Councillors claim Covid rules on overnight stays are being broken by visitors to Northumberland seaside village

Concerns were raised at a meeting of North Sunderland Parish Council.

“They’re all over,” claimed Cllr Ailsa Shiel. “There are plenty of people in the village from outside the area.

"You can tell on changeover days when you notice different cars and different people so people are definitely renting them out. It’s not second home owners.”

Cllr David Donaldson agreed: “There are overnight stays happening but it’s not the holiday let companies. It’s private individuals who are letting out the odd cottage.”

Government regulations state that you cannot leave your home or the place where you are living for holidays or overnight stays unless you have a reasonable excuse for doing so.

Meanwhile, concerns were raised about recent flooding on the B1340 near Monks House.

"There is something impeding the flow of the burns there,” said Cllr Donaldson.

Northumberland County Council will be asked to investigate.

Cllr Donaldson also complained about traffic coming out of the car park on to the roundabout.

"Some people seem to think a car park takes precedence over a main road,” he said. “The number of people who come flying out of there at speed is going to lead to an accident.”

The possible provision of hanging baskets outside shops on Main Street will be discussed again at the March meeting. The parish council has been unable to discuss the idea with all shop owners due to Covid-19 closures.

A proposal to relocate bins on Main Street to create a more pleasant environment for people sitting on the benches will also be discussed at the next meeting after councillors were unable to agree if a site meeting is permitted under Covid restrictions. Concerns have previously been raised about seagulls feasting on fish and chip leftovers from over-flowing bins.

Retrospective plans for a single storey sunroom at Jubilee Place met with no objection but Cllr Ailsa Shiel complained about the number of retrospective applications being lodged.

She also raised concerns about dog fouling on the Lonnen and asked if a dog bin could be installed. The county council will be informed.

Concerns about cars parked close to the junction of King Street and James Street and at Stone Close were also raised.

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