Residents have asked if funding claims being made in leaflets & by word of mouth are true.
Are these myths,misleading, untruths, lack of knowledge, economical with the truth, mischievous or something else ?
So when labour hand you a leaflet or knock on your door, ask them to tell you the truth.
Ask them why they keep talking about the disproportionate amount of funding when comparing Prudhoe’s with Ponteland & Cramlington ?
They talk about ‘since 2017’
Well look at the facts , they were in charge during 2017 !
Until they were kicked out by the voters as a result of a range of issues.
The massive spend for Ponteland & Cramlington was something Northumberland Labour created.
Someone who should have known better, said ‘Are the kids in other areas like Ponteland worth more than Prudhoe’s.
A shocking comment from someone in her position.
Lets look at the facts –
March 2015 – The then Labour Controlled Northumberland County Council submitted a planning application for a new build of Prudhoe Community High School.
They agreed the design and costs and put an application into the Central Government regarding the Councils chosen project.
The Govt paid the sum requested by the Council.
The Labour run town council backed the NCC plan.
The school had been placed in special measures by Ofsted in 2013 after its leadership and management were deemed inadequate by Ofsted.
Its governors resigned en mass after a subsequent visit by the watchdog failed to result in the school being removed from the special measures category.
See Chronicle report March 2015 CLICK HERE
So what about the massive investment into Ponteland they go on about?
Exclusive: Three shortlisted for £40m Ponteland school hub
14 FEB 2017
Yes again just before the election, when they lost control of NCC!!
It was far more than a ‘High School’ that Labour now want you to believe.
The Labour run County Council at that time shortlisted contractors before planning approval.
What was this ‘hub’ all about ?
Under the plans, Ponteland First School, (Primary ) Ponteland Community High School and Ponteland Leisure Centre & Library will be brought together in one building.
The leisure centre boasts a large bar /lounge area.
Close to a new Fire & Rescue station, on the same footprint & also a Middle School. Playing fields etc
This was at a time when the education in that area was changed from a three tier to a two tier system.
Ponteland High School has approx twice as many students on roll as Prudhoe.
It can be assumed twice as many staff.
Quite simply, Labour have chosen to ignore the fact it was THEIR plan….
What else was happening around that time ?
Labour run County Council ‘intended to loan £75m’ for controversial 2,000-home Ponteland garden village – CLICK HERE
Lugano Property Group confirmed it held talks with Northumberland County Council over the loan deal.
Who were Lugano ? This was a very difficult time for the Labour administration and its surprising that they want it dragged up again in a campaign but …. CLICK HERE
Remember this was the time the Labour Council put County Hall up for sale
And set about cutting down trees before planning applications were through – CLICK HERE all because they wanted a new multi million pound civic building in Ashington, they saw as their heartland.
Contract awarded – CLICK HERE
That was at the same time they built a £20m leisure centre & spa in Ashington(2016)
This was the same time that .
Removal of the paper from Council property-
This was at the same time that …
Ovingham Bridge – Storm Desmond 2015
The Labour administration at that time took their eyes off the ball, and celebrated with a vintage car ride across the bridge which had not been completed, but failed to take precautionary action as numerous warnings of a severe storm and that flooding was due.
The impact of the storm upon so many was huge, the scaffolding on the bridge buckled and created a dam with trees unable to be washed away.
See press reports –
Labour Councillor celebrates with vintage car trip – CLICK HERE
Ovingham bridge out of action yet again CLICK HERE
The work was finally completed.
But the Labour administration failed to budget or even plan to fix the well known flooding issues close to the Prudhoe railway crossing.
This is now being tackled.
The Prudhoe Riverside cafe was closed due to the flooding, and remained closed without the Council at that time having a plan.
The Conservative run County Council created a plan and the cafe was reopened . See NCC report CLICK HERE
It is now a NCC run cafe and visitor centre employing local people.
In 2020 the Conservative run Council invested into the area with a new playpark and other facilities.
NCC Website CLICK HERE
Since 2021 (the last local election) there has been a failure to see the benefits (by a few, not the many) of this area and no one has been campaigning for investment such as much needed toilet upgrade.
Many other areas have improved as their Councillors campaigned for such vital work.
That was the same time that the Labour controlled Council reduced household waste centres openings – CLICK HERE
That was the same time the Labour controlled Council paid out over £52,000 (at least) of tax payers money showing off their leaders faces on huge posters and the side of bin lorries.
This was the time that the Labour Controlled County Council Closed down without warning the Prudhoe East Centre.
Again without any plan.
Yes, they failed to tell the staff, volunteers, young people the wider community that they had put the building up for sale !!!
It had a for sale sign up and was on the estate agents website.- Incredible….
This was before the 2017 election, and Gordon campaigned with local people to keep it open, forcing the Labour leader to back down.
That was the same time that this happened !
That was at the time that the same Labour controlled County Council bought a …… Cramlington Shopping centre, eh ? whats that all about ??
At a time when shopping centres all over the world were sold off by the businesses who ran them.
Council tax payers money has been wasted on that crazy deal, set by the Labour administration – CLICK HERE
Hang on a minute, then they went and bought another one !!!!
Northumberland development group Arch buys Westmorland Retail Park in Cramlington for £36m – A bit cheaper than the other one, I accept !!!
And the tax payer loses out yet again. CLICK HERE
What investment into Prudhoe have we seen from the Labour North Of Tyne Combined Authority Mayor or the Labour North East Combined Authority Mayor ????
The only thing the Labour PCC has done is close down the Police desk
Since 2017 we have seen our schools and parks improved greatly with OFTED ratings so much better than prior to that year,
Our roads and leisure facilities are so much better, its taken time and a huge sum of tax payers money to get the town to this stage.
Still a lot to do.
The introduction of the Prudhoe retail park that Labour found difficult to support is now a god send employing a large number of local people and making the weekly shop etc so much easier. CLICK HERE
The multi million pound borderlands plan will see a massive improvement to the front street area.
So when labour hand you a leaflet or knock on your door and are blaming others, remind them not that long ago the above happened on their watch, ask them to tell you the truth.
Ask them why they keep talking about the disproportionate amount of funding when comparing Prudhoe with Ponteland & Cramlington ?
Ask them to explain how disabled people in Prudhoe will be supported after the changes their Government pushed through,
Ask them how around 70,000 pensioners in Northumberland including many in Prudhoe are coping with the sudden loss of the winter fuel allowance.
Ask them to explain how Sir Keir Starmer said there would not be any increase in Council taxes this year, but failed to give Councils funding.
Ask them what plan is there to stop Prudhoe businesses being hit badly & possibly a large number of local people losing their jobs as a result of the huge increase in employers NI contributions Rachel Reeves announced
Ask them to tell you about food security and the family farm tax.
Local farmers are part of our community and are very worried about their future.
Ask them why is Labour so keen to concrete over our green spaces without local consultation.
Just ask them to tell you the truth
What has the Local Labour group campaigned or even ‘just asked ‘ for in Prudhoe over the last 4 years?
We know of nothing whatsoever..……
Check out the dedicated webpage for Prudhoe Waterworld. CLICK HERE
Prudhoe Matters 