Ponteland Will Oppose Parking Charges

Bringing in car parking charges for public spaces in Ponteland would do much more harm than good claims its Town councillors.
A number of members said charges would be inappropriate for the area when discussing Northumberland County Council's questionnaire on the subject.

People can currently stop in Ponteland's public car parks without paying and this is also the case with towns in Blyth Valley and Wansbeck.

But motorists are faced with charges when they park in other towns such as Morpeth, Alnwick, Hexham and Berwick.

Coun Irene Brumwell said: "If parking charges are brought in, Ponteland will bleed out as people will ignore it and do all their shopping in other places such as Kingston Park.

"If there are any moves to make people pay here, we must do all we can to oppose them."

Fellow member Joyce Butcher said that paying to park would mean fewer people going to shop at the proposed new Merton Way shopping centre.

The questionnaire is the first step in the County Council's review of car parking across Northumberland that aims to establish a single framework for all parking facilities it owns or manages, with local conditions in each area to be considered objectively.

Coun Alan Chilton expressed his hope that charges will not be the same throughout the County.

"Each place that has public car parks should be valued on its own merits," he said.

"Other towns may need charges to reduce congestion but that is not needed here, so forcing people to pay would be done purely to bring in money."

Ponteland Mayor Robin Ramsay said the response will need to be carefully thought through as the questionnaire deals with issues — including ways to free up public spaces that are used by business owners and workers who don't have their own spaces such as short-term stay car parks — which it may want to support.

But he added: "Whilst it talks about a consistent approach when it comes to car parking management, we can still say to the County Council that charging in Ponteland would be inappropriate."
The response to the questionnaire will be discussed by its Highways Working Group.

A second phase of public consultation across Northumberland will take place once a County-wide policy has been drafted.

Source: Morpeth Herald

Record Crop of A-levels for Students

Across the board, schools recorded improvements on last year’s results.

At Haydon Bridge, Sarah Bowman achieved six A-grade passes while 10 of her peers also recorded straight A grades.

Sarah is now off to Cambridge University to study modern languages.

The high school broke its record for the number of A and B grades, which peaked at 54 per cent this year.

Headteacher John Dowler said: “We are delighted with this year’s results and our 98 per cent pass rate is testament to the hard work of all our students and their teachers and parents.”

At Ponteland a whopping 16 students achieved straight A grades with the overall pass rate also up to over 98 per cent this year.

Average scores were up on last year, with 57 per cent achieving A or B grades.

Headteacher Stephen Prandle said: “The number of students going on to university from Ponteland looks like being very strong once again this year, bucking the national trend.”

Queen Elizabeth High School, in Hexham, also recorded a 98 per cent pass rate, with 46 per cent achieving A or B grades.

Four students achieved straight As, two of which are off to Durham University. In performing arts, nine out of 12 students received a distinction and four out of seven students got the same for sports science diplomas.

The standard in the art and design department at QEHS has remained high as 78% of those entered gained A or B grades.

Meanwhile six Prudhoe High School students achieved straight As and headteacher Iain Shaw commended those who had struggled through difficult personal circumstances to do exceptionally well.

He added: “We had more students applying for university this year than ever before and it’s nice to see that we have quite a lot of creative young people going to university to study everything from creative writing, to animation, film and drama.

"It seems that the vast majority have got into their first choices, while a small number will be entering clearing, as they haven't got their first or second choices, so we'll be supporting them during the day.”

Source: Hexham Courant

Community Loses One of its Biggest Contributors

A PONTELAND man who played an active part in many of the village's clubs and events died peacefully in hospital on July 22 aged 78.

Dick Dodsworth was born in Yorkshire in 1930 and moved North with his father when he got a job working for Donald Ireland at his nursery in Edgehill, Darras Hall.
After completing National Service he worked for the Blood Transfusion Service in Newcastle, where he met his wife, Margaret, and they went on to live in Gosforth.

With his brother-in-law, Mr Dodsworth set up a greengrocer business and eventually they ran a number of shops in Newcastle.

It was in the late 1950s that Derrick, known as Dick, and Margaret began to take part in social activities in Ponteland, and this prompted their move to a house in North Road, Ponteland, in 1964.

