Latest news with #GlenSanderson
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bedlington residents' frustration as rail station delayed
The news that a town's new station has been delayed until 2026 has been met with Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December, however, Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations will not welcome passengers until next is the latest disappointment for Bedlington residents who feel the town is treated as a poor relation to others nearby. Between 2017 and 2023, it received £13.01m in capital investment from the county council, compared to £23.23m in Ashington and £39.4m in County Council leader Glen Sanderson insisted work was progressing on the station as quickly as possible. Jeanette Stoker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I've seen people on the train travelling up and down and we can't get on it. "It would be so helpful for elderly people if they wanted to go to Newcastle - it's frustrating."David McArdle said he was disappointed the railway had been delayed but felt it would be a positive for the town when it was finally said: "When it does come back, it will bring more people to the area, more tourists." 'I wish I never moved here' John Hume said it was very positive to have the return of passenger rail to the area for the first time since the 1960s. He said: "After 30-odd years waiting for it, they're doing it now."They are spending the money on it."Rosemary Wealleans moved to the town from Ashington five years ago. She said: "We've got nothing here. We need something like a swimming pool, but we get nothing and Ashington gets everything."I wish I had never moved here." Residents have long called for improved leisure facilities, but as yet none have been Stoker said: "There's nowt for the younger people now. No wonder they're getting into trouble."However, there has been positive news for the town in recent was completed on four new retail units at the town's market Northumberland, the Conservative-led council's development company, is set to move forward with the final two phases of the four-phase redevelopment of the town town has also benefited from Borderlands funding as part of the Town Deal programme, with up to £3m set to be invested. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations delayed until 2026
Residents have been left frustrated by the latest delays to the opening of two new railway Northumberland Line, between Ashington and Newcastle, opened in December, however, Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations will not welcome passengers until Robinson, Independent councillor for Bedlington West, said the delays were "eroding the public's trust" in such projects. Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council, Glen Sanderson, said the project was "challenging" and the local authority was working to get the remaining stations open as soon as possible. It was initially hoped the 18-mile (29km) line would open with six new stations, but only two, Ashington and Seaton Delaval, were completed when the line reopened to passengers, six decades on from the services in Station opened in reason has been given for the delay by the local authority or rail operator Northern, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. 'Immensely complicated' Robinson, said residents had been "mostly unsurprised" by the news."It is a shame that Bedlington can't be part of this great success that is the Northumberland Line," he said. "We've had that many promises time and time again. At the end of the day you're eroding public trust in all these projects."The worst part is we're waving at trains trundling through Bedlington so many times a day that it cuts the town in half because of the level crossing and we can't get on them."Lets hope it is open in the new year, but I think people in Bedlington will believe it when they see it."Blyth Bebside station is still due to open in to Robinson's comments, Sanderson said: "I would rather under-promise and not delay than the other way round. "We're working as fast as we can."Producing a new railway line is an immensely complicated and challenging project – but we are going to stick with it."I'm sure that, within a matter of months, Bedlington will be open and people will be able to enjoy it." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
HMS Northumberland's anchor preservation plans by council
The anchor from the Royal Navy vessel HMS Northumberland could be preserved in one of the county's for the Duke of Northumberland, the Type 23 frigate was built by Swan Hunter at Wallsend, North Tyneside, and was launched in 1992. After deployments across the world, it was announced last year the ship would be decommissioned, with Defence Secretary John Healey stating it had become "uneconomical to repair".Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County Council, said he hoped the 3.5 tonne (3,500kg) anchor could be acquired to go along with the ship's bell and deck plates already allocated as memorabilia. Alnwick Castle councillor Gordon Castle stressed the importance of preserving the ship's heritage ahead of "the old warrior" being scrapped in a few months asked the council leader to ensure "such a significant part of our naval heritage is never forgotten." Sanderson, Conservative, said: "HMS Northumberland helped in the Caribbean catching cocaine smugglers and followed Russian vessels in the Atlantic. "She was a great vessel and our relationship was very strong."The anchor has been described as a "challenge" to obtain but Sanderson said "it is only right we keep asking for even more now."The Royal Navy Frigate was granted the Freedom of Northumberland by the council in was designed for anti-submarine warfare but was also used for security patrols, escort duties and anti-piracy 2023, it spent its time in the North Atlantic, North Sea and Arctic of its missions was to shadow two Russian destroyers, as they sailed near UK waters. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Road to close as Morpeth landslip repair works begin
