Belford Parish Council round-up: Yellow lines, allotments and the AONB

It is likely to focus on the areas either side of junctions, which often spark road-safety concerns due to a lack of visibility.

At last Thursday’s meeting, councillors received a request from Bell View to back a bid to introduce double-yellow lines either side of the entrance into the Resource Centre.

It was pointed out that the issue of parked cars near junctions was a problem at a number of locations, not least the junction of High Street and West Street.

The issue had been discussed during a recent meeting with county-council officers, so it was agreed that the area outside Bell View should be included in any consultation.

Chairman, Coun Brenda Stanton, said: “The problem is we are going to have more double-yellow lines than places you can park.”

• The parish council is set to agree a new contract for its allotment-holders.

While there are no major changes, there are some adjustments which aim to make sure people get a fair chance of getting an allotment now that there is a waiting list.

For example, allotments will be limited to people living within the parish of Belford. Also, there will be a limit of one allotment per household.

Current holders will be informed that the new contract has been drawn up, but it will only apply if they choose to keep their allotment and renew in January 2017.

• Members heard that there had been just one crime in the parish since the previous meeting on February 18. Sgt Andy Pullen told the meeting that the one reported crime was a resident receiving multiple nuisance phone calls which woke them in the early hours of the morning. There was also one incident of anti-social behaviour in Meadow Garth in which police had to ‘eject a guest who had outstayed her welcome’. She was taken to Berwick railway station to catch a train out of the area.

• Parish councillors were given a presentation about the county’s AONB – area of outstanding beauty – by Jessica Turner.

The AONB runs up the Northumberland coast from Amble to Berwick and comes inland 2.5km at its widest point. While Belford itself is not in the AONB, the parish wards of Easington and Middleton both include sections of the AONB. Plus, as Jessica said: “We see the neighbouring parishes as very, very important. We work wider than just the designation.” As one example, she suggested that the AONB’s planning documents may be useful during the creation of a neighbourhood plan.