Northumberland communities - Berwick

Barmoor wind farm decision will not be contested

2010-02-10T09:53:35Z

Campaigners have reluctantly ended their long-running battle to stop a wind farm being set up in Northumberland.

The Save our Unspoilt Landscape (SOUL) action group has decided against seeking a judicial review of the decision to allow six 110-metre turbines to be built at Barmoor, near Berwick.

Save Our Unspoilt Landscape members Anne Daniels, Amanda Worlock and John Daniels

A planning application from Catamount Energy and Force 9 Energy was first submitted to the now defunct Berwick Borough Council four years ago this month, in February 2006.

Scores of local people formed SOUL to fight the proposal fearing the turbines would ruin views of the surrounding countryside and put off visitors.

The plan was rejected by the borough council in March 2008.

However, the developers appealed and a public inquiry took place in May and June of last year.

As reported in The Journal last month, the Government gave approval for the wind farm to be built. SOUL said at the time it was considering seeking judicial review, whereby it could challenge the decision on a point of procedure but not ask for evidence to be reconsidered.

The barrister who represented the group at the inquiry scrutinised the decision report to assess whether it had any grounds for seeking review.

He came to the conclusion there was nothing SOUL could pin a challenge on.

The group's spokesman Andrew Joicey last night said: "SOUL as a group has decided that it will not be pursuing a judicial review of the decision.

"Although we have a difference of opinion on many things with the decision that the inspector and secretary of state came to, it is one that is a legal decision."

The action group will not disband despite acknowledging there is nothing it can do to stop the wind farm being built.

The Barmoor scheme was approved despite two other linked wind farm proposals being thrown out.

Projects for turbines at Toft Hill and Moorsyde were rejected at the same borough council meeting and examined at the same inquiry.

Cancer fundraising concert in Berwick

2010-02-09T14:04:21Z

A concert is organised in Berwick this month in aid of the Berwick and District Cancer Support Group, headlined by Beechy Colclough (pictured).

Beechy is bringing a band and backing singers to the Berwick upon Tweed Drill Hall for an evening of soul, rhythm and blues, supported by local musicians Stephen Cockburn and Gary Holland.

The singer-songwriter has returned to writing and touring after a period of 27 years and has recently completed his debut album.

Tickets are available from the Berwick and District Cancer Support Group at 5 Tweed Street, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1NG, priced at £10 and £8 concessions. People are asked to mark the envelope "The Beechy Concert" and make cheques payable to "The Berwick and District Cancer Support Group". Tickets can also bought be bought from various local businesses in the town- see local posters for details.

Rugby - Berwick 14 Kelso 2nds 7

2010-02-09T09:46:37Z

Berwick were due to meet Border side Hawick YM in the First Round of the Scottish Hydro Shield. Due to the opposition being unable to raise a team the game was conceded on Thursday evening. As Cheviot Trees Limited were sponsoring the game and with a large number of guests expected for a pre-match lunch the race was on to find new opposition. Despite the Club's best efforts to try and rearrange one of the other outstanding fixtures it was only possible to arrange a Friendly against local rivals Kelso. To add to the unusual nature of the match the game was also played on the much smaller and narrower Colts pitch.

The Blacks team included some of the younger players in the squad with Dan Law making his debut at open side flanker for the game. All of this meant that there was freshness to the occasion. The game kicked off like a true Border derby with both sides fully committed to the tackle and ruck situation. With experienced Border referee Normal Steel in charge things didn't get out of hand though and there was some excellent attacking play from both sides.

The game settled down and Berwick scored two tries in quick succession around the 25 minute mark of the first half. The first was a classic catch and drive from a lineout with Richard Hume continuing his scoring run to claim the touchdown. Matthew McCreath duly converted the conversion to take maximum points from the score. A few minutes later Berwick scored again. This time it came from tremendous link play between Dan Law and Guy Skivington-Jones. The score started when the ball became loose and Law was on hand to pick the ball up. He then sold an outrageous dummy which completely fooled the Kelso cover before passing to Skivington-Jones. There was still a lot of work to do at this point but progress was made up the touchline before Skivington-Jones received the ball back and this time he was able to use his pace and power to make his way under the posts for the try. McCreath again converted and after half an hour the score was Berwick 14 Kelso 2nds 0. After this Kelso roused themselves and began to put together some fine attacking plays of their own which put the Berwick defence to the test. Berwick got to half time with the score unchanged.

