Many people will be taking time off work to go on holiday.
This includes NCC team members, Housing providers, etc.
Speed survey – Moor road
Following complaints from residents I asked that speed monitoring was carried out-
Please see the speed data attached from the survey carried out on Moor Road, in-between Moor Grange & Ferndene Hospital.
A summary of the data is included in the smaller table..
I appreciate the print is small, if you can not read the data in full & are interested in seeing further please e mail me and I will try to send you the data in a bigger format.
For information, the 85th percentile is that speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling or less, while the remaining 15% of vehicles will be travelling above that speed.
Within a 30mph speed limit, the 85th percentile is required to be a minimum of 35mph for enforcement to be considered by the police.
This data will be sent to the Police for their information and consideration.
Occasionally one or more vehicles are recorded at travelling at high speeds, this is normal- Emergency services vehicles are the usual reason.
A further speed survey took place following other residents complaints elsewhere on Moor road near the High School earlier this year CLICK HERE
Major housing development proposal.
Update 16/10/26
I have asked for any update on how this is proceeding, but there is nothing new to report.
See post re new local plan- CLICK HERE
Rural housing issues
Update 3/7/26
Update 18/6/26
Update 16/5/26
update 14/5/26
Update 19/4/26
The applicant has submitted new plans – see a range of documents on the NCC portal-
If you can not use the portal please e mail the NCC planning officer with your comments, details are on the portal.
19/4/26 a further press release I submitted
Update 4/12/25
Concerns raised – Courant
Update 20/10/25
Since the official consultation period ended work has continued in the background by the objectors and I hear the developer has also been preparing their case.
There is an outside chance that the developer will withdraw their application, but I feel this is very unlikely.
I have applied for the application to be brought before a planning committee if the developer does not withdraw their application, and the planning dept recommends approval.
I also requested that if it does go to a committee a site meeting is held, I will describe how this works at a later date if the planning application is pursued.
Both of my requests have been agreed.
I anticipate the application will go before a committee on the 9th December 2025.
See link CLICK HERE
But as always I will continue to provide updates.
What you can do –
If you have a view on the application you can still submit comments to the NCC planning dept and /or the developer.
Update 31/8/25
I had a face to fae catch up with residents leading the opposition.
Updated 3/7/25
Courant report CLICK HERE
Update 30/6/25
Residents can email comments to planningcomments@northumberland.gov.uk if there are any problems submitting via the portal.
Update 29/6/25
A site walkabout was held with concerned residents and some of the PTC Cllrs.
Onsite CLICK HERE
Update 25/6/25
Chronicle report- CLICK HERE
Sun 22/6/25
This evening I met a group of residents for 2.5 hrs who are concerned about the proposed development in Prudhoe.
They have started a petition and are encouraging people to sign it, online or in paper form – copies are at various locations around town.
But they wish to emphasis the importance of also submitting views online to the planning dept.
This is above any comments submitted to the developer at the time they sought the views of residents.
Petition
Objection against the proposed development at Highfield Lane, Prudhoe NE42 6EY, by Barrett David Wilson Homes. Ref: 25/01971/FUL.
We wish to register our objection to plans that have been submitted to Northumberland County Council to build 65 dwellings on land adjacent to Highfield Lane. We are objecting to the application for the builidng of any property on the proposed site on the grounds of safety and environmental concerns. The main objections are highway safety and increased traffic impact. Environmental and conservation impact. The refusal of previous planning applications and Appendix A in the SHLAA 2024 document which states that the proposed site is not suitable, not available, not achievable and discounted for housing.
Opened for signatures: 19.06.25
Click here to sign the e-petition-
Land To East Of School
Highfield Lane
Prudhoe
Northumberland
Full planning application for the construction of 65no. residential dwellings (Use Class C3) with associated landscaping, access arrangements, parking and infrastructure.
Application Reference: 25/01971/FUL
For further information or to comment on the proposal, please use this link: CLICK HERE
You can make a comment to:
- support an application
- object to an application
- make a neutral comment (to raise a concern)
The planning application is part of a formal legal process.
Information about planning process CLICK HERE
Continue to next page –
Drowning prevention.
Councillor Gordon Stewart, Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Safety, is pressing the Government to introduce statutory responsibilities for reducing open water risks to members of the public.
The urgent call comes in light of National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) figures revealing how many people have died from accidental water-related incidents across the UK.
With the majority of these tragedies occurring at inland locations such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and ponds, Councillor Stewart has highlighted the severe ongoing risks posed by accessible inland bodies of water scattered across the nation.
Councillor Stewart said:
“Every drowning is one too many. Great swathes of landlocked water, such as ponds and lakes across the country, can be easily accessed by members of the public. We need a clear, statutory framework and centralized support to ensure these risks are properly managed, rather than leaving local areas to tackle what are in the main preventable tragedies in a piecemeal way”
- Data shows that a significant portion of fatalities involve individuals—such as walkers or runners—who never intended to enter the water, emphasizing that open water hazards threaten everyday public footpaths and open spaces.
