Ponteland homes development plans to be unveiled

Ponteland town councillor Robin Ramsey

MULTI-million-pound development plans which could see more than 1,000 new homes added to one of the region’s most affluent communities are set to be unveiled to local people soon.

Land on the edge of Ponteland and Darras Hall has been earmarked by two separate developers for projects which would potentially transform the 11,000- population community.

The project could also mean major new investment in its services and infrastructure. Government moves to release the shackles on development in the countryside are being seen as one of the main reasons why green fields surrounding the sought-after commuter town are now being targeted.

Banks Property – part of the North East-based Banks Group – is working on plans to build about 500 new homes at Clickemin Farm, to the south-east.

The company says initial proposals will be made public this summer, and claims the scheme could result in improvements to Ponteland’s sporting and leisure facilities.

At the same time, planning experts are working on behalf of the Newcastle-based Lugano Property Group, which is interested in brokering major new housing development and a wider master plan for the future of the town.

It is looking at investing in sites which are said to have the potential for up to 1,000 new homes in and around Ponteland and Darras Hall, depending on the local appetite and support for new building. Consultants acting for the company – whose chairman is Tyneside businessman and landowner Barry Moat – will hold a public engagement event next month to get early ideas on how local people see the future of the town.

This will be used to help frame detailed development proposals for housing, shopping, business and leisure.

The prospect of large-scale new housing was yesterday greeted with concern by community representatives, who say significant benefits will be required to justify such development.

Peter Jackson, one of four county councillors for Ponteland, said: “We have only had a sketchy outline of these proposals, but we think the scale of the development will have a detrimental impact on existing residents.

“The infrastructure of Ponteland, in terms of shops, leisure and other facilities, is inadequate for a community of the current size, let alone for one that is going to get even bigger. We would be talking about concreting over green fields and I can commit to leading the opposition to both of these proposals.”

Ponteland town councillor and former mayor Robin Ramsay said: “Obviously there are some big issues facing us, and we need a solution that is to the long-term benefit of the community.

“With these numbers of new houses, we are also faced with the problem of how it will impact on facilities such as schools and how it will affect the existing regeneration plans for the town centre.”

Brian Prickett, who chairs the Ponteland Community Partnership, urged as many people as possible to attend the forthcoming public events planned by Banks and Lugano.

“We have found it difficult to tie Lugano down to specifics about their proposals, but we believe they have options on land next to Darras Hall.

“We can’t just put another 500 to 1,000 houses in without having an impact on current services such as schools, doctors and dentists.”

Scott Munro, planning director at Lugano, said: “We are interested in the future needs of Ponteland and Darras Hall as sponsors and investors, not as landowners or applicants.

“There are lots of requirements and demands there and we are interested in finding out what local people want to see happen.

“The current town centre regeneration scheme has stalled, there are traffic issues and the statistics tell us there is a significant requirement for new housing in that commuter housing market.”

Mr Munro said Lugano was looking at land with the potential for “anything between 10 and 1,000 new homes”.

“One of the questions we will be asking is whether people in Ponteland and Darras Hall want to see large-scale new housing,” he added.

BANKS Property says its proposed 500-home scheme at Clickemin Farm will deliver a high-quality, family housing development and significant new community facilities for Ponteland.

It has begun discussions with local community leaders and says detailed proposals are currently some distance away. Outline ideas will be discussed at a public exhibition this summer.

Initial plans include a major upgrade of sports and leisure facilities, and Banks has been working with local clubs to bring forward a Ponteland Sporting Club project. The company says the housing development will address Ponteland’s need for new homes, and support the town’s long-term wellbeing by attracting and retaining young people and families.

There is also the possibility of the project providing land and accommodation for employment purposes.

Michael Shuttleworth, managing director of Banks Property, said: "Ponteland has proved itself as a fantastic and popular place to live, but the recent lack of new development and associated investment means that its supporting infrastructure is not everything it should be.

"When compared with other similar settlements, Ponteland has fewer facilities when it comes to sports and leisure provision, retail choice, community and public buildings and family housing supply. The scheme that we are developing has the potential to make a significant positive impact across all these areas.

"The involvement of local people will be central to taking the design process forward, and we will provide every possible opportunity over the coming months for all interested parties to put forward their ideas about how this scheme might be shaped."

Source: Journal Live

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

PONTELAND TOWN COUNCIL

PONTELAND TOWN COUNCIL 
PLANNING COMMITTEE 

A Meeting of the Town Council Planning Committee 
will be held at the Town Council Offices 
at Unit 1 Meadowfield Court, 
Meadowfield Industrial Estate on 

TUESDAY 24 MAY 2011 AT 9.30 AM 

MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND 

Planning Applications for Ponteland can be viewed at the Town Council Offices during office hours: 
9.30am – 12.30pm weekdays
_________________
www.pontelandtowncouncil.co.uk

Town guide to coping with the worst of winter

PONTELAND residents are being urged to think of their community during extreme winter weather.

