Wooler Parish Council round-up

“I’m here for the duration and I’m looking forward to working with you,” he said.

“From what I see so far, it looks good, particularly on a crime and disorder basis.

“It’s true what they say that north Northumberland is one of the safest places to live and work.”

In a further boost, Sgt Wharrier said that recruitment had started and that both Wooler and Seahouses will be back-up to having four PCs working from each.

In terms of crimes in the past month, there had been a burglary at Milan restaurant on the same night as a spate of similar break-ins in Seahouses, Rothbury and Glanton.

• Wooler should try to adopt a similar partnership approach to its new twin town, parish councillors said.

As previously reported, as part of a Carnegie Trust scheme, Wooler has been twinned with Broughshane in Northern Ireland.

At the weekend, four of its residents visited Glendale, meeting parish councillors and other community representatives, visiting Heatherslaw Mill, Wooler’s youth hostel and going to the middle-school panto.

Members were struck by the umbrella organisation in Broughshane which sees all the different groups work to deliver the best for the community.

Coun Shirley Mills said: “The whole town pulls together and we have already got the makings of it.”

• Two Wooler residents, who are working for the benefit of the community, updated the parish council on what they are doing.

Nikki Lightfoot explained that she is planning a family fun day to take place in Scott’s Park in May, raising funds for the Drop-In and the Christmas lights, and she is also planning an event to tie in with the switch-on of the Christmas lights in December.

Meanwhile, Katherine Dunn is trying to brighten up the High Street with planters and window boxes and has already lined up some donations as well as other offers of support.

• A £10,000 grant for the youth drop-in in Wooler means that the service, which it was feared could fold, can run for another year at least. Coun Kevan Curry said that at a well-attended public meeting, a bid to get people to sign up to donate £3 a month was also announced.

• The clerk reported that the group creating the fountain monument in the centre of Wooler had agreed a licence to use the land so the scheme, which has planning permission, can now progress. The parish council was to take ownership of the land, but it is part of the highway.

• The people of Wooler are currently being asked for their views as part of the development of the parish neighbourhood plan, including the children. Chairman of the steering group, Lynne Pringle, said: “It seems as though we have rattled on at pace over the last few months.”

• The Environment Agency is planning to carry out work to remove trees and debris from Wooler Water to reduce flood risk. Members want to try to arrange a site meeting before the work takes place to see what is being done, while concerns remain about the gravel island.

• Coun Mark Mather told the meeting that he had ordered eight half-barrel-style planters and has a number of businesses lined up who are willing to buy one and have a plaque with their name on. Coun Mather also reported that the county council had agreed to replace a bin.