Concerns raised about disintegrating road surfaces and more from Belford Parish Council

Concerns about several areas have been reported to Northumberland County Council.

Cllr Julian Cunningham raised condition of the road close to the junction of the A1, near Middleton and Detchant.

“The surface there is breaking up and incredibly rough,” he said.

Cllr Kerry Noble said the top of North Bank also needed attention.

Concerns about the condition of the road at the West Street ‘chicane’ have been reported.

Cllr Thomas Keys also said the road needed attention at the Chatton junction.

"I think with the heavy vehicles turning there, it’s really pulling that bit of road to pieces,” he said.

"The area where the chicane is is bad enough but further up at the Chatton junction is really bad.”

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, chairman, advised that it was likely to be the spring before significant repairs are carried out.

Meanwhile, the parish council has submitted an objection to an outline planning application for a one-and-a-half storey unit in the grounds of an existing property on Hillside Road.

Councillors felt it was an over-development of the site.

Cllr Noble also reported he had spoken to a local stonemason who advised that repair works are not currently needed on the war memorial.

However, repairs are needed to the wall facing the memorial. It was agreed to start the process.

The parish council had received a letter from a resident of Easington parish who is unhappy that it is being abolished and transferred into neighbouring Belford.

Cllr Renner-Thompson said: “I replied to say that the way they could overturn it is by way of judicial review but as far as county is concerned it’s done and is going to happen come the May elections.

"The top and bottom of it is that Belford parish has been doing the job of Easington parish for decades. All that’s really happening is that the administrative lines on the map are catching up with reality.

"Take the road at Cragmill, for example. It’s going to get done but technically that’s not part of Belford parish.

"What I would like, in the long run, is for people from Easington parish to join our parish council because we’ve got spaces.”

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