
Tynemouth 'book bus' axed due to decline in use
The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that according to the authority, the bus is now only used 22 times a day, with 90 care home and sheltered accommodation residents using it in the past month. It said that residents in supported living arrangements would still be able to receive home library deliveries or rotating collections of books.
Councillor Hannah Johnson, cabinet member for the environment, with responsibility for sports, leisure and libraries, said: "Our community hubs and libraries are now busier than ever and we'll make sure the small number of remaining users are fully supported. "We're contacting people directly to help them."Bartoli said: "Residents in Tynemouth have been without a library for almost five years. "The book bus has been a lifeline for elderly and vulnerable residents across Tynemouth since its closure. "To remove this service now, with no sign of when the physical library will reopen, is cruel. "I hope the mayor will reconsider and delay this change until the new library is finally open."
Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Peterborough Town Hall Raac repairs work to begin soon
Work to repair reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) at a city's town hall will start soon and could be completed by the end of the City Council estimates the work on the upper floor will cost about £900,000 and ensure the safety of the occupants using the space a meeting last month, the authority said the works at the building on Bridge Street would begin within six to eight weeks and be completed by the end of accurate timescales are expected to be announced after final reports have been received from structural engineers. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council said that Raac collapse was unlikely, but it admitted that implications could be "severe" if it did happen, including a serious risk of fatality or serious Hunns, the council's head of compliance and capital programs, told a meeting of the authority's cabinet it would aim to "limit public disruption" while the works took place, noting that a scaffolding would be in place next to the building's entrance on St Peter's confirmed the building would not be evacuated during the works as the area needing repairs was already January, all city council meetings have been held at the authority's offices in Sand Martin House instead because of the conditions at the town hall and concerns about fire safety. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Northampton homeless charity fears closure over funding dispute
A charity which houses homeless people says it faces closure because its position has "become impossible" following a funding Association for Accommodation for Single Homeless (NAASH) provides supported accommodation for about 200 people and works to help them move into longer-term charity is financed by claiming housing benefit to secure accommodation for its clients, but NAASH said it had been told by West Northamptonshire Council that funding had been held up as the authority disputed the "validity" of its Reform UK-controlled council said it was "very mindful" of the impact the dispute. Charlie Hastie, the cabinet member for housing, said: "The council has been working over a long period to try to address anomalies in the housing benefits claims made for NAASH properties and the tenants that live there."Housing benefit is governed by nationally set regulations, and where evidence cannot be provided to support claims that have been put in then we are not able to pay benefit."This is also true of historic payments which if, upon review, are not supported by the required evidence also have to be recovered as overpayments."The council has no choice in this matter as the government both sets the regulations and will not pay the council to meet these costs if they do not comply with the regulations."The charity, which has been supporting homeless people since 2000, does not own its housing and mostly rents rooms in houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). 'Time critical' The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which administers housing benefit, said it could not comment on the said: "We support over a million people through housing benefit every year, which is managed and administered by local authorities."Local authorities decide if a customer is eligible for the benefit, applying DWP rules to ensure the right support is going to the right place."In a statement, the trustees of NAASH said: "All those supported [by the charity] are people who need accommodation assistance and support, and have been recommended by West Northants Council and formerly Northampton Borough Council."Negotiations continue with [the council] but the timing is now critical. Unless resolved immediately, NAASH will have to close." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Row over 'cheeky' Deepings homes plan
A row has broken out over new housing in City Council (PCC) has been accused of being "cheeky" for wanting to put new homes close to its border with The Deepings in Lincolnshire.A council spokesperson said "the area's young people need new housing".However, Councillor Phil Dilks, of neighbouring South Kesteven District Council (SKDC), said it would "put more strain on infrastructure". The Deepings, which includes Deeping St James and Market Deeping, currently has 6,276 homes, according to the 2021 has allocated a further 1,800 homes in the area under its local plan, which is currently out for public has also earmarked some nearby land, just into its border, to take 1,050 houses, in its local plan, which is also being consulted on. If both plans get signed-off by the government, the total number of homes in the area would increase by 45%. Judy Stevens of Deeping St James Parish Council said residents were worried about the prospect of more housing without extra facilities such as shops and schools."People already feel let down because they have been promised increased infrastructure as a result of already existing new developments and that hasn't translated into reality," she said."They're not saying not in my backyard, but they are saying no to this many." Dilks, who represents Deeping St James on SKDC, said: "Market Deeping and Deeping St James are entirely in South Kesteven District Council. What Peterborough are looking at is a piece of land south of Market Deeping."We have made our views known to Peterborough and I think it's a bit of a cheek when clearly those people would be using the infrastructure that is already strained in The Deepings".Councillor Nick Thulbourn, cabinet member for growth and regeneration at PCC, agreed anyone buying the new houses in its area would use the public amenities over the border in he said any strain on infrastructure would be factored into the local plan when it was adopted."Peterborough is a young growing city so we need housing and we need for young people to get on with their lives," he said. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices