Wooler Parish Council to freeze precept in light of difficult year for local community

Wooler Parish Council plans to keep its budget at the same level for the coming financial year.
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The precept decision recognises the difficult year it has been for many due to Covid-19.

“It’s an incredibly difficult year to look at costings due to Covid,” said Cllr Mark Mather, parish council chairman.

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"However, we have money in the bank for any jobs or projects and I feel that with it being such a trying year for the community there is no need to increase the precept.”

A site meeting is to be arranged to discuss a possible extension of Wooler's cemetery.A site meeting is to be arranged to discuss a possible extension of Wooler's cemetery.
A site meeting is to be arranged to discuss a possible extension of Wooler's cemetery.

Meanwhile, it is hoped to arrange a site meeting with the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to discuss the possibility of extra burial ground on the former first school site.

Potential issues with vehicular access and trees would also be discussed, along with the possibility of creating an overflow town centre car park.

“We hope we can get a feel for what they need for an extension to the cemetery and get that back to Northumberland County Council as soon as possible,” said Cllr Mather.

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The parish council has reported problems with cars going on to Scott’s Park and is awaiting a response from the county council.

Councillors are also keen to set up a working group with interested parents to discuss potential improvements to the play park.

"We’d like to get a group of people together to work on what sort of things could be done at Scott’s Park,” said Cllr Mather.

Members heard the Wooler Fountain Restoration Group has disbanded having achieved its goal. Its remaining funds of £289 have been given to the parish council to spend on Christmas lights in the Market Place area.

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The creation of a water supply for the allotments at School Farm Field is to be discussed further with Northumbrian Water.

A polytunnel for the site, funded with Cllr Anthony Murray’s small schemes money from the county council, has also been ordered and is expected to be installed in the spring.

The war memorial has been surveyed and a report is expected by January 7. It will then be discussed by the parish council.

Plans for an extension of the Old Vicarage care home have also been welcomed.

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