The council holds a public question time session before the full council meeting. The last day for receiving questions for each meeting is 12 noon, five working 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 2020/21 council year are as follows:

• Wednesday, 2 September 2020 - deadline 12 noon on Monday, 24 August 2020.
• Wednesday, 4 November 2020 - deadline 12 noon on Tuesday, 27 October 2020.
• Wednesday, 6 January 2021 - deadline 12 noon Wednesday, 23 December 2020.
• Wednesday, 24 February 2021 - deadline 12 noon on Tuesday, 16 February 2021.

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.

Their terms of reference are as follows:

(a) To enhance good governance in the area and ensure that the Council’s policies take account of the needs and aspirations of local communities and do not discriminate unfairly between the different areas.

(b) To advise the Cabinet on budget priorities and expenditure within the area.

(c) To consider, develop and influence policy and strategy development of the Council, its arms-length organisations, and other relevant bodies, to ensure that they meet local requirements and facilitate efficient and transparent decision making.   

(d) To receive information, consider and comment on matters associated with service delivery including those undertaken in partnership agencies, affecting the local area to ensure that they meet local requirements, including matters relating to community safety, anti-social behaviour and environmental crime.

(e) To consider and refer to Cabinet any issues from a local community perspective with emerging Neighbourhood Plans within their area, and consider local planning applications as per the planning delegation scheme 

(f) To consider and recommend adjustments to budget priorities in relation to Local Transport Plan issues within their area, and to make decisions in relation to devolved capital highway maintenance allocations.

(g) To engage, through the appropriate networks, with all key stakeholders from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors to facilitate the delivery of area priorities.  This will include undertaking regular liaison with parish and town councils.

(h) To inform, consult and engage local communities in accordance with Council policy and guidance, through the appropriate networks.  

(i) To, as appropriate, respond or refer with recommendations to local petitions and councillor calls for action.

(j) To make certain appointments to outside bodies as agreed by Council.

(k) To determine applications for grant aid from the Community Chest, either through Panels for individual Local Area Councils, or through the Panel of Local Area Council Chairs for countywide applications.

(l) To refer and receive appropriate issues for consideration to or from other Council Committees, and as appropriate invite Portfolio Holders to attend a meeting if an item in their area of responsibility is to be discussed.

(m)  To exercise the following functions within their area:-
(i) the Council’s functions in relation to the survey, definition, maintenance, diversion, stopping up and creation of public rights of way.
(ii) the Council’s functions as the Commons Registration Authority for common land and town/village greens in Northumberland.
(iii) the Council’s functions in relation to the preparation and maintenance of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan
(iv) the Council’s functions in relation to the Northumberland National Park and County Joint Local Access Forum (Local Access Forums (England) Regulations 2007.
(v) the Council’s role in encouraging wider access for all to the County’s network of public rights of way and other recreational routes.

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. 

As agreed by the County Council in February 2012, the management of local public question times is at the discretion of the chair of the committee. Please note however that a question may possibly be rejected if it requires the disclosure of any categories of confidential or exempt information, namely information:

1. relating to any individual
2. which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual
3. relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person
4. relating to any labour relations matters/negotiations
5. restricted to legal proceedings
6. about enforcement/enacting legal orders
7. relating to the prevention, investigation of prosecution of crime. 

And/or:

• is defamatory, frivolous or offensive
• it is substantially the same as a question which has been put at a meeting of this or another County Council committee in the past six months
• the request repeats an identical or very similar question from the same person
• the cost of providing an answer is disproportionate
• it is being separately addressed through the Council's complaints process
• it is not about a matter for which the Council has a responsibility or which affects the county
• it relates to planning, licensing and/or other regulatory applications
• it is a question that town/parish councils would normally be expected to raise through other channels.

If the Chair is of the opinion that a question is one which for whatever reason, cannot properly be asked in an area meeting, he/she will disallow it and inform the resident of his/her decision. Copies of any written answers (without individuals' personal contact details) will be provided for members after the meeting and also be publicly available. Democratic Services will confirm the status of the progress on any previously requested written answers and follow up any related actions requested by the Local Area Council .

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 or by emailing democraticservices@northumberland.gov.uk

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 for the process and procedure for how planning applications are determined can also be found by clicking on the following link:

Planning committee procedure.
Procedure for virtual planning committee
 

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.

