Issue 20 - Late Summer 2006.

After more than two years of hard work and joint effort by the Residents Regeneration Group and the Parish Council, the £50,000 target for Phase 1 has been achieved. Exciting new pieces of equipment, specially designed for toddlers and young children, will soon appear, including the fire engine pictured below.

During construction of the new Toddler Area there will be unavoidable disruption to the whole Play Area and the Parish Council believes that it will be safer for everyone if the Play Area is closed while the work is carried out. We hope to take the opportunity to carry out some remedial work to some of the other equipment at the same time.

The equipment will be installed during early September and hopefully there will be an opening ceremony during October half term. Watch the notice boards and local press for more details.

The Parish Council still has plans to install more equipment for older children. However, phase 2 of the Branch End Play Area Regeneration will cost at least £50,000 and further funds have to be raised and grants applied for before this part of the project can go ahead. Are you a parent of youngsters aged 8-14? Would you like to see more provision for this age group in the village/ Please contact the Parish Clerk or Councillor Anne Davison with you ideas/offers of help with fund raising for phase 2.

Traffic Problems in Stocksfield

At a recent Parish Council meeting concerns were raised once again about

• The problem of increased levels of traffic (particularly heavy goods) using the A695,
• The continuing parking problems particularly in the Branch End area and on New Ridley Road
• The speed of traffic around the parish.

The Planning & Highways Group is to take another look at these topics, consult with the County Council, and consider various possible solutions to these on-going and increasing problems.

If you would like to have an input into this debate there are several ways to do so:

• Contact a member of the Planning & Highways Group (Convenor Tracy Warhurst-Walker) and let them know your views and concerns on the subject
• Contact any member of the Parish Council or the Clerk and let them know your views on the subject
• Contact the Parish Plan Group (convenor Julia Sayce) and join in the discussions and formulation of the Parish Plan

Do let us know your views on this tricky subject.

Parish Plan

An open meeting about the Parish Plan was held in the early summer, and several uses of major concern to residents were identified. Groups were formed to look at these issues in more detail, and have already made very useful reports. Unfortunately due to one of the parish councillors leading this project being taken ill everything ground to a halt at the end of July and planned meetings did not take place. It is hoped that everyone will be refreshed and rejuvenated by September and will come back to this important project and that by the next issue of NE43 News we will have something definite to report.

If you are interested in what happens in our "patch" and are not yet involved in the Parish Plan and would like to help, please contact the Clerk or the Parish Council Chair who will be very happy to let you know when the next meetings are to be held. If you have concerns or ideas about a particular topic do let us know.

The Footpaths Group is already forging ahead with plans to create a footpath on the south bank of the River near Merryshields and the new ponds so that a circular route can be established, starting and ending at Merryshields Cottages - watch this space to see how this project progresses.

Footpath Repair

Sheep Worrying

Over the summer the footpath along the Guessburn which was badly eroded has been repaired and it is hoped that the work will have been completed by the time you read this.

We have had reports of sheep being worried by dogs. When you are using the footpaths around the Parish and particularly where they cross open farmland, please be aware of where your dog is and what it is doing.

Annual Parish Meeting

Around 50 residents and councillors attended the Annual Parish Meeting to hear Dr Maguire give an informative presentation on the changes which have already taken place and which are planned for the future at Branch End Surgery. Following his presentation, a discussion ensued and Dr Maguire answered residents' queries. Many thanks to Dr Maguire for giving up his time to attend this meeting.

Stocksfield Institute Community Association

Most residents will be well-aware of the existence of Stocksfield Institute Community Association, or S.I.C.A. If you are already a member, you will know all about the aims of S.I.C.A. and the opportunities provided at the Community Centre at Mount View Terrace.

The Community Centre was built over 100 years ago and the community association in its present form was founded over 40 years ago. Many of the successful groups and clubs currently operating out of the Community Centre today were founded about that time. S.I.C.A. has developed as a centre of the community and, with the help of its members, hopes to continue to develop and serve the residents of Stocksfield and its surrounding communities. Currently activities in the S.I.C.A. include;

Karate - Keep Fit - Badminton - Workout sessions (with crèche) - Aerobics - Yoga - Computer and Internet Access - Parents & Toddlers Group - Play School - Youth Club - Carpet Bowls - Flower Club - Whist Club - Art Club - Life Drawing Class - Care in the Community - Meals on Wheels - Plants & Gardens Society - WI meetings - Spinners & Weavers - Local History Society - There is also a small library offering books and videos.

S.I.C.A. is run by a management committee made up of members representing the various groups and sections that meet at the centre. There is concern however, that less than 30% of households in Broomley & Stocksfield are involved as members. Membership rates remain very low as you can see from the membership application form alongside. Members receive a copy of S.C.A.N. (Stocksfield Community Association News) which is published each month and also benefit from reduced hire rates of the rooms at SICA. SCAN can also be bought at the MACE store at the station and at Branch End Newsagents.

If you would like to be involved in the work of S.I.C.A. or have ideas for a club, activity or service that might be run from or through the Centre, please get in touch with the Warden, Mary McArthur (842346) - she would be delighted to discuss any suggestions that you might have.

