The council holds a public question time session before the full council meeting. The last day for receiving questions for each meeting is noon, seven clear days before the full council meeting. The press and public are welcome.

Asking questions

• You can put up to two questions to a member of the council’s cabinet, by email or in writing.
• Questions should be about council functions or services and you must give your name, address, the name of the cabinet member being asked the questions and whether or not you’ll be attending the meeting.
• Questions should be short and meet the criteria set out in the council’s constitution.

A copy of the full procedure for public question time can be found here.

Questions in writing should be addressed to:

Andrea Todd
Democratic Services
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Email: pqt@northumberland.gov.uk  

Notice of Questions
Questions must be received at least seven clear days before the date of the meeting either in writing or by email. Your question must include your name and address, a telephone number and an email address. You should also indicate whether or not you will be attending the council meeting.

Details of deadlines for forthcoming county council meetings during the 2018/19 council year are a sfollows:

• 20 Feb 2019 - 12 noon on Tuesday, 12 February 2019.

Please note that public question times will not take place at the Annual County Council meeetings that take place in May each year.

You can come to the council meeting to put your questions to the cabinet member yourself. If you can’t attend, you’ll receive a written response.

If you require more information about public question time, please contact Jackie Roll on (01670) 622603, or you can write to her using the address below:

Jackie Roll
Democratic Services Manager
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Five Local Area Councils cover five areas of Northumberland and are there to help communities have a greater say in council affairs. These cover north Northumberland, Tynedale, Castle Morpeth, Cramlington/Bedlington/Seaton Valley, and Ashington/Blyth.

Their overall aim is to empower citizens, strengthen communities and improve services. They involve councillors for each particular area and are held in public.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Regular items include public question time, a slot for submitting and considering petitions, and Local Services updates.

Local Area Councils have the chance to reply to any questions from the public, which may either be received in advance or asked at the meeting. Questions can be asked about issues for which the council has a responsibility. 

Council agreed in 2012 that the management of public question time is at the discretion of the chair of the committee. However, a question may be rejected if:

• it is not about a matter which the council has a responsibility or which affects Northumberland
• it is defamatory, frivolous or offensive
• it is the same as a question which has been put at a meeting in the past six months
• it requires the disclosure of confidential or exempt information
• the cost of providing an answer is disproportionate
• it relates to staffing or industrial relation matters
• it relates to planning, licensing and/or other regulatory applications

If the chair is of the opinion that a question is one which can’t properly be asked in an area committee meeting, they will disallow it and inform the resident. The committee can request that written answers be given after the meeting if appropriate.

Please use the links below to find out more about area committee meetings in Northumberland and who attends.

Ashington/Blyth Local Area Council

• Meeting timetable
• List of councillors

​Castle Morpeth Local Area Council

• Meeting timetable
• List of councillors

Cramlington/Bedlington/Seaton Valley Local Area Council

• Meeting timetable
• List of councillors

North Northumberland Local Area Council

• Meeting timetable
• List of councillors

Tynedale Local Area Council

• Meeting timetable
• List of councillors

Local Area Council public question time
The template and guidance for asking questions at Local Area Council public question time can be found by clicking the link below.

• Local Area Council public question time template and guidance

You can also submit a question online by clicking here.

There are opportunities to speak on planning applications if you have submitted written representations (for any further queries or advice, please email democraticservices@northumberland.gov.uk).

For details of public speaking rights and other planning protocols, please click on the links below:

• Public speaking at Local Area Councils and Strategic Planning Committee
• Public meetings about planning applications
• Late representations for planning applications
• Planning site visits.

Details of the public's rights to film, photograph or make an audio recording of the proceedings of meetings can be found by clicking here.

Democratic services hold interactive workshop events in Northumberland about attending county council meetings, speaking at meetings, accessing information and petitioning the county council.

Everyone is welcome, but these workshops may be of particular interest to residents, residents' groups and others.

For further information, please contact: democraticservices@northumberland.gov.uk

There are currently no sessions scheduled, but there are a number of other ways to get involved.

If you are interested in standing as a candidate at the next local election, please see below:-

• Becoming a councillor
• Overview Document Guidance for Candidates and Agents - Electoral Commission 
• Can you stand for election - Electoral Commission Guide Part 1 of 6
• Standing as an independent candidate - Electoral Commission Guide Part 2a of 6
• Standing as a party candidate - Electoral Commission Guide Part 2b of 6
• Spending and donations - Electoral Commission Guide Part 3 of 6
• The campaign - Electoral Commission Guide Part 4 of 6
• Your right to attend key electoral events - Electoral Commission Guide Part 5 of 6
• After the declaration of results - Electoral Commission Part 6 of 6

Nomination packs are available now click here but cannot be submitted until 21 March 2017.  To arrange an appointment to submit a nomination paper contact the elections office.

To request a copy of the electoral register or absent voting list please use the forms below.

If you require a copy of the electoral register click here if you require this is a word format please contact us
If you require a copy of the absent voting list click here if you require this is a word format please contact us

All candidates MUST submit an elections expenses account after the election has taken place.  The forms can be downloaded below.

Declaration of agent local government election
Declaration of candidate local government election
Local government election candidates spending return
Explanatory notes local government election 



For more information contact:
by email:     elections@northumberland.gov.uk
by phone:    01670624811
by post:      Electoral Services
                  Northumberland County Council
                  County Hall
                  Morpeth
                  Northumberland
                  NE61 2EF

• Becoming a councillor
• Can you stand for election - Electoral Commission Guide Part 1 of 6
• Standing as an independent candidate - Electoral Commission Guide Part 2a of 6
• Standing as a party candidate - Electoral Commission Guide Part 2b of 6
• Spending and donations - Electoral Commission Guide Part 3 of 6
• The campaign - Electoral Commission Guide Part 4 of 6
• Your right to attend key electoral events - Electoral Commission Guide Part 5 of 6
• After the declaration of results - Electoral Commission Guide Part 6 of 6

The election timetable shows critical deadlines click here to download    

Nomination packs are available now click here but cannot be submitted until 21 March 2017.  To arrange an appointment to submit a nomination paper contact the elections office.

To request a copy of the electoral register or absent vote list please use the forms below.

If you require a copy of the electoral register click here if you require a copy of this document in word format please contact us 

If you require a copy of the absent voting list click here if you require a copy of this document in a word format please contact us

All candidates MUST submit an elections expenses account after the election has taken place.  The forms can be downloaded below.

Election expenses for Candidates at Parish Elections 


For more information contact:

Petitions about local issues (containing a minimum of 50 signatures) will be considered by the local area council meetings.

The petitions committee considers petitions containing a minimum of 100 signatures relating to corporate or county matters which do not fall within the remit of the area committees, planning or other regulatory committees.

It will make recommendations to full council, the cabinet or regulatory committees depending upon the subject matter. If possible, a report will be made for the next available meeting after receiving a petition. Sometimes this takes longer if the issue needs more investigating.

A petition about licensing or planning applications will be considered when the planning committee is ready to consider the planning application.

Some petitions will not be considered in this process, for example:

• responses to ongoing consultation exercises
• if a petition's subject is considered by the petitions officer to be offensive and using inappropriate language 
• if it includes false or defamatory statements
• if it is commercially sensitive or contains confidential material
• if it includes complaints about individuals
• if it is about issues which are the subject of judicial proceedings

A petition will not normally be considered if it is received within 12 months of the meeting where another petition on the same matter was considered.

What can I expect in response to my petition?

Received petitions should be acknowledged to the lead petitioner within seven working days of their receipt by democratic services.

The letter of receipt will include these details:

• the officer contact
• service area contact
• date, time and venue of the meeting where a report responding to the petition will be heard

If any of these details cannot be provided in the first letter, more information will be sent out when details have been confirmed.

If the response is being heard at a later meeting (e.g. because the complexity of the issue being investigated will take more time to produce a report), the lead petitioner will be advised as soon as possible.