The half time team talk did wonders for Kelso who came out and played much more aggressively in the second half. With referee Normal Steel allowing Kelso to ruck properly the game upped in pace with both sides going hammer and tong at each other. On the hour mark Kelso got the score their improved play deserved. It came from a Berwick scrum which they one, but before Berwick Scrum-half Mark Laidlaw could get the ball away his opposite number kicked it out of his hands and the ball went loose. It was then a mad dash for the ball which Kelso won to score. They too added the conversion to make it 14-7. After this the game fell into a pattern. Kelso had brought a large squad with them and they made frequent changes to freshen their play up. Due to late calls offs Berwick only had one replacement and so with the fresher legs Kelso mounted sustained pressure without really coming close to scoring. The game ended with both sides still fully committed to the cause and full of running at 14-7 to Berwick.

This was a very entertaining game played by two sides that were obviously desperate for a game after so many matches postponed due to weather and soggy pitches. For Berwick there was a great deal to be pleased with. Matthew McCreath at standoff varied the game well with his kicking game extremely effective. Dan Law and Guy Skivington-Jones contributed throughout the game, looking for the ball and suing it well when they did get it. The Berwick pack had to up their game and they all put in hard graft to contain their opposition. Berwick's defence was solid and the tackling in general was much better than recent games. There was also more attacking play which on a wider pitch would have reaped more benefits.

At the moment there is no First XV game this Saturday due to the internationals; however supporters should go to the new website at www.pitchero.com/clubs/berwick to keep up to date as all fixtures and news are posted there.

Asbo for thief caught by Berwick have-a-go-hero

2010-02-08T10:07:59Z

A thief tackled by a Northumberland have-a-go hero has been handed an Asbo.

David Stobbart, pictured, stole an ipod and sunglasses from a car in Gateshead as revellers partied on New Year's Eve.

But his search for rich pickings was kicked into touch by teenage Northumberland rugby player Robert Exley.

The 18-year-old Berwick Rugby Club flanker tackled Stobbart after he spotted the thief in action. He managed to grab his trainer from his foot which he handed in to police.

Officers later traced Stobbart, who has admitted theft from a vehicle and asked for three other thefts to be taken into consideration.

The 29-year-old has now been slapped with a Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour Order banning him from entering Whickham, the Metrocentre, Axwell Park, Blaydon and Derwenthaugh for two years.

"We are pleased that this Crasbo application has been successful as it will protect the residents of Whickham and the wider area from someone who has been a serial offender," said PC Gordon Watson.

"His actions subjected his victims to harassment, alarm and distress."

Stobbart, of East View Terrace, Swalwell, Gateshead, had also admitted committing a further offence while subject to a 12-month conditional discharge imposed last March for possession of amphetamine.

Gateshead magistrates heard that Robert was at a New Year's Eve party with friends and family at the Whickham home of Tom Robson, owner of environmental engineering firm Roflow, when he noticed someone climbing out of a car outside. Inside the rest of the guests at the party continued celebrating unaware of the pursuit through the ice outside and the significant bruising to his ribs which Robert suffered.

He gave chase, following Stobbart into nearby Chase Park where he tackled him to the ground.

As Stobbart slipped away, Robert was able to grab his leg and pull a trainer off him.

When traced by police Stobbart admitted stealing an iPod worth £178 and sunglasses worth £160 from the BMW car belonging to Mr Robson's.

The court was told that he committed the offence because he has a drug habit and was in debt to an individual.

His lawyer said Stobbart never damaged vehicles and only stole from them if he tried the door and found it unlocked.

Mr Robson, whose company is based in Jarrow, South Tyneside, has personally thanked quick-thinking Robert for his efforts.

Inner West Neighbourhood Inspector Michael Robson described the teenager's efforts as "extremely brave" and "great lengths" to go to.

Robert, of Spittal, Berwick, said: "I couldn't believe what he was doing. I was just determined to catch him."

East Stirling 3, Berwick Rangers 2

2010-02-08T09:04:06Z

Defeat at the hands of second-placed East Stirling left Berwick Rangers manager Jim Crease ruing refereeing decisions he felt had cost them dearly.

The home side's opening goal came from a free-kick Rangers believed should have been given the other way, and then they were denied a penalty claim when their trialist striker was brought down in the box.

Crease said: "It was a stonewall decision. We lost and maybe the title is beginning to slip away from us, but we played well against a good side."

