This month we're introducing a new way of keeping residents informed about the work of the Parish Council.

Whilst the formal minutes remain the official legal record of Council decisions, these updates will provide a more informal overview of the discussions taking place and the work happening behind the scenes.

The Chairman had intended to write the first update, but for practical reasons this first edition has been prepared by the Clerk. Future updates will be written by councillors on a rotating basis, giving residents an insight into the work of the Council from those directly involved in its discussions and decision making.

Bridge Island and Road Safety

A significant part of this month's meeting focused on Bridge Island and the balance between encouraging biodiversity and ensuring the area remains safe for everyone.

Several residents raised concerns during Public Participation about visibility for drivers and pedestrians, particularly where grass has grown taller. Councillors recently met with a Northumberland County Council highways officer on site to discuss these concerns. A number of issues were identified, including sight lines and road signage, and we are now awaiting formal feedback before considering any next steps.

As always, we welcome views from residents. Hearing a range of opinions helps the Council make informed decisions that reflect the wider community.

Neighbourhood Plan

Work on the Neighbourhood Plan continues to move forward.

The Steering Group has been developing the draft vision and objectives, and work is progressing towards a public consultation document. Plans are also being developed for community drop in sessions, giving residents the opportunity to ask questions before responding to the consultation.

Improving Communication

The Council recognised that many residents would like more information about what happens at meetings than can reasonably be included in the official minutes.

To help address this, we have agreed to trial these monthly meeting summaries. Each month, a different councillor will provide a short overview of the meeting, giving a little more background to the discussions whilst keeping the formal minutes as the Council's official legal record.

We hope this gives residents a better insight into the work of the Council.

Other Updates

Progress continues behind the scenes on the proposed footpath project. Discussions are ongoing with the relevant organisations and further work is taking place to establish whether the project is feasible. No final decision has been made at this stage.

The Council also received updates on the proposed restoration of the village telephone box and wider discussions with Northumberland County Council regarding grass cutting across the parish.

Stay Updated

Our new Parish Council website is now live and continues to be developed. Residents can sign up for email alerts to receive news and updates directly whenever new information is published. Click here to sign up

We hope you find these meeting summaries useful, and we look forward to keeping you updated over the coming months.