Latest news with #NorthumberlandCountyCouncil
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A1 dualling ignored, council leader warns
Northumberland has been forgotten, its council leader has warned, with government funding of £1.85bn for transport schemes in the North East unlikely to revive the dualling of the A1. About half the money will be used to build a Metro line linking Washington with Sunderland and Newcastle, while other schemes include introducing integrated contactless payments across bus and rail services. The dualling of 13 miles (21km) of the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham was scrapped when Labour came to power last year amid suggestions it would cost £500m. In all, the government is to award £15.6bn to areas across the UK in a move it claims will "make all parts of the country better off". As well as silence on plans for the A1 following Chancellor Rachel Reeves' speech on Wednesday, Councillor Glen Sanderson, the Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council, said he was concerned by the failure to mention other schemes in the area such as the Blyth Relief Road. "It is woefully disappointing that our A1 – now so busy it grinds to a halt regularly – is ignored. "This announcement will not help Northumberland grow its economy. "It also ignores the vital improvements needed for Moor Farm roundabout, which is an essential job that has to be done if the government want to keep up with the county council's ambition and incredible growth that the council has attracted. "The Blyth Relief Road is also ignored." The outline business case for the relief road was submitted to the Department for Transport for approval in January. Current forecasts estimate completion in 2027 with the scheme expected to cost just under £60m. It would provide a direct dual carriageway connection between the A192 Three Horseshoes roundabout and the A193 South Beach in Blyth in a bid to reduce congestion, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Responding to Sanderson's comments, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, of Labour, said there would be a "huge amount" of money for "local projects in Northumberland" with the newly announced funding "just the start" for the region. She added: "This is money for local projects which the county council supports and which mean we can push ahead with our ambitious plans to build a fully-integrated transport network the North East can be proud of connecting people to real jobs and new opportunities." Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle's Hot Seat, McGuinness said she lives on the single lane section of the A1 and knows "exactly how bad it can be". She said she did "not like" her party's decision not to go ahead with dualling the road and would "keep plugging away at getting national infrastructure money from the Treasury to do that section". In the meantime, work would continue in improving both safety and the flow of traffic on that stretch, she said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. New Metro line to be built as part of £1.85bn deal 'Our homes were taken for a road that was never built' A1 dualling cancelled over £500m cost Northumberland County Council HM Treasury
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
A1 dualling ignored, Northumberland council leader warns
Northumberland has been forgotten, its council leader has warned, with government funding of £1.85bn for transport schemes in north-east England unlikely to revive the dualling of the half the money will be used to build a Metro line linking Washington with Sunderland and Newcastle, while other schemes include introducing integrated contactless payments across bus and rail dualling of 13 miles (21km) of the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham was scrapped when Labour came to power last year amid suggestions it would cost £ all, the government is to award £15.6bn to areas across the UK in a move it claims will "make all parts of the country better off". As well as silence on plans for the A1 following Chancellor Rachel Reeves' speech on Wednesday, Councillor Glen Sanderson, the Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council, said he was concerned by the failure to mention other schemes in the area such as the Blyth Relief Road. "It is woefully disappointing that our A1 – now so busy it grinds to a halt regularly – is ignored."This announcement will not help Northumberland grow its economy."It also ignores the vital improvements needed for Moor Farm roundabout, which is an essential job that has to be done if the government want to keep up with the county council's ambition and incredible growth that the council has attracted."The Blyth Relief Road is also ignored." 'Just the start' The outline business case for the relief road was submitted to the Department for Transport for approval in forecasts estimate completion in 2027 with the scheme expected to cost just under £ would provide a direct dual carriageway connection between the A192 Three Horseshoes roundabout and the A193 South Beach in Blyth in a bid to reduce congestion, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Responding to Sanderson's comments, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, of Labour, said there would be a "huge amount" of money for "local projects in Northumberland" with the newly announced funding "just the start" for the added: "This is money for local projects which the county council supports and which mean we can push ahead with our ambitious plans to build a fully-integrated transport network the North East can be proud of connecting people to real jobs and new opportunities." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Shambles market in Hexham shut until autumn for revamp
A £400,000 restoration project has started to rectify damage and address safety issues at a 259-year-old covered Shambles, a Grade-II listed structure built in 1766, occupies a prominent position within the heart of Hexham's conservation area, next to the town's County Council said it is in a poor state and "urgent work" is needed to restore its timber beams, stone columns, roof and marketplace is expected to remain shut until autumn, with traders offered an alternative site nearby, but Hexham East councillor Suzanne Fairless-Aitken called the closure "short-term pain for long-term gain". The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports bollards are also to be placed around The Shambles' north and west sides to protect its columns and stonework, which "have been repeatedly damaged by vehicles over the last few years". Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Business Mayor