The controversial free-kick put East Stirling ahead, but it was superbly struck into the top corner from 25 yards by Jamie Stevenson.

Gray equalised early in the second half before Stephen Maguire restored the home side's advantage.

Poor defending at a corner allowed Maguire to glance in a header from Dean Richardson's cross, but Gray netted an excellent goal ten minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish.

Renewable energy plan's third anniversary

2010-02-06T10:15:35Z

A green energy body yesterday marked its third anniversary of working in the North East with developments that, in a year, should be generating enough electricity for nearly 3000 homes.

Community Renewable Energy (CoRE) is now working across the North, helping communities set up renewable energy systems from wind turbines to electrical solar panels.

CoRE and Berwick Community Trust have recently submitted a planning application for a wind turbine and will install solar panels on 50 households in the town.

Parking charges are hot topic in Northumberland

2010-02-05T11:52:20Z

Parking fees levied on drivers visiting Northumberland towns has emerged as the hottest topic in the initial stages of a major review aimed at developing a county-wide parking strategy.

A progress report on the review reveals hundreds of people have made their views known on whether parking fees should be imposed across the whole county - rather than just in selected towns.

More than 560 people have signed three separate petitions calling for an equal policy across the board, with charges being made in all principal towns.

But thousands of others have signed petitions calling for parking to remain free in Blyth Valley and Wansbeck because of the damaging effect charges would have on local businesses and the economy.

The results of initial consultations carried out last summer show that a survey resulted in 66% of responses supporting a consistent, county-wide approach to parking. The findings are revealed in a report to next week's meeting of the county council's Liberal Democrat executive, which commissioned the review because of the need to develop a consistent parking strategy for the unitary authority.

One of the issues it is examining is the current two-tier system of charging - which means motorists have to pay between 50p and £1.10 an hour to park in towns like Berwick, Seahouses, Alnwick, Morpeth and Hexham while it remains free in Ashington, Bedlington, Newbiggin, Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Delaval.

Income from the county's 130 car parks in 2008/9 was £2.7m, of which almost £2.3m came from the collection of charges. Last year traders in Morpeth launched a campaign to secure a level playing field on parking fees, claiming the council could boost its income by £4m a year by ending free parking in south-east Northumberland.

Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell has collected a 7,000-name petition calling for the retention of free parking in the south east of Northumberland.

He said yesterday: "I believe the county council will bring in charges across the county, but we have a big petition saying that should not happen. We have never had charges here in Blyth Valley and people are worried about their businesses if it happens." In the report to Monday's executive, director of street scene, Bill Batey, says: "The area of the review which has attracted the most external comment is that of parking charges."

He says a model to consider the approach to charging is close to completion. It will use a range of criteria - including settlement type and viability, car park usage and distance from the town centre - to produce a total "score" for each car park.

Decisions will then be made on whether individual car parks will be free, or charged through a range of different rates.

Mr Batey adds: "This may result in charging being introduced in some car parks that are currently free, some that are currently charged becoming free and no changes in other areas." The work on charges is scheduled to be completed by October, with the new system implemented in April next year.

Archbishop of York in visit to northern parishes

2010-02-05T10:13:07Z

Music greeted the Archbishop of York as he travelled to some of the northernmost parishes in England yesterday.

The Most Reverend Dr John Sentamu called at Kirkharle, Wooler and Berwick as part of a two-day visit to the Church of England's Newcastle Dioceses organised by the Bishop of Newcastle Martin Wharton.

The archbishop saw regeneration work at Kirkharle Courtyard near Ponteland and went on to Wooler, calling at the Cheviot Centre where he was greeted by teenagers from a local school playing steel drums.

He ended his tour in Berwick on a day that began at the West End Refugee Service in Newcastle.

He said afterwards: "The purpose of the visit is to see the experiences of what the diocese gets up to. I have not only been in rural areas: I was in Byker yesterday, which is an inner city place that requires a lot of help.

"There is a lot of support needed also in the rural areas. There is a lot of rural poverty, which sometimes remains hidden and the history of Wooler actually tells you that there were years of dereliction which needed quite a lot of regeneration.

"They have done it and the same is true in some of my inner cities."

Northumberland Golden Guide proving popular

2010-02-05T10:12:41Z

A popular guide aimed at helping older people in Northumberland get the most out of life has been published for the fourth time.

Previous issues of the Golden Guide have gone down so well with the over-50s that there was a waiting list for the latest 5,000-copy print run.