This is not a seasonal problem during the summer months it is everyday of the year - Local authorities and safety organisations currently lack a unified, mandatory legal obligation specifically targeting open water risk reduction for the public, prompting calls for Westminster to bridge the gap.
- The above along with many groups formed locally following a death, do a good job but a legally responsible body with teeth to change and improve is now vital.
I do not want to Government to just ‘dump’ the responsibility onto local authorities, or charities.
This has to be properly constituted and well funded with a clear vision and responsibility.
Notes
RLSS CLICK HERE
National water safety Forum CLICK HERE
ROSPA CLICK HERE
NFRS CLICK HERE
Preventative – PR examples
Housing targets – New local plan.
Page created 14/10/26
Last updated 17/10/26
I believe that Prudhoe (& elsewhere) needs more homes.
The right type, number and location, these should be homes for the future not just houses everywhere for the sake of meeting this Government’s targets.
Northumberland is unique in so many ways and this should be preserved as far as possible.
This is what I will be fighting for in the months and years ahead.
Settlements should not merge into one, this would lose local pride and identity.
Local people or those with clear local links should be given preferential treatment for social housing or discounted market value houses.
See Courant report – CLICK HERE
Our County boundary should keep a clear distance from other areas such as Gateshead. ie with fields, streams & wooded areas between us.
What is the local plan ?
The Local Plan sets the main planning policies for Northumberland.
The Local Plan, along with ‘made’ Neighbourhood Plans, forms our statutory development plan. Together these set the rules for where and how new development can happen in Northumberland.
Town & parish councils need to complete their neighbourhood plans as a matter of urgency.
Local Councils urged to create Neighbourhood plans (Dec 24) via Chronicle CLICK HERE
The Northumberland Local plan.
The NEW Local plan – CLICK HERE ** The very important info**
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What is the HELAA?
The Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) is a high-level, constraints focussed, technical study that assesses the potential sites put forward for consideration, to support future housing and employment and economic development.
The HELAA is NOT a policy document. It does not allocate sites for development and does not grant planning permission.
What do the colours mean?
Green and amber are considered to be potentially developable. Green sites have fewer/less constraints and fewer uncertainties than the amber sites. Red sites are considered to have significant constraints which suggest that they are not developable.
How will the HELAA be used?
As a new Local Plan is prepared, the amount of housing and employment land required across different parts of Northumberland will be established. Where there is an identified need for housing and/or employment land, sites in the HELAA will be subject to further assessment. The most appropriate site in each location to meet Local Plan objectives will be selected for allocation.
There is far more land put forward for consideration in the HELAA than will be required. Therefore, only a small proportion of the sites identified in the HELAA will be allocated in the plan.
Can I have my say?
As a technical assessment, the HELAA is not subject to consultation. However, any sites proposed to be allocated for development will be subject to consultation through the plan making process.
Please see here for a list of FAQs relating to the HELAA.
Please see the sites identified for Prudhoe-
A link to the map CLICK HERE
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13/10/26
This Government’s new housing targets for Northumberland mean the county will have to build the equivalent of Blyth, Morpeth, Berwick and Haltwhistle over the next two decades,
Northumberland will need to build 1,760 new homes a year under the new proposals.
“Local authorities have always had to prepare a local plan – but this time round it is very different.
There is going to be fundamental changes and a massive increase in house building in Northumberland.
Nearly 22,000 houses across the Hexham constituency alone have been indicated by developers in the recent call for sites.
“The greenbelt protection has been removed.
People are going to see houses built in huge numbers in areas they never thought possible.
“Just to put it into context, the new target means we will have to build more than 34,000 houses over the life of the new plan.
“We need people to get involved and take ownership.
The figures below show that developers have shown interest in building houses in the various areas.
Caveat – There is no guarantee that they will progress this to planning applications.
These massive changes are not something I nor the administration at NCC County hall believe are needed, but something we oppose and have had forced upon us (and other local authorities) by this Governments obsession.
As always I will keep people informed, this will be a complicated and long running process.
Slow down –
Permanent banking hub to open at Prudhoe Co-op store
HIgher taxes impact upon peoples lives-
Road safety
More road safety improvements
This has now been done.
Along with surface patching.
I have asked that the white lines in the area be repainted.
The section of this road has a maximum speed of 30mph.
It had been higher but I asked that it be reduced to that speed, this has been in place for a few years now.
Whatever is done, the driver of a vehicle is the only one who can control the speed of their vehicle.
The Police are monitoring the speed of vehicles along this road, and others in the area.
Northumbria Police information
prudhoeroadsafety
https://www.northumbria.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/speeding/
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