County Committee
The County Committee monitors and advises on planning and development matters in Northumberland. Extracts and updates from the Committee's caseload over the last year are given below. The County Committee also monitors proposals for windfarms in Northumberland. Please see the wind farms page for updates.
Draft National Planning Policy Framework
The Committee has been studying this publication and has now made a written response to the Government's consultation. For more details see the article in the latest issue of City and County or click here to view a copy of the response. (November 2011)
Road markings
Broad yellow lines have appeared in Bamburgh, Rothbury and maybe elsewhere in seeming contradiction to policy. Action: County Council to be contacted for its policy on the width of yellow lines (August 2011)
Dunstan Stead Farm, Embleton
The application for a livestock building at Dunstan Stead Farm had met with so many objections, the Committee decided that there seemed to be no merit in adding another one. (May 2011). Update: The building has now been approved and built without the knowledge of the people of Embleton. A future application for a farm and ancillary buildings is now awaited, which they will vigorously oppose. Action: Interest registered with Northumberland County Council. Situation to be monitored. (August 2011)
Open-cast Coal
The Chairman has emailed the convenor of the Whittonstall Action Group, to offer support in their campaign to oppose the Hood’s Close Open cast site and to ask him to keep us informed of progress. Objection on the grounds of landscape and environmental issues. (May 2011). Update: No progress (August 2011)
See related report from City and County (Feb 2010)
Blue Sky Forest Project
The Committee will be monitoring the possible developments carefully to ensure that they are appropriate for the area and local voices continue to be heard. Members are invited to send in their comments to the Society Office. For more information see article from the May 2011 issue of City and County (May 2011)
North Blyth Biomass Power Station
General fears were expressed at the major proposal for the development of a power station importing 80% of its fuel (wood chip or pellets) from abroad through Blyth Harbour. Concern was expressed about the impact of demand for biomass fuel on price of other timber products, but the strategy of the plant and its siting was not challenged. (May 2011)
Rothbury Bridge
English Heritage have requested changes to the original design for the bridge omitting the pedestrian refuge above the piers. The Committee agreed to take the matter up with English Hertitage in support of re-instating the refuges. It has now been discovered that the modern deck sits asymmetrically on the old bridge and therefore the cutwaters on the downstream side could not be expressed through the parapet. It was felt that no further action was justified. (May 2011)
