is Mrs Pat Scott of Seahouses and our Member of Parliament is Mr Alan Beith.
Belford Parish Council 1995
Members:
Mrs F. Richardson* (Chairman), Miss E.B. Anderson, Mrs M. Byers*, Mrs H. Nixon*,
Mrs H. Dunn*, Mrs I. Gilhome*, Mrs A. Upjohn, D. Aitchison, P. Brown, J. Keen*,
C. Leyland, Dr R. Pawson. (*Stood down May 1995)
The January meeting, at which representatives of the Community Council and Berwick
Council were present, was principally involved with a recent housing survey. The
main conclusion was that there are families seeking 2 and 3 bedroom houses, and
elderly people wanting smaller houses. Incentives may be introduced to encourage
people to move.
Mr R. Jackson has offered to donate 2 acres of land for housing and a Housing
Association would have to be involved. Early discussion also took place on the
Rural Action project for the improvement of the rough ground near the Health Centre.
Plans for the celebration of V.E. Day and V.J. Day in May and August were discussed
at the February meeting. A County Council Seminar on "By-ways open to all
traffic" is to be attended by Councillor Leyland. House extensions and T.V.
satellite dish installations were approved, and another meeting was arranged to
further consider the building potential on the 2 acres of land offered by Mr Jackson,
to which conditions (i.e. services) are apparently attached. The Council is to
be represented at the Berwick Local Plan Parish Forum.
In March, the Council agreed to write to all householders about "wheelie
bins" which will replace dust-bins this month. Representations about the
lack of a deceleration lane at the A1 junction have been referred to the Department
of Transport. No objection was raised to the proposed extension to the Golf Course.
On V.E. Day, a beacon will be lit at Greymare Farm, and the Memorial Service will
be in the Market Place, processing to the Church. The meeting was attended by
the Assessor for the Village of the Year Competition.
Engineers from Northern Electric attended the April meeting to talk about the
work being undertaken in the area. There is to be a public meeting at the Golf
Club about plans for the land near the Health Centre. Councillor Florence Richardson
was thanked for her hard work during the year as Chairman.
The following new Councillors were present at the May meeting (Mrs M. Bruce, Mrs
M. Sidney, J. R. Reay and W. J. Riddell) and Peter Brown was elected as the new
Chairman. As insufficient nominations had been received for the Parish Council,
others may have to be co-opted. Entries for the Village of the Year Competition
have to be lodged by 19th May and action is being taken in this respect.
The following Cheques were agreed and signed:
National Association of Local Councils Sub. £113.95 Belford Medical Practice Photocopying
£28.80 Samaritans Donation £50.00 Belford Tennis Club Donation £70.00 St. Mary's
Church Churchyard grant £600.00 St. Mary's Church Clock grant £100.00 Mr George
Falla Toilet cleaner £48.33 Mrs W. Filer Clerk £100.00 Transfer from business
premium account £450.00 V.A.T. Refund £22.48 Rural Action for Northumberland £817.08
Mrs P. Scott attended the June meeting as County Councillor, as did Mr D. Aitchison
in his capacity as Borough Councillor. Correspondence covered the filling of pot-holes
on the Greymare/Detchant road, planning applications and the issue of cheques.
Various roadside problems were dealt with, and a request made to the Highways
Department that the 30 m.p.h. sign on Northbank should be moved further out when
the new bungalows are completed.
Mr R. Sim was co-opted and attended the July meeting which dealt with many items
of correspondence relating, among other matters, to the Village of the Year competition,
roadside grass cutting, footpath obstructions, and lack of improvements to houses
on Williams Way. The long-running saga of the toilet signs in the Neuk continued,
and the Council have been asked to consider the erection of pavement rails at
the entrance of the Croft Field project to prevent young children running out
into the main road.
Dr Pawson tendered his resignation at the September meeting which was much concerned
with domestic items, and requests to the Borough Council for action. Railtrack
was asked to review safety where a public right of way crosses the main line.
News of a new long-distance footpath (St. Cuthbert's Way, from Melrose to Lindisfarne)
had been received and comments sought. Planning approvals included a carpark at
the rear of the Blue Bell Hotel. The pensioners party was finalised. Two Housing
Associations have been asked to submit tenders relating to Mr Jackson's two acres.
Among correspondence dealt with at the October meeting was a reply from the Department
of Transport regarding the Parish Council's request for a "BELFORD"
sign on the A1 at Detchant. The reply suggested that it was DoT policy to keep
traffic on the Trunk road as long as possible. Several planning applications were
dealt with and among payments authorised was £817.08 to Berwick for "Community
Project", and £25 donation to "Victim Support". Councillors Anderson
and Richardson reported on the housing situation, having visited and been impressed
by those built at North Shields. A wreath will be ordered for Remembrance Sunday,
and the Pensioners party is arranged for 7th December. The Council had been congratulated
on Belford's awards in the Village of the Year competitions.
At the November meeting acknowledgement was made of £100 grant from the Community
Council for recreational activities in the village. Problems with some short-term
residents at Windy Gyle Outdoor Centre were considered. It was noted that the
gates and plaque at the War Memorial were in need of cleaning. At a subsequent
Planning meeting no objection was raised to an application for a new Club House,
Tennis Courts, Cricket Practice Wickets and Car Park at the Meadows. Yet another
application for Listed Building consent for the erection of a satellite dish was
approved.
Approval having been given by the Borough Council, dog-fouling notices would be
favoured on Westhall Road, the grass across from the Chip Shop, the High Street
and in both parks. The December meeting was also told that maintenance of the War
Memorial is the responsibility of the Royal British Legion who will be advised
of its condition. The precept must be lodged by 19th January and will therefore
be finalised at the next meeting. The following donations were agreed:
Community Council of Northumberland: £12.00
Citizens Advice Bureau: £50.00
Age Concern: £150.00
Northumberland Theatre Co.: £50.00
Northumberland Playing Fields: £40.00
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