& Riding Parish Council Caring about where you live

NEWSLETTER

Issue 3 July 2017

Parish Council Information Chairman’s Notes

Your local parish councillors are: The aim of our annual Significant tree work has planting was eaten by Newsletter is to provide a been completed but there rabbits! We hope to resolve Eileen Carew round up of Parish Council is more to do following the this for next year. We are Andy Dunhill (Chair) activities during the year and arboriculturalist report we also working with Anne Peter Howe to give an outline of future commissioned. Work has Dale, our County Councillor, David McKenzie MBE plans. started to underpin and to put in place a gateway at Jill Mills secure the eroded bank of the west end of the village. Malcolm Reid The edible garden opposite the Burn adjacent to the Brian Singer the MUGA court is up and double tennis courts. This Two new bus shelters have running and we are hoping is being done in been installed, one at the Contact details for for a reasonable crop this conjunction with the Tyne west end of the village on Catherine Harrison, year. It has certainly tidied Rivers Trust. the north side of the road, Parish Clerk the area up. and a better one opposite 01434 682348 (office-hours The refurbished WW1 the Wellington pub. only please) or email Work on the football field is Memorial Panel is shortly [email protected] now finished, the grass has to return and we are The Play Park Regeneration grown, pitch lines drawn and looking for the best place Group has done a lot of Dates for forthcoming Parish goal posts put in place. It is to display it. The War hard work during the year Council Meetings held in Church used regularly on Sunday Memorials Trust has and is a long way towards Cottage, Church Lane mornings and there is more agreed to a rededication raising the money needed 7.45 pm interest being shown. ceremony in November to add some additional (public questions from 7.15 pm) 2018 as part of the facilities. Keep your eyes on The Cricket Club has secured village’s commemoration the thermometer on the 11th September 2017 planning consent for a weekend. Play Park gate. 13th November 2017 refurbishment and extension 11th December 2017 of the existing pavilion so The new gateway has Have a good summer. 12th February 2018 plans are being put together been completed at the Andy Dunhill 12th March 2018 to generate funding. east end of the village 14th May 2018 although much of the

Annual Parish Meeting May 2018 – date to be The group is extremely confirmed Adventure Park is on target grateful to those residents

and local businesses that The Riding Mill Play & have supported the Contact Details for County Regeneration Group has project, in particular, to Councillor Anne Dale, been busy behind the Osbit Power for 01434 673326 or email scenes for the last year sponsoring the team anne.dale@.gov.uk raising funds to help buy swing and to the Riding new play equipment for Grange Fund for the Play Park. sponsoring part of the

Adventure Trail. The As previously reported the Group has also been aim is to make the Play fortunate to receive Park more inclusive, funding from the Big improve access for those Keep updated with village news Lottery Awards for All, the with disabilities and or check out the Minutes from Postcode Local Trust, increase the scope of the PC meetings Tynedale Lions, the Sir equipment for older www.ridingmill.org James Knott Trust, children. (cont. overleaf)

Adventure Park cont. whilst the group continues To follow the progress of Tesco Bags of Help, County to raise funds to help pay the redevelopment, view Riding Mill sporting Councillor Anne Dale and for the improved paths and the Facebook page: hub is flourishing the Northumberland play surfaces to ensure all https://www.facebook.com This time last year we were County Council Housing equipment is accessible for /ridingmillplay/ waiting for the grass seed to Developer Fund. those with disabilities. grow so that, after 30 years, a football pitch would once With over 80% of the again be available for use by funds raised, the Group villagers. The seed duly feels confident that it will flourished and we now have reach its target. Work to a pitch suitable for juniors install the climbing boulder and Sunday morning league and other play equipment teams. Football coaching for should hopefully children commenced last commence in the autumn October and has been very

successful. The pitch has also been rented out for team training and we’re Lest we forget ... hopeful of attracting a After ... regular junior team this Before... The restoration of the panel season. This all assists the has been made possible by Sports Club with their grants from the War ambitious plans for a new Memorials Trust, the pavilion which have recently Community Chest Fund, St gained planning approval. James’ Church, the Parish Council and generous donors in the village.

