Hepple Parish Council

HEPPLE PARISH COUNCIL The Review Officer Old Parsonage Northumberland Review HEPPLE Boundary Committee for England Northumberland Trevelyan House NE65 7LQ Great Peter Street LONDON Clerk to the Council – Mrs June Hasson SW1P 2HW Tel.no. – 01669-640368 Email - [email protected]

Dear Sir 19 November 2009

Electoral Divisions of Northumberland

At a recent meeting of local Parish Councils it was brought to our attention that Elsdon is to be re-located in the forthcoming Boundary Review. This came as quite a surprise to the majority of the meeting as it had not been widely broadcast and even Elsdon were not officially notified.

Historically and geographically Elsdon has always been part of the Rothbury/Coquetdale division and it is also part of the National Park which is covered by the area. The majority of any outside events, shopping, education, socialising etc have always been carried out in and around the Rothbury and Coquetdale area and Hepple is also the nearest Post Office to Elsdon and frequently used by the residents of Elsdon.

As clerk to the Parish Council I liaise quite often with Mr Bolam, the clerk to Elsdon Parish Council as we are also part of the National Park and this would not be feasible should they move to a new Division. The parish of Longhorsley which is the intended new Division would be totally alien to them and have no similarities that the communities would share, whereas over the years Elsdon has worked in close conjunction with the other Parishes in Rothbury/Coquetdale.

As there in a minute electorate of only 170 voters in the Parish it is hardly likely to make a huge difference to the sums and there is a strong sense of community within the Parish to remain in the Rothbury Division. We feel therefore that the Boundary Committee should re-think their strategy and allow Elsdon to continue in the Rothbury Division.

Yours faithfully

Mrs June Hasson Clerk to Hepple Parish Council