More power to Wansbeck parish councils

Posted by Simon Honeysett on Aug 14, 08 02:20 PM in News

Voters in part of Northumberland will go to the polls next year to elect their first-ever representatives on a new grass-roots network of local councils.

Five parish councils - the first in the Wansbeck district's history - are set to be created as part of April's switch to unitary local government in the county.

A major public consultation exercise has resulted in a recommendation that parish councils should be established for Ashington, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and East, North and West Bedlington.

Between them, the five new authorities will have 57 councillors and elections to choose them are expected to be held in May or June, subject to Government approval.

Parish councils are being created in south-east Northumberland for the first time in a bid to increase grass-roots access to democracy following the abolition of the county's six district councils next year.

In Wansbeck, campaigners in Newbiggin led the way by formally petitioning for their own parish council some time ago. A survey revealed 62% support across the district for the establishment of similar councils for Ashington and Bedlington.

Now - following a formal consultation exercise - Wansbeck Council has agreed to submit the detailed proposals to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Moves to split Ashington into two parishes have been dropped after a majority of local people favoured a single council for the town.

It will have 21 elected councillors, while eight will serve on the Newbiggin parish council.

A petition from residents in West Bedlington - and support from locals in other parts of the town for their own parishes - has led to the decision to have three separate councils. East Bedlington will have 11 councillors, the North nine and the West eight.

Last month former Wansbeck Council leader John McCormack called for a single parish council for Ashington and claimed dividing the town in two was a crazy idea.

Yesterday Wansbeck chief executive Bob Stephenson said: "I have submitted a recommendation that we have five parish councils in the district to the DCLG, and there will now be a process of drawing up orders and regulations. The Secretary of State will make the regulations and the new councils will be created for April next year.

"Elections for them would be held in May or June. The final recommendations of the council have been based on what local people told us they wanted. For example, there was 97% support in North Bedlington for its own parish."

Neighbouring Blyth Valley Borough Council is also in the process of creating its first parish councils, which will probably cover the communities of Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley.

We'd like to hear from you.
Send your stories, pics and videos to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk