by Wendy Pattison

wendy.pattison@northumberland.gov.uk – Tel. 07779 983072

And also on Facebook: Cllr Wendy Pattison

[All text and photos provided by Cllr Wendy Pattison and used with permission. Received: 22 November 2021.]

HEDGELEY PARISH

National Highways – Dualling of the A1

A1 Morpeth to Ellingham dualling

Subject to final approval in January 2022 by the Secretary of State, work will start in Summer 2022 to dual the A1. The work will start in unison at both ends of the A1 at Morpeth and at Ellingham.

The scheme will involve upgrading eight miles of the A1 to a dual carriageway between Morpeth and Felton, including construction of a new dual carriageway bypassing the existing A1 between Priests Bridge and Burgham Park. The old section of the A1 carriageway will be de-trunked and become a local road – meaning this section of road will be owned and maintained by Northumberland County Council.

Between Alnwick and Ellingham a further five miles of the existing A1 will be upgraded to dual carriageway. This will be done along the existing single carriageway road.

As well as the dualling, National Highways will also construct:

• four new compact grade separated junctions at Highlaws, Fenrother, West Moor and Charlton Mires providing safe access onto and of the A1 as well as maintaining links to the local road network
• a new bridge where the A1 cross over the River Coquet parallel to the existing bridge
• a new accommodation bridge at Heckley Fence

As the route is one of strategic national importance our aims are to:

• improve network resilience and journey time reliability
• improve safety
• maintain access for local traffic whilst improving conditions for strategic traffic
• facilitate future economic growth
• work to prevent potential impacts on the natural and built environment, and identify opportunities to provide a long-term a sustainable benefit to the environment.

Further Information>>

Child School Traffic Bollards

A resident has kindly sent in a photograph of the above which he saw outside a school in Nottinghamshire. These very visual child-size bollards were positioned across the front entrances to many of the schools which he drove past, both in Nottinghamshire South Yorkshire. They are available wearing a blue cardigan or a red one!

The bollards are used as a speeding deterrent and are most certainly noticeable!

They certainly do make you think!!!!

Christmas shopping tips: how to stay safe when buying online

With hundreds of independent retailers in Northumberland we’re sure you’ll be sure to find everything you need and more for the festive season. We always recommend buying locally wherever possible, either in local shops or through their websites, to look after our small businesses and protect local jobs. 

If you are shopping online from businesses you don’t know, follow these simple tips from the Trading Standards team, which is part of the Councils’ Public Protection Service, to help you stay safe and ensure your hard-earned cash doesn’t end up in the pocket of some scammer. 

1. Make sure the website is genuine. Some scammers are very good at designing websites to look like well-known brands and can fool the unwary. The best way to make sure you are shopping on the genuine website is to type in the address yourself rather than clicking on a link.
2. Check their reputation. If you are unfamiliar with the retailer, it is wise to do an online search to check recommendations and feedback from other customers to gauge their reputation. 
3. Look for contact details. Check that a physical UK address and contact telephone number is provided for the trader prior to making the purchase. Be aware that a co.uk web address does not necessarily mean the trader is based in this country. If things go wrong, it may be hard for you, or the authorities, to take action against an overseas trader, or a trader that cannot be found! 
4. Check the refund and returns policy – before you place an order. This should be available on the website. 

You have a right to a cooling off period when you buy online. Make sure that the trader provides details of your right to cancel and the procedure for returning your order. They should state that:

• You have at least 14 days starting the day after delivery to inform them of your wish to cancel.
• You have a further 14 days in which to return the goods.
• You are entitled to a refund of any standard delivery charge as well as the cost of the goods. 

Bear in mind that traders can specify that you are responsible for paying the cost of any return. You should think about this carefully if goods you order are particularly bulky or heavy.
Don’t let businesses fool you into thinking you cannot return sale items; you have the same rights as when you purchase full price goods.

5. Keep your antivirus and firewall software up to date. The latest versions of web browsers help block spoof websites. Switch on the ‘automatic updates’ setting so your protection is kept up-to-date. 
6. Ensure the checkout is secure. At the online check-out, before you type in your credit card details, make sure the web address bar has switched from ‘http:’ to ‘https:’ to indicate a secure, encrypted connection. Any legitimate online site processing payments always switch to a secure connection at this stage. Look out too for the padlock symbol on the bottom right of the browser window or on the left of the address bar, to show that it is a secure connection to protect your payment details. Do not enter payment details into an unsecured site, as you may be gifting them to hackers! 
7. Shop securely If you are buying goods valued at over £100, consider using a credit card as if things go wrong, you can request a refund directly from your card provider.
8. If you pay by debit card, your card provider may offer a chargeback facility if goods are not delivered or are faulty. But this is not required by law and may be strictly time limited. PayPal may also offer some protection but again this is not a legal requirement and will be subject to their terms and conditions and strict time limits. Avoid paying by bank transfer, as the bank will not be responsible for any refund if things go wrong. 
9. Guard your privacy. Do not disclose personal information unless you know who is receiving it, why they need it, and how they’ll use it.
10. Keep a record of your transactions. Set up a folder on your computer where you can store all your transaction history. It’s also helpful to take a screenshot of how the goods have been described at the time of ordering. This way, if there is ever a dispute, you have the information on hand. 
11. Think twice, click once 

As the Christmas deal offers start stacking up in your inbox, it’s easy to forget that not all emails bring festive cheer. Most hacks start by convincing you to open an attachment or visit a link to download something. It’s an easy way for bad folk to install malware on your machine. 

Emails that can at first glance look to be from a known retailer, may be a scam – so it is always best to follow Tip 11: 

Think twice, click once. If something is unexpected don’t trust it – delete it. 

Philip Soderquest, the council’s head of housing and public protection said: 

There are a lot of online scams, and many are very sophisticated. We’re reminding shoppers to be extra vigilant whilst shopping online and to follow the tips that our Trading Standards department has provided.

If traders don’t provide the details required by law or try to restrict your rights, help can be sought from Trading Standards and the Citizens Advice Consumer Service by calling 0808 223 1133.

Philip Soderquest (NCC Head of Housing & Public Protection)

To find out more about shopping local go to www.discoverourland.co.uk/shoplocal 

Or join the following Facebook groups – Search for “Northumberland, let’s support” to join the Facebook group *Northumberland, UK*, Let’s keep supporting local businesses! https://www.facebook.com/FoodandDrinkNE 

What is Northumberland Communities Together?

Northumberland Communities Together are available to keep you and your community safe and well. If you or anyone in your family needs a bit of extra support, please get in touch. If you’re having a difficult time or struggling at the moment, we’ll find you support and connect you with people in your area.

Phone the Northumberland Communities Together Response Hub on 01670 620015 9am-6pm, 7 days a week or email: NCT@northumberland.gov.uk

• Have your financial circumstances changed with reduced hours, redundancy or benefits?
• Worried about staying warm, winter bills and financial pressures – we will work with Citizens Advice Northumberland to connect and support you and your family.
• If you, your family, or neighbour needs a bit of extra help, please get in touch and we will find the support that is right for you.
• Feeling lonely, overwhelmed, or struggling with mental health?
• If you don’t have family or friends nearby, please contact us and Communities Together will assist you.
• Worried about someone experiencing domestic abuse or concerned about a neighbour. Call us on 01670 620015 we are open 7 days a week from 9am until 6pm.