A Royal Honour for Golden Students

Rachel Briggs, Mark Harrison and Katherine Twelves are pictured with their Duke of Edinburgh Gold awards outside St James Palace in London

A TRIO of Ponteland students got the chance to meet royalty following their golden achievement.

Rachel Briggs, Mark Harrison and Katherine Twelves successfully completed a series of sport and skill activities, expeditions and community service over a two-year period to attain the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

The university students, who used to attend Ponteland High School, were invited to collect their awards in the presence of Prince Philip at St James’s Palace in London.

Mark’s expedition was in the Yorkshire Dales, which involved the group hiking eight hours a day for four days, camping out in tents and making their own food.

He volunteered with the Ponteland cub packs through The Scout Association’s Young Leaders’ Scheme, for which he received a certificate, to meet the community service requirement and for the skill section he took up the drums.

As for sport, the 20-year-old regularly plays tennis and has been a member of Ponteland Tennis Club for many years.

“I enjoyed the Duke of Edinburgh scheme as it gave me the opportunity to do things I wouldn’t have done otherwise,” said the Darras Hall resident.

“The expedition was tough at times, but we got into a rhythm and ploughed on each day and if anyone was struggling they would get support from everyone else in the group.

“It felt great when everything was completed because achieving a Gold award takes a lot of commitment.

“At St James’s Palace, all those who were getting their award were split into different rooms based on their region and we received ours in the same room in which Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement publicly.

“It was nice to be in the presence of Prince Philip and he had us all in stitches with his jokes.”

Katherine, Rachel and Mark did their award through Ponteland Scouts, which runs the national scheme in the local area.

Richard Walker, Duke of Edinburgh Leader at Ponteland Scouts, said: “To complete the Gold Award, young people have to learn a range of skills which they will find useful all their lives.

“It is not an easy challenge and Rachel, Katherine and Mark are to be congratulated on their achievement.”

Source: Morpeth Herald

Women's World Day of Prayer

Women's World Day of Prayer

LET JUSTICE PREVAIL - PREPARED BY THE CHRISTIAN WOMEN OF MALAYSIA

Our annual local service, to be held at 2.15pm on Friday 2^nd March - and followed by refreshments, is at the United Reform Church, Darras Hall. Our speaker is Mrs. Andrea Mayland.

Malaysia is a land of diverse faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam - the official religion, and Christianity - which centres in Sabah and Sarawak. The Portuguese brought Christianity there in the 16^th Century. Local churches include Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians and several others. They work ecumenically, interacting between church and state. The Women’s Work Committee, linked to this, organised this year's service.   Malaysian Christian Association for Relief, and non-profit making, provides social concern for the poor, and those in need, including prisoners, drug addicts and HIV and AIDS patients.

Women have made important social and economic contributions to their country, and are achieving a higher level of education. However, women of all races and classes face discrimination and violence. Only 40% of working age women have jobs. Their participation in decision- making roles is low. Boys are valued more highly than girls in their society.

In Sarawak, which became independent 45 years ago, their role and status has undergone great changes. Many now have access to education.  It is hoped that this will a starting point to further the status and involvement of women nationally.

Malaysia’s multi- ethnicity has given it a rich heritage, but has also led to many problems and challenges.   Justice for all is the hope and prayer of the people.

LET JUSTICE PREVAIL.    WHY NOT COME AND JOIN US? 

Resignation sparks by-election

A BY-ELECTION will take place in Ponteland following the resignation of a town councillor.

Richard Hutchinson, who represented the West ward, has stepped down from the authority due to work and family commitments.

At a recent meeting, Mayor Peter Cowey said: "I would like to record my appreciation, on behalf of all councillors, for Richard's work during his time on the council.

"We were sad to hear that he could no longer continue because of the demands of his job and family commitments. We wish him all the best for the future."

Town council clerk Kath Mavin said she had, in accordance with regulations, advertised the vacancy and was recently informed by the county council that the required number of signatures had been received for a by-election to take place.

Source: Morpeth Herald

PACT Meeting Ponteland

• 
  Start Time: 09:30 AM
• Date: Tuesday, 24 Jan 12
• Location: Sure Start, Thornhill Road, Ponteland, NE20 9PS

Residents in East Tynedale are invited to meet Officers from their Neighbourhood Policing Team at the next Partners and Communities Together (PACT) Meeting.

The event will take place on Tuesday 24th January 2012, at 09.30 am, in the Sure Start Centre, Thornhill Road, Ponteland NE20 9QB.

These events provide residents with the opportunity to drop in and discuss community issues with their local Officers, either in the group forum or individually at the end of the meeting.  These meetings are chaired by the Police, but also see involvement from partnership agencies.  Residents will also have the opportunity to receive crime prevention advice.