Following major snow and ice in the area during parts of November and December, which caused chaos on the roads and made footpaths treacherous, Ponteland Town Council has produced a guide suggesting measures to take when these conditions next return.

Coun Peter Cowey drew up the document and said although it is Northumberland County Council's responsibility to clear roads and some footpaths, it does not have the time nor the resources to treat and clear all minor and estate roads as well as cul-de-sacs.

"We, the people of Ponteland, must think of things that we can do to help ourselves," he added.

"The present attitude of some that it is someone else's problem is really not the solution.

"A phrase comes to mind, originally from JFK, that with a small change may be appropriate for us in Ponteland at this time – 'think not what NCC can do for Ponteland but what we can do ourselves for Ponteland'."

The measures include the following:

1) Be prepared – have a proper snow shovel.

2) Have some rock salt as a stand-by so that you are able to distribute a little around your own paths and drives.

3) If at all possible, keep your car on your own drive or in a garage if you have one. This will help any snowploughs or gritters that may appear and certainly help any traffic that needs to pass.

4) If possible, try to clear your own path and the path that is outside your house. Pedestrians would find it a lot easier and thus keep off the roads. On estate roads and cul-de-sacs, avoid shovelling snow and ice into piles that block roadways or pavements — this is thoughtless and potentially dangerous.

5) On some roads can a section be cleared of snow/slush in parts? Perhaps a series of strips cleared across the road will help traffic get some traction.

6) If you have a neighbour who is not able to carry out any clearing of snow/ice, can you help them? Do they need a path to a waste bin or a repeat prescription or groceries? Can they be contacted in any way to ensure that they are ok? A simple telephone call may do.

The full guide is available at www.pontelandtowncouncil.co.uk on the 'Help & Advice' section.

Anyone with further suggestions that could be useful can contact the town council on 01661 825092 or e-mail enquiries@pontelandtowncouncil.co.uk

Source: Morpeth Herald

Council plans to forge closer links

MOVES are underway by Ponteland Town Council to forge closer ties with an important community hub.

A proposed joint trust involving the authority and the Memorial Hall off Darras Road would help secure the building's future.

It could also allow the council to move its base back to the centre of Ponteland as having offices are part of the discussions (it is currently located in the Meadowfield Industrial Estate).

Ponteland Mayor Robin Ramsay said legal advice has been taken and further meetings will be held with the hall committee on the issue.

"The thinking behind forming a trust is to put the Memorial Hall on a more sustainable footing," he added.

"The income it receives just about keeps it going, although we do subsidise it each year, but looking to the longer term there are much needed improvements to be carried out and a new central heating system is required.

"This is at an early stage, but if it goes ahead we would look to provide funding through a long term loan, so the burden on the precept would be small.

"It's a valued community building used by a range of local groups and we want it to continue this role for generations to come.

"At the moment we are a little out on a limb by being in Meadowfield, but it's hard to get office space in the centre of Ponteland.

"Having offices in the Memorial Hall would solve that problem and we would be next to our main asset – Ponteland Park."

Source Morpeth Herald

Five star quality for Ponteland

Mayor Robert Ramsay

Civic leaders in Ponteland are celebrating after securing a national quality standard for the fifth year running.

Town and Parish Councils have to pass a series of stringent tests to attain Quality Status from the National Association of Local Councils. 

They include promotion of local democracy and citizenship, how they communicate and engage with residents, how they conduct council meetings, the management of accounts and annual reports and electoral arrangements. 

Out of more than 140 town and parish councils in Northumberland, Ponteland is one of only three to have achieved Quality Status.

Town Mayor Robin Ramsay received the Council's Quality Status award from Norman Dunn, Chairman of the Accreditation Panel at the Northumberland Association of Local Councils, at the Town Council's monthly meeting on Wednesday night. 

Coun Ramsay said: "It is great to receive independent recognition that the Town Council is providing a quality service to people living and working in Ponteland parish. Both councillors and staff work very hard to serve the community and this is a richly deserved award." 

The authority submitted a portfolio of evidence to an NALC panel supporting the application for Quality Status reaccreditation and was interviewed in September.

Source: Cian creative pr

Ponteland Mourns Loss of Councillor Mel Armstrong

THE Ponteland community has been rocked with news of the sudden death of respected councillor Mel Armstrong.

Coun Armstrong, who was born and bred in the village, died in North Tyneside Hospital of heart complications in the early hours of Monday.

The 63-year-old had served on the former Castle Morpeth Council and was a member of both Northumberland County Council and Ponteland Town Council, where he campaigned strongly on local housing issues and preserving the Ponteland environment.