The lead petitioner will receive a copy of the report at least five days before the meeting. The lead petitioner will receive a minute extract about the decision taken following the meeting.

Fo further advice or information about the petitioning process or past petitions considered since 1 April 2009, please contact:

• Telephone: 01670 622616 or 622611
• Email: petitions@northumberland.gov.uk
• Further details are available in the petitions protocol.

If you wish to create a new e-petition, you should first check you aren’t duplicating an existing recent petition. The petitions log, which provides summary details of petitions received, is updated on a weekly basis. It doesn’t cover petitions that are responding to licensing or planning applications.

• View the petitions log for 1 April 2017 onwards

Please use the link below to create a new petition:

• Click here to create an e-petition
• View paper petition template here

Valid petitions require a minimum of 50 signatures for local issues and 100 signatures for countywide/ budgetary issues. Signatures will only count from people who either live, work, study or use services in Northumberland. If petitions contain less than the minimal thresholds (50 or 100), they will be referred to the relevant senior officer for consideration. Petitions should concern issues that are the responsibility of the county council. Once a petition has been considered about a particular issue, no further petitions about the same issue will be accepted within the following 12 months. Further details are available in the
petitions protocol.

Paper petitions should be directed for the attention of:

The Petitions Officer
Democratic Services
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

They can also be emailed to: petitions@northumberland.gov.uk

• View older petitions from 1 April 2009 - 31 March 2017
• View other petitions addressed outside of the petitions protocol

​Petition Protocol:

For a copy of the revised scheme agreed by Cabinet on 7 February 2017 please click here.

Data Protection:

For information about how we handle and protect your personal information in petitions please click here

Contact Details and Procedural Advice:

For further advice or information about the petitioning process or past petitions considered since 1 April 2009, please contact:

• Email: petitions@northumberland.gov.uk
• Write to: The Petitions Officer, Democratic Services, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF
• Telephone: 01670 622616 or 622611.

You can view signatures on other closed e-petitions here. 

 

Enough is Enough - say NO to more new housing development on Station Road, Stannington

We are requesting Northumberland County Council to reject all existing and future planning applications for new housing developments on Station Road, Stannington. Over the past 2-3 years, 9 housing development proposals have been approved on Station Road, Stannington which will result in an approximate 90% increase in housing and significant and unacceptable damage to the Greenbelt.  The 4 additional planning applications recently submitted will take this to an approximate 140% increase. This is unjustified and disproportionate for a small rural settlement. Please support our petition and help save Station Road and its Greenbelt from further destruction.

Closes on: 15 February 2019
Signatures: 33 as at 5 February 2019
Lead petitioner: Ted Hall
Click here to sign the petition
Click here to see the names of who have signed the petition

 

Details of e-petitions that closed during 2019:
 

Stop the introduction of parking charges at Tyne Riverside Country Park, Prudhoe and Prudhoe Railway Station 

NCC is planning to introduce parking charges at Tyne Riverside Country Park, Prudhoe and Prudhoe Railway Station. This sends out all the wrong signals. This will hit the environment and public health, is this what the council wants? It will reduce the number of people using public transport as it will tip the balance in favour of driving into Newcastle, so more cars are on the road. This will add to environmental pollution, at a time when the aim should be to increase the use of public transport. It is wrong to put a charge on this area when there is deprivation and poor transport. 

Lots of people use Tyne Riverside Country Park for recreation. Dog walkers and those wanting to keep fit will be penalised for keeping active, with the parking charges, we should be trying to encourage people to get out into the countryside and keep fit, it will reduce obesity, heart disease, diabetes and promote good mental health. Introducing a charge will hit and discourage those that are trying to keep fit and healthy. Given the current concerns about obesity, mental health and exercise, this really is a retrograde step and would seem to demonstrate that the council has little regard for public health in the County.

