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Service changes due to coronavirus (COVID-19)

There have been changes to some of our services due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

This information was last updated on 17 September 2020.

IMPORTANT - Please read the local restrictions currently in place within Northumberland by clicking here


Please click on the links below for more information on how these services will run during this time:

Parks - Coronavirus updates

The latest information about our Northumberland Parks and how they are affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This information was last updated 5 August 2020

Country parks in Northumberland


All our country parks are now open. You can find out more about our country parks here.


Play parks and town parks in Northumberland


All the county council run parks and play areas are now back open. Find out more about our parks here.

Unfortunately due to COVID-19 no water parks are open and there are no plans to reopen them this summer.

Housing visits and repairs - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding housing visits and repairs in Northumberland and how this service is affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated 24 July 2020.


Gas servicing of council homes
As your landlord we are required by law to carry out an annual Gas Safety Inspection and the Government has confirmed that this should continue during the current crisis. Immediately after lockdown, we did take the decision to temporarily suspend the service pending a review of how this work could be done safely but we have now started again to carry out servicing visits in order to keep you and your families safe in your  homes. 

We appreciate this is a very challenging time for everyone, but would please ask that you allow access and support us to carry out this essential work.  

In order to minimise the risk of infection for both residents and our gas servicing engineers, we will be taking the following approach:
  • Engineers will be practicing good hand hygiene and wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in line with the advice from Public Health England. 
  • They will be adhering to social distancing and maintaining a minimum of 2 metre distance from residents whilst in the property. We will be seeking to carry out the inspection as quickly as possible but we would ask that you please respect this and if possible move to a different room while the inspection is taking place. 
  • Surfaces and any tools used will be wiped clean after the visit and PPE disposed of away from your home. 
  • If you or a member of your household is displaying symptoms of the Covid-19 please let us know and we will look to re-arrange the inspection after 14 days. 
  • If you or a member of your household is currently shielding or have received notification from the NHS that you are vulnerable, again please let us know and we will look to re-arrange the inspection at a later date.
We appreciate this is a very challenging time for everyone, but would please ask that you allow access and support us to carry out these essential works to maintain safety in your home.
 
Housing repairs to resume
Northumberland County Council is to re-introduce its routine repairs and maintenance service to council tenants  from week commencing 27 July 2020.

The team is working hard to deal with jobs that they have been unable to progress during lockdown and we would appreciate your patience as repairs may take longer than normal to get carried out as we deal with this backlog. 

Additionally, there may be some types of jobs, such as plastering that may take longer to complete as material suppliers are also dealing with the backlog of orders that have built up during lockdown. 

We will be following public health guidance and relying on risk assessments to ensure the safety of our staff and residents, specifically practising good hand hygiene and maintaining social distancing whilst in properties. Where appropriate, they will be wearing personal protective equipment.

Allocating vacant council houses
During the crisis, it has been necessary to suspend Northumberland Homefinder and it has only been possible to allocate housing, both on a temporary and permanent basis, where it has been necessary due to specific circumstances. 

As restrictions are now being relaxed we are looking into how we can resume this service safely for both our customers and colleagues.

We know this is an important service and we hope to have the service up and running again the week commencing 20th July.

Any updates will be announced on the homefinder website www.northumberlandhomefinder.org.uk

Birth and death registration - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding birth and death registrations, and how the service is affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This information was last updated on 18 September 2020.


Births
PLEASE NOTE: We are now making appointments for face-to-face birth registrations. To arrange an appointment, please telephone 0345 600 6400.

If you live in North Tyneside and your baby was born at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, you will be able to do a birth declaration at the Riverside Children's Centre in North Shields. Please telephone 0191 643 8899 to make an appointment. 

It may take some time for us to catch up with birth registrations and we are grateful for your patience in this matter.
 
Deaths
 
Due to the current guidelines regarding COVID-19, we are no longer offering face to face appointments to register a death.
 
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) will be scanned directly to the Registrars by the hospital or doctor. The death will then be registered via telephone. Please call 0345 600 6400 to make an appointment. 
 
A death must be registered within five days.

Business waste collections - Coronavirus updates

There have been changes to business waste collections due to the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated on 2 July 2020.

If you are a business who currently has a waste collection contract with Northumberland County Council, and you had to temporarily close due to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), you may now need to restart your waste collection services.

 
Please let us know as soon as possible, so we can discuss different options that may be available for you.
 

