Northumberland communities - Seahouses

Water supply restored in Seahouses & Belford

2009-11-11T16:28:28Z

Thousands of residents who were left without water in Northumberland have had their supplies restored.

Around 4,500 homes suffered when a water main burst in the Hulne Park area of Alnwick, causing the system to run dry on Sunday.

Northumbrian Water say the leak has now been repaired but people should continue to boil their water until they receive a notice telling them it is safe.

The company is carrying out sample tests on water and needs two positive test results 12 hours apart. It expects to lift the boil water notices tomorrow.

A spokesperson from Northumbrian Water said: "All of the water has been restored but testing is under way and positive results of tests are required before we can lift the boil water notice.

"Until that time, people should continue to boil their water and we will need to test customers' taps. But people, especially the elderly, should be cautious and check the identity of people calling at their homes to avoid falling prey to bogus callers pretending to be from the water company and just wanting to steal.

"A genuine caller will not mind his or her identity being checked."

Households at places including Seahouses, Belford, Bamburgh, Beadnell and Powburn , were all affected.

The company distributed static water tanks to the areas, urging people to boil water from them before use.

It also put water bottle collection points at Powburn, Seahouses and Belford.

Repairs to the pipe were actually completed by Monday lunchtime, but reservoirs and pipes in parts of the county ran dry as a result.

Work has since been carried out to restore full supply and by last night only a few hundred homes in the Belford area had no water.

For more information, or to find out where water tanks have been set up, contact Northumbrian Water's Customer Centre on 0845 717 1100, or visit www.nwl.co.uk.

Water restrictions for thousands of households around Seahouses and Belford

2009-11-11T08:59:50Z

Thousands of households in Northumberland were last night facing their second night with restrictions on use of tap water.

Around 4,500 homes in the area north of Alnwick were issued with notices by Northumbrian Water on Monday telling them not to drink tap water or use it for food preparation without boiling it.

Dianne Brookham from Belford, left, loads water into her car with the help of Jane Morland from Northumbrian Water, at the Seahouses water collection point in the town centre

And some of those notices are not expected to be lifted until tomorrow.

The disruption follows the discovery on Sunday that one of the pumps at a pumping station at Bolton had failed after running dry - which was later found to be because of cracks in a 12 inch water main in the Hulne Park area of Alnwick.

Reservoirs and pipes in parts of the county ran dry.

Households at places like Seahouses, Belford, Bamburgh, Beadnell and Powburn, were left with discoloured water, reduced pressure or no water at all as a result.

Once the notice was issued, the company distributed static water tanks to affected areas, urging people to boil water from them before use.

It also put water bottle collection points at Powburn, Seahouses and, later, Belford.

Repairs to the pipe were actually completed by Monday lunchtime.

Work has since been carried out to restore full supply and by last night only a few hundred homes in the Belford area had no water.

Static tanks and bottle collection points were yesterday being closed or relocated as necessary. The water board was expecting the system to be fully operational by last night. But the boil notices must remain in place until water has been tested and come back clear twice, 12 hours apart.

A water board spokesman said last night: "The boil notice will probably remain until Thursday morning. We will try and lift it progressively. People should wait until they get a card delivered which will confirm their supply has now passed the tests and been passed safe to drink."

At Seahouses, there was a steady flow of villagers to the bottled water collection point at the Seafield car park yesterday lunchtime.

People in the village had received the boil notices on Monday night but reported their supply appeared to be unaffected.

Nevertheless, they were sticking to advice not to use tap water without boiling it.

Elsie Baxter, 77, of South Lane, North Sunderland, said: "I did ring up the water board this morning because the notices we had got had big crosses against some things.

"They told me you cannot do washing, there might be discolouration which might effect the washing.

"I just boiled it and made my tea as usual.

"I just came down to get some because I do not know how long before they will get it right again.

"It would be better these things did not happen but so far I can't say I have been in a frenzy ."

Geoff Stewart, who is chairman of North Sunderland Parish Council and lives at Craster Square, said: "There would have been a catastrophe if they had not had bottles of water."

Joyce Nelson, of Stone Close, added: "It is very annoying, especially when you have got to boil your water to put in your veg, potatoes and that."

Video: Recycling in Northumberland

2009-11-11T00:00:38Z

A video has been launched by Northumberland County Council to help it meet demanding Government recycling targets.

The tutorial video (watch below) shows Northumberland County Council's new recycling centre in action and helps residents understand what can and can't be put into the recycling bin.

In Northumberland the council is responsible for collecting waste from more than 140,000 households as well as thousands of business premises.

The council needs to meet Government targets of 40% recycling by 2010, 45% by 2015 and 50% by 2020.

If these strict targets are not met the council faces heavy fines as ministers push ahead with national environmental changes.

