Make do and mend
IF anyone was in any doubt about how close to home the Government’s axe would fall when it came to the much vaunted cutbacks, they can be in no doubt now.
This week’s announcement that funding of more than £440,000 for 13 new children’s play parks has been put on hold comes as a blow to the three projects in Berwick, Horncliffe and Lowick, where almost £95,000 of the cash was due to be spent improving facilities.
The message seems quite clear that if communities want new facilities, such as play parks, then they are pretty much on their own and must raise the money themselves - there will be little, if any, cash coming out of Government departments for the time being.
It is either that, or make do and mend.
An excellent year’s work in our schools
THERE has been plenty to celebrate in our schools of late.
During recent weeks we have reported on Artsmark awards and excellent Ofsted inspections.
It continues this week, with an improving picture painted by inspectors who visited Glendale Middle School in Wooler.
The school is among the best in the county when it comes to maths and English, with every area of school life rated good.
And at the end of term prizegiving at Berwick Middle, Year 6 pupils were congratulated on returning the school’s best ever SAT results in these core subjects.
Space constraints mean that Tweedmouth Middle’s end of year prizegiving ceremony will be covered in next week’s paper, but the picture is equally encouraging there, with the school a great proponent of the three-tier system which operates in the north of the county.
Perhaps the end of term report for our schools should simply read: An excellent year’s work.
Enjoy the holidays!
Published Date:
28/07/2010
Modified Date:
28/07/2010
Bleak times for those in debt
BERWICK folk are continuing to struggle with debt, according to figures released by The Insolvency Service.
More people have become subject to debt relief orders since their introduction in April last year than almost anywhere else in the country.
In part this can be explained by the sterling work done at Berwick’s Citizens Advice Bureau.
Its staff who deal with debt were ahead of the game when it came to the introduction of these orders - which offer protection to those who are up to £15,000 in the red with little or no way of paying - and were able to ‘hit the ground running’ getting those in distress made subject to these orders.
However, other factors such as the low average wages paid in the area, the large number of seasonal and temporary employments and the large number of unemployed, disabled and those unable to work means debt is a major concern for many.
Indeed, the relatively high numbers of people applying for these debt relief orders suggests big problems with debt throughout north Northumberland.
And behind everyone of these statistics lie personal tragedies, with lives shattered.
Figures for the number of people made subject to court-ordered individual voluntary arrangements, which allow debtors to pay off some or all of what they owe over a fixed period of time, also show some concern.
They might not be going up - but they are certainly not coming down.
Northumberland also had the second highest rate of bankruptcies of any county, while the number of personal insolvencies was up by 50 per cent.
The optimistic talk on the national news may be of an end to recession and better times ahead, but as these figures show, the situation in our little corner of the world is somewhat different.
Published Date:
21/07/2010
Modified Date:
21/07/2010
Time to pull down the Playhouse?
HERE’S a thought. With the spectacular Dewar’s Lane granary development nearing completion, would it not be a good time to demolish the Playhouse - possibly extending the Bridge Street car park on a temporary basis - and thus opening up that whole part of town?
Then, until a suitable development can progress on the Playhouse site, visitors and residents alike will be greeted by a stunning example of what can be achieved in the town and not by a crumbling eyesore
Published Date:
14/07/2010
Modified Date:
14/07/2010
Unsung heroes and heroines
THERE are some truly remarkable people in Berwick and north Northumberland and it is a pleasure to tell their stories in the Advertiser.
This week, for instance, Catherine Mavin has extra special reason to smile after being given a special award by learndirect.
On becoming the legal guardian of her nieces and nephews, and having left school with few qualifications, Catherine decided she needed to brush up on her maths and English to help the children with their school homework.
Having passed her exams, she can now sit down with the kids and help them with their work.
An award well deserved.
Another person with extra reason to smile this week is Nikki Lindsay, whose volunteer work with the RNID has earned her an award.
Nikki runs a support group for the deaf and hard of hearing in Berwick as well as volunteering at RNID’s Hear to help project in Galashiels.
Catherine and Nikki are just two of the many people in the area whose selfless efforts help make life a little better for others.
The launch of this year’s Pride of Northumberland Awards, which is being organised by the Advertiser in conjunction with our sister papers in the county hopes to highlight the efforts of more of our unsung heroes and heroines.
There are nine categories in this year’s awards and we are sure that everyone knows someone who would fit the bill in at least one.
Details and an entry form - along with the full story of Catherine and Nikki’s efforts are on page 14 of this week's paper.
We will also post the details online at www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk.
Published Date:
07/07/2010
Modified Date:
07/07/2010
Why the forced switch to digital?
THE country is bankrupt, cutbacks abound in all walks of life and we’re all going to have to pay more tax.
Still, we’ll still all be able to tune in and listen to the radio for a few moments of pleasure when we’re too skint to go out anywhere or do anything else. Or will we?