There has been recent publicity about the Cafe reopening at Tyne Riverside Country Park. This news coverage stated that it "will provide work and training for young people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health conditions." A parking charge will hit this business, particularly as it is trying to establish itself. Does the council want to support or penalise this business and employment? Those visiting the park for a walk and a coffee will be put off.  There is likely to be some people that will still use the park and station, but park over the river in Ovingham or roads near the station, adding to congestion and limited parking available for residents. 

lease sign this petition to demonstrate to the council that people do not want this charge introduced, which will lead to all the negative consequences outlined. 

Closed on: 4 January 2019
Signatures:
Lead petitioner: Charles Brown

Click here to see the names of who have signed the petition

Petitions closed during 2018:
 

Eastwoods Park Footpath

Prudhoe Plodders Running Club have just started a junior club, the only children's running club in Prudhoe, and use the park to train.

The park is heavily used by families and dog walkers, however there is only a partial path running along two sides of the path. We would like a lit footpath running along the perimeter of the park to allow people to continue to use the park in the early evening winter months. It is hoped this could double up as a running track to allow the running club to expand and be able to take more children as Prudhoe Plodders has been unable to secure a lit place to train over the winter.

There has also been evidence of antisocial behaviour in the park, increasing in the winter months such as dog fouling on the football pitches, littering, evidence of alcohol and drug misuse. By providing a few extra hours of light, it is hoped this will reduce.

Closed on: 10 December 2018
Signatures: 274
Lead petitioner: Holly Kelleher
Click here to see the names of who signed the petition
 

Reduce Speeding of Motorbikes and Cars on Highfield Drive

Between the hours of 11pm and 3am motorbikes speed up and down this road. Not only are the bike engines so loud, but the speed they go I fear one of these days I will have a motorbike in my car windscreen or my livingroom. Through the day cars speed down this residential street, where children play. I refuse to let my daughter out on this road as an accident will happen one of these days. Even more so with the blind bend there is on the street that the cars speed round

Closed on: 3 October 2018

• Click here to sign the petition
• See the names of who have signed

 

Stop proposed parking restrictions at Alnmouth Station and Surrounding Areas 

In April 2014 residents of Lesbury were asked to take part in a democratic vote for parking restrictions around Alnmouth Station. We voted overwhelmingly against them. Now 4 years later Northumberland Council see fit to completely ignore the democratic process and instill their own ill thought out solution to parking problems at Alnmouth. The only solution to insufficient parking at the station is to provide more, not to penalise and charge residents for the success of the station.

Closed on 12 July 2018

Signatures: 13

Proposer: Mr Geoff Potts

• See the names of who have signed

 

Save Wark Church of England First School

This petition is in response to Northumberland County Council’s West Northumberland School Consultation.

In all three proposals put forward by the Council, Wark C of E First School has been potentially earmarked for closure depending upon the outcome of the consultation.

Wark C of E First School is a vital part of our rural community, giving our children the best start in life from preschool age and providing optional wraparound care to support working families. It has strong support from the Diocese and 100% of parents would recommend our school to others.

The school is consistently rated GOOD  by OFSTED and SIAMS. A broad, enriched curriculum is provided and each child is treated as an individual with individual learning plans. The budgeting forecast to 2020/21 is in surplus and the school is thriving, as are its pupils. Wark First School is dynamic, easily adapting to change and can prove it is viable to work in both a 2 tier or 3 tier system given the chance.

Closure would drive families away, destroying the surrounding community and businesses within. Our children would not receive the educational needs in keeping with their rural upbringing and would throw away a school providing the very best education and support. It also removes the choice of a faith school in the local area. Therefore we cannot accept any of the three proposals to close Wark Church of England First School and the purpose of this petition is to keep our school open and demonstrate the support we have.

Signatories: 433 

Closeds on 8 April 2018

Proposer: Mrs N Nichol

• See the names of who signed

Objection to the Continued Temporary Closure of Public Footpath no. 22, Park Lane to Stanley Burn, Prudhoe

Public footpath no.22 closure notice was issued in January 2017 for a 6 month period. The closure was then extended to October 2017. The closure has now been extended again until 30 April 2019. Closures have been granted to enable development of the old hospital site by Gentoo. Gentoo have stated that they will re-open the path periodically during the current closure period but no dates have been provided.

