Latest news with #GlenSanderson
BBC News
18 hours ago
- BBC News
Berwick Old Bridge reopens to traffic after restoration
A 400-year-old bridge has reopened to traffic following restoration Old Bridge, spanning the River Tweed in Northumberland, saw masonry repairs to the elevations and arch barrels as part of the final phase of work which began in of the Grade I listed crossing needed Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England to allow the works to be County Council claimed the refurbishment, which cost £3.54m, would protect the structure for generations to come. Leader Glen Sanderson said: "All those centuries ago, workers might still have been talking about the Spanish Armada just 20 years or so before, or the Mayflower with 102 pilgrims that set sail for the New World, when the bridge was being built."They would not know that in less than 40 years England would become embroiled in the bloody Civil War. "The Old Bridge is over 1,000 ft long, 17ft wide and has 15 spans or arches so its restoration was never going to be a quick or easy process. However, it is now in fantastic condition." 'Truly beautiful' Sanderson praised the work of the stone suppliers, stone masons and other craftsmen involved in the project, many of whom he said were from the local the five years, the whole bridge structure was refurbished, including below the water level, with the method used for the replacement of stone as historically accurate as possible, according to the of replacement stone and examples of the mortar pointing were approved by Historic Nicole Brooke said the structure had once been "a key part of the Great North Road connecting London and Edinburgh and, more recently in 2018, it was featured in the Netflix Hollywood blockbuster The Outlaw King which portrayed the life of Robert the Bruce".She added: "It's a truly beautiful bridge and one of the special landmarks in our town." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
01-08-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bedlington Station delays blamed on pipes and stonework
The delayed opening of a new train station has been blamed on ageing stonework and a water pipe under the planned car Northumberland Line between Ashington and Newcastle opened in December, however Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations will not welcome passengers until residents reacted angrily towards the news, claiming the town was being treated unfairly in comparison to its on a visit to the construction site, Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson said he recognised the concerns but insisted the work was progressing well. The Conservative leader said he was "surprised" about how much work contractors have completed in just a few months, but also that he was "really surprised" about the "level of unexpected problems" that have cropped four months were lost to moving a water pipe from the Bedlington car when they took down a supporting wall from the platform the stonework collapsed because of its age, Sanderson said, with every stone having to be taken off and re-laid. "These are the two issues that have caused months of delays," Sanderson said."There have been others, but these two in particular."Independent councillor Malcom Robinson, who represents Bedlington West ward, previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the town was at the "back of the queue" when it came to major the anger, Sanderson said: "I do understand the annoyance and concern, but there have been really good reasons why we haven't been able to keep to the timetable that we wanted."The line is absolutely fantastic and Bedlington will soon be an integral and important part of that service." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bedlington residents' frustration as rail station delayed
The news that a town's new station has been delayed until 2026 has been met with Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December, however, Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations will not welcome passengers until next is the latest disappointment for Bedlington residents who feel the town is treated as a poor relation to others nearby. Between 2017 and 2023, it received £13.01m in capital investment from the county council, compared to £23.23m in Ashington and £39.4m in County Council leader Glen Sanderson insisted work was progressing on the station as quickly as possible. Jeanette Stoker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I've seen people on the train travelling up and down and we can't get on it. "It would be so helpful for elderly people if they wanted to go to Newcastle - it's frustrating."David McArdle said he was disappointed the railway had been delayed but felt it would be a positive for the town when it was finally said: "When it does come back, it will bring more people to the area, more tourists." 'I wish I never moved here' John Hume said it was very positive to have the return of passenger rail to the area for the first time since the 1960s. He said: "After 30-odd years waiting for it, they're doing it now."They are spending the money on it."Rosemary Wealleans moved to the town from Ashington five years ago. She said: "We've got nothing here. We need something like a swimming pool, but we get nothing and Ashington gets everything."I wish I had never moved here." Residents have long called for improved leisure facilities, but as yet none have been Stoker said: "There's nowt for the younger people now. No wonder they're getting into trouble."However, there has been positive news for the town in recent was completed on four new retail units at the town's market Northumberland, the Conservative-led council's development company, is set to move forward with the final two phases of the four-phase redevelopment of the town town has also benefited from Borderlands funding as part of the Town Deal programme, with up to £3m set to be invested. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations delayed until 2026
Residents have been left frustrated by the latest delays to the opening of two new railway Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December, however, Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations will not welcome passengers until Robinson, Independent councillor for Bedlington West, said the delays were "eroding the public's trust" in such projects. Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council, Glen Sanderson, said the project was "challenging" and the local authority was working to get the remaining stations open as soon as possible. It was initially hoped the 18-mile (29km) line would open with six new stations, but only two, Ashington and Seaton Delaval, were completed when the line reopened to passengers, six decades on from the services in Station opened in reason has been given for the delay by the local authority or rail operator Northern, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. 'Immensely complicated' Robinson, said residents had been "mostly unsurprised" by the news."It is a shame that Bedlington can't be part of this great success that is the Northumberland Line," he said. "We've had that many promises time and time again. At the end of the day you're eroding public trust in all these projects."The worst part is we're waving at trains trundling through Bedlington so many times a day that it cuts the town in half because of the level crossing and we can't get on them."Lets hope it is open in the new year, but I think people in Bedlington will believe it when they see it."Blyth Bebside station is still due to open in to Robinson's comments, Sanderson said: "I would rather under-promise and not delay than the other way round. "We're working as fast as we can."Producing a new railway line is an immensely complicated and challenging project – but we are going to stick with it."I'm sure that, within a matter of months, Bedlington will be open and people will be able to enjoy it." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
HMS Northumberland's anchor preservation plans by council
The anchor from the Royal Navy vessel HMS Northumberland could be preserved in one of the county's for the Duke of Northumberland, the Type 23 frigate was built by Swan Hunter at Wallsend, North Tyneside, and was launched in 1992. After deployments across the world, it was announced last year the ship would be decommissioned, with Defence Secretary John Healey stating it had become "uneconomical to repair".Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County Council, said he hoped the 3.5 tonne (3,500kg) anchor could be acquired to go along with the ship's bell and deck plates already allocated as memorabilia. Alnwick Castle councillor Gordon Castle stressed the importance of preserving the ship's heritage ahead of "the old warrior" being scrapped in a few months asked the council leader to ensure "such a significant part of our naval heritage is never forgotten." Sanderson, Conservative, said: "HMS Northumberland helped in the Caribbean catching cocaine smugglers and followed Russian vessels in the Atlantic. "She was a great vessel and our relationship was very strong."The anchor has been described as a "challenge" to obtain but Sanderson said "it is only right we keep asking for even more now."The Royal Navy Frigate was granted the Freedom of Northumberland by the council in was designed for anti-submarine warfare but was also used for security patrols, escort duties and anti-piracy 2023, it spent its time in the North Atlantic, North Sea and Arctic of its missions was to shadow two Russian destroyers, as they sailed near UK waters. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