We have had to comply with very strict conservation techniques stipulated by the War Memorials Trust but the end result looks excellent.

As the village is to hold a ______special commemoration event next year to mark the end of Garden bears fruit the First World War, we After six months conservation There are definitely some thought it fitting to delay work in Edinburgh treating green-fingered residents holding the re-dedication woodworm and recasting amongst us. The gardens ceremony, which will be metal moulding, the restored reading just what was surrounding the Parish Hall conducted by Reverend World War One Memorial involved in the restoration of look magnificent and we Chapman, until this date. panel is shortly to return and the panel, a copy of the now have a new area be hung in the Parish Hall. conservator’s report can be adjoining this for edible If you are interested in found on our website. plants which has

transformed a once Pre-School coming to a Yurt near you! overgrown footpath.

Exciting announcement: from September 2017 Pre-School in Riding Mill will move to become part of Broomhaugh C of E First School and be provided for in its very own purpose-built Yurt. It’s a fantastic opportunity for young children from the village and all the local communities to join a vibrant and inspiring learning environment. With a big emphasis on time outdoors, exploring nature and discovery through play, this will be a unique Pre-School experience.

For more information email: [email protected]

Pre-School is looking forward to sharing their amazing plans This is a community garden with you. Parents will be able to use the 30 hour funding at and everyone is encouraged this setting and utilize our out of hours club. to pick the fruit as it ripens or to donate suitable plants. Please enjoy!

Green engineering the Burn. making our riverbanks stable This section has been of concern to the PC for some The March Burn, where it time. Earlier this year we passes the double Tennis contacted Malcolm Newson courts, is on a meander of the Tyne Rivers Trust and Are you a responsible which has resulted in asked him to carry out a dog owner? significant erosion and survey. undercutting of the east The result confirmed our Join the Green Dog bank along the section to worries and he Walkers Scheme set up the footbridge. This has recommended a course of by the County Council. affected PC land and that action advising that it should of the adjoining house. be done sooner rather than For further details visit http://www.northumberl later. The Tyne Rivers Trust There are a number of are specialist advisers on this and.gov.uk/greendogwal trees along this bank kind of issue and recommend kers where the root systems using environmentally The stabilisation work is to have become exposed as a friendly techniques to be completed during the result of the erosion. At its stabilise the bank. early part of summer using most noticeable the some of the trees that have undercut area is almost a Some of the trees were been felled in the area. The metre. This is affecting the reduced in height with the large tree trunks create a stability of the trees and plan that they will bulk out at wall as such which is then hence the bank. The main the reduced height level. This backfilled with smaller concern of the PC is to was necessary because at branches woven together. ensure the stability of least one was slowly but We hope that this work will Millfield Road which runs surely sliding down into the secure the burn for the adjacent to this section of burn taking the bank with it. foreseeable future. At the Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council, Councillor Andy Dunhill was elected to continue as Chair of the Parish Council and Councillor Brian Singer as

the Vice-Chair. We provide free,

confidential advice and All Parish Councillors are campaign on big issues happy to be contacted affecting people’s lives. and their phone numbers

can be found on the PC Contact us for advice on noticeboard or on the What is green benefits, energy issues problem, pollarding or website: engineering? and debt management. felling of the trees can yield www.ridingmill.org Traditional civil engineering 03444 111 444 very effective materials for approaches to revetment of Office building imaginative eroding river banks is to use Drop in sessions 10am – revetment. block stone (dumped or 2pm Mondays,