 

Contact us

If you need to speak to a Waste Management Officer, please see the email addresses below for who to contact in your area:

Please note that the following email addresses are for business waste enquiries only.
 
For the Northern area, please contact Julie Case at julie.case@northumberland.gov.uk.
 
For the West and Central area, please contact Kevin Ferrol at 
 
For the South East area, please contact Matthew Swaddle at 

Weddings - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding wedding Registration Services, in relation to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.

This information was last updated 23 September 2020 at 09:38

The latest guidance for weddings and civil partnerships is as follows: 

From Monday 28 September 2020, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions will be restricted to a maximum of 15 people (down from 30). Other significant standalone life events will be subject to the ‘rule of six’ limits, except funerals.

Read the full changes to coronavrius restrictions on gov.uk here - announced 22 September. 

 

More guidance for weddings and civil partnerships

  • At present, weddings and civil partnerships are strongly advised to go ahead only where they can be done in a Covid-19 secure environment. It is also advised that ceremonies are kept as short as reasonably possible and limited to the parts of the ceremonies that are required in order for a marriage or civil partnership to be legally binding under the law of England and Wales.
  • This maximum number includes all those at the ceremony, including the couple, witnesses, officiants and guests. It also includes any staff who are not employed by the venue, which may include photographers, security or caterers. 
  • Face coverings will be required by all guests at weddings and civil partnership ceremonies taking place in register offices or other approved venues. Face coverings will not have to be worn by the bride, groom or civil partners. 
  • For the purpose of a ceremony, the number of attendees should ideally be kept to a minimum as far as possible. The lower the number of attendees, the lower the risk of spreading the virus. 
  • Any individuals involved in the ceremony should not attend if they are unwell with symptoms of Covid-19. If either member of the couple have symptoms of Covid-19 the ceremony should not go ahead.
  • During any part of the marriage or civil partnership ceremony, all parties should adhere to social distancing guidelines and apply a two metre distance where viable.
  • Receptions for weddings and civil partnerships can take place, but only in a COVID-19 secure venue with Government restrictions applied. Please talk to your venues for full information.
 
If you have any queries please contact the team at alnwickreg@northumberland.gov.uk. Regular updates are also available at mynorthumberlandwedding.co.uk and on Facebook and Twitter

Music Partnership North - New updates

The latest information about Music Partnership North and how our service is operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This page was last updated on 22 September 2020

Information for Parents

Instrumental/vocal tuition at school - If your child’s school is allowing in-person lessons and you normally pay for lessons through the school, please sign up by contacting the school and registering for tuition in the normal way. Your school will advise on the cost.

Instrumental/vocal tuition at direct billing school (listed below) - If your child’s school is allowing in-person lessons and you normally pay Music Partnership North directly, please follow this link to register your child for lessons (please check that your child's school does allow visiting tutors on the premises before registering). Lesson charges will be the same as last term i.e £6.25 shared or £17.50 for an individual 30 minute lesson.

Online instrumental/vocal tuition after school - If your school has confirmed they are not currently allowing visiting tutors into the school then we will still offer an online service where possible. All the relevant information and registration process can be accessed by following this link (please be aware that for all online lessons students MUST have an adult in the room at all times and a separate parental consent form will need to be completed prior to lessons starting.) The cost of online lessons are: 20 mins £12.00 and 30 mins £17.50.


Information for Schools - Risk Assessments

 

Maintenance of Instruments during school closures

In the event of students experiencing any issues with their instrument or needing advice on tuning string instruments, we ask that you take a look at the leaflets below:
 

MPN Office Team

Libraries update - Coronavirus updates

Keep up to date with the latest library news here.

This information was last updated 22 September 2020
 

We are now offering time limited browsing and IT access including printing and photocopying at Amble, Bedlington, Berwick, Blyth, Guidepost, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Morpeth, Rothbury and Wooler. An IT session will be for 45 minutes and must be booked in advance. Browsing will be limited to 15 minutes.

At Bellingham and Prudhoe, customers can browse for books but not access IT.

 A Select and Collect service is still available at the libraries above as well as at Alnwick, Ashington, Cramlington, Ponteland, Seaton Sluice and Wylam.

Libraries are not yet operating by their regular hours so please ring ahead or check here to visit the library website.
 
Customer Services staff are not available in any of our libraries. 
 
To order books to collect, use our online order form or call one of the libraries above. When your books are ready to collect, library staff will arrange a date and time with you to pick them up from the library entrance.
 
All loans will be automatically updated until libraries reopen and fines will not be charged for late returns to residents after 23 March 2020 and therefore customers should not worry if they have books at home. If you do wish to return any books to one of the libraries above please leave any books in the returns box provided at the library entrance.
 
Community Managed Libraries will be fully supported by the County Council and these will be encouraged to reopen at their own pace.
 
Our enhanced digital online offer with hundreds of free eBooks, eAudio, eMagazines newspapers is available for residents to use at mylibrary.co.uk. 
 
If you’re not already a member, or know somebody who could benefit from these services, follow this link to mylibrary.co.uk, It's easy and it's free.
 
We look forward to welcoming you back to all our libraries in the future.
 
In the meantime, keep in touch by following us on our social media channels where we are posting information, advice and sharing what we are doing including reopening information 
If you, or anyone you know, needs support to access our digital library, please contact our Northumberland Communities Together Hub on 01670 620 015 and we will be happy to help.   
 
For more information please see the Council's COVID-19 Library Service Restoration Plan.

Museums - Coronavirus updates

The latest information about Museums Northumberland and how they are affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This information was last updated 22 September 2020

Woodhorn Museum is now open for visitors. 

The museum has introduced a number of Covid measures to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. Please watch their Welcome Back to Woodhorn video before you visit. 

For more information on opening hours and visitor information click here.

Berwick Museum and Art Gallery, Hexham Old Gaol and Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum remain closed. 

Schools - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The latest information about schools in Northumberland affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This information was last updated on 18 September 2020.


Reopening of schools

Attendance in nurseries, childminders and other early years providers remains optional, but we strongly encourage you to take up a place for your child. You can check if your child is eligible for any of the free childcare entitlements, worth on average £2,500 a year to parents of 2 year olds, and up to £5,000 a year to parents of 3 and 4 year olds, on the Childcare Choices website.

It is the expectation of the Department for Education that all pupils, in all other year groups, will return to school full-time from the beginning of the autumn term. For parents and carers of children of compulsory school age, this means that the legal duty on you as a parent to send your child to school regularly will apply.

A small number of pupils will still be unable to attend in line with public health advice because they are self-isolating and have had symptoms or a positive test result themselves, or because they are a close contact of someone who has coronavirus (COVID-19). If your child is unable to attend school or college for this reason, you should talk to your school or college about what support is in place in terms of remote education.

The Local Authority continue to work with head teachers in schools across the county to support them in the implementation of appropriate health and safety measures based on their risk assessments, and in line with Government guidance. If you have concerns about your child returning to school or college, because you consider they may have other risk factors, you should discuss with your school or college the measures they are putting in place to reduce risks in line with government guidance.

Useful resources

If you feel worried or anxious of your child/ren's return to school, you may find the resources on this padlet useful.

You can find the full questions and answers document here. 

School transport will be provided, but this is dependent on the number of pupils who wish to travel, the availability of drivers, and the start times schools may operate.

Parents should contact their child’s school to discuss arrangements.

You can find the full questions and answers document here. 
The scheme outlines that if a school catering service cannot provide meals or food parcels, they should offer pupils from families that are eligible for benefits-related free school meals an alternative.
 
We are continuing to accept free school meal applications at this time. If you think your child is eligible but you are not currently claiming, you can contact us on 0345 600 6400 (Monday-Thursday 8.30am-5pm, Fridays 8.30am-4.30pm), or apply by submitting this application form:

Please click here to view the free school meals application form.

You can find the full questions and answers document here. 

Street care & cleaning - Coronavirus updates

The latest information about maintenance work carried out by the council and how this is operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated 25 June 2020.

As we enter the warmer months we'll be continuing with our grass cutting to keep our county clean, green and safe. 
 
Remember - it's really important everyone sticks to the social distancing rules - so please keep away from our teams if you see them working - and we'll do likewise.

Contacting Customer Service, Information Centres & Registrars

The latest information about public access to Customer Service, Information Centres, and Registrars, in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19).

This information was last updated 21 September 2020.

Following the Government’s advice in relation to further measures regarding social distancing, it’s important we protect both our residents and our staff. The council has restricted public access to our buildings from Monday 23 March 2020.

Customer Service Information Centres and Registrars will move to a first point of contact being a digital recommendation. We will not have any front of house staffing and facilities, and will only offer a limited face to face service available at our sites if it is safely managed, by appointment only, and after a risk assessment deems it necessary to do so.  
 