To join SICA, or renew your membership, please complete the Membership Form - (opens in a new window).

Community Woodland Car Park, Hindley Road

The Parish Council has received complaints about rats and dog waste in the Community Car Park.

The rat problem is being caused by bird food being left in the bushes and on the fence posts. Whilst we all enjoy watching the birds at these feeders, we do not enjoy rats and these are becoming over- tame and obese! Because they live near the railway the rats can also carry disease, in particular Weill's Disease. The Parish Council and Allendale Estates, the owners of the car park, would therefore appreciate it if users of the cark par did not feed the birds.

The second problem at the car park is dog faeces. Most users bag and bin their dog's waste. However, some people are bagging the waste and then just depositing the bags in the hedges and banks. This leaves a most unpleasant problem for other people to clear up.

Please BAG and BIN your dog's waste and leave the Community Car Park and the footpaths around Stocksfield a pleasant environment for other people to work and walk in. Thank you.

Broomley & Stocksfield Parish Council

The Parish Council meets on the first Monday of the month in the Community Centre at 7.30 p.m.

Members of the public are always welcome to attend Parish Council meetings. Public Participation is always included on the agenda. You can contact the Clerk, Margaret Williams, Tuesday and Fridays on 01661 843114.

The next meetings of the Council will held on Monday 2nd October.

Spruce Up Stocksfield This Spring

This event on 29th April was successful and a number or organisations and individual residents took part. Special thanks go to the members of Stocksfield WI, Broomley School, the Cubs and the Tennis Club whose efforts made a real difference.

Hanging Baskets

We are very grateful to those traders and organisations who offered to take and care for Hanging Baskets this summer. The baskets are looking most attractive.

Help Wanted! Can you help deliver NE43 News?

NE43 News is published 3/4 times each year and Parish Councillors sometimes struggle to get copies out to every household in the village. Even delivering 10-12 copies around your immediate neighbours would be a help. If you can help please contact the Clerk on 01661 843114.

15th Annual Concert in aid of the Alzheimers Society

Peter Pengilly (tenor) with Anne Stephens (soprano) and John Scott (bass) will be giving the Annual Concert in aid of the Alzheimers Society in the Community Centre, Stocksfield on Saturday 28th October at 3 p.m.

Tickets are £5, available at the door or by post (phone Peter on 01661 842130). The concert will include duets from La Boheme and Cavalleria Rusticana together with lighter songs and ballads. The concert is subsidised so every penny taken goes to the Society.

Anti-Social Behaviour

At the July meeting of the Parish Council, councillors were again advised of incidences of disturbance and nuisance at Kate's Plain and, to a degree, at Branch End Play Area.

Residents are asked to ensure that all incidences of disturbance are either reported to the police (see information on the new 101 number) or to councillors or the Parish Clerk. The Parish Council will then log all such incidents and try to build a picture of the level of nuisance

Once again it is going to be necessary to mend the fence at Kate's Plain. It is important that this fence is not damaged as it keeps cattle and sheep out of the Play Area. Please ask your children to ensure that they use the small gate and walk around the fence, if it is necessary to retrieve their footballs. You are also reminded that the only way into Kate's Plain is over the footbridge and through the small gate.

Sunny Season for Stocksfield Cricketers

The fine weather in July was good news for our village cricket club and they are enjoying a run of success.

The first team is in the top half of its league and have enjoyed some notable victories in recent weeks. Both West Tyne Senior teams reached their respective KO Cup finals and a good performance saw the third team beat Newbrough to bring home the cup for the first time since 1992.

The second team put up a valiant performance but lost to Matfen in their final. At Under 18 level the juniors have played very well to win both the West Tyne League and the KO Cup in convincing fashion.

The ladies team, at the time of writing, top the Northumberland Women's League with only 4 games left and have fielded a number of players for the county this season.

The club has also been working hard with the local first schools and coaches have visited Broomley, Mickley and Whittonstall schools. This resulted in a mini festival at the ground and many more juniors playing at the club.

The club is fielding twelve different teams for the first time this year, with an additional ladies and U11 team competing in the local leagues.

Bywell Arts Festival

Many thanks to everyone who supported this event. A magnificent sum of around £2600 was taken, with around £2000 going to Church funds.

Special thanks are due to all those who worked hard to make this a successful event and to everyone who exhibited or provided the music.

The winners of the Photographic competition were:

Adult Class: 1st Michael Burgess - 2nd George Sayce - 3rd Roberta Ritson
Under 18s: 1st 2nd & 3rd Shonagh Lowerson Head
Under 12s: Emma Ritson

Congratulations to you all and thanks to everyone who entered. We hope to repeat this competition – so watch out for details.

Auction and Jumble Sale

In order to raise funds for further refurbishment work in the Community Centre, a Grand Auction and Jumble Sale is being held on:

Saturday 23rd September at 2.00pm in Stocksfield Community Centre (SICA)

Please look in your attics, garages and cupboards and bring out those items you haven't used for years, and consider donating them to SICA for our sale!

