Northumberland County Council

Consultation

Throughout the process of developing Energising Blyth we will be seeking the views of residents, businesses and other key stakeholders.

We have launched a new survey and if you live, work, visit or run a business in the town we encourage you to use this to have your say on developing plans for Blyth.

The Heart of Blyth project is about living in a strong and resilient community, this affects all aspects of our lives from our health and wellbeing to our local economy and the environment.

Heart of Blyth survey
The survey is open until 18 April 2021, and you can find out more about the project on the Heart of Blyth website.

Below you can find information about the consultation events so far.

Blyth contributes gererously to consultation. The feedback received so far has shaped the plans for Energising Blyth. It has also had a wider impact, informing the decisions and workstreams of other stakeholders in the town. We will continue to listen, and to develop Blyth as we do so.

December 2020 consultation

December 2020 consultation results

During December we asked for your views on the planned projects for submission to the Government as a part of Blyth Town Deal Town Investment Plan. We asked if you felt that each of the projects supported the vision for the town. Over 200 people responded and we thank you for taking the time to do this.

November 2020 consultation

November business consultation report

Following on from the public survey in October, additional consultation was undertaken specifically with business groups. The businesses received a presentation and were asked for their feedback on the vision and objectives, and whether the projects proposed meet the needs of the town.

October 2020 survey

October 2020 consultation survey results

For two weeks during October we asked for your views on the Town Investment Plan, Northern Gateway proposals and Blyth Regeneration Framework. The survey was aimed at those people who live, work or study in Blyth. We received over 250 responses so a big thank you to everyone who got involved.

We will use your comments to influence the development of the Town Investment Plan and will consult with you again soon as the plans develop.

February 2020 showcase

Blyth-Town-Forum-Showcase-February-2020

The Blyth Town Forum held a second consultation event in February 2020. This involved a second Showcase in an empty retail unit in Westgate House on Waterloo Road, a schools consultation, a 1-2-1 consultation with 50 town centre businesses, and an online survey. We asked you about draft plans for the application to the Future High Street Fund, ahead of it’s submission in July 2020.

September 2019 showcase

Blyth-Town-Forum-Showcase-September-2019

Blyth Town Forum held its first showcase in September 2019 in the Market Place. It was an open event and over 2,000 members of the Blyth community attended, including children and those who have lived and worked in Blyth for many years. There were lots of helpful suggestions on the things people would like to see change in the town centre.

We have used your views to help inform the projects we are taking forward

Your input to consultations so far has been invaluable. We have used your views to help inform our plans to Energise Blyth.

So far you have helped us to develop the successfully funded Future High Street Fund projects, and the projects which have been included in the Town Investment Plan. This has been submitted to government to support the Blyth Town Deal.

We will continue to listen and to use your thoughts to influence the development of Blyth.

Future High Street Fund

In December 2020, the government announced the success of the Blyth FHSF application, which was developed taking your views into consideration.

During 2021 we will be undertaking detailed planning and consultation on each of the four successfully funded projects, with delivery from 2022 onwards.

You’ll have the opportunity to give us your views on the detailed plans as they are developed.

Early views can be sent to energisingblyth@northumberland.gov.uk

Your Safety and Wellbeing in the Town Centre

One of the things that you told us you were worried about, was anti-social behaviour in the town centre. Listening to your feedback on safety and wellbeing, considerable work continues in response to this.

Northumbria Police, in response to this feedback established and continue work on Project Aurora, targeting crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre and adjacent residential areas.
The Blyth Safety Partnership continues to meet, bringing a multi-agency approach to addressing your concerns.
The ‘Heart of Blyth Project’ is now in the design phase, having been successfully funded by the Shaping Places for Healthier Lives Fund. In this phase we will be looking at innovative ways with the community to empower and strengthen our town centre communities. A final application will be submitted in May 2021 to deliver a substantial three year programme of community empowerment.

Northern Gateway Project

In July 2020 Blyth was awarded £750,000 as one of the government’s 101 ‘Town Deal’ towns. The money will be spent this year to boost the fortunes of the town and aid economic recovery. Listening to your feedback, we have worked with Blyth Town Council to expand on their proposed Bowes Street project to deliver phase one of the ‘Northern Gateway Project’.

Using additional funding of £455,000 from Northumberland County Council, the scheme will also include improvements to Church Street and Wanley Street.

Northern Gateway Phase One will ensure that materials, design and connectivity bring the area in line with plans submitted to the Government for the Market Place as a part of the Future High Street Fund application.

The scheme will include widening the footpaths, introducing cycleways, creating parking and introducing a one-way system running from West to East. It will also involve improving the look and feel of the area. Work will start in Spring 2021.

During 2021, we will be delivering Northern Gateway Phase One and working up detailed plans for each of the four FHSF projects, and seven Town Deal projects.

We will continue to ask for and respond to your input as we do so.