The safest way for you to contact the council is via our website. You can also call us on 0345 600 6400 during office hours.
  • Monday to Thursday 08:30 - 17:00 
  • Friday 08:30 - 16:30 

We now have dedicated #Coronavirus section on our website dedicated to provide you with the information and updates on our services. Click here to view our coronavirus infromation and updates.

Public toilets

Here is a list of all Northumberland County Council maintained public conveniences, including disabled access and baby changing facilities.

This information was last updated 24 June 2020.


Toilets not detailed in the list below are currently closed due to Covid-19 health and safety concerns. Please follow appropriate social distancing guidance and directions on safety signs at the facilities.

This list will be updated as health and safety issues are reviewed.
If you have any issues and wish to report a problem, please use the link below: Alternatively, if you wish to make any comments or suggestions about any toilet units, please contact 0345 600 6400.
The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (R.A.D.A.R), alongside disability organisations, local authorities and others, established a national key scheme (NKS) for toilets for disabled people in 1981.

The principle is if a local authority locks public toilets for disabled people, it can use a standard lock and make arrangements for disabled people to obtain a key.

Can I purchase a R.A.D.A.R key from Northumberland County Council?
You can obtain a key from tourist information centres or from customer services information centres throughout Northumberland at a cost of £3.60 including VAT.

R.A.D.A.R keys must have VAT charged at 20% unless a 0% VAT for individuals form is signed by each disabled person. This form is available to download here and from tourist information and customer service information centres. The key will fit all national toilets participating in the scheme.

Parking - Coronavirus update

The latest information about parking in Northumberland and how it is affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The latest information about parking in Northumberland and how it is affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This information was updated 21 September 2020
(this page will only be updated when there are changes)

All public car parks have now reopened. Car parks that charge to park will continue to do so. The council will keep the car park openings under review as the situation may change depending on local or national developments. 

Public safety remains our top priority and we have made a number of improvements in response to the challenges faced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, including;-

  • relocating a number of ticket machines in coastal car parks to better facilitate social distancing in the event of queues forming during busy periods

  • introducing Pay By Phone into our Pay and Display car parks to provide a convenient contactless method of payment removing the need for users to obtain a pay and display ticket from the machines

  • providing additional public toilet facilities in some of our car parks because of increased demand on our existing facilities and to enable social distancing to be maintained

Pay By Phone is used by many local authorities across the country. Users only need to set up an account once and then it can be used in all car parks where Pay By Phone is in operation. The service also offers additional benefits such as being able to extend parking sessions remotely.

For further information on the implementation of Pay By Phone, please click here

Household Waste Recovery Centres - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding Household Waste Recovery Centres (HWRCs), also known as 'tips', during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated 14 July 2020. 

Household Waste Recovery Centres (tips) reopened on Monday 4 May 2020.

Please click here for more details regarding the tips reopening, including opening times and site rules.

Please note that the Household Waste Permit Scheme has been suspended.

Pest control - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding pest control in Northumberland, and how this service is operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated 20 August 2020.

From the 31 August 2020 all pest treatments will return to normal.

To learn more about pest treatments and how to make a booking click here. 

Bin collection - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding bin collections and how the service is affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This information was last updated on 31 August 2020

 

Check your bin collection date here

  

Bin Collections

Our bin collection teams are still out and about, working to collect your normal household rubbish and recycling bins. We're also running our commercial waste service to businesses.

Please click here to see our alerts page, where we will update you on any issues we have with collecting your bins.

You can help by thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after touching your bins. 

If someone in your household had symptoms for COVID-19, please make sure their waste is also double-bagged, the handles of each bag are tied, and is stored for 72 hours in a place not accessed by people/pets before putting in it your bin.

We will respond to advice from the government and Public Health England, and will keep residents informed of changes to our waste services. 

If you suspect that someone has the Coronavirus, here is the government advice on what to do with their waste, and how to clean any areas where they have been:

Bulky Waste - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding bulky waste collections and how this service is operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated on 3 August 2020.

As you may be aware we have been running a restricted service that has meant we can't collect all items we usually can. From Monday 3 August 2020 we can begin to collect more of your items. However, we still cannot collect large exercise equipment such as treadmills and exercise bikes.
 

Garden waste collection - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding garden waste collection in Northumberland during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated 22 September 2020

Check your collections date at www.northumberland.gov.uk/bins

Our garden waste collection service is still running during this time. If you think your garden waste collection has been missed, please visit out alerts page here to find out if your area was affected and when it will be collected. If you would like to report a missed garden waste collection, visit our dedicated garden waste page here for more information.

Please put your bins out before 7am on your normal bin collection day. You can help us by thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after touching your bins - as well as applying social distancing rules - this is really important.
 

More garden waste information

For more information on your garden waste service, please click here. You can find out information such as: 

  • How to subscribe to the service
  • What can and can't go in your garden waste bin
  • How to report a missed garden waste collection

Cemeteries and crematorium - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding burials and cremations and how these are operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated on 18 September 2020.

 

Cremations

Due to the government guidelines, we have introduced some temporary measures to ensure that mourners are able to follow Government guidelines on social distancing.

A maximum of up to 30 people should attend a cremation service in person and they should be;
  • members of the person’s household,
  • close family members,
  • if the above are unable to attend, close friends,
  • attendance of a celebrant of choice, should the bereaved request this.
Webcasting:
To support loved ones who can not attend in person, we have made webcasting of the service available free of charge. Details of how families can access each service remotely via the internet has been sent to Funeral Directors who will be able to advise the family.
 

 

Burials

A maximum of up to 10 people should be present at the graveside and they should be;

  • members of the person’s household,
  • close family members,
  • if the above are unable to attend, close friends,
  • attendance of a celebrant of choice, should the bereaved request this.
 
Remember - it's really important everyone adheres to the social distancing guidance for the safety of themselves, families and our staff.
 
We understand that these restrictions may be difficult for families that are already going through a difficult time but urge people to follow the guidance to protect themselves and their loved ones. 
 
The link below details current government guidance regarding funerals:

Animal welfare - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding animal welfare issues during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This information was last updated 24 June 2020.

Please keep your dogs safe and secure during this national crisis. If your dog strays or runs away, there will not be as many members of the public out and about to help locate your dog as normal.
 
Help your local animal welfare team out by:
  • Making sure your dog is always wearing a collar and tag with current contact details (and check microchip details are up to date)
  • Not leaving your dog unattended in the garden or while on walks
  • Checking garden fencing and gates are secure
  • Keeping your dog on a lead while exercising, in case they get spooked or run off
If you are concerned about the welfare of a pet – report an animal welfare issue.
 
This is not to be used for reporting problems with wild animals such as birds, rodents, foxes, etc. There are various organisations, such as the RSPB and the RSPCA, which can help in these cases.

If you have lost your dog, or have found a stray dog, please click here to report lost/stray dog.

Coroner's service - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding the coroner's service in Northumberland, and how this service is operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.

This information was last updated on 24 June 2020.

The Northumberland Coroner's Office remains open, however we are working remotely in response to the COVID-19 virus. 

All information concerning case referals, queries, and any other business should now be sent to our email address: This email address is monitored between 8am and 4pm (Monday to Friday) and we will respond as soon as possible.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the circumstances, all hearings have been adjourned (postponed) until 28 August 2020, as the courts in Northumberland will be closed until then. The Coroner's Officers will be writing out to families on specific matters.

 

The National Bereavement Partnership - COVID-19 Hub

This hub was created to provide support to all affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by working closely with the NHS Trusts and other relevant organisations.

Please click here for more information about The National Bereavement Partnership.

You can call their free helpline on 0800 448 0800, open every day from 7am - 10pm.

Northumberland archives service - Coronavirus updates

The latest information about Northumberland Archives and how this service is affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Archives - Service Updates

This information was last updated 18 September 2020.

Northumberland Archives at Woodhorn and Berwick will re-open to the public again on Thursday September 17 2020.

Booking will be available from 7 September.

To make sure that visiting the archives is safe for staff and researchers we’ve had to change what we do a bit. You will now be able to book a slot at either Berwick or Woodhorn study centres. 

This can be done online at www.northumberlandarchives.com/covid or by calling Berwick on 01289 301 865 or Woodhorn on 01670 624 358.

You will not be able to access our centres without a pre-booked appointment. Please ensure that if you can you wear a face covering on arrival, sanitise your hands and remain two metres from other users. 

Once you have made a booking a member of the team will contact you to discuss the archives you require and these will be made available on your arrival.

Please also bring your own pencil and paper and a bank card for any payments as we cannot currently accept cash.

Continue to check our website and social media pages for further updates. 

Although original documents aren't available at the moment, please do have a look at some our online resources:

Disabled parking - Coronavirus updates

The latest information about blue badge renewal during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic:

This information was last updated on 9 April 2020.

 

The Government has relaxed the enforcement against expired blue badges where a blue badge has an expiry date of 1 January 2020 onwards. This relaxation of enforcement against expired blue badges will continue initially until 30 September 2020.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS APPLIES TO LOCAL AUTHORITY PARKING ONLY AND NOT PRIVATE CAR PARKS. For parking at hospitals you will need to check with the individual hospital whether or not you can use an expired badge at the present time.  
 
If your blue badge is due for renewal, and you are unable to renew online or provide your supporting information/photograph to us, you can continue to use your existing blue badge until 30 September 2020, but only if your blue badge has an expiry date of 1 January 2020 onwards.

You can continue to renew your blue badge online at www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge, and upload supporting information and your photograph at the same time. Or you can download an application from our website under “renewing your blue badge”.
 
If we can’t renew your blue badge, as you are unable to supply the supporting information at the moment, you can still renew your badge and send any supporting information to us later.

Planning Services - Coronavirus updates

Guidance for our customers on the Planning Service during Coronavirus (COVID-19).

There have been changes to how some of our services operate due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). For the latest up-to-date information please read our Planning Services Frequently Asked Questions - Covid-19 Guidance Document.

Questions and advice

Before contacting us please read the information on our planning webpages as these may answer your query. We cannot give you advice on whether or not permission is required over the phone or by email because it takes time and further detail to assess this properly, for step by step advice read our Do I need planning permission guidance.

For the protection of residents and staff the duty planner 'drop in' service is suspended. However the duty planner telephone service will be available from 10am - 2pm Monday to Friday via the Customer Services number 0345 600 6400. You may be asked to leave a message if the duty planner is on another call (or if you call outside of these times) so please include any application reference and your email address with your message so we can provide an informed response. 

To submit an application please see our Apply for Planning Permission page.

ALERT: Validation delays. We are currently experiencing high volumes of work and as a result there are currently delays with Validation. We are working hard to get through the back log. All applications that are deemed valid will be registered from the date they were recieved. Thank you for your patience 

Questions about specific applications should be directed to the Case Officer for that application. Their name can be found using the reference number on our Public Access system where you can also submit comments online. For anything else if you know the name of the person/team within Planning Services you need to contact please send your correspondence directly to them or view the email addresses for specific planning teams. If you are emailing us about a specific site or application please include the address/reference number so we can find it.

Taxi licensing - Coronavirus updates

The latest information regarding taxi licensing in Northumberland, and how this is impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Important coronavirus update - Hackney carriage/Private hire licensing

Due to emergency steps being taken in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Northumberland County Council has introduced a simplified process for the renewal of driver and vehicle licences. This simplified process will remain in place until it is considered reasonable to return to standard operating procedures.

As a temporary measure, driver badges and vehicle plates will not be issued. Instead, an acknowledgement will be e-mailed to you. You must carry this with you whenever you are working in order to prove that you, or your vehicle, are still licensed.

Drivers
Currently drivers can only apply for a one-year licence. 
 
Under this process there is currently no requirement to produce a DBS check or medical certificate at this time. You will be required to submit further information once we are in a position to produce the licence. 

Vehicles
Under this process there is currently no requirement to produce a certificate of compliance at this time. You will be required to submit further information once we are in a position to produce the licence. 
 
At this current time Northumberland County Council cannot carry out any MOTs or compliance tests as all garages are closed. There is no requirement to submit the MOT due to the extension for MOTs that the Government has put in place as of 25 March 2020, however all vehicles must continue to have the appropriate insurance.
 
Unfortunately at the current time, no new applications will be accepted.

All contact with the licensing department must be made by e-mail:

Tourism - Coronavirus updates

Here you can find the latest information regarding tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This information was last updated 9 September 2020. 

Morpeth Chantry - reopening

We're pleased to announce a phased re-opening of Morpeth Chantry.
 
The Tourist Information Centre and Craft Centre will be open to the public from Monday 7 September. The opening times are  Monday to Saturday,10:00am and 2:00pm.

Visitors are asked to wear a face covering, to use the hand sanitiser provided at the entrance on their way in, and to respect two metre social distancing during their visit. Direction arrows and a one-way system are in place to help with this. For the time being, only payment by card can be accepted.
 

The Bagpipe Museum and Northern Poetry Library

The Bagpipe Museum and Northern Poetry Library will be re-opening later, when we have safe systems in place. Developments will be announced on following platforms:
We look forward to seeing you soon.
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