He was Director of his own waste and haulage company, Armstrong's Effluent Disposal, and lived in Prestwick with his wife Eileen. He also leaves daughters Catherine, Bernadette and Amelia, and grandson Lincoln Robson.

Catherine Armstrong paid tribute to her father.

"For the family he was a fantastic Dad and husband. He was always known to have a big smile and he was loved by the whole community. He was very well known," she said.

"He fought bravely, but unfortunately he had complications with his heart. The hospital staff were great and really did try to do everything for him.

"Obviously the family are devastated at his death. We loved him dearly."

Coun Armstrong was known as a motorbike enthusiast, having racing bikes in his youth before moving on to Harley Davidsons and becoming a member of the Harley Owners Group (HOG).

He would travel to Europe and America to pursue the interest, but he also had a passion closer to home as a life-long Newcastle United supporter and had a season ticket at St James' Park in the Platinum Club.

"He loved his football and had a season ticket for years. He managed to get to the last home game against Aston Villa when they won 6-0 so that would have made him very proud," said Catherine.

Council colleagues also paid their respects.

County Conservative Group Leader Peter Jackson said: "Mel has been a friend and a colleague for a number of years as a councillor on both Castle Morpeth and Northumberland County Council.

"It is a great shock that he has been taken from us so suddenly and he will be deeply missed.

"He was a character known throughout the community of Ponteland and he looked after the interests of his constituents above everything. He worked hard for the council and brought a unique combination of both good humour and good sense to all matters.

"He was a man who cared a great deal about the place where he had lived all of his life and he was prepared to put the effort in to make it a better place.

"He was a popular figure known to many and respected by all who met him. Our Conservative group will miss him, the commitment he has given to us and the life and vitality that he always had."

He added: "Mel was a life-long Newcastle United supporter, which was known across the council because every time his mobile phone went off in a meeting it would play the Newcastle United anthem, Mark Knopfler's Local Hero. It always lightened the mood."

Ponteland Mayor Robin Ramsay said: "We are all going to miss Mel very much. Although he had only been a town councillor since 2007 he has made a tremendous contribution to the running of the council and in his role as a county councillor he stood up for Ponteland's interests.

"As a person he was tremendous. When he came in the room he brightened up the place.

"He was a big character in many ways."

Coun Armstrong represented Ponteland East on the county council and was a member of its standards committee.

Council Leader Jeff Reid said: "Mel was a man so many of us admired and respected as a genuine person above party politics and he will be very sadly missed.

"He was a hard worker for his constituents and many of us will have served with him on appeals panels and know how compassionate he could be in the most difficult of circumstances."

Funeral arrangements for Coun Armstrong are still to be confirmed.

Source: Morpeth Herald

Ponteland protection work cheaper than thought

SLOPE protection works in Ponteland will not cost as much as first thought.

The town council initially said that installing a retaining wall to address the slipping slope at Fox Covert Lane would require funding in the region of £150,000, with some of the money provided by a loan.

But Mayor Robin Ramsay revealed it has been able to get it done for just over £90,000, including contingencies.

"After looking at the figures it was clear that we can find the total costs for the retaining wall from the precept this year. This means we are not faced with loan interest repayments over 10 years," he added.

The works are set to start at the beginning of July and are expected to take about eight weeks to complete.

Source Morpeth Herald

Irene Brumwell Resigns From Council

Irene is the fifth councillor to resign from the Town Council this year. She completed her year as the last Mayor of Castle Morpeth in March but has since carried on as a Ponteland councillor. Until now! She said ‘My main reason for originally standing in the election of 2003 was to help the people of Ponteland’. And that has been her guiding principle in her six years as Councillor.

‘But now’, says Irene, ‘There have been a lot of changes, in personnel, in the attitudes of authority and many things have changed’. When the mayor, Robin Ramsay, accused her in a meeting of having bad eyesight as she had not seen the local policeman since Party in the Park in June she no longer felt her role was effective. She was no longer getting the support from the council. Well known in Ponteland Irene will have more time to follow her many other interests.

By Muriel Sobo

Ponteland on the March as Sun Shines on First Civic Service

Ponteland was on the march yesterday as it held its first Civic Service.
Pipers, a youth choir, the Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade all took part in the new annual event, launched to carry on a long-standing Castle Morpeth tradition following the demise of the Borough Council, which previously ran a borough-wide civic service.
Leaders of all the local churches joined together for the upbeat service at St Mary’s Church, which was led by The Reverend Peter Barham, Vicar of Ponteland.
North Tyneside Pipe Band led the civic party in parades to and from the Memorial Hall, where guests enjoyed afternoon tea after the service.