One of the key problems at the recycling plant is low-grade plastic such as yogurt pots and margarine tubs which become trapped among paper and card creating contamination problems for the paper mills.

The problem is made worse when these packs contain food waste which can also cause contamination of the other recyclable materials.

In an effort to reduce contamination the council no longer wants people to recycle these types of items which represent a tiny proportion of household waste and cause quality control problems at the plant .

The video offers advice on exactly what items should be recycled, such as plastic bottles (empty and lids removed), rinsed food and drinks cans, paper and cardboard and aerosols.

Visit www.northumberland.gov.uk for more information on recycling

Seahouses blood donor sessions

2009-11-10T17:00:00Z

The next local sessions are at Seahouses Ex-Servicemen's Club, Main Street, NE68 7RG:

Wednesday 11 Nov 2009, 14:30 to 19:00
Tuesday 23 Mar 2010, 14:30 to 19:00

There are also sessions at Alnwick and Berwick.

For more information and to book an appointment see the National Blood Service website.

Share your Northumbrian dialect words

2009-11-10T11:35:33Z

Deek at these kenspeckle words and see if you can save 'the venerable grandmother' of the English language.

What some people call the 'purest form' of English, the Northumbrian dialect, has been eroded over time and no-one knows how much Northumbrians and Geordies still have their own way of speaking.

Words like yari, jugal and skumfish used to be heard regularly but the Northumbrian Language Society is desperate to get a snapshot of the state of the region's dialect and see which Northumbrian words are still in use.

The call comes after Collins English Dictionary asked people to look at three Northumbrian words and let them know, via Twitter, if they are used. If not, they will write the obituary for the dead words.

But if they are still in common use, the words will be reinstated into the Collins Corpus database and could even be included in future dictionaries.

The Northumbrian Language Society chose the three words for Collins to take to the public but they have many other words and want to take the opportunity to learn more about the health of Northumberland's dialect.

Kim Bibby-Wilson from the Northumbrian Language Society said: "It matters. If we all spoke hybrid American English, it would be a very boring world.

"As far as the Collins project is concerned, it's good - it's going to get a high profile and remind people of these words. When you speak about dialect people are fascinated.

"But the more life goes on, the less people hear the speech patterns. It's whether they are speaking these words or not. From anecdotal evidence we're losing words because they're not relevant anymore."

Unlike Scottish dialect, Northumbrian words do not get full recognition, meaning there is no European funding for researching and promoting the dialect, as well as projects to record people still speaking in the tongue.

Northumbrian only holds observer status under the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages.

Kim said: "We would love to have the funding. We should be looking at how the Scots dictionary is constructed.

"Northumbrian dialect is the venerable grandmother of English, not a poor cousin. It has always been isolated, by the North Sea, the Pennines, Cheviots and moors, and it is a purer form of English. It has been reserved here for longer because the Vikings and Normans didn't have a great deal of interplay with the locals.

"It's very important, because the language that's spoken in a particular area tells you so much, just like castles do and cathedrals and football teams. You wouldn't knock down Bamburgh Castle because it's no longer used for defence."

Many of the words used in Northumberland are from the Angles, while certain areas also picked up gypsy words because of nearby camps.

For instance, 'gadgy', now used to mean a man, was originally used to refer to non-gypsies, while charver, now a derogatory term, used to mean friend.

Which of the words below do you still use? Do you know of any other current Northumbrian dialect words?

Click on the link on the right to share them

SPREADING THE WORD

THE THREE WORDS COLLINS ARE RESEARCHING ARE

Shawm - to warm yourself

Hippletyclinch - walk with a limp

Bari - beautiful/handsome

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM NORTHUMBERLAND

Deek - to look at

Yari - egg

Jugal - dog

Mort - wife

Netty - toilet

Oxter - armpit

Kenspeckle - distinctive

Skumfish - tired

Spelk - splinter

Gully - sharp knife for meat/general purpose

Puzzly-os - noughts and crosses

Lowp - to jump

Kist - strong box

WELL-KNOWN REGIONAL TERMS

Gadgy - non-gypsy man

Charver - friend

Gan - go

Lang - long

Canny - good

Hoy - throw

Ahad/ahaad - caught fire

Stotty - round bread

NEW ONES

Windy-pick - pneumatic drill

Starry head - Phillips screwdriver

Rescue operation launched on Bamburgh beach

2009-11-10T09:46:02Z

A rescue operation was launched after a missing man threatened to harm himself on a Northumberland beach.

The 56-year-old man, who had been reported missing from the Fife area in Scotland, made contact with a relative and was threatening to self harm on the beach at Bamburgh.

Police in Fife, who had been looking for the man, were notified and alerted Northumbria Police.

The emergency services teamed up to search the coastline and the man's car was found by police in Bamburgh. He was located nearby, safe and well.

Public face of policing comes to Seahouses

2009-11-06T14:19:34Z

Officers from Seahouses Neighbourhood Policing Team and Northumberland County Council Community Safety team joined up this week to run a crime prevention event in the area.

As part of the Not in my Neighbourhood Action week Neighbourhood Beat Manager PC Bill Garriock and Community Safety Officer Brian Routledge were at the Coop store on the main street in Seahouses, offering local residents crime prevention advice, personal alarms and key rings, and tips on keeping their homes safe.

PC Garriock said: "Events like this allow the residents of Seahouses to meet their Neighbourhood Policing Team face to face and give us the opportunity to talk to them about their concerns in their local area. The Not in my Neighbourhood Action week is an excellent way of us engaging with the public and making residents aware of all the hard work going on in the area by police and partners.

"We need the help of our partners and the public to maintain the low levels of crime and disorder in the area and to continue to provide a quality of service which meets the needs of local people."

To speak to your local policing team in Seahouses and Berwick you can contact them on 03456 043 043 ext 61378.

Bell View artists create colourful calendar

2009-11-05T12:24:59Z

Artists have pooled their works to create a colourful calendar.

The art group which meets at Bell View in Belford chose pictures they had made of the area for a 2010 calendar. All proceeds after costs are covered will be used for the charity and its activities.

To get a copy, go to the reception desk at Bell View or phone (01668) 219220.

The friendly and informal art group meets from 2-4pm on Wednesdays and would welcome new members.

Northumberland coast visitors on the increase

2009-11-05T11:11:25Z

Free-to-access National Trust sites along the Northumberland coast have seen a huge surge in visitor popularity.

Kevin Redgrave, trust acting head warden on the Northumberland Coast, said: "This has been an exceptionally busy year for us. The car parks have been full to overflowing.

"Locals who have lived around here all their lives say they haven't seen it this busy since the 1960s."

More on this story »

Your Photos: Longstone Lighthouse

2009-11-05T08:50:04Z

Carle Robinson of Amble sent in this photo of Longstone Lighthouse at the Farne Islands, the former home of Victorian heroine Grace Darling.

Send in photos for publication on the Seahouses & Belford site or the YourView page in Thursday's Journal Extra supplement to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk

Belford edge out Bamburgh in derby game

2009-11-04T13:00:24Z

Belford continue to lead Division Two of the North Northumberland League- but only after just edging out local rivals Bamburgh Castle.

Kevin Greshon and Chris Hay were the Belford scorers, with Kevin Potts replying for Bamburgh.

Springhill had Stevie Eamons and Mark Reid on target as they kept up their challenge with a win over Boulmer, whose single reply came from Mathew Sullivan.

In the Sanderson Cup, Alnwick Town Reserves and Shilbottle were level after normal time.

Two extra-time goals saw Alnwick through, while Ashington Athletic made the trip to Berwick worthwhile by netting six times in the victory over Berwick United Reserves.

It took extra time before Lowick went through at the expense of Bedlington Terrier Reserves, while Rothbury kept up their good early-season form to ease past Berwick Town.

In the Runciman Cup, Lynemouth had Darren Burn netting four times in a seven-goal success over Rothbury Reserves.

At Wooler, it also took extra time before the home club made progress at the expense of Embleton WR.

Swine flu drugs can be delivered to north Northumberland

2009-11-04T09:08:56Z

A Northumberland MP has asked health chiefs to ensure people are aware that swine flu antivirals can be delivered.

Berwick Lib Dem MP Sir Alan Beith has spoken out on behalf of constituents who are unable to travel to collection points at Blyth or Byker.

He said: "Travelling from Berwick to Blyth to collect antivirals involves a 120 mile round trip, taking at least two hours by car and much longer by public transport. Byker is even further. Even driving from Alnwick will take at least a couple of hours.

"Although the number of cases does not justify opening an antiviral collection point in Berwick or Alnwick at present, I have been assured by local health service managers that the situation is being monitored closely.

"In the meantime people who have been given a prescription for antivirals and who cannot travel to Tyneside should call the collection centre and ask for delivery. This delivery service is vital for people in north Northumberland and I am very pleased it has been provided."

Farne seal pups tracked by coloured coats

2009-11-03T09:41:51Z

Peak pup production time is nearing in the grey seal colony off the Northumberland coast.

The 4,000 seals on the Farne Islands make it the biggest grey colony in England.

The first pup arrived on October 4 and by yesterday 362 had been born.

But mothers will continue to give birth for another month, with the peak occurring in around 10 days.

Last year the total of newborns for the Farne Islands was 1,318. But the average mortality rate is 50-55%.