Northumberland County Council's Democratic Services and Youth Services departments jointly run events for Northumberland schools each year during Local Democracy Week. For further information, please contact: democraticservices@northumberland.gov.uk

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
• Details of the numbers of signatures on old and current e-petitions

​Petition Protocol:

For a copy of the revised scheme agreed by Cabinet on 9 October 2018 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.

To stop the asset transfer of derelict toilets to Newbiggin Town Council 

Newbiggin Town Council held a meeting on 18 November and voted for (3 for only 2 against), the proposed asset transfer of the derelict toilets next to the Cresswell Arms Public House, Newbiggin from Northumberland County Council. This petition is opposed to the asset transfer and redevelopment of a new toilet block at this location to be paid for by Newbiggin residents and instead wants this eyesore demolished and the site cleared. We believe that this best represents the views of local residents who have not been consulted on this matter.

Opened for signatures on 3 December 2020
This petition will close for signatures on 31 January 2021
Click here to sign the e-petition
Signatures as at 21 December 2020 - 184

Funding for transport from Belford to Alnwick Duchess high school for all eligible aged children (11-16)​

We the parents of Belford children would like funded transportation for the children attending duchess high school in Alnwick, following the transition of the Belford first school changing over into the 2 tier system. We feel this should have been done at the point of change from first to primary status and feel it’s dragging on to long with no hope insight. We as parents would like this petition to be signed by everyone in the hopes we raise some form of resolution faster.

Please sign and help the cause.

Thank you for taken time to read this, this means a lot to us here in Belford trying to get what’s best for the next generation.

Opened for signatures on 13 October 2020
Click here to sign the e-petition
Number of signatures as at 21 December 2020 - 2
 

View closed e-petitions 2020

Do not grant planning permission for dwelling South of Centurion Way. Heddon on the Wall

We wish to register our objection to plans that have been submitted to Northumberland County Council (Application no.20/03389/FUL )  for four dwellings to be built in an area with “Outstanding long range views” on land South of Centurion Way. Heddon on the Wall. We ask NCC not to grant permission to build.
These views are enjoyed by the whole village community and would no be longer visible to the public if built. This ‘view’ and the benches provided by the mining institute to enjoy it, are part of our mining, cultural and village heritage.
The roads leading to the development would increase traffic and air pollution to a road system which was not designed for the current amount of traffic or parking and further endanger children playing outside and increase likelihood of damage to vehicles.   

Opened for signatures on 6 November 2020
Number of signatures as at 30 November 2020 - 84
The petition closed on Monday 30 November 2020

Speeding Vehicles in Stakeford​

Protect Hexham's historic centre. Take action against shops that do not go through planning permission for signage in Hexham's conservation area

 

Details of e-petitions that closed during 2019/20:

AFC Newbiggin Football Club

AFC Newbiggin Football Club are working towards having their own facilities, pitches for Juniors mini soccer, nine aside, 11 aside and Seniors working towards Step 7. We have the funding in place and require the support of Northumberland County Council, so are requesting a £170,000 contribution to fill the gap shortfall as they have done with similar projects.

Opened for signatures on 6 February 2020
Number of signatures: 165
Closed on 6 March 2020
 

Public Footpath from Seaton Vale to NCEA School

There are hundreds of children aged 3-18 who live on the estate and attend the Northumberland Church of England Academy (NCEA). At present these children, accompanied by parents / childminders / carers etc have to walk at least 2.1 miles (40 minutes) to get to the school.  The development and children would benefit from a pathway being installed from the main road in the development to the back fields of the school.  This would result in having to walk approximately 0.3 miles and would take about 5 minutes. At present they are also walking along the black path which is mainly flooded, overgrown and dangerous in the winter nights.  

Opened for signatures on 14 January 2020
Signatures: 171

 

Basketball Court at Ridley Park, Blyth

I would like to propose the building of a Basketball court within Ridley Park, we do not have one within walking distance, Basketball is an ever increasing sport and we should encourage all activities that promote the health of our kids. 

Opened for signatures on 19 September 2019
Signatures: 7

 

Request for a one way street - Cheviot View, Prudhoe

Cheviot view is a very busy street, not only with cars but children playing too, cars parked on one side of the road due to lack of parking spaces which makes using the road very difficult. There are no passing places available if a car is coming towards you. The street is made up of a circle so a one way street would be beneficial to all houses, road users and children.

