Lately there has been a serious outbreak of tree burning  in Holywell Dene.  This is occurring in the Dene below Concorde House and over the wooden bridge and off to the right among the trees.  At least ten trees have been damaged by persons unknown setting fire to them by using an accelerant to burn into the bowl of the tree and thus weaken it so that it becomes dangerous so that it either falls over or becomes seriously weakened and in danger of falling over.  Residents have reported that they have seen children between the ages of eight and fifteen years in the vicinity but no-one has seen anyone burning the trees.  But it must be happening. 

The police have been informed and are keeping watch and anyone seeing persons engaged in tree burning should ring the police on 101  69191.  Delaval Estates, on whose land the trees stand,  have had to cut at least three trees down which were in danger of falling over.  This is an area of ancient woodland and many of these trees will be dated well before the early 19th Century.

tree burning

Seaton Valley Co-operative Society has recently submitted plans for a new Supermarket and Petrol Station at Wheatridge Park opposite the Delaval Arms.  The car park will have spaces for up to at least 60 cars for customers and about four spaces for staff cars on the opposite side of the site.  The petrol station will have card facilities at night so that petrol can be served 24/7. 

The retail site will have up to about 750 sqare metres of space once the first and second phases are complete.  The site is expected to create about 60 full-time and part-time jobs which will be recruited locally.  This amount of retail space is allowed for in the Blyth Valley Core Strategy Plan which was adopted by the County Council in 2008 and is where it is required to be, i.e. away from the Avenue Head and up towards Wheatridge Park. 

This is a much better plan than that of Tesco’s application because there is sufficient land to allow the service vehicles/petrol tankers to not be in conflict with each other.  The ground plan is well-thought out and can be seen in the foyer of the Co-op at Seaon Delaval where they are asking for comments.  The detailed planning leaves Tesco’s application at Seaton Terrace streets behind.  I wish it every success.

A new team of County Council Enforcement Officers

has taken over parking enforcement in Northumber-

land with effect from the 17th of April 2012.

The CEO’s, who are instantly recognisable in their red

and black uniforms, will be out in the four areas of

North, Central, West and South-East over the coming

weeks, talking to residents and visitors and answering

any questions they may have about the introduction

of Civil Parking Enforcement and what it means.  They

will also be giving out information leaflets and guides

on ‘how NOT to get a penalty charge notice.’  From the

17th of April the County Council took over the role of

enforcement from Northumbria Police, the team of 26

CEO’s will be monitoring on and off street parking and

will be able to issue a Penalty Charge Notice to any

vehicle parked incorrectly.  I don’t want anyone to get

a Penalty Charge Notice, but I have to warn you that if

you are in the habit of parking on the double yellow

lines outside the Co-op at the Avenue Head while you

are at the cash machine you are liable to get a Penalty

Charge Notice.  Also, if you are in the habit of parking

on grass verges or parking on pavements when there

is a car park nearby you could well be liable to get a

parking ticket once the CEO’s get themselves more

established.  Please do not park inconsiderately.  I am

trying to warn you.  Six CEO’s have been allocated to

South-East Northumberland and they could come at

any time.

This bus has now replaced the Service 318 from the

beginning of March.  It runs between Cramlington and

North Shields quayside and comes down through

Seaton Delaval and Holywell.  This will be a good

service for residents of Seaton Delaval and Holywell

wanting  to go to the Newcastle Building Society on 

the Silverlink and the rest of that estate.  Then on to

 the Royal Quays (Wet ‘n’ Wild), North Shields (Rudyerd

Street) and down to the Ferry.  On the reverse journey

the bus takes passengers through to Cramlington.  The

bus timetables should be in the display cases by the

time that you read this.

Street lighting column No.DP24 opposite St Mary’s Church was knocked  down by a vehicle on the 5th of February and is in the LTP (Local Transport Plan) for replacement – when they get around to it.

In the last month there have been 18 crimes in the Seaton Valley area, as follows:

1 common assault in Seaton Delaval,

2 Section 47 assaults in Seaton Delaval,

3 Thefts in Seaton Delaval,

1 Theft of a pedal cycle in Seaton Delaval,

1 Burglary other than in a dwelling in Seaton  Delaval,

2 Incidents of damage to property in Seaton Delaval,

4 Incidents of damage to vehicles in Seaton Delaval,

1 Incident of dangerous driving on Links Road, Seaton Sluice,

1 Incident involving disclosure of an offensive weapon in Holywell,

1 Discovery of Cannabis plants in Seaton Delaval,

1  Racially aggravated assault in Seaton Delaval.

I reported this to the county council’s ‘Ask’ facility on the 23rd of February 2012 and was given the reference number 101001395784.  This was to have the graffiti which had been sprayed onto the metal shutter of the closed down shop ‘YumTums’  removed.   ’Ask’s’ reply email said,”If you need any assistance do not hesitate to contact us.”  I waited  until the 25th of March before reminding them again that the job had not been done.  Residents were complaining to me about it.  They said that Seaton Delaval is starting to look tatty and looks a bit like a town in the third world.  After my complaint on the 25th of March they  transferred the job down to the local NEAT Team Leader, who  tells me he is waiting for permission from the owner of the building before he can spray over the graffiti.