‘pitched’ like a dry-stone Wednesdays & Fridays. Joint tree management and wall), baskets of stone called ‘river keeping’ was gabions, piling or concrete. traditional in but Local Transport Plan Despite the appearance of lapsed with mechanisation. solid strength, this ‘hard Security is generally The Parish Council has If you care about where engineering’ produces achieved by using metal until 30th September to you live and feel that you unforeseen consequences anchors or by steel cables submit ideas to the County have something to such as erosion downstream tied back to a stable tree, Council of ways Riding Mill contribute please or collapse into scour holes building etc. Tyne Rivers could be made safer e.g. consider joining the produced in the adjacent Trust has been in the footpaths widened, Parish Council. We river bed. vanguard of this new junction improvements currently have two

approach. etc. vacancies. Perhaps come ‘Green engineering’ uses along to a future meeting natural materials, locally If you have a suggestion of the Council and see available if possible, and is please contact the Clerk. what is discussed or tailored to the processes We will then choose our contact the Chair or Clerk occurring at the eroding site. top three for the County for an informal chat. In the case where riparian Council to consider. trees are part of the

Local Walks: A circular walk via Broomley, Hindley and Healey

Starting from the Old Playground, cross Whiteside Bank and take the footpath that runs past Wentworth Grange to the A68. Cross the road, carrying on past the smallholding and through Shilford Wood. Passing two fields, crossing the Roe House Farm track, and then a third field, join the road towards Broomley.

At the far end of Broomley there is a cross roads with the main road turning to the right. Head straight along the unsurfaced byway, which passes open countryside before descending into woodland and reaching the to Ebchester road at Five Ways.

Turn right and follow the road through the hamlet of Parish Online © Crown copyright and database right. All rights reserved (0100053451) 2017 Hindley. At the end, turn right on to the road signposted Look for a ride through the No more standing! Riding Mill and then woodland and follow this to immediately left at the sign the end. The path is indistinct After much negotiation with the County Council, the Parish for Wheelbirks Ice Cream and care is needed to dodge Council recently installed two new bus shelters. The shelter Parlour. This minor road the gorse and find the plank on the westbound carriageway opposite the Wellington, becomes a track between bridge over the ditch. A step provided very little protection from the elements. Although high hedges until it reaches stile leads into a field. Cross limited by the width of the pavement, the new shelter has end the first of several gates. this diagonally to the right to panels and offers the benefit of a seat. Continue in a straight line, a gate into the next field. with the field boundary a Carry straight on to another short distance to the right gate and on to the road at until the A68 is reached. Healey.

Crossing the A68, look for a Turn right, past the church, finger post diagonally to the and then left at the T left. This permissive path junction. Follow the road to bypasses the Low Fotherley Healey Barn and then go farm and joins the public through the gate on the right footpath shortly afterwards. at the finger post. Follow the Keep the fence to the right path through the plantation until its corner and then look until the next road is reached. for a ladder stile in the field Turn left and go a short ahead. Crossing the stile, distance to the High Plains head for the gate ahead. The road. Taking the first ladder track runs for a short stile on the right, proceed distance between stone walls downhill with the hedge to until a second gate. Carry on the left. On reaching Church straight ahead, joining a farm Lane (an unsurfaced track at track and passing a farm this point) turn right. Turn The new shelter at the Slaley Road Junction complements the house. Follow the track as it right again at Long Rigg and shelter installed a few years ago on the opposite carriageway. turns right and then left. then follow Church Lane at The pavement is again very narrow at this stop and the When the track turns right the bottom until the Old shelter provides protection to passengers whilst waiting and again, carry straight on Playground is reached. alighting. through a gate and across the field, with a fence to the Length: 8 miles / 13 km Do you want to know if your bus is on time? If you have left. At the end, cross the Time: 3½ hours a smart phone, Nexus now offers real-time route stone wall. information. Visit: https://livemap.nexus.org.uk/#/liveDepartures

pavements and drivers well-exceeding the speed Parish limit. The resounding Woodlands

