The Northumberland homes which still have no mains electricity

While leaders talk of improving broadband to rural areas, some homes in Northumberland do not yet even have mains electricty

The issue was raised at the Thursday, January 21, meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council during a discussion on the proposed 2021-22 budget.

Following a presentation from the Conservative leadership, Cllr Steven Bridgett praised the administration for its programme of capital projects, but highlighted the lack of mains electricity for some residents as one ‘which always gets overlooked’.

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He admitted that the county council ‘isn’t directly responsible for it’, but ‘could do a lot in helping make something happen’.

“This is a huge shame on Northumberland,” he added. “There are a lot of partners and I think the Government needs to take a more active role, but the county council can act as a catalyst for this.”

Cllr Bridgett noted that it does not just affect residents in his Rothbury ward, which covers rural Coquetdale, but in the Wooler and Bellingham divisions as well – all along the western edge of the county and including parts of the National Park.

Council leader Glen Sanderson, who is a former chairman of the Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “I’m aware of that great unfairness on a number of our residents who deserve to have the same services as any other resident in our county.

“I haven’t talked to colleagues about whether we could look at a capital programme that might help to provide that important electric supply.

“But I will say this now. I will do that, ask our officers to do some work, talk to the National Park, talk to the energy providers, and see if it might be something that could be feasible. I give that commitment now.”

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