May 12, 2018
The Tynedale Beer Festival in Corbridge (at the rugby ground near the rail station) takes place on Thursday 14 June – Saturday 16 June.
Councillor Derek Kennedy said “Come along to the best festival around, lots of good beer and ciders, food and live music. It’s great to support the organisers Tynedale Lions and Tynedale Rugby club. Over 7,000 people came to last years festival raising a record amount for local charities. I will be there so if you see me do come over for a chat.”
For more information and to book tickets got to
http://www.tynedalebeerfestival.org.uk/
Jan 23, 2018
Hexham’s Library at the Queens Hall has reopened following a refurbishment.
Independent County Councillor Derek Kennedy went along and reports “The Library is very light and clean with a dominant white colour. The Victorian internal structures are retained. A new wide stair case replaces the old spiral stair case.”
The Queens Hall is now the key service centre for the County Council where bills can be paid and enquiries made. Hadrian House on Market Street is now closed and is being sold to a developer.
However Derek did say “The Library replaces the Tourist Information Centre at Wentworth, with its future still unknown. I’m not sure of the wisdom of this move. Especially as the only reference to tourism is a number of leaflets on the wall as you enter the library. This can be so easily missed and the Council may want to rethink and improve this service.”
Dec 23, 2017
Message from Councillor Derek Kennedy
Wishing You a Merry Christmas
If your household is like mine then you will have a greater amount of waste than any other time of the year.
Bin collection dates over the Christmas period will be later than your normal collection.
I live in Hexham with my normal bin collection day of Thursday
However with holidays, my collection day is 2 days late, so will be Saturday 30 Dec; and the following week, 1 day late on Friday 5 January.
You can check your collection date at the county council website
Click here
http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Waste/Bins/Bin-Calendars.aspx
Hope you find this useful.
Dec 8, 2017
| Friday 8th and Saturday 9th December welcomes the Famous Hexham Christmas Market. The town will have over 70 traders in the Market Square, Beaumont Street and in the Abbey. |
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| Councillor Derek Kennedy said “This is a wonderful event for the town, do please come and support the local traders. Friday will see late night opening for some stores also. Our thanks to the Hexham Community Partnership for organising the event. See you there.”
More details can be found here http://www.visithexham.net/
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Nov 1, 2017
Hexham Round Table are holding their annual Bonfire Night and Fireworks on Saturday 4 November.
The event is at the Sele Park, Hexham starting with the
Bonfire at 6:30 and the
Fireworks at 7:00
Round Table collect donations at the event and distribute the excess to Tyne Valley charities.
Glowsticks will be sold at all entrances by Round Table Sellers
Food stalls with hot and cold food and drinks will also be available
You can read more about the work of the Round Table at
https://www.hexhamroundtable.org.uk/bonfire
Oct 25, 2017
Hexham holds its famous Spook Night on Saturday 28th October starting at 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm.
The Market Place and Beaumont Street is the central location. Do note that these roads will be closed to traffic.
Thank you to the Hexham Community Partnership for their organisation of this great event.
Entry is free and do remember to dress up and have a Spooktacular time.
Hope to see you there.
May 22, 2017
Independent County Councillor Derek Kennedy recorded his delight that the Hexham Courant will once again be for sale in Hexham’s Wentworth Sports Centre.
Derek is a regular at the gym, said “I am so pleased that we have the Public Notices in the Courant and the newspaper is back for sale in the Wentworth. This has been an unsavoury affair with the County Council damaging its reputation with the public in Tynedale. I can assure residents of Hexham and Tynedale that I will fight against such injustices. I hope the County Council’s officers have learnt a valuable lesson and will reflect on their actions. We are public servants here to serve the public, some need to be reminded of that fact.”
Derek played the key role by using a Freedom of Information request to expose the poor decision making when the public notices were removed from the local newspaper.