sentiment expressed has

been “we want drivers to The Parish Council owns

To book the Parish Hall respect our village and slow woodland in Marchburn down”. or Millennium Hall for a Lane and by the double meeting or an event, tennis courts in Millfield From considering a 20 mph Road. We now have a please contact Mrs Pam speed limit on the A695 at proactive management Pryor on 01434 682927 school times, the proposal plan for the trees which or email is now a permanent 20 mph requires the areas to be [email protected] In November 2015, limit throughout the village surveyed every five years Northumberland County at all times. (a recommendation of our Council announced a insurers). Following a £1million scheme to slow The gateway to the east of recent report, all trees down traffic outside schools the village has been helpful identified as posing an by introducing 20 mph at reducing the speed of element of risk were traffic entering speed limits. Cllr. Dale has prioritised and those led the discussions in Riding Broomhaugh so our plan is closest to public footpaths, Mill and after consulting to mirror this at the west roads and buildings were widely with the community, end of the village. The either felled or had parents at the school and Parish Council would also deadwood removed. Other with the church, the scheme like to see some form of work deemed a lower has grown to cover not just crossing established near priority will be carried out Church Lane but the whole the Wellington and will be over the next few years. village. Residents who need including the suggestion to Where possible, the Parish to cross the main road have the County Council when it Council ensures that wood complained of lorries decides its Local Transport is left for villagers to thundering past, narrow Plan Programme for forage – if in any doubt 2018/19. please check with the Clerk.

Missed bin collection? lives of our children and Street light not working? All residents who own young people. New adults trees or hedges abutting are always welcome to join Report these problems roads and footpaths have a our team: there is room for on the Northumberland duty to ensure that they everyone! In fact, the more are safe. In particular, County Council website adults we can engage, the RIDING MILL residents are asked to with just a few clicks more exciting is the SCOUT GROUP make sure hedges are programme we can deliver. regularly trimmed so that Go to those passing by are not http://www.northumberl After a considerable period Full training is given. We do of absence, Scouting has forced to walk on the road. and.gov.uk/ and click on however offer a warning – now been reintroduced into REPORT on the header being involved in Scouting Riding Mill! Following two can seriously increase your bar successful taster evenings, Fed up with a poor TV enjoyment levels – and we will we launching the there is nothing more signal? new group, initially for important than helping our younger members, in children to develop to their Virgin Media is looking to September of this year. full potential. Scouting is the expand its fibre network Scouting is open to both world’s largest, co- coverage into girls and boys and offers an educational values-based Northumberland for the exciting programme of organisation with over 40 first time. Personal Development for million members across the the full age range of young globe – with over half a You can register your people, from 6 – 25 years. million in the UK alone. interest via Our intention is to develop More and more young www.virginmedia.com activities and sections for 6- people and adults join every /cablemystreet which will 14 year olds in the near day. If you or your children help Virgin decide which future, based here in the would like to find out more – communities to connect as village. We have already and joining couldn’t be part of their expansion

established a team of simpler – please contact us plans. leaders and administrators on who are very keen to bring [email protected] a new dimension to the

Tyne Valley Youth Theatre is a youth theatre based in Riding Mill for young people aged 8 to 19 living in the Tyne Valley and surrounding area. In TVYT, young people work alongside professional theatre artists to create dynamic, thought-provoking, original theatre, with the young people's ideas at the heart. Their activities take place in community spaces, which they transform into fully-functioning theatre spaces for their productions. CANCER ADVOCACY WE CAN HELP

We provide one-to-one support, help and advocacy for people over 50 affected by cancer. This year, TVYT marked its five-year anniversary by putting on its biggest event to date in Riding Mill. The evening included four promenade performances - in the tennis courts, the What we can do to help Millennium Hall, The Spinney and the park – as well as a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party outside the Parish Hall, an exhibition showcasing previous shows’ props and video footage in the hall’s  Accompany you to foyer, and three ensemble performances inside the hall itself. As well as being devised and meetings and performed by TVYT members, the event was also planned, organised and funded by the appointments TVYT Young Leaders group, who successfully fundraised £1000 from The Key!  Identify benefits and allowances that you are Want to get involved? entitled to During term time, TVYT run weekly sessions on the following days:  Find information on TVYT.Tuesdays: Tuesdays 18:00 – 20:00 in the Parish Hall Riding Mill, school years 7+ housing options TVYT.Thursdays: Thursdays 17:00 – 18:30 in the Millennium Hall Riding Mill, school years  Provide support when 4-6 dealing with community TVYT.Young Leaders: Fridays 18:00 – 20:30 in the Millennium Hall Riding Mill, school care services years 9+  Find local support groups OMS After-school drama club: Tuesdays 15:40-17:30 at Ovingham Middle School, all  Help you express your OMS pupils views  Support you in your Over the summer they will be running their Play in a Week projects, where participants caring role (school years 4+) have 6 days to devise and perform a piece of original theatre based on their chosen theme: We make home visits and are available to patients Monday 7th - Saturday 12th August and carers in Monday 28th August - Saturday 2nd September Northumberland

Visit www.tvyt.org.uk to find out more about their upcoming events and how to get involved!  01670 784847

CHURCH COTTAGE is now available to book as a small, cosy meeting place. @ macmillan@ageuk- northumberland.org.uk Contact Ena Clark on 682550 for details or email [email protected]

www.ageuk.org.uk/ northumberland SMALL

GRANTS:

The PC can on occasion offer small grants to clubs Community

Riding Mill is fortunate in and organisations in the Transport in Dementia can be isolating having a lunch club which village. Further Northumberland runs in the Supper Room at for both sufferers and information can be carers alike. In Corbridge the Parish Hall on Tuesdays obtained from the Clerk Need help with transport to there is a successful and Thursdays giving people and applications should medical appointments, Memory Café bringing the chance to have a meal in be submitted by 31st church, lunch clubs, people together once a company. October. shopping or social outings? month for an informal

afternoon of music or film We provide a freshly cooked Last year, the Preschool We can help you get shows. two-course meal at a received a grant from the transport whatever the reasonable cost and would PC together with other occasion. Is this idea something we love to cook for more local organisations such could replicate in Riding people. as Great North Air Mill? Share your views Ambulance, Citizens and if you would be willing If you would like to try it, Advice Bureau, Age UK to get involved please please contact Christine and Tynedale Hospice at contact the Clerk: Andersen 682535 or Anne Home. 03333 441 740 Lawrence 682351. [email protected].

Clubs & Societies Riding Mill has so many things going on – the following guide gives a flavour of what you could do …

Allotment Society Drama Club Please contact: Sally Rogers – Please contact Judy Wilthew – 01434 682590 or see the website: [email protected] http://www.ridingmilldramaclub.com/

Dry Stone Walling Angling Association Please contact Derek Blair - 01434 Please contact Peter Howe – 01434 682434 682946

Exercise Class for the over 50s Art Club to over 90s Art Club meets on the 1st and 3rd This class is held on a Friday morning. Wednesday of each month at 7 pm Please contact Linda Shepherd – in the Millennium Hall. 01434 682069 Please contact Janet Bennett –01434 Football 682478 Please contact Paul Brown – 07748 234268 Baby Group

This friendly group meets on a Golf Thursday morning in Church Cottage Meets once a month April – October. to share a coffee and a chat. Please contact Rob Archer – 01434 Please contact: Lynda – 01661 886 682689 785 Evolution Gymnastics Club Badminton Club Sessions for boys and girls aged 4-8 held on Wednesday afternoons after Badminton Club meets on a school. Thursday morning in the Parish Hall. Please contact Abbie & Lesley Rutter Please contact Evelyn Downs -01434 – 01434 694649

682536 Happy Hounds Dog Training Class Bridge Club Classes held on Thursday evenings in the Millennium Hall This club meets on a Friday Please contact Jenny Sandiford – afternoon in the Parish Hall. 07808 218999 Please contact Pam Niven – 01434

