Why public notices matter – and how to find them

Have you ever discovered that a new development has been approved near your home and wished you had known about it sooner? Or found out about a road closure only after setting off on a journey?

Public notices exist precisely to prevent that – and if you know where to look, they can help you stay one step ahead.

An easy place to find public notices is the Public Notice Portal – a free, fully searchable platform where you can look up notices by postcode, category or local authority. You can also register for email alerts, choosing to receive updates daily, weekly or monthly, so relevant notices land directly in your inbox.

If you search the Public Notice Portal and enter the Alnwick area postcode - NE66 - you will see that there are 27 public notices associated with that area.

One of them gives crucial information about roadworks planned on a 5km section of the A1 over 13 weeks.

The National Highways notice states that carriageway resurfacing works are scheduled to begin at 8pm on Friday, September 11.

The work will take place over 5,100m from the A697 overbridge north of Morpeth to 100 metres north of Earsdon Moor Junction.

There will be a temporary 10mph speed restriction at times during the overnight works between 8pm and 6am. Bus stops and lay-bys will also be closed. There will also be a ban on vehicles from entering or leaving the A1 at Highlaws Junction, Hebron Junction and Low Espley Junction;

There will be a 24-hour temporary 40mph speed restriction on the A1 from 420 metres south of the A697 overbridge to 450 metres south of the Causey Park Junction, a distance of 7,050m.

Who can post a notice – and how?

Notices on the portal are submitted by registered local news publishers on behalf of those who need them placed. This could be a solicitor administering a will, a business applying for a licence, or a local council giving notice of a planning application or road closure.

Local news publishers, including the Northumberland Gazette, upload all the notices that appear in their title to the portal, which displays nearly 14,000 live notices at any given time.

Why do public notices matter?

Public notices underpin local democracy. They ensure transparency and accountability, giving communities the chance to engage with decisions that might otherwise pass unnoticed – from a proposed housing development to a change in local licensing.

Without them, the power to shape your local area would rest entirely with the decision-makers, not the people most affected.

Types of public notices

The Public Notice Portal organises notices into eight categories. They are:

Planning – applications for new buildings, extensions and changes of use. If a developer submits plans to build new homes in an area of Sunderland, you can search the Public Notice Portal by postcode to find the application and submit your comments before the deadline.

Traffic and roads – road closures, diversions, parking changes and speed limit alterations.

Alcohol and licensing – applications by pubs, restaurants, shops and event organisers to sell alcohol or hold licensable events. If a new venue in Sunderland is applying for a licence, you can find the notice on the portal and raise any concerns with the licensing authority within the stated timeframe.

Goods vehicle licensing, probate and trustee, contract and tender, statutory notices and other discretionary notices are also covered – making the portal a single, reliable destination for the full range of official public announcements.

To search for public notices in Northumberland, visit publicnoticeportal.uk