Mr Dickinson said: “By incorporating a new bus station with the ‘one-stop services’ venture, it is hoped that potential footfall for the town businesses would triple.”

Hexham: Council hub will bring cash and jobs to town

By BRIAN TILLEY

Hexham Courant

Published at 07:41, Wednesday, 24 July 2013

DESPITE scepticism from local Tories, the Labour administration at County Hall insists it is on course to breathe new life into Hexham town centre.

And the neglected Hexham bus station remains the preferred site for a service hub designed to bring up to 70 local authority jobs back to the town.

Officials believe that re-locating council services back in the town centre in a one-stop shop could lead to a £50m cash injection into the local economy through more localised procurement of some contracts and through the spending power of hundreds of potential new customers.

A detailed feasibility study will take place over the summer into how best the council can re-establish a presence in Hexham.

A key figure in the scheme will be the authority’s soon-to-be-appointed director for neighbourhood services, with re-focusing operations in the town one of the top priorities.

Already on the case is the council’s new business manager Scott Dickinson, who said this week: “We want to get on with our plans to breathe new life into our town centres and it’s clear that Hexham will benefit from this very simple economic stimulus.

“That’s why one of the first jobs of the new director will be to ‘model’ how we can best use council resources efficiently and effectively, taking into account the considerable spending power the council can wield.

“Town centres have struggled under the double whammy of decamped council services and a significant and prolonged recession and we’re determined to help where we can.”

It’s no secret that the council has been looking closely at the old bus station site as a potential location for an array of council services – as well as giving the rundown site a much-needed facelift.

A number of schemes have been advanced over the years to redevelop the bus station site, but all have foundered because of failure to reach agreement with the multiple owners of properties in the bus station area.

But the council is now hinting, for the first time, that if agreement cannot be reached with owners, it may invoke compulsory purchase powers.

Mr Dickinson said: “The bus station is in a strategic location, but it’s also somewhat problematic given some of the key surrounding sites are not owned by the authority and will require negotiation.

“That said, the authority does have an array of potential powers that can assist in driving economic development.

“We would want to include the town council as a key player in the area.”

The incoming Labour administration has acknowledged that “centralising” services at County Hall has contributed towards the decline of the town centre.

Preliminary studies looking at the impact of this development on the town centre have indicated increased footfall and higher potential revenue yields for existing and new businesses.

Mr Dickinson said: “By incorporating a new bus station with the ‘one-stop services’ venture, it is hoped that potential footfall for the town businesses would triple.”

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk

“It would be used to compliment existing facilities and utilise the former school site.”

Talks continue over ambitious plan for former school site

 Northumberland Gazette

Scott Dickinson at the site of the former Druridge Bay Middle School in Hadston.

Published on 11/07/2013 09:07

A major scheme to transform a former school plot into a new multi-purpose indoor facility for the community is gaining momentum.

On Monday, Coun Scott Dickinson had the first onsite meeting with Northumberland County Council officers to discuss the future of vacant land in Hadston.

The area in question was home to the old Druridge Bay Middle School, which shut in July 2011 and was demolished shortly after.

Its closure was described as a blow for the community but there are now plans to bring the site back into use.

The proposal is to build the multi-purpose centre, which could be used by local sports teams and clubs, providing changing rooms and training facilities for practical learning.

It follows a pledge from the Northumberland Labour group to include the scheme in its capital works programme – if successful in May’s election.

Coun Dickinson said: “I was excited to have the first onsite meeting at the site about the plans. It is exciting.

“We discussed the plan and how we can incorporate the views of parish councils, sports clubs and other groups and organisations so we can develop the plan ready to take to the community for feedback. If they don’t want it, they won’t get it. If they do, then they will.

“This would not be in competition with anything that the community already has.

“It would be used to compliment existing facilities and utilise the former school site.”

Coun Dickinson said the library, currently in Hadston House, could possibly be moved into the centre, because it would be a ‘more suitable place’.

Druridge Bay county councillor Scott Dickinson said: “The performance was great. The students were amazing and we are all very proud of them.”

BILLY Elliot has nothing on these Northumberland boys.

The Year 8 pupils, including several from Widdrington, were selected for a dance project at James Calvert Spence College with professional dancer Martin Hylton.

The pupils took part in a series of workshops, aimed at promoting interest in contemporary dance among boys, and came up with a routine based around a boxing ring.

It was then performed in school, before an evening show at Alnwick Playhouse, and recently the boys travelled to Gateshead Civic Centre to perform for a full audience in a celebration of work from Gateway Studio Project Dancin’ The Civic.

Druridge Bay county councillor Scott Dickinson said: “The performance was great. The students were amazing and we are all very proud of them.”

County council business chairman, Scott Dickinson, said: “We're pleased to be able to work with the Blyth town team to create new opportunities for the town, its businesses and residents.

Flurry of ideas for town centre revival

Former store could play central role

Journal 

A REDUNDANT department store could be turned into a community- owned shopping centre as part of ambitious plans to regenerate the retail heart of Northumberland’s biggest town.

A new lease of life for the former North Eastern Co-op store in Blyth  which closed last month with the loss of 34 jobs – is one of a number of ideas being discussed to give the town a brighter future.

Initial discussions have been held between the Blyth Town Team and the county council on the possibility of redeveloping the boarded-up Westgate House store, in Waterloo Road, as shops, offices or even an indoor market.

The large building, which overlooks the market square, was closed by its owner, Anglian Co-operative, in June after attempts to sell it as a going concern failed.

Now its future is being examined as part of a package of schemes which the town team is working on, after a decision to continue funding the post of town manager, Malcolm Hutchinson, for another 18 months.

Other projects being discussed to revive local fortunes include:

● A membership and loyalty scheme to encourage people to invest and spend in Blyth;

● The possibility of covering the town’s market place so that markets can be held in all weathers;

● Re-opening empty shops to provide greater retail variety and bring in customers, and running themed events all year to attract more visitors;

● Starting a Town Train to take visitors around Blyth attractions such as the beach, Ridley Park, the quayside, the markets and the town centre.

It has also been agreed to launch a free minibus shuttle service, which will run from 10am to 5pm every Friday and Saturday in August, starting on August 2. It will take people around four areas – the town centre,

Ridley Park and its water fountains, the beach and the quayside. Mr Hutchinson, who was appointed a year ago, has set up the town team, a limited company whose directors are local business people. Yesterday he said the free minibus service was one of the team’s first efforts to widen the town’s visitor appeal.

Townteam chairman, Steven Bradley, said the continued funding for Mr Hutchinson’s post was great news.

“We will now be in a position to move forward, as we need a town manager in place to drive forward and deliver the projects, in addition to promoting the town and its benefits at every opportunity.”

County council business chairman, Scott Dickinson, said: “We're pleased to be able to work with the Blyth town team to create new opportunities for the town, its businesses and residents.

“One of the ideas we discussed in our recent meeting was future use for the old Co-op store at Westgate House, and it’s clear there is support for the idea of a community-owned shopping centre there.

“We're looking forward to working with the town team, developing a business case for this idea