Read more at the Hexham Courant
http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/Courant-to-be-available-in-leisure-centres-again-96b4e7be-3313-404b-9c22-191e84b99a65-ds
May 13, 2017
Northumberland County Council has announced that it will re-start printing Public Notices in the Hexham Courant. The Council had been printing Tynedale related notices in the Alnwick based Northumberland Gazette.
Councillor Derek Kennedy used a Freedom of Information request to expose the Council’s decision making, highlighting a unilateral decision by the Chief Executive. The public and other councillors also criticised the decision and this combined pressure has proved successful in overturning this poor decision.
Councillor Derek Kennedy “I am delighted that my campaigning and the Freedom of Information request has exposed what a poor decision was made. I know a lot of Hexham residents were very upset at the decision by the County Council. As you know, I will always fight for what is right for Hexham and Tynedale. I will not let the Council treat the people with such disrespect. I will always demand justice and I think those in power really need to reflect on their actions and decision making. When you work in public service you must honour the public not abuse your position. We all look forward to seeing the Public Notices for Tynedale in the Hexham Courant.”
Derek Kennedy was re-elected to the Northumberland County Council in May 2017 winning 57% of the Hexham West Division votes.
May 5, 2017
Hexham News – Election Result
Results of the Hexham West County Council election held on 4 May 2017 are:
1. Derek Kennedy – Independent – 1095 (57%) – ELECTED
2. Conservative – 580 (30%)
3. Labour – 161 (8%)
4. Green Party – 91 (5%)
County Councillor Derek Kennedy (Hexham West) said “Thank you to everyone for voting in this 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 results of the Hexham Leazes Ward election held on 4 May 2017 are:
1. Derek Kennedy – Independent – 1306 – ELECTED
2. Dodds – Conservative- 793 – ELECTED
3. Gillanders – Conservative – 707 – ELECTED
4. Hare – Conservative – 634 – ELECTED
5. Stovell – Green Party – 541
6. Allan – Conservative – 521
7. Grundey – Green Party – 509
8. Grundey – Green Party – 491
Apr 21, 2017
Independent County Councillor Derek Kennedy (Hexham West) made a freedom of information request in an effort to find the real truth as to why Public Notices were not being advertised in the Hexham Courant. So many Hexham and Tynedale residents were being let down and Derek felt it was part of his civic duties to investigate on behalf of the public.
Derek said “I wanted to get down to the bottom of this issue once and for all. The findings from the email show that on 16 Nov 2016 the Chief Executive of the County Council instructed that all public notices be directed away from the Courant and to the Northumberland Gazette. There is no explanation as to why and no directive to inform the public, councillors or the Courant of the decision. In December 2016, the Courant asked the County Council about the lack of public notices coming through to their paper. County Council then informed the Courant there “….were no notices“.
“As I understand it, public notices were being sent to the Northumberland Gazette for the period November 2016 and onwards.”
“It appears in February 2017, 3 months after the redirection of the notices to the Northumberland Gazette, the Council decided to call this “………a pilot exercise looking at alternative ways of displaying and advertising.” and that cost etc would be monitored. This email was sent to all senior officers of County Council and to Northumbria Healthcare and Active Northumberland.
The FOI law requires the release of all related papers on this subject, so I make the assumption the County Council has complied with this. I am therefore rather surprised that there are only a handful of emails which make up this decision. I had expected that a meeting would have taken place with proper governance and minutes of decisions. However on the face of it, it appear the Chief Executive of the County Council took a unilateral decision with no explanation as to why. No councillors were involved in any of the email exchanges. I cannot see any legal opinion, cost benefit analysis, risk appraisal or other strategic judgements which would lend itself to a safe decision.”
Derek concluded “I do hope there is a reasonable conclusion to this unsavoury affair. In the spirit of co-operation can I suggest that the Courant and County Council get round the negotiation table soon and thrash out a solution that serves the public interest of Tynedale and be quick about it. Remember we are all public servants and this endless squabbling needs to end and now.”