Our glorious leaders in the Government’s cultural department have decreed that digital is the way to go and that our trusty old FM and medium wave radios must be consigned to the history books.
Quite why has never really been fully explained to the millions who tune in everyday.
Those of use who have digital radios - and who can actually manage to get any reception - notice no improvement in sound quality.
Quite the opposite in fact. FM comes through crystal clear while the digital signal is prone to breaking up.
Choice is another problematic area.
In some parts of Berwick the only stations you can find are those run by the BBC.
Planet Rock? Classic FM? Not likely - you’re better off binning the DAB and choosing an internet radio (which gives you access to thousands of stations worldwide).
And anyone who has ever tried to use a pocket DAB radio while walking the streets will have given up in abject frustration.
So while we must acknowledge that there are probably many more pressing issues affecting north Northumberland, Sir Alan Beith was nonetheless quite right to raise the issue of digital coverage in the area during a recent debate.
If this is to be way ahead, it is vital that rural areas such as ours are not left behind just as they have been with other technological developments, such as high speed broadband connectivity.
Radio is a truly great medium, enjoyed by millions every day, whether it’s McCulloch in the Morning or Simon Mayo on Radio 2.
Depriving listeners by charging ahead with an unwanted digital switch-over would be simply wrong.
Published Date:
30/06/2010
Modified Date:
30/06/2010
Scoring well on tourism front
THE findings of a new study into what tourists think of a day out in Berwick - or a longer stay in the town and surrounding area - make for interesting reading.
The headline results - that traffic and parking are a big turn-off and the range of shops in the main streets could be better - are perhaps not that surprising.
After all, they are regular gripes among those who live and work in Berwick and its environs.
However, on a positive note, nine out of 10 visitors who took part in the survey reckoned Berwick was a good place to come and enjoy themselves - so we must be doing something right!
This is confirmed by how much people are spending once they get here.
Day trippers spend almost £15 more than the county’s average in the town.
Wooler performs well, according to the study, with it being the most popular place for people to stay rather than just visit for the day.
And it is heartening to see that almost nine in 10 visitors would recommend Seahouses as a place to visit.
We all know the old adage about ‘lies, damned lies and statistics’ but it may well be worth the while of those involved in catering to the many visitors to north Northumberland to digest the survey’s findings and use them as a basis for looking at how and where their efforts can be improved.
Published Date:
23/06/2010
Modified Date:
23/06/2010
We remain to be convinced
IT seems Isabel Hunter was capable enough to lead Berwick Borough Council in the difficult period prior to its demise, but not to maintain her position on Northumberland County Council’s top table.
Whatever one’s view of Coun Hunter’s political persuasion, there can be no doubt that her absence from the county council’s powerful executive committee is a blow to Berwick and the north of the county. This only leaves the area with Jim Smith to ensure a voice from the north is heard on the executive.
There has been no explanation as to why Coun Hunter was removed from the executive and those who felt right from the start that Berwick would be consigned to the margins under the new county regime may feel they have been vindicated.
It is up to those on the executive to convince us otherwise - not through words, but through action.
Fragile future
TWO reports in the paper this week highlight the precarious position of fragile rural communities.
Sadly, though not surprisingly, it was confirmed that Eglingham School is to close as a result of falling numbers.
It doesn’t take a genius to realise that without a school, rural communities face a real battle for survival.
And rural depopulation has been highlighted as a major issue by a new working group set up by the county council.
Attracting young families to the villages must be a priority - and that means affordable housing and village schools are a must.
Published Date:
26/05/2010
Modified Date:
26/05/2010
Not the time and place to air dirty laundry
IT was unfortunate to say the least for Berwick Town Council to air its dirty laundry in public at what should have been one of the showpiece civic occasions on Monday.
If there were differences of opinion over who should take the post of deputy mayor - as there obviously were - these should have been dealt with once and for all at the earlier, private meeting, which produced the nominations for mayor-elect and deputy-mayor elect.
It reflected badly on the town council that this issue was allowed to surface at the mayor making evening.
One wonders quite what a council chamber packed with invited family, friends and guests made of it all, especially when one member was moved to describe the whole affair as ‘an absolute disgrace’.
None of those involved in putting forward Coun John Robertson for the deputy-mayor’s role explained their decision to those who attended the meeting and it was a strange decision by the members to hold a ballot in secret rather than by a traditional show of hands.
The issue somewhat overshadowed Coun Jennifer Waterhouse’s acceptance of the mayoral chains for the year.
Judging by the comments contained within her speech, she can be expected to provide a strong voice for Berwick-upon-Tweed whenever it is required during the coming 12 months.
It was a clearly emotional occasion for Coun Waterhouse, surrounded by many members of her family.
We wish Coun Waterhouse, her consort, son Cameron, and the rest of the civic party an enjoyable and successful year in office.
Published Date:
19/05/2010
Modified Date:
19/05/2010