LOWICK.LIVE.LETTER
Heritage Weekend in the Village Hall
Lowick Heritage Group is holding a Heritage Weekend on Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October. This Special Event will explore 4000 Years of Lowick History. There will be a display of photographs, historic maps, local archaeological finds and an update of the Dryburn Limeworks Conservation project, each day from 10am until 4pm. There will be free refreshments, and a chance to sit and talk about the memories the many images are sure to provoke.
One key theme is the launch of a “Domesday Book” project on THE BUILDINGS OF LOWICK.
The Lowick Heritage Group has teamed up with The Neighbourhood Plan researchers to create a database of the buildings of Lowick, recording the changes in use and in the families who owned and occupied them. This will be a long-term project and your help would be appreciated.
John Huddart from the Parish Council adds: “We are interested in materials and styles of building, and changes made over the years to sites and the structures on them. This will help create a neighbourhood plan that acknowledges local heritage sites and qualities, when considering new developments.
Julie Gibbs from the LHG has been researching Lowick’s past for many years. She continues: “On the day, we hope that you will enjoy looking at the images, many from the Robert Sinton collection. We hope also that you would like to contribute your own knowledge about Lowick. What can you remember about the properties? Any detail, however small, may be significant. If you wish to jot down any memories, paper will be available. “
Finds made by the Archaeology group will also be on display. These numerous and varied artefacts some dating back at least 4000 years, a few as many as 8000 years, should help us determine not only the earliest evidence of people living in this area but add more to our quest of answering the question ‘Where was Lowick?’
Citizens’ Advice Bureau Changes
Lowick Live is publishing the details of the new arrangements for helping people with problems introduced by the Citizens’ Advice Bureau after 2nd October 2017. We are also printing contact details. You will find the leaflet produced by the CAB on the INFORMATION page – just click the link.
The leaflet provides details of the new opening times for face-to- face services across the county. These services can be accessed through a mixture of drop-in sessions and pre-booked appointments. Contact details for other services are provided below.
Northumberland Adviceline.
Telephone: 03444 111 444.
Opening hours – 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Clients needing advice will be given a short assessment interview so that the CAB can discuss their options and decide how best to help. This could include:
Simple information provided at the assessment interview.
An appointment with our generalist advice service.
An appointment with a specialist adviser.
Signposting or referral to another appropriate agency.
Specialist Debt Advice
Debt Helpline: 01670 339960
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm.
Text service: Text ‘debt’ to 81400 to receive a call back within 2 working days.
The CAB has introduced a new debt helpline which can be accessed using the above details. Clients who need help with their debts can contact the CAB on the above telephone number or go along to their nearest drop-in session.
Text Service
This is in addition to a recently introduced text ‘debt’ service. Clients who text ‘debt’ to 81400 will receive a call back within 2 working days to discuss their debt problems.
NEW PLAYPARK EQUIPMENT FOR THE UNDER 7s
Following an award of £13537 from the Community Windfarm Fund, the Parish Council has completed the installation of new play equipment for children aged 5-8. Up till then the park only catered for 8-13 year olds.
The new equipment was manufactured and installed by the specialist company, Playdale.
In order to choose the right equipment, a local group of mums and children met to pour over catalogues and ideas. A social media page was set up and a suggestion box provided in the Village Shop. The children in the school were also asked for their ideas. The equipment chosen was based entirely on their choices.
The additional items include a Gravity Bowl, a Spinner and a Play Galleon. When I called round to take these photos a mum and her child were busy enjoying the new equipment. “It’s an amazing playpark, now!” she said.
ROAD RAGE NEWS!
The battering from traffic taken by the B6325 as it snakes up to Barmoor Corner is as nothing to the treatment meted out by Northumbria Water this spring and summer. We are all eager to see whether or not a new hole will be required to mend yet another problem uncovered [or covered up] by the attempt to bring water to our thirsty community.
I am told by a source close to Northumberland County Council [our former Councillor, Dougie Watkin] that Northumberland is only too well aware that the road surface requires special care when driving, and that when they are sure that Northumbria Water has finished with the road, they will resurface it properly. Obviously no-one wants to see a new surface immediately broken up by more diggers and rollers.
NEW AREA AUTHORITY LOOKS LIKE OLD NORTHUMBERLAND
Does this map look familiar to you? This shows Northumberland in the 1700s. In the 1970s its southern border was chiseled away to form North Tyneside – a Council that was part of the new county of Tyne and Wear. Newcastle also joined Tyne and Wear, having been a county in its own right since 1400.
So much for history – the current Conservative leadership of Northumberland County Council is campaigning for a new regional authority that will combine all three of these councils – i.e., Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle. Tentatively called the North of Tyne Authority [though a bit is someway south of the Tyne] the proposal is for an agreement between the three to join hands, drawn up with central government, and featuring its own mayor – to be elected in 2018.
Whether this comes about is down to everybody agreeing – but in an era where localism is supposed to involve the voters having an opportunity to express their views, it might be time to ask your local County Councillor what is happening, and what will happen to far-flung regions like Berwick if NCC Leader Councillor Jackson’s plan succeeds.
This throws into more uncertainty the future of County Hall in Morpeth. Apparently rescued by the cancelled new building in Ashington, its future still looks dodgy. My source believes that the new authority would be based at the North Tyneside HQ down in Cobalt Park. Anyone wanting to preserve some of the fine sculpture work in the old County Building needs to work out a strategy, while there is still time.
Meanwhile, which political party or parties will lead the new Authority, and how soon will voters be able to choose who will represent them, when it meets?
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