The free booklet, which is produced by community information specialists Clever Clogs Publishing in partnership with Age Concern Northumberland, the county council and care trust, has also been given a new design.

It is packed with facts, tips, advice and information on money, health and care, leisure and transport, together with useful local contacts.

Clare Owen-Smith of Age Concern Northumberland said: "It's so important that older people can get the advice they need, wherever they live.

"The Golden Guide is so well known we can rely on it to get the message out.

"We love the upbeat, positive image it gives of older people."

Daljit Lally, executive director of adult care in Northumberland, said the latest edition of the guide included information about the new personal budgets which were being made available to elderly people.

People can get a copy posted out to them by calling Age Concern Northumberland's information line on 08450 950150.

Copies of the booklet are also being distributed to residents by care trust managers, Citizens Advice Bureau and all libraries and mobile libraries across the county.

Second World War exhibition at Berwick Library

2010-02-04T10:12:30Z

An exhibition that tells the story of two linked communities during the Second World War has been launched at a Northumberland library.

The Big Lottery funded Their Past Your Future II project examines life in Berwick and its Polish twin town Trzcianka during the Second World War.

The exhibition, administered through the Museums, Archives and Libraries Partnership, runs at Berwick Library in Walkergate until March 15, before going to Wooler Library and Wooler Book Fair from March 17 to 27.

Art classes beginning at Berwick Parish Centre

2010-02-04T09:42:15Z

An art teacher is on a mission to bring creativity into people's lives to help them 'see the world in a different way'.

Annabel Milne is determined to bring art into people's lives both through classes and also by taking children to visit art galleries for the very first time in their lives.

She has a wide background in art, including studying fine art at St Martin's College of Art in London, doing an MA at Edinburgh College of Art and then working at Tate Britain and in art publishing as well as teaching art and design and art history.

Now she wants to pass on that knowledge in a series of classes specifically to help people reconnect with their creative side, something she feels people have little time to do with modern busy lives.

Annabel said: "I've taught for over 12 years and I came across a lot of children who had never been to a gallery at all. I was amazed, and also met adults who never had the opportunity to go or take part in the arts.

"I know how much personal satisfaction I've gained from it so I wanted to pass that on.

"Modern life is so stressful and pressurised and people often don't get the chance to explore their own creativity, whether it's writing, acting or drawing. Everyone has the ability to do that."

Running her classes as a not-for-profit business, she obtained a £300 grant from the Glendale Trust to buy art materials to set up the scheme.

Annabel has previously taught in schools before but wanted to run this project in the evenings and weekends, to make it a part of people's lives.

To this end she is planning to run classes in the Parish Centre in Berwick and the Cheviot Centre in Wooler, and is also organising trips to art galleries in Edinburgh and Newcastle, as well as enjoying the burgeoning arts scene in Northumberland itself.

She may also develop it in the future to have talks from Northumbrian business people and personalities.

She said: "I've always aimed to produce as much of the wider world into a classroom as possible. "

The first classes will take place on Wednesday, February 10, in the Cheviot Centre and Monday, February 15, in Berwick.

Anyone interested in giving it a go can contact Annabel on 01890 771788 or on annabelmilne @hotmail.com

Longridge Towers prepare to show business skills

2010-02-04T09:09:42Z

Enterprising students are hoping they have the business flair to match their creative talents when they head to a trade competition.

Tower & Co, the student business formed by pupils at Longridge Towers School, is busy preparing for an important trade fair at the Gateshead Metrocentre on February 7. Part of the Young Enterprise Scheme, the pupils are hoping that their unique range of hand crafted canvas prints will win them a place in the Northern finals of the competition.

The Young Enterprise Scheme is designed to give secondary school pupils a taste of how it feels to work in a business.

The trade stand is an important part of the judging process and Longridge will face competition from more than 40 other North East schools. The independent panel of judges will be looking for evidence of innovation and an awareness of the skills needed to run a successful business.

Pupils are interviewed on the administration, finance and promotion of their business to see how it has developed, how they have solved problems and how they have identified opportunities.

Managing director of Tower & Co, Jamie Faed, said: "We hope that our prints will catch the eyes of shoppers at the Metrocentre and impress the panel of judges. Our canvas prints on wooden frames are perfect for hanging in homes and offices and also make great gifts especially if people work with us to create a personalised design from a favourite photo. We also have a paint your own option for younger children."