Ponteland Villagers to Battle Bistro Bid - Again

VILLAGERS opposing plans for a bar and bistro next to their homes will go into battle tonight - for the third time.

Families at Ryehaugh, Ponteland, are outraged that developers have refused to accept defeat despite a planning rejection and a dismissed appeal in the last year.

They say the re-submission barely varies from the original application.

But after a new retail survey, Northumberland County Council planners are now being recommended to approve the new plan at Bell Villas, in the busy heart of Ponteland.

A decision will be made by the county's west area planning committee when it meets in Hexham this evening.

The original planning application for the premises – which have stood empty for two years – was thrown out partly because it would take away the desired proportion of retail space in Ponteland.

The appeal inspector said the bistro development would cause unacceptable harm to the viability of Ponteland village centre.

But now minor changes to the physical character of the building in the re-submission from applicant Jonathon Stokes, combined with a full retail survey demonstrating the lack of interest in the unit, have shifted the balance, according to planning officers.

"The re-submission comprehensively overcomes the earlier reasons for refusal by the area planning committee west and the reasons for dismissal by the planning inspectorate," a report to tonight's committee says.

"The re-submission also overcomes the earlier concerns that the proposal could harm the character and vibrancy of the commercial and business centre of the village."

Charlie Cross, whose home backs on to the outer wall of the former wine store and Co-op, said: "There appear to be little, if any, material change to this latest submission.

"It seems to be almost identical to the previous submission which was initially rejected by Northumberland County Council."

Villagers claim the parking and traffic problems in and around Bell Villas would be strongly aggravated.

And noise and smell from the premises would be an added problem for residents already suffering the effects of existing outlets at Bell Villas.

It is claimed that 17 food and drink outlets are now operating in Ponteland, to the detriment of retail business – a central plank of the appeal refusal last July.

Jennifer Hardy, also of Ryehaugh, said: "There is puzzlement throughout the village that this re-submission has been made. It was only in July that the planning inspector dismissed the appeal made by the applicants.

"The inspector said that not sufficient advertising had taken place in the Press to try to secure a retail business.

"Two adverts in The Journal, one in July and another around the time this application was re-submitted in September, is certainly not adequate."

"And the situation is not the same as it was a year ago, as traffic and parking problems are worse."

Ponteland Town Council has lodged a six-point objection including highway safety, planning discrepancies and neighbourhood amenity.

Hexham MP Guy Opperman backed the original objections made by local councillors Richard Dodd and Eileen Armstrong.

And Ponteland Civic Society also lodged written objections.

Source: Journal Live

Holiday Pharmacy Openings

THE following list details pharmacy opening times over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Boots UK, 7 The Broadway, Darras Hall, Ponteland: Christmas Eve, 8am to 1pm, 2.30pm to 4pm; Christmas Day, closed; Boxing Day, closed; Tuesday, December 27, 10am to 3pm; New Year's Eve, 8am to 1pm, 2.30pm to 4pm; New Year's Day, closed; Monday, January 2, closed.

Parklands Chemist, 14 Merton Way, Ponteland: Christmas Eve, 9am to 3pm; Christmas Day, closed; Boxing Day, closed; Tuesday, December 27, closed; New Year's Eve, 9am to 3pm; New Year's Day, closed; Monday, January 2, closed.

Taylor's Pharmacy, Brewery Lane, 25 Main Street, Ponteland: Christmas Eve, 8.30am to 12.30pm; Christmas Day, closed; Boxing Day, closed; Tuesday, December 27, closed; New Year's Eve, 8.30am to 12.30pm; New Year's Day, closed; Monday, January 2, closed.

Boots UK, 41 Bridge Street, Morpeth: Christmas Eve, 9am to 2pm, 3pm to 5.30pm; Christmas Day, closed; Boxing Day, 10am to 4pm; Tuesday, December 27, 10am to 4pm; New Year's Eve, 9am to 2pm, 3pm to 5.30pm; New Year's Day, closed; Monday, January 2, 10am to 4pm.

l Boots Pharmacy, 18a Manchester Street, Morpeth: Christmas Eve, 9am to noon; Christmas Day, closed; Boxing Day, closed; Tuesday, December 27, closed; New Year's Eve, 9am to noon; New Year's Day, closed; Monday, January 2, closed.

l Boots Pharmacy, 3 Market Place, Morpeth: Christmas Eve, 8.45am to 5pm; Christmas Day, closed; Boxing Day, closed; Tuesday, December 27, closed; New Year's Eve, 8.45am to 5pm; New Year's Day, closed; Monday, January 2, closed.

Source: Morpeth Herald