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Inside popular 90s Waterworld as it finally opens after £1.6million upgrade with wave machine and slide
THE popular 1990s Waterworld with a wave machine and water slide is finally open after a £1.6million upgrade. With another bank holiday weekend, many of us are well and truly getting into the summer spirit. 3 The changing area at Prudhoe Waterworld has been revamped Credit: Park Leisure 3 The locker area at Prudhoe Waterworld, which has undergone a £1.6million refurbishment by Northumberland County Council And what better way to plan for long summer days than by taking a family trip to the swimming pool. Prudhoe Waterworld, was originally opened in 1990 by Northumberland County Council but following its major refurbishment – it's looking better than ever. And best of all, it's open just in time for the half term school holidays. The new wet changing area has updated showers, toilets, changing cubicles and lockers. And for after your swim, there is now a vanity area with new lighting. The exit from the water flume has also been improved and the main footpath into the centre has been widened to allow more access. A new external ramp has also been added to also improve accessibility to the building so as to ensure inclusion. The work which started last October saw the pool drained so that minor repair work could be carried out. But now that a deep-clean is complete, the pool has been refilled ahead of the reopening. Managed by Places Leisure on behalf of the council, the centre features the refurbished main pool, a wave pool, gym, fitness studio, soft play, and a café. New £4million lido to open in UK next year The rest of the facility has remained open while the work was taking place and Centre Manager Richard Anderson is looking forward to welcoming customers back into the water reports ChronicleLive. He said: 'Following the completion of the extensive refurbishment. 'Final checks have now been made to ensure the swimming pool is in perfect condition to welcome back swimmers. 'The centre has had a great refresh and upgrade and is looking absolutely fantastic and I am sure it will be enjoyed by our customers old and new.' In a statement on its website, Places Leisure shared the following important information: 'We are very happy to announce that we will be reopening the pool from Monday May 19. 'We thank you for your continued patience during the ongoing refurbishment work, we look forward to sharing the improvements with you.' Elsewhere, an Art deco swimming pool in the UK with rare Victorian baths has been named one of the best in the world. There is also a Victorian bathhouse which has been turned into a leisure attraction and will soon complete a £71million makeover with a new pool and spaces. It's not the only art deco spa in England, 'London's oldest' with Turkish baths, with an indoor pool and affordable day passes, is open in Queensway.
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Inside popular 90s Waterworld as it finally opens after £1.6million upgrade with wave machine and slide
Elsewhere, an Art deco swimming pool in the UK has been named one of the best in the world MAKING A SPLASH Inside popular 90s Waterworld as it finally opens after £1.6million upgrade with wave machine and slide Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE popular 1990s Waterworld with a wave machine and water slide is finally open after a £1.6million upgrade. With another bank holiday weekend, many of us are well and truly getting into the summer spirit. 3 The changing area at Prudhoe Waterworld has been revamped Credit: Park Leisure 3 The locker area at Prudhoe Waterworld, which has undergone a £1.6million refurbishment by Northumberland County Council And what better way to plan for long summer days than by taking a family trip to the swimming pool. Prudhoe Waterworld, was originally opened in 1990 by Northumberland County Council but following its major refurbishment - it's looking better than ever. And best of all, it's open just in time for the half term school holidays. The new wet changing area has updated showers, toilets, changing cubicles and lockers. And for after your swim, there is now a vanity area with new lighting. The exit from the water flume has also been improved and the main footpath into the centre has been widened to allow more access. A new external ramp has also been added to also improve accessibility to the building so as to ensure inclusion. The work which started last October saw the pool drained so that minor repair work could be carried out. But now that a deep-clean is complete, the pool has been refilled ahead of the reopening. Managed by Places Leisure on behalf of the council, the centre features the refurbished main pool, a wave pool, gym, fitness studio, soft play, and a café. New £4million lido to open in UK next year The rest of the facility has remained open while the work was taking place and Centre Manager Richard Anderson is looking forward to welcoming customers back into the water reports ChronicleLive. He said: "Following the completion of the extensive refurbishment. "Final checks have now been made to ensure the swimming pool is in perfect condition to welcome back swimmers. "The centre has had a great refresh and upgrade and is looking absolutely fantastic and I am sure it will be enjoyed by our customers old and new." In a statement on its website, Places Leisure shared the following important information: "We are very happy to announce that we will be reopening the pool from Monday May 19. "We thank you for your continued patience during the ongoing refurbishment work, we look forward to sharing the improvements with you." Elsewhere, an Art deco swimming pool in the UK with rare Victorian baths has been named one of the best in the world. There is also a Victorian bathhouse which has been turned into a leisure attraction and will soon complete a £71million makeover with a new pool and spaces. It's not the only art deco spa in England, "London's oldest" with Turkish baths, with an indoor pool and affordable day passes, is open in Queensway.