Tower & Co is run by 14 directors who all have their own particular role ranging from managing director to ICT specialists. Jamie was selected as managing director by head of sixth form Helen Notman with input from the team members and has the overall responsibility of steering the project. Students also benefit from having Richard Simpson from Simpsons Malt as a business advisor, who attends meetings and shares his knowledge of running a company with them.

Berwick United turn the tables on Amble

2010-02-03T15:40:29Z

Berwick United booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Ideal Stelrad Northumberland Minor Cup.

In an all-Northern Alliance clash the Borderers, third from bottom in the First Division, knocked out third-top league colleagues Amble United, who had lifted this trophy in 2007.

In an earlier league meeting between these two sides, Amble United had romped to an easy 4-0 victory - but this time they were well below par and Berwick fully deserved their 4-2 success.

Mike Robinson gave hosts Berwick a great start by bagging himself two goals in the fifth and 18th minutes, and Amble were always struggling after this double whammy.

They struggled even more when Berwick's Jonathan Brown scored his side's third from the spot midway through the first half.

There was the faintest glimmer of hope for Amble when Paul White got them off the mark shortly before the interval - but it was a false dawn.

Robinson completed his hat-trick for the home side to restore their three-goal advantage and, even though Greg Dance tucked away a penalty for the visitors, there were no more counters in the last half hour.

Meanwhile, in Division One of the Sportsworld North Northumberland League, Rothbury came out on top against Alnwick Town Reserves to keep up the pressure at the top of the table.

A John Angus goal and a long-range effort from Alan Brown gave them the victory, and a Martin Tait strike was Alnwick's only reply.

Berwick United Reserves gained their first win of the season as efforts from Jonathan Waugh, Terry James and Michael Lee proved too much for local rivals Berwick Town, whose reply came from Rudy McLeod.

In Division Two, Belford extended their lead at the head of the table.

However, they were made to work hard by a determined Hedgeley Rovers, who trailed by a single finish at half-time.

Belford added four more in the second half with Stuart Keys (2), Fraser Tait, Chris Hay and Neil Jefferson all on the scoresheet.

Schools battle in county badminton finals

2010-02-03T15:32:56Z

Young badminton players proved top of the form when they took to the court for a tournament at Ashington Leisure Centre.

Teams from Berwick, Allendale, Alnwick and Prudhoe took part in the Key Stage Three and Four Northumberland Schools Badminton County Final organised by Badminton England and the School Sports Partnership..

Northumberland Schools Badminton County Final Key Stage Four winners (back) and the stage three victors (front) receive their trophies at Ashington Leisure Centre

For the first time, all six School Sports Partnerships in Northumberland - Ashington, Blyth and Bedlington, Cramlington and Seaton Valley, Morpeth and Ponteland, North Northumberland and Tynedale - were involved in the competition.

Over the past three months, children have been competing in their SSP finals to qualify for this competition, which ultimately gives the youngsters the chance to become national schools badminton champions.

Berwick High School won the Key Stage Three girls' title, with Cramlington Learning Village claiming the equivalent boys' event.

In the Key Stage Four decider, Cramlington Learning Village picked up another winners' prize in the girls competition, while Blyth Community College took the boys' honours.

All these teams have now qualified for the Regional Badminton England Competition on March 5, with the winners qualifying for the National Badminton Championships in Nottingham later in the year.

Poll: Is culling of grey squirrels in Northumberland justified?

2010-02-03T12:24:50Z

This week's poll question is asking your view on the ongoing cull of grey squirrels in Northumberland.

A new set of culling projects were launched recently in the county, aiming to prevent competition and the spread of the deadly squirrel pox virus, a major cause of the reds' decline.

A recent study concluded that the number of grey sightings has risen despite widespread culling, though critics say the study was unable to give a true picture of grey populations. A second objection is that the practise is an unnecessarily cruel one.

Organisations supporting the cull of grey squirrels, such as the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership, argue that without their efforts red squirrels would soon be threatened with extinction in Northumberland. Or is culling is a necessary temporary measure until a more permanent solution, such as a vaccine for squirrel pox, is developed?

The Forestry Commission is currently focussing culling efforts on corridors around red squirrel reserves, with the aim of temporarily slowing the spread of greys.

You can vote in the poll on the panel on the right of the page.

Recent stories on this issue:

Kielder red squirrel buffer zone extended »

Funding for grey squirrel cull »