They included politicians, local businesspeople and representatives of a wide range of parish organisations, including charities and clubs.
Town Mayor Robin Ramsay, behind the idea to launch a new annual civic service for Ponteland, said: “This is just one of a number of events in Ponteland’s calendar which I want to develop as part of the new Town Council’s vision of giving residents a real sense of pride in Ponteland. Our next big event is the Party in the Park on Sunday June 7. “It was really pleasing to see so many people, young and old, turn out on such a lovely afternoon and I’d like to thank everyone involved in organising such a successful first event.”

Ponteland Carries on Civic Service Tradition

Ponteland is to carry on a long-standing Castle Morpeth tradition by holding an annual Civic Service this weekend.

The popular event has been held as a borough-wide occasion for many years, with all the pomp and ceremony of a formal civic occasion.

But with the recent local government restructure and the abolition of Castle Morpeth Borough Council, which managed the annual event, Ponteland would have missed out.

However, the borough deputy mayor’s chain of office has passed to Ponteland’s new Town Mayor, Coun Robin Ramsay, who is keen to continue the tradition.

On Sunday (May 10) he will lead Ponteland’s Civic Service, which includes a parade headed by North Tyneside Pipe Band before and after a service at St Mary’s Church. The parade will comprise councillors and youth organisations, including the Scouts and Girls’ Brigade.

Invited dignatories and guests will enjoy afternoon tea at the Memorial Hall afterwards. They include representatives of local schools, businesses, charities, clubs and associations and all churches.

Coun Ramsay said: “I don’t want Ponteland to lose out on this important civic occasion because of the local government restructure, and the village is well known for its established traditions and annual events, including the New Year’s Day Wheelbarrow Race and the summer Party in the Park.

“The Town Council is also keen to promote our vision of giving residents a real sense of pride in Ponteland. So I felt it appropriate with the Ponteland Town Mayor taking on the chain of office from the last Deputy Mayor of Castle Morpeth that we also continue this event. I’m hoping for an excellent turnout on Sunday.” The parade from the Memorial Hall to St. Mary's starts at 2.15pm, followed by the service at St Mary’s at 2.30pm.

Councillor Peter Charleton Retires From Ponteland Town Council

Councillor Peter Charleton is retiring from the Ponteland Town Council due to ill health after serving Ponteland residents for fourteen years. He has helped resolve many parochial problems but he feels that his greatest honour was the government naming his website as one of the best five in the country.

Ponteland to give Community Forum a go

DESPITE a claim that the County Council's community forums plan is 'rubbish', Ponteland councillors will look into setting one up.
After reading documents detailing the new local structure when a Northumberland unitary authority replaces the existing County Council and six district councils, Ponteland Town Council Chairman Robin Ramsay presented his thoughts to members.

A community forum, which can be made up of local residents and members of businesses and organisations as well as Council representatives, will have a remit to come up with ideas and action plans for its area.

But Coun John Worth said: "We are a big town council and we should say to the County Council that these plans are a load of rubbish, they are too rushed and the Council should go back and re-think them. "We must stand up for ourselves and not let the unitary Council ride roughshod over us. "He also said he was not happy that non-elected people could be making decisions for Ponteland, when they can approach the Town Council to put forward their views.

Coun Ramsay said any forum set-up would only make suggestions that would need the approval of the Town Council, but he spoke of his concerns about how they will work, as they will be tied in with the Northumberland Strategic Partnership and area committees as well. "How this system will not produce chaos early on I don't know," he said. "But to be fair, I think the County Council is going to 'suck it and see' to start with and then decide if any changes are needed. "We have options to choose from in terms of forum membership and meetings, as they won't be the same everywhere, so we need to hold meetings with interested parties to discuss these issues and a way forward. "The other members agreed to this and Coun Peter Charleton said there were positive aspects of having a community forum. "The forum would have more public involvement and this would benefit Ponteland as these people have more expertise than we have in some areas, " he said.

Source: Morpeth Herald

Ponteland Town Council taking on Pele Tower

PONTELAND'S medieval Pele Tower could soon be passed into the hands of Town councillors. The scheduled ancient monument is currently under lease to Ponteland Town Council, but now Castle Morpeth members have agreed to transfer the freehold, along with adjoining land. The decision, which was approved by the Borough's Executive Board, comes as Northumberland prepares for local government re-structuring, which will spell the end of the district authorities. Borough Leader Peter Jackson said: "This is one of a series of interests in property that this Council has that we feel will be better devolved down to the community. The Pele Tower is the symbol of Ponteland as much as anything else. It is a very important ancient monument, right in the middle of the town of Ponteland." I think it would be best placed in the ownership and care of Ponteland Town Council." Members approved the transfer unanimously, with each party agreeing to meet their own legal fees, but final consent rests with Northumberland County Council due to the forthcoming authority shake-up.

Source: Morpeth Herald