Opened for signatures on 10 September 2019
Signatures: 37
 

Improvements to the bridleway from South Lane/North Sunderland to Primary School and Nursery Side Gate, Seahouses

In 2017 Seahouses Primary School and Nursery “Busy Bees” were moved to the new location (old Middle school). The school was upgraded with new paths and one new entrance through bridleway to highway. Until this time this path was very rarely used mainly people waking dogs etc. Now in school times it became one of the busiest paths in Seahouses/North Sunderland used by people walking children to and from school it is 20 minutes quicker than going around through the Main Street. This path is in very poor condition covered with sharp stones, weeds, puddles. It was inspected last year and one of the officers said it’s still usable. Nobody agrees with it - parents with prams, trolleys can’t go over this path, when cycling two people can’t pass each other without going of the bike and stopping, Children can’t use their scooters little bikes, balance bikes etc as their colleagues coming from James Street can. There is no day when accidents aren’t happening there. Kids tripping over cutting legs, arms hands and have to get separate shoes to walk through it. It’s not council and not private but its used by hundred people and children every day and needs to be upgraded so it’s safe and usable for prams bikes etc.

Opened for signatures on 3 September 2019
Number of signatures as of 1 November 2019: 115 (electronic), 130 (paper); total - 245. 
Closed on 7 November 2019
 

Cumberland/Westmorland tree and bush reduction 

We are petitioning to the council for the removal of the trees and bushes located around the field of westmorland and Cumberland avenue in Bedlington, we have had many accidents and near misses involving the children of the streets as the view around the field is extremely limited from both the houses and cars and the children can not always be seen at a distance. There are many children in the street and there is a constant stream of cars some of which do not care for the speed limit, making it a lot more dangerous for the children. 

Opened for signatures on 19 July 2019
Signatures received: 5

 

Please help us improve Seaton Vale roundabout 

As residents of Seaton Vale we are disgusted by the appearance of the roundabout at the junction at Harrington Way as you come to enter the estate. Ashington has some beautiful roundabouts but this one is not only unsightly, it is dangerous and overgrown. We have discussed this issue with Persimmon and I know our local councillor Jim Lang was trying to resolve this for us. 
We are proud of our community and as residents we have purchased planters to sit under our street signs and as a community we come together to try to make the estate a better and prettier place to live. 
We would love some support to help develop our roundabout, the make it look more inviting and inkeeping with others in Ashington. We do feel it is a health and safety hazard. It is overgrown and we have seen children playing in it. It is also so overgrown it is difficult to see what is coming. 
Many thanks for your help. 

Closed on 12 September 2019
Signatures received: 98

 

Climate Emergency

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their recent report stated that if the planet wants to avert dangerous climate breakdown, we need to cut emissions in half by 2030, and hit zero by the middle of the century.

We call on Northumberland County Council to commit to reducing emissions from its own estate and activities. The IPCC’s report suggests that the world has just a dozen years left to restrict global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Should they increase by 2 degrees, humanity’s capacity to prevent catastrophic food shortages, floods, droughts, extreme heat and poverty will be severely impaired. Limiting Global Warming to 1.5 may still be possible, but only with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, and local communities. Furthermore, bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities.

We call upon Northumberland County Council to:
1) Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;
2) Pledge to make Northumberland County Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;
3) Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;
4) Continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies;
5) Report to Council within six months with an action plan identifying what steps the Council will take to address this emergency.
6) Establish a committee of people representing local groups to oversee the action plan.

Closed on: 26 June 2019

Signatures: 633

Lead petitioner: Peter Fuller

Latest position: a report was produced for the Petitions Committee meeting on 31 July 2019; the committee agreed with the recommendations.


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 
Lead petitioner: Ted Hall
 

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.

Please 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
Lead petitioner: Charles Brown

View closed e-petitions 201920  (Continued 2 of 2)

Help save our Faldo Drive Green, Seaton Vale​

The Resident's Group on Seaton Vale estate are extremely disappointed at the most recent plans to build on the green area near Faldo Drive at the entrance to the estate. This is the main green area and is the only space where our children can play football and run freely; where football practice and  community events including our summer picnics are held;  where residents come together to spend time as a community and is constantly used by our families and children. Open spaces contribute to supporting people's mental health and children's wellbeing.

The plan also removes a car park which is used by residents due to poor parking facilities provided on the estate which could result in people starting to park on the road which would be a safety issue.

