The Shotley Bridge Business and Community Partnership has finalised its plans for the Christmas Spectacular this year, which will be held on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th December. Posters and leaflets have been printed. [Click on the images to find out more.]
The Trust’s last open meeting on the 16th October was well attended for a discussion about ‘Improving the Village Centre’. Fiona Clarke and Nicola Duckworth, from the County Council explained that there was £125,000 of ‘S106’ money available, from the new Shotley Bridge Hospital housing development, that can only be spent within the ‘Article IV Area’, the core of the Conservation Area. It has to be spent by the end of 2014 on improvements to the urban realm but cannot be spent on maintenance works. The officers proposed that some of the funding could be spent on completing the repaving of the footpaths in front of the business premises and invited suggestions of other improvements from those present.
Blooming Shotley Bridge was also on the agenda, with an explanation of the scoring system for the Northumbria in Bloom ‘Silver Award’. