Editorial

Civic Day Competition

So far we have had a less than enthusiastic response to this idea and I am not holding my breath. If members would like an idea of which recent buildings in the area are considered to have been influential in its regeneration, visit www.sallyannnorman.com to view photographs from the new book on NewcastleGateshead, reviewed later in this issue.

Yellow Lines

In the August 2010 edition of City and County, I commented that the double yellow lines in Bamburgh were the wrong type for use in a conservation area, being bright yellow and 10cm wide, rather than primrose and 5cm wide. Lo and behold, the same has occurred in Corbridge, after an appeal for more parking restrictions by the local community, and in Rothbury as part of the one-way system for the bridge works. However,‘Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 5’ infers that the use of these alternative lines is not mandatory, but that they may be used in areas regarded as environmentally sensitive. On a recent visit to Devon, I noticed the narrower lines are used inside and outside conservation areas and as motorists are obviously quite able to see the narrower lines adequately, ‘why not’?

Northern Architectural History Society

We have been contacted by the Northern Architectural History Society to investigate the possibility of mutually beneficial activities, which could include advertising each other’s events and web links. There are obvious similarities in many of our interests and we hope to include an article about the Society in a future issue of City and County. Members may like to visit the Society's website to find out more about their activities.

Rothbury Bridge

The three year project to upgrade the medieval bridge across the Coquet in Rothbury is well underway. A decision to simplify the design and omit the raised cutwaters has apparently been reversed after much local pressure, and we wait with interest to see how the assymetrical nature of the modern carriageway allows this treatment on both sides of the bridge.

Windfarms

We are bombarded with conflicting opinions regarding the efficacy of wind turbines. Irrespective of the visual arguments put forward to support objectors, recent statistics regarding the comparative efficiency of wind farms and power stations and the payments which are made to both type of operating companies when they overload the grid, makes it difficult to form a well informed opinion of the situation. Can somebody come up with some unbiased information?

New County Committee Chairman

Members will be pleased to learn that Anthony Coon has agreed to take over from Robin Dower as Chairman of the County Committee. Anthony has already found most of the committee suitable roles and responsibilities. Robin has retired from the committee after many years as Chairman of both this committee and the Society, for which we are extremely grateful.

City and County
November 2011