May 12, 2016
Hexham Bandstand Ceremony
Hexham’s Bandstand has a re-dedication ceremony on Saturday 14 May.
At 11:30 the Hexham Brass Band will be playing and then at 12:00 a dedication from Reverend Canon Doctor Dagmar Winter will take place.
£125,000 has been spent to bring the bandstand back to a great splendour.
Independent Councillor Derek Kennedy visited the site and said “Workmen continue to work on the bandstand to get it ready for its grand opening on May 14th. You are most welcome to come along to the opening ceremony, I look forward to seeing you. The bandstand has a special place in all our hearts, it’s pleasing to see the work is nearly complete.“
Feb 21, 2016
FINES totalling more than £150,000 have been collected by Northumberland County Council since free parking was introduced in Hexham.
Following a Freedom of Information request by the , it can be revealed that the four enforcement officers in the town are issuing penalty notices amounting to an average of £1,900 a week.
The staggering revenues generated from infringements at both on-street and off-street parking bays have prompted renewed calls for the current baffling regime of restrictions to be overhauled.
Between free parking coming into force on April 1, 2014 and the end of 2015, the county council collected a total of £159,487.08p in penalties in Hexham.
Assuming everyone settles their fines early at £25 apiece, that means an average of 75 tickets are issued each week across the town.
The council is also cashing in on the confusion created by the curb on all-day parking spaces at Wentworth since September last year, and the introduction of a system of red, blue and white coloured bays.
In the last four months of 2015, penalties raked in from Wentworth alone totalled £18,475 – an average of more than £1,000 a week – an increase of 6.6 per cent on the same period the previous year.
Hexham Town Council devised the colour code system to provide more four-hour spaces for visitors, at the expense of all-day spaces used by those who work in the town.
Robbie Hutchinson, managing director of property firm YoungsRPS, launched an online campaign past year calling on the town council to create more all-day spaces.
But he said the plea on behalf of businesses, suffering because customers and clients were finding it to park and because staff had to move their cars during the day, fell on deaf ears.
“We want to bring new businesses and visitors into the town. Instead we have a system which is deterring visitors, and is penalising people who work here.
“We want a system which is fair to everyone and suits everyone, but those we have elected don’t seem to care. What we have is a complete farce.”
Hexham town councillor and recently elected independent member of Northumberland County Council, Derek Kennedy, accused his own town council of exacerbating problems with the introduction of the red, blue and white bays at Wentworth.
“It is an absolute joke. There are not enough all-day spaces. People are having to leave work half way through the day just to move their car from space A to space B. This is a massive issue that needs to be addressed.”
“We don’t want to end up with the situation where we are discouraging people coming to Hexham, persuading businesses to leave. If this continues what we will be left with are empty premises and the start of the road to decay.”
He said people were being deterred from coming into the town because of the mayhem over the availability of spaces and the zealousness of the enforcement officers.
“There is a real crackdown to try to fabricate infringements, which is totally wrong. I have heard of people getting tickets just because one of their tyres is touching a line.”
But the Mayor of Hexham defended the existing system, saying it was the best option until extra car parking areas could be found.
Coun. Trevor Cessford said the town council was due to have discussions with the county council next week to discuss whether any new areas could be designated for parking.
“We will have a problem until we get extra parking spaces. People wanted four-hour bays to make it easier for visitors to come to Hexham. An awful lot of people are happy with blue bays.
“But we are always happy to look at things again.”
Parking fines are put into the county council’s highways coffers. It insists the income contributes to the cost of providing parking services and maintaining car parks.
Source: High price of free parking
Feb 5, 2016
Results of the Hexham West County Council by-election held on 4 February are:
1. Derek Kennedy – Independent – 501 – ELECTED
2. Conservative – 454
3. Labour – 200
4. Other Independent – 125
5. Green Party – 89
County Councillor Derek Kennedy said “Thank you to everyone for voting in this by-election. I will work hard to ensure Hexham has a strong voice at the County Council. I will continue to provide you with the news that effects our Town. Your support is greatly appreciated.”
The result of the Hexham Leazes Town Council held on the same day was
1. Conservative
2. Green Party
3. Liberal Democrat
Feb 1, 2016
It has just been announced by the County Council that the planning application for a small Co-operative Store on Hexham’s West Road has been approved. The store on the former Broadway Garage will bring this redundant site back into operation to serve the local community.
The planning application states there will be a demolition of the front portion of the building and the blocking up of some windows and door openings. An ATM cash machine will be installed and the creation of 9 car parking spaces including 1 disabled bay and 3 cycle stands.
Councillor Derek Kennedy did write to the Council to support this application, however there were a number of other Hexham Councillors objecting to the scheme.
Derek Kennedy said “It is pleasing that this redundant site will be put to good use. A new convenience store in this part of Hexham will be welcomed by most residents living in the nearby streets. Many people have spoken to me offering their support for a local corner shop that they can easily walk to.”
Mr and Mrs B of Burswell Avenue,Hexham said “We are delighted to have a store within easy reach, it will be a great benefit to us and our neighbours.”
The planning application can be viewed by clicking here
Jan 28, 2016
The design for the new bus station at Loosing Hill, Hexham is available to the public for comment here. The design includes an indoor waiting area for the public and explains how buses will enter and exit the site. The plans show that 49 car parking spaces are also to be designed into the site making this a very busy area.
While this may not be the site that many wanted for the new bus station (over 10,000 signed a petition to keep it on the original site) the land at the old bus station has now been sold and a developer is looking to build a shopping area and flats. Hexham now must get the best design possible at Loosing Hill.
Councillor Derek Kennedy has been reviewing the plans on behalf of local residents and said “The plans for the new bus station on the Loosing Hill site, leave a lot of questions unanswered. Particularly, I had envisaged that there would be a zebra crossing or similar to cross the Corbridge Road as you walk to M&S. You will need eyes in the back of your head to get across this road safely. I am asking the county council to re-think the plans there are a lot of old people who will use the new bus station their safety must be taken into account. Come on county council we need a better design than this. I am encouraging residents to look at the plans and provide their comments to the council as soon as possible.”
The Hexham Civic Society have criticised the design also.
Jan 8, 2016
A proposal by Independent Councillor Derek Kennedy to re-introduce cheap parking charges into Hexham’s Wentworth car park has been blocked by the ruling Conservative group on the Town Council.
The proposal was to help mitigate the daily chaos experienced in the Wentworth car park. There is not enough all-day parking for workers and local residents and visitors go round in circles searching for an elusive space.
The proposal was to bring back the:
30p an hour up to a maximum of £2 a day charge;
Annual £100 a year permit scheme;
Remove the confusing red, white and blue bays and replace with white bays only;
The £350,000 a year generated to be put into a new ring-fenced Hexham Trust Fund;
The Hexham Trust Fund to be used to pay for projects such as a new workers car park and a park and ride scheme.
Note – the free parking at for example, Beaumont St and Gilesgate car park would be retained.
Derek Kennedy said “This is not only about trying to fix today’s problems but also looking ahead for the next 5 and 10 years. 50 spaces will be lost at Loosing Hill car park when the bus station moves location. New developments at the M&S site will reduce parking spaces further. We need to plan ahead. The Hexham Trust Fund could be used to develop the Town’s traffic infrastructure such as a workers car park at the old bunker site (behind Tesco) and a park and ride scheme similar to Durham. ”
Derek added “The change would help stimulate Hexham’s future positively and would engage with other initiatives such as Hexham’s proposed Business Improvement District.”
However, opponents of the scheme commented
Tory Councillor Tom Gillanders said “There are 1,700 parking spaces in Hexham, many unused because people don’t know where they are.”
Tory Councillor Cath Homer said of the Trust Fund “Its simply not going to happen.”
The Town Council wants another report to look into the matter.
Hexham Courant Opinion (8/1/16) “Despite a disingenuous attempt to wash its hands of the monster it created, the town council administrations should be taking positive action to make the parking system work, rather than creating obstructions and finding reasons why it won’t work.”
Hexham Courant of 8/1/16 has the full story on page 3 an Opinion on page 10. and a news report here (Hexham Newscast)