Small items and bags/boxes of jumble can be brought to the Community Centre from Monday 18th - Friday 22nd September between 10.00am and 12 noon. It would help our limited storage space if larger items could be brought on Friday 22nd between 7.00pm and 9.00pm or Saturday 23rd between 10.00am and 12 noon. If you have difficulty transporting items, please contact the Warden on 842346 or Jean Robinson on 842115, and we will arrange collection.

If anyone can spare an hour or two on the afternoon of the sale this would be much appreciated. Please give your name to the Warden.

Thank you for your support.

Stocksfield Players

The Stocksfield Players have recently begun rehearsals for this year's production, The Happiest Days of Your Life.

The play will be showing at SICA from 30 Nov. to 2nd Dec. It's a farce set in 1945 at a boys' boarding school, essentially chaos breaks out when a girls' school mistakenly descends on them to share the school premises as their own building has been bombed. Residents may remember the film of the same name, starring Alastair Sim and Margaret Rutherford which was based on the play. Don't miss this - put the date in your diary now!

If you would like to help backstage or front of house please call Jodie on 01661 844872.

Tennis Team's Triumph

Stocksfield Tennis Club's second Ladies' team has won its division in the Northumberland and Durham League in convincing style, winning all 7 matches, with a total of 106 sets won and only 12 lost.

The Club has had three ladies' teams playing this season but sadly was not able to raise an under- 16 girls' team, so younger females would be particularly welcome! Tennis goes on all year round thanks to the artificial grass surface and the floodlighting, and the membership fee for anyone joining at this stage of the year is very much reduced.

Contact the Treasurer, Mrs Janice Sargeant, 01661 836288.

New number - a positive change Easy to remember number

On July 3, Northumbria Police, along with all 12 local councils across Northumberland and Tyne and Wear became among the first in the country to introduce the brand new non-emergency number – 101. 101 provides one, easy to remember, number which local people can call for advice, information and action on community safety and anti-social behaviour (ASB) issues. It will improve access for customers and response to such issues as well as free up the 999 service to handle emergency incidents.

These are the issues that will be dealt with by calling 101:

• Threatening and abusive behaviour
• Vandalism and graffiti
• Drunken and rowdy groups
• Broken street lighting
• Drugs related anti-social behaviour
• Abandoned vehicles, dumping and fly tipping
• Noisy neighbours and loud parties.

The introduction of the new service will have wide reaching benefits, including:

• Better access to non-emergency services
• Better delivery of non-emergency services
• Increased confidence in public services
• Improved 999 emergency services

People will be given information on when they can expect a response to their call and who will be carrying out the work if it is a 101 service. However, if it is not, they will also be given contact details of the right organisation which can help them. When they call callers will talk to a local person, in a local contact centre who is specially trained to deal with their 101 enquiry, quickly and effectively. There will be a charge of a maximum of 10p per call regardless of how long they are on the line. The charge goes towards providing 101 and not the police or councils.

The above information from a Northumbria Police Press Release.

Further information is available on the 101 Website - (opens in new window).

Dates For You Diary

Date

Event

Venue

8th Sep

Annual Coffee Morning in aid of Barnados

Community Centre

23rd Sept

SICA Jumble & Auction Sale

Community Centre

30th Sep

Scout Jumble Sale

Community Centre

28th Oct

Concert in aid of Alzheimer's Society

Community Centre

4th Nov

Annual Charity Christmas Card Sale

Community Centre

30th Nov -
2nd Dec.

Stocksfield Players present The Happiest Days of your Life

Community Centre

For further details on any of these events, please see local press and posters Please let us have information on events you wish to include in this listing.

Local History Society

Stocksfield WI

Next Meetings:
13th September. The Man who built the Wall

11th October. AGM Stocksfield Then & Now

Next Meetings:
6th September. The Story of Wheelbirks Farm with ice cream treats
4th October. History, reproduction and costuming of French Fashion Dolls

Meetings are held in the Community Centre & start at 7.30 p.m.

New bus shelter!

The Parish Council has agreed with the County Council to erect a bus shelter at the bus stop opposite the War Memorial. This had been requested by residents and hopefully it will protect bus passengers from the worst of the weather. It is expected that this will be erected in the autumn.

Christmas Cards

Churches Together in Stocksfield will be holding their annual Charity Christmas Card sale in the Community Centre on Saturday, 4th November from 9.30 a.m. to 12 noon.

If you would like to support your favourite charity by having a stall, please get in touch with Julia Sayce (01661 843523).

Street lighting Freephone 08000 850029

Faults in street lights can be reported to the County Council. You will need to give the reference of the light, which is on the pole, e.g. KD6 and its location, e.g. on the railway bridge on the A695, Stocksfield.

Water Leak line - Freephone 0800 393 084

Potholes - 0808 100 8910

Annual Coffee Morning

NE43 News

Barnados - Annual Coffee Morning

8th September 10-12 noon Community Centre

Bring & Buy Cakes Raffle

We hope that you have found NE43 News of interest. The views of contributors to NE43 News are not necessarily the view of the Parish Council. Please let us have your comments and contributions for future issues.