April 2002

Dear Editor

Blind awareness week was recently publicised on BBC Radio Four. The top two points of most annoying obstructions for the blind and partially sited were overhanging branches, and cars parked on the pavements.

Up to a point, overhanging branches could be coped with, in as much as after having walked into them, and in many cases suffering painful injuries, those concerned at least knew the branches were there, and could avoid them in future.

However cars parked on pavements were a totally different problem as they could sneak up on a blind or partially sighted at any time any where, there one minute, and gone the next. It may be all very well for drivers to think that they are king of the roads, but when the police seem to do absolutely nothing to prevent totally irresponsible drivers from parking on pavements, is it any wonder drivers consider themselves king of the pavements also.

Parking on pavements just doesn’t seem to come anywhere near the bottom of the list of things to do by the police, particularly on Darras Hall, yet given the number of complaints and the actual number of drivers who do park on pavements, the police must be deaf as well as blind, or does it come down to the fact that they consider parking on pavements a total irrelevance, taking the attitude, so long as it doesn’t affect them then it doesn’t exist?

A situation which a lot of pedestrians would like, blind or otherwise, only for the right reasons, being that parking on pavements doesn’t exist because the police are doing something about it instead of turning a blind eye!

Name and address withheld by request.

Dear Editor

Since Christmas I and my neighbours have been the recipients of prank playing youngsters, who like to write graffiti, use disgusting language and vandalise property; No doubt the same youngsters who were mentioned in your December newsletter “Trick or Treat”.

However enough is enough, as the Police seem to have their hand tied by the lack of the law, I have purchased a small camera from B&Q, cost £29.95. The quality is excellent and I can now videotape these youth’s. The residents and parents are well aware of who is causing damage, and if it continues, I will now be able to take civil action to recoup the hundreds of pounds of damage caused.

Name and address supplied.

Note from the Editor

Your Neighbourhood Watch Committee has a camera, video and monitor you can use to catch people who cause damage to your property, whilst it may not stop the act, it is a good form of evidence for the police to prosecute on. Various black & white/colour and covert camera systems are now available at DIY stores, Argos, Index etc. They are infrared which means they can see clearly in pitch black and a full system covering a house with a number of cameras and control unit can be purchased for less than £100.00. A video can be purchased for £60, thus the total cost of less that £160.00. They are easy to install and some insurers give a good discount for this type of added security. In the coming issues, as space allows, we shall be giving a full review of the systems available and their costs.

March 2002

Dear Editor

With reference to the many letters of complaint about the apparent lack of action by the authorities in connection with what appears to be illegal parking in the Ponteland and Darras Hall areas.

At 9.30 a.m. on the morning of Thursday 28th February 2002 I visited the Post Office at Broadway. As an 84 year old disabled person on arriving I found it impossible to park in either of the disabled bays as one was occupied by a car not showing a disabled badge and seemed to be driven by a perfectly able bodied young person, while the other was taken up by a Police Mini-Bus.

If this is the attitude of Police Drivers in this area, is it surprising therefore, that other motorists behave as badly as they do?

Name and address withheld by request.

Dear Editor

For attention Neighbourhood watch and the Sergeant Ponteland Police station. Some questions for the police.

In view of concerns expressed in your publication over the last 4 issues on topics below will they /you release certain historical operational details?

Issues raised

1. Speeding on Edge Hill (multiple public complaints)
2. Inconsiderate pavement parking (photos supplied)
3. Illegal parking at schools ( Reg. Nos. supplied)
4. Over 2 hour parking at shops (raised in N Watch months ago) There regularly appear to be the following cars parked for more than 2 hours at a time Jaguar, VW Golf, Skoda, Nova.

Will the police confirm data as below by month i.e.

Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. etc. a. Speeding. b. Dates and Locations used. c. Offences committed. i.e. has any action been taken re specific Edge Hill complaint?

Inconsiderate Parking/ pavement obstruction

1. How many tickets issued? Schools How many times have police attended since letter publication?
2. In Uniform or plain clothes?
3. Number of offences detected?
4. What action taken on offending 37 offences supplied?
5. Overstay parking?
6. How many tickets issued?

The reason for monthly data is to show if any action is taken on complaints or is Neighbourhood Watch just seen as SPIN by police??? To keep appearances of doing something.

Name and address not supplied.

February 2002

January 2002

December 2001

November 2001

October 2001

September 2001

August 2001

The following letter has been received from Mr Bill Cuthbertson, Chairman of Ponteland Parish Council, and rather than try to précis it, I reproduce it for your information and any comments you may have.

Dear Sir

The fairly recent announcement of the Home Office to allocate £15m from the Police Modernisation Fund to improve Police operational requirements in rural areas is undoubtedly to be applauded. However, it is a matter of regret and much concern that Northumbria Police have been excluded from this scheme and will therefore not qualify for an anticipated grant of £283,630.

Northumbria Police serves rural Northumberland and the conurbation of Tyne & Wear. In fact, it covers the largest geographical area of any Police force in England. Demographically, the force area has a population of approximately 1.5 million (excluding sheep!). Population density, therefore, varies considerably, for example: 20.3 persons per hectare in urban areas (slightly less than average for metropolitan areas) to 0.6 in rural areas, compared to the national average of 3.6.

If indeed finance from the Fund has been allocated on the basis of population sparsity, then common sense would dictate that our rural community should be considered distinctive from the Tyne & Wear conurbation and therefore qualify for Police funding.

Councillor George Gill, Chairman of the Northumbria Police Authority, is absolutely correct in his statement: “ Northumberland is the most sparsely populated area in England and Wales. I cannot imagine a County that is more rural than Northumberland so why have we been left out?….” “ Rural crime is a major issue for Northumbria Police.”

Ponteland Parish Council will unequivocally support Councillor Gill and Northumbria Police Authority in their quest to urge the Home Secretary, Jack Straw to reconsider our rural police funding requirements and further urge NCC, local Borough and District Councils and Northumberland Parish Councils to write to him endorsing our concerns and disappointment.

Yours faithfully

Dear Editor

I have noticed of recent years that you used to print the registration numbers of good drivers in the area, however, for some time now you have not printed any numbers, is this due to the fact that there is no longer any good drivers?

Perhaps you should printing the registration numbers of extremely bad drivers.

It will interesting to know what other members of the community think with regards to this.

Yours sincerely (name and address supplied)

[ Editors comment. Could there not be some legal aspects to consider if we started printing such things, what do you think? Comments please]

With the warm summer weather, some of you are having parties and get-togethers in your gardens. If this involves music, could you please ensure that you are considerate to your neighbours and those in the surrounding area. This is especially true when the parties go into the evening. Sound tends to travel long distances in the outdoors and can be a inconvenience to those trying to rest or sleep.

Please use common sense at all times with regard to the volume of music. It can often be helpful to those in the neighbourhood if you let them know prior to the party of your intentions and apologise in advance if any inconvenience is caused.

(name and address withheld)

Mayor/Mayoress Charity Appeal - The M.S. Society

Judith and I would like to thank everyone who supported the coffee morning on Saturday 24th June in St Mary's Church Hall. We raised £390. The flag days on the 30th June and 1st July contributed £1,140. The people of Ponteland are very generous.

Our next effort will be a family barbecue at Kirkley Hall on Saturday 19th August. Tickets from 01661 825674 costing £8.50 for adults and £5.00 for under 12's.

Yours sincerely,
Frank Harrington.

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