He joined the Rotary Club and the Golf Club and became President and Captain respectively, while he was also for some time on the management committee and a Trustee for the Ponteland Memorial Hall.

In 1977 the couple started holding Domino Drives to help raise funds for charity, and they were popular, often involving up to 200 people.

A year later Mr Dodsworth was among the group who re-established the Ponteland Flower Show, still held annually in September, and he helped to initiate the Memorial Hall Leek Club.

Not content with organising, he often carried off prizes with his gladioli and other blooms, leeks and onions.

Mr Dodsworth was involved in other activities, including the annual Christmas Arts Ball at the Ponteland Memorial Hall, and his efforts were recognised by Ponteland Parish Council in 2002 when he was awarded an inscribed crystal trophy in recognition of his service to the community.

Castle Morpeth Borough Council also recognised his input and presented him with a Meritorious Service Certificate.

He could be seen regularly in Ponteland Park walking his golden retriever, Squire.
Mr Dodsworth's wife died in 1997.

His cremation took place yesterday (29th July 2009) at the West Road Crematorium, followed by a Service of Thanksgiving in St Mary's Church, Ponteland.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Marie Curie Hospice, Marie Curie Drive, NE4 6SS.

Source: Morpeth Herald

Countdown to Week-Long Fundraising Summer Festival

FINAL preparations are under way for the ever-popular Ponteland Summer Festival.

The massive celebration, which also raises funds for charity, is organised by parishioners of St Mary the Virgin Church every two years to bring together flower displays, art exhibitions, music and prayer.
And this year there will be an extra element with the introduction of railway history displays.
The week-long event opens at 10am on Saturday when visitors can view the church flower festival, celebrating Northumberland's cultural life and heritage.

This year there will be new banners of local saints.
The theme continues in the Northumbrian Artists of Today exhibition in the Church Hall in Thornhill Road, where there will be original paintings by invited artists, ranging from the well-known Walter Holmes and Michael Ewart to amateurs and up and coming talent.
Topping the bill is Mary Ann Rogers, who has just become the first from the region to be awarded the Best Selling Published Artist title by the Fine Art Trade Guild.
She said: "I have taken part in this exhibition for as long as I can remember. It is always lovely to be asked to exhibit.

"Throughout the week, the church is filled with wonderful flower arrangements, which are always a pleasure to see, and together with the musical concerts and recitals, it creates a lovely atmosphere."

For the first time in it's 28-year history the festival will include a marquee in the Vicarage Garden to house the History and Railways exhibitions.
Ponteland Photographic Society will display images of Northumberland and Ponteland Local History Society is planning pieces on the short-lived branch line and other North East railways.
As St Mary's is the burial place of engineer William Weallens, who worked as a partner in the firm of Robert Stephenson and Co, there will be an exhibition about his work.
And on Wednesday, August 5, there will be an evening of British Transport Films in the church from 7.30pm.

There will be a varied programme of music throughout the week, beginning on Saturday with Accord and Friends singing group.
On Monday it will be the turn of organist Edward Marsh, with folk group Robson's Choice performing on Tuesday and organist Geoffrey Watson on Thursday.
All evening concerts and recitals begin at 7.30pm.
Refreshments, such as Ploughman's lunches, cream teas and cakes, will be available throughout the festival.
The Rev Peter Barham, who is sampling the event for the first time having joined the church last year, said he is looking forward to it.
"It is all starting to come together now, which is good," he said.
"There is quite a lot of organisation involved, but the benefit is that because the parishioners have been doing it so long now they all know what they are doing and it is brilliant.
"This is the first festival I will have been to, but I have been assured that lots of people come along.
"It will be a lovely opportunity to meet lots of people, raise lots of money and eat lots of cakes and scones.

"It will be fun."

At the last festival more than £8,000 was raised for charity and this year any money collected will go to St Oswald's Hospice, Down's Syndrome North East and the Church Army.

Attractions will be open daily from Saturday, August 1 to Saturday, August 8, from 10am to 5.30pm, except on Sunday when a Festival Service will be held in the church at 10am.
The history exhibition will follow at Noon, a barbecue lunch will also be on offer and the art exhibition will open at 2pm.
The day will round-off with Songs of Praise at 6.30pm.

Admission to all aspects of the festival is free.

Source: Morpeth Herald