"The main threat is storms in which the youngsters are washed off the rocks in the first few weeks of their lives and they drown," said David Steel, the National Trust's head warden on the islands. "But so far this year the weather has been quite kind to the young seals."

The wardens visit the colony every three days or so and mark batches of pups with a different colour on every outing.

This allows them to monitor survival rates of different groups of youngsters.

They also radio tag some pups to follow their movements in the first year of their lives, after which the device will be lost as the animals moult.

The programme has shown that young seals from the Farne Islands will travel to other colonies in Lincolnshire and the Firth of Forth in Scotland.

Others have turned up in the Orkneys, Shetland and Faroe Islands, and even as far afield as Norway.

"One bull which was marked on the Farne Islands in 1981 is still around," said David.

New calls for dualling of A1

2009-11-03T09:30:22Z

A Northumberland Tory peer has called on the Government to spend money planned for Europe on dualling the A1.

Lord Vinson, of Roddam Dene, near Wooler in Northumberland, hit out in the House of Lords at plans to give £7.9bn in annual membership money to the European Union in 2010.

In a question to Lord Myners, financial services secretary to the treasury, Lord Vinson - former chairman of the Rural Development Commission - said the money would be better spent on improving this country's infrastructure.

He questioned why the Government had not made money available to dual the A1 throughout Northumberland, and for improvements to the A69 which links Newcastle with Carlisle and the M6.

Lord Vinson said afterwards: "Magnificent roads and railways have been built in Spain, Portugal and Ireland, substantially with British money. It would be much better to spend the £8bn here at home. The A1 is a glaring missing link in the infrastructure supporting our regional economic prosperity.

"An investment in the road will be rewarded by the business growth it stimulates. It is absolutely lunacy that we pour money into Europe when we have got a third world infrastructure in this country.

"What other country of the world would have its A1 major trunk route not even dual carriageway? It is mind-blowing.

"The A69 between Newcastle and Carlisle is probably just as important.

"The thing about the A1, where it needs dualling, there are no issues of going through towns or conurbations, it would be a relatively easy part of road to dual.

"If you get roads right and infrastructure right, the economy follows."

In response, Lord Myners said transferring the money to the EU would have no impact on spending on Britain's infrastructure, but did not mention the A1. He added: "Our membership of the EU does put British interests first. It gives us direct access to a community of 490 million people.

"The EU accounts for 20% of world trade but 57% of Britain's trade. Some 3.5m jobs in Britain are directly attributable to our membership of the EU, as is the fact that we receive over 25%

Lord Vinson's was backed by Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Conservatives' parliamentary candidate for Berwick.

Mrs Trevelyan is the founder and co-ordinator of the A1 Action Group, which is campaigning for the road to be dualled throughout Northumberland.

She said: "I am incensed by the amount of taxpayers' money due to go to the EU next year, when just a fraction of this sum would be enough to dual the A1.

"Lord Vinson is absolutely right that we must put our national interest first."

LORD VINSON

Nigel Vinson is a former businessman with strong connections across Northumberland.

Now 78, he was the son of a farmer and was educated at the Nautical College in Pangbourne. He served in the Queen's Royal Regiment from 1948 to 1950, reaching the rank of lieutenant.

He was director of the Sugar Board from 1968 to 1975, director of British Airports Authority from 1973 to 1980, and director of the Barclays Bank from 1982 to 1987. He is co-founder of the Centre for Policy Studies, for which he worked between 1974 and 1980. He was also chairman and deputy chairman of various firms and trust.

From 1976 to 1978 he was Honorary Director at the Queen's Silver Jubilee Appeal and was member of the Northumbrian National Parks and Countryside Committee between 1977 and 1987.

In 1985 he was made a life peer as Baron Vinson, of Roddam Dene in the County of Northumberland.

He has been married to Yvonne Collins since 1972; they have three daughters.

Developer Lindisfarne Homes knocked back

2009-10-31T17:43:03Z

A COMPANY redeveloping the grounds of an historic Northumberland building has been knocked back in its bid to begin demolition before contracts are signed.

Developer Lindisfarne Homes has been turned down by Northumberland County Council having asked to remove two conditions of a planning approval for the building of homes in the unkempt garden of the town's Grade II-listed Governor's House, which dates back to 1719.

The removal of one of the conditions would have allowed it to demolish buildings on the site without a contract having been signed for the building of the approved 19 houses.

The council received seven letters objecting to the proposed changes, including one from Berwick Civic Society.

Objectors said that the demolitions preclude the buildings being used again if the development does not go ahead, that there was no justification for the application and that the period of disruption for residents during demolition and rebuilding would be extended.

The council's officers recommended the bid be refused, and members of the North area planning committee voted accordingly on Thursday night.