The builder states they enhance the local community in which they build and they help to fund green open spaces. We feel they are doing the opposite and taking this away. There is a total lack of consideration for the wellbeing of residents on the estate. People who live near green spaces are happier and healthier and access to green space is associated with less stress and a lower likelihood of obesity.

The estate is just getting bigger and bigger and there is plenty of land for them to build on but please help us SAVE our essential green spaces.

Opened for signatures on 27 April 2020
Number of signatures as of 12 May 2020: 176

Closure of Narrowgate, Alnwick

Narrowgate has been closed for 7 months and we believe it is negatively affecting trade in Bondgate Within. 

Please sign this petition to have Narrowgate opened to traffic. 

Opened for signatures on 12 March 2020
Number of signatures as of 12 May 2020: 64
 

Stop further building of luxury housing on Bedlington's green spaces

Bedlington has become a building site without an infrastructure. Our schools and GP's are already full to capacity and we have no leisure facilities to offer. Our roads are already congested, with roundabouts at a stand still at peak times. The 500 planned houses heading towards Stakeford will themselves bring a potential thousand new cars onto those roads, to add to the already build new houses at Netherton and the planned 47 houses, mostly 4 bed-roomed, at Bedlington Golf course. This town is fast becoming a commuter town, with no facilities. We need to prevent any further housing being built. Bedlington has already more than filled its quota for the required new builds in Northumberland.

Opened for signatures on 10 October 2019
Signatures as of 12 May 2020: 30

Solar Panels on all new build homes in Northumberland

This is a petition to ask that as part of the recently declared Climate Emergency, all new build homes in Northumberland to be build with 4kWp of solar photovoltaics installed.
The impacts of this will be: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as the solar will generate roughly the same amount of electricity used within the homes (not counting electrical heating); creation and protection of jobs in solar installation companies within the region; and reduction of electricity bills for homeowners of approximately £300/year/home.
This can be achieved through amending local planning legislation to require 85% of (non heating) net electricity to come from on-site renewables, a simple modification of the Merton Rule (which usually asks for 10%), which has existed since 2010 and has been used by many Local Authorities across the UK. The impact of this will be to strengthen the local supply chain, increasing employment and reducing the costs of solar installations for local existing homes and businesses through increased competition.
There is no legislation from central government which could prevent this, as the Deregulation Bill, which could have removed these powers from Local Authorities, never completed its passage through parliament. In order to be effective, this policy would need to be enacted immediately. Northumberland council have all the powers necessary to immediately implement this.

Opened for signatures on 3 October 2019
Signatures as of 12 May 2020: 112  

Details of e-petitions that closed during 2019/20:
Shorten school summer holidays, increase Christmas holidays

This is a petition to shorten the six weeks holidays for schools in Northumberland. I have checked the Parliament petitions and they state that local councils have control over any changes made to school routine and hours in their own areas.
Six weeks away from school is a long time for children who are used to the routine, and enjoy the environment of school. It is also a long time for working parents to arrange time off work or additional expenses of childcare.
Four weeks is an ideal break in the summer, giving children and families time off together to rest and enjoy the better weather. The additional two weeks could be broken up, giving an extra week in the spring break, and an additional week around Christmas, when families spend more time together.

Opened for signatures on 6 September 2019
Signatures as of 12 May 2020: 48

 

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
 

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

 

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

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


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

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
 

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

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

​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
 

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

 

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: 13 March 2017

Latest position: a response was considered by 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

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

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

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.
 

​Petitions Committee

The Petitions Committee's role is to consider those petitions of a corporate or county wide nature which do not fall within the remit of the local area councils, planning and other regulatory committees (petitions about planning or licensing applications may not be considered), and to make appropriate recommendations to full Council, the Cabinet, or other committees, or on matters delegated to officers depending upon the subject matter.

The committee can also consider petitions about local issues in exceptional circumstances when agreed by the Chair. The relevant Cabinet member and division member(s) are invited to attend as non-voting members. Its meetings are scheduled to take place on a quarterly basis each year.

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
Closed on 9 November 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 
Closed on: 27 August 2016
Current situation: consultation to be arranged about residents' views on a parking scheme.
 

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
Closed on: 31 May 2016

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.
 

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).
Closed on: 31 May 2016

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.

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)
Closed on: 31 May 2016

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.