682394 Karate Class Held on a Monday evening in the Carpet Bowls Club Parish Hall. Please contact Sensei Peter Atkinson This group meets on a Monday – 07912 533164 afternoon. Please contact Graham Walmsely –

01434 682046 Lunch Club Please contact Christine Andersen – Choral Society 01434 682535 The Choral Society normally performs

two concerts a year. Please contact Val Barnes – 01661 843787 or see the society’s website: Men’s Breakfast http://ridingmillchoral.org.uk/ Meets on a Saturday four times a year. Craft Class Please contact David McKenzie Held on a Thursday afternoon in the 01434 682771 / Stan Chapman Parish Hall. 01434 682120 Please contact Linda Shepherd – 01434 682069 Mothers’ Union Please contact Anne Foster – 01434 682437 Cricket Club Please contact Clive Page – 01434 Nia Dance Class 682566. Please contact Allison Austick – 07502 121617

Table Tennis Club Northumbria Healers This group meets at the Millennium This group meets on the last Saturday Hall on a Monday evening or of the month in the Parish Hall. Tuesday afternoon at the Parish http://northumbriahealers.co.uk/ Hall. Please contact Linden Furness – 01434 682282 Photographic Society nd Tennis Club This group meets on the 2 For membership enquiries please Wednesday of the month. Please contact Rob Archer – 01434 682689. contact Rosie Cunningham – 01434 Also see the website: 632515 or see the website: http://ridingmilltennis.co.uk/ http://www.ridingmillphotographicsocie

ty.co.uk/

Tynedale Chess Club Pilates Class Meets at 7 pm on Thursdays Please contact Paula – 07990 774069. (September – April) at Corbridge

Parish Hall.

Please contact Tim Wrigley – 01434

681487 or see the website:

http://tynedalechess.wordpress.com Preschool

Preschool offers education and care to Tyne Valley Youth Theatre children from the age of two years TVYT is a youth theatre group for until school age. young people aged 8 to 19 living in From September 2017 it will become the Tyne Valley and surrounding part of Broomhaugh First School. area. Please contact 0191 580 1250 Please contact - or see the website [email protected] ch.uk http://www.tvyt.org.uk/

Scouts Women’s Institute For boys and girls aged 6 -14. Please This group meets on the 1st contact [email protected] Thursday of the month at the Parish Hall at 7.30 pm.

Please contact Barbara Nelson – 01434 682739

St James Church of England – Yoga Class Messy Church Held on a Wednesday evening in the

Parish Hall. Held four times a year. Please contact Rose on 0191 413 Please contact Revd. Lesley Chapman 7653/07515 107774 or email on 01434 682120 [email protected]

Useful Contacts

Northumberland County Branch End Surgery Utility Services Schools Council 01661 842626 Gas Emergency Broomhaugh First School 01434 682374 0345 600 6400 0800 111 999 Corbridge Middle School 01434 400388 Hexham General Hospital 01434 632191 Remember you can report 0344 811 8111 Electricity – loss of power Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham problems via the website Northumbria Specialist 0800 66 88 77 01434 610300 www.northumberland.gov.uk Emergency Care Hospital 0344 811 8111 – Squirrels Breakfast & After- Member of Parliament Newcastle RVI / report a leak - School Club Yvonne Stokoe – 07933 Mr Guy Opperman Newcastle General 0800 393 084 901732 01670 789161 email: Hospital report water and [email protected] 0191 233 6161 sewerage flooding- Travel Go North East 020 7219 7113 email: 0800 328 7648 0191 420 5050 guy.opperman.mp@ Emergency 999, Urgent Northern Trains parliament.uk 111 Environment Agency: 0800 200 6060 Floodline – National Rail Enquiries

Hospitals/Doctors 0345 988 1188 03457 48 49 50 Police – 999 or 101 for Incident Hotline – Newcastle Airport Corbridge Medical Group non emergency 0800 80 70 60 0871 882 1121 01434 632011