Major roadwork repairs following a landslip during Storm Babet will lead to road closures lasting more than nine embankment on the B6343 Mitford Road, near Morpeth, Northumberland, collapsed during heavy rain in 2023. Northumberland County Council put repair costs at around £3.5m, but that sum has since risen to £4.6m, with the works set to start over the council said the project was likely to involve a "very challenging" working environment, with boulders and tree roots in the impacted area requiring a "highly complex engineering solution". The council said the works were further complicated by the necessity of leaving the river's course undisturbed due to the potential flood risk downstream, the Local Democracy Reporting Service authority said the repairs would mend any damage and stabilise the embankment, safeguarding the road against future undermining by the River has estimated the repairs will take about 40 weeks. Council leader Glen Sanderson said the landslip had caused "frustrating delays for many motorists and we are sorry for that."The full cost of this has to come from our funding – there is no special help we can call upon from government sadly," he continued."These are complex works and we have overcome a number of hurdles that have held up the project."The council said it was waiting for Northern Powergrid to move a cable which was "the last obstacle to overcome".During the road closure, a diversion will operate along St Leonard's Lane, while larger vehicles will be diverted via the B6524, the council said. A pedestrian route will be in place, south of the B6343, but will not be suitable for pushchairs or mobility scooters. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A1 dualling ignored, council leader warns
Northumberland has been forgotten, its council leader has warned, with government funding of £1.85bn for transport schemes in the North East unlikely to revive the dualling of the A1. About half the money will be used to build a Metro line linking Washington with Sunderland and Newcastle, while other schemes include introducing integrated contactless payments across bus and rail services. The dualling of 13 miles (21km) of the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham was scrapped when Labour came to power last year amid suggestions it would cost £500m. In all, the government is to award £15.6bn to areas across the UK in a move it claims will "make all parts of the country better off". As well as silence on plans for the A1 following Chancellor Rachel Reeves' speech on Wednesday, Councillor Glen Sanderson, the Conservative leader of Northumberland County Council, said he was concerned by the failure to mention other schemes in the area such as the Blyth Relief Road. "It is woefully disappointing that our A1 – now so busy it grinds to a halt regularly – is ignored. "This announcement will not help Northumberland grow its economy. "It also ignores the vital improvements needed for Moor Farm roundabout, which is an essential job that has to be done if the government want to keep up with the county council's ambition and incredible growth that the council has attracted. "The Blyth Relief Road is also ignored." The outline business case for the relief road was submitted to the Department for Transport for approval in January. Current forecasts estimate completion in 2027 with the scheme expected to cost just under £60m. It would provide a direct dual carriageway connection between the A192 Three Horseshoes roundabout and the A193 South Beach in Blyth in a bid to reduce congestion, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Responding to Sanderson's comments, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, of Labour, said there would be a "huge amount" of money for "local projects in Northumberland" with the newly announced funding "just the start" for the region. She added: "This is money for local projects which the county council supports and which mean we can push ahead with our ambitious plans to build a fully-integrated transport network the North East can be proud of connecting people to real jobs and new opportunities." Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle's Hot Seat, McGuinness said she lives on the single lane section of the A1 and knows "exactly how bad it can be". She said she did "not like" her party's decision not to go ahead with dualling the road and would "keep plugging away at getting national infrastructure money from the Treasury to do that section". In the meantime, work would continue in improving both safety and the flow of traffic on that stretch, she said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. New Metro line to be built as part of £1.85bn deal 'Our homes were taken for a road that was never built' A1 dualling cancelled over £500m cost Northumberland County Council HM Treasury