Footpath no.22 is a valued and well used path by the local community, its closure is denying safe access to a wider network of paths for recreational use. Moor Road provides alternative access but is used by heavy construction traffic servicing Gentoo’s development.

A 2 years, 3  month closure period can not reasonably be considered as ‘temporary.’ Gentoo has continually failed to meet its own targets and honour promises given to the community. Petitioners have lost faith and trust in Gentoo and their assurance to periodically open the path and therefore request that Northumberland County Council:

1) revoke the current excessive and unreasonable temporary closure;
2) require Gentoo to provide safe access across the site (similar to that provided by Story Homes at their Crawcrook development).
3) Significantly reduce any future temporary closure periods.

Signatories: 204. ​Closed on 31 December 2017

Proposer: Mr Philip Hindmarsh

• See the names of who signed the e-petition

Regeneration of Ashington Town Centre
Object to the decision to withdraw the new County Hall project from being built in Ashington.  We demand a similar major development project to be realised for Ashington Town to ensure we protect and revitalise current businesses and harvest in additional major investors to create quality jobs with decent wages.

Signatories: 243. Closed on: 27 December 2017

Proposer: Mr K Ellis

• See the names of who signed

All of our recently closed e-petitions are shown below. You can view signatures on recent e-petitions here.
 

Request for an All Weather Concrete Skate Park as part of revamp, Eastwood Park, West Wylam

Concerns for children's safety when travelling to and from Highfield Park along dangerous roads used by speeding vehicles. This matter needs to be resolved before an accident occurs.

Signatories: 86 

Closed on: 8 December 2017

Proposer: Mr S Hutchinson

• Sign the e-petition requesting an all weather concrete skate park in West Wylam
• See the names of who has signed since 11 October 2017

 

Please provide storage for beach wheelchairs at Blyth South Beach

Beach Access North East provides free of charge, access to beach wheelchairs at Blyth South Beach. We need storage for these to be located at the beach, so other volunteers can increase the days when these are available to members of the public to use. We cannot buy a larger range of equipment to improve the accessibility to this beach without storage at the beach. We need at a minimum a 2m square, secure, vandal proof container but would prefer more room. We can provide the container, we need the council to give permission and to provide hard standing at a location near to or on the promenade/car park.

Signatories: 10 

Closed on: 14 November 2017

Proposer: Caroline Corfield

• See the names of who signed

Street Lighting, Moor Road, Prudhoe

We the undersigned request that Northumberland county Council install and maintain appropriate street lighting to Moor Road between Moor Grange and the entrance to Humbles Wood/Fern Dene Hospital. (Grid ref 10/61&62 ordnance survey pathfinder 548). Currently there is no street lighting on this under maintained, dark narrow road. The footpath is heavily populated by woodland and used by residents, visitors and hospital staff 24 hours per day. We believe this is a huge safety concern which needs to addressed urgently for the following reasons;

• To provide a safe and convenient pedestrian route between houses and local community facilities.
• Create a safe route for vehicular movement and enable residents/staff needs for statutory and other services to be met efficiently. 
• Safeguarding of minors walking to school.

As a full transport statement, plan and framework should have been conducted and agreed at planning stages with Humbles Wood being over 50 dwellings, failure to provide adequate street lighting for a residential route is a huge oversight and should be addressed.

This road is now classed as a double carriage way with a 30mph speed restriction, so is no longer a country lane. Therefore appropriate street lighting in recognition of this being an adopted road should be installed.

25 Million pound was made available for a lighting renewal program in Northumberland, and yet we are advised none of this is available for new street lighting.

Signatories: 156

Closed on: 2 November 2017

Proposer: Mrs L Rusby

• See the names of who signed​

​Installation of Speed Cameras and Traffic Calming in Rothesay and Victoria Terrace, Bedlington

After the death of a friend, caused by a speeding motorist along Victoria/Rothesay Terrace, it's about time the route from Bedlington Station to Stead Lane had some traffic calming measures installed along this route to prevent another tragedy.

Signatories: 1198 (316 electronic signatures, 882 paper signatures)

Closed on 26 October 2017

Proposer: Mr M Hemsted

• See the names of who signed

 

Request for traffic calming, monitoring of speed limit and weight/size restrictions on Hallstile Bank, Hexham

The 20mph signs on Hallstile Bank, a residential street in Hexham are not being adhered to. Traffic speeds down the bank from very early in the morning and well into the night. Anti Social behaviour with revving cars occurs daily. Lorries and buses (up to 2.55 m wide) navigate a bend on the steep bank, when the road width is 3.05m (narrowest section) with a footpath only on one side.

We, the undersigned, petition Northumberland County Council to review current usage of the road, consider restricting the size / weight of vehicles using the bank and install traffic monitoring and calming measures to ensure it is used safely and considerately.

Signatories: 109

Closed on: 20 October 2017

Proposer: Mrs Mari Stewart

• See the names of who has signed since 21 July 2017

 

Fair Play for Craster and its Visitors

Craster Parish Council believes the County Council should create a ring fenced fund for the provision of tourist facilities in Craster, and to finance measures to cater for and manage tourists visiting the parish, by a levy to be added to the existing car park charges. This fund should be divided with 10% going to the County Council for administration, 20% to the Ward Councillor to increase the allowance to cater for tourists in the adjacent parishes and the remaining 70% for projects identified by the Parish Council. It is proposed that the levy is 50p on the hourly rates and £1.00 on the daily rate taking the charges to £1.00 for one hour, £1.50 for two hours, £2.00 for three hours and £3.00 for all day.

Signatories: 12 electronic signatures and 212 handwritten signatures (224 total). 

Closed on: Monday, 13 March 2017

Proposer: Bryn Owen

• See the names of who has signed since 16 February 

Latest position: a response will be organised for the Petitions Committee.

Save West Bedlington from more housing, equal the amount to all areas

We the undersigned call upon Northumberland County Council and Arch to stop further house building on land they own in the West Bedlington area and look at areas in the defined Bedlington area of the core strategy (Bedlington Station, East Sleekburn, Hartford, Nedderton and Cambois) where housing is wanted and supported.

NCC have stated via the core strategy that 1280 homes need to be built in the defined Bedlington area by 2031, however recent planning permissions show this target looks to be delivered by 2020 at the latest in Bedlington as a settlement alone as the majority of houses have been built in the west area.

We call on NCC to stop house building in only West Bedlington and Make it more equal to all areas of Bedlington as stated which is Bedlington Station, East Sleekburn, Hartford and Nedderton.

Signatories: 27 electronic signatures

Closed on: Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Proposer: Adam Hogg

• See the names of who signed since 8 December 

Current situation: Submitted into consultation on the Core Strategy.

Lower Speed on Edendale Avenue, Blyth

Lower speed on Edendale Avenue, people speed more going down that road from bridge at Deanview Drive all the way along Edendale to Briardale Road. The problem apart from speeding is kids play in street and elderly people live at bottom. It is hard to cross road when cars are speeding and half of cars do not slow down by bungalows are as there is sharp bend.

Signatories: 58 electronic signatures 

Status: Closed 

Closed on: 31 January 2017 at 12 Noon

Proposer: Mary Shepherd

• See the names of who has signed

Current situation: a report responding to the e-petition was considered by the Area Committee - South on 15 March 2017. The request for a 20 mph speed limit has been added to the Directory of Requests database for consideration in a future LTP (Local Transport Plan) programme.

Details of petitions closed in 2016:

 

Blyth Save Our Sea Wall

We the undersigned request that Northumberland County Council support the residents against the closure of Blyth Valley Footpath 197. This footpath has been used by local residents and countless visitors for many years to escape from the beach at high tide and we are vehemently opposed to its closure.

Signatories: 5 electronic signatures (180 signatures on accompanying paper petition)

Closed on: 31 December 2016 at 12 Noon

Proposer: Eileen Cartie

• See the names of who signed

Current situation: the Rights of Way Committee agreed at its meeting on 10 January 2017 that rights of way access were not considered to exist over the route.
 

• Click here to find details of recent or upcoming meetings of the petitions committee.

 

Save Cleveland School, Newbiggin-By-The-Sea

This petition is to save Cleveland School for community use while safeguarding the heritage and conservation area of the village.

Signatories: 157
Status: Closed on 9 November 2016
Proposer: Gareth Mclean

• See the names of who has signed since 27 October 2016

Current situation: both this e-petition and another petition about the Cleveland School site have been forwarded to Strategic Estates and and Planning Services to consider during consultation on the next steps for the future of the site.
 

​Parking at Barley Rise, Ashington

This petition is to make the Barley Rise housing area a permit holders only parking area to stop people parking here visiting Wansbeck Hospital which would stop the current traffic issues.

Signatories: 52 
Status: Closed
Closed on: 27 August 2016
Proposer: Samuel Nelmes
Current situation: consultation to be arranged about residents' views on a parking scheme.

• See the names of who signed

Unnecessary Extension of Malvins Road Closure Order and
Surface Water Flooding Problems

We the undersigned believe that the housing developer, Gleeson Homes, should minimise the period Malvins Road is closed to public traffic. The further extension for one year of the current closure order enables the housing development company to install services and surface water drainage without taking the clearance of surface water flooding at the edge of this site into consideration. We demand that either Malvins Road is reopened immediately or that the developer and the landowners implement a full shared surface water drainage scheme to remove the public nuisance and danger caused by the landfill of this development site.

Signatories: 173 electronic signatures
Status: Closed
Closed on: 31 May 2016
Proposer: Susan Davey

Current situation: a response to the petition was considered by the Area Committee - South on Wednesday 13 July 2016 at 6pm at Choppington Social Welfare Centre. The committee noted the information in the report and agreed that the ward member be kept informed of progress.

• See the names of who signed

Save Druridge

We have a love and a passion for Druridge Bay in Northumberland, England, and the surrounding
area. Please join us in our endeavour to save this beautiful landscape from becoming a victim of
open cast mining, in particular the 'Highthorn' proposed site, and sign our petition now.

Signatories: 5,788 electronic signatures as of 31 May 2016 (3,950 at 31 March 2015) (paper signatures have also been received, plus a separate electronc petition of 9,000 signatures has also been received).
Status: Closed
Closed on: 31 May 2016
Proposer: Hannah Heron (Save Druridge)

Current situation: a planning application on this matter was considered by the Council's Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday 5 July at 2pm at County Hall, Morpeth. It was resolved that the committee be minded to approve the application subject to the conditions set out in the report and the completion of a S106 agreement relating to the reasons detailed in the report.

• See the names of who signed up until 31 March 2015
• See the names of who signed since 1 April 2015

Support Opencast Mining at Highthorn

Mining is a part of the cultural heritage of the North East and we respect and value this area of
employment. We fully support the proposal to opencast the area identified close to Druridge Bay in
Northumberland. The development of this site will maintain and create jobs for local people.
Continued employment will enable those individuals to be able to provide for their families and
contribute to the local economy. Due to the high level of redundancies in other sectors of
employment in Northumberland, it is essential we create job prospects where possible. The use of coal is essential in being able to generate electricity. As a country we do not have the facilities to meet the demands for electricity without using coal and as a result of this we currently have to import much of the coal we need. Let us keep the industry local and let local people benefit.

Signatories: 153 as of 31 May 2016 (142 as at 31 March 2015)
Status: Closed
Closed on: 31 May 2016
Proposer: Cheryl Wade

Current situation: a planning application on this matter was considered by the Council's Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday 5 July at 2pm at County Hall, Morpeth. It was resolved that the committee be minded to approve the application subject to the conditions set out in the report and the completion of a S106 agreement relating to the reasons detailed in the report.

• See the names of who had signed up until 31 March 2015
• See the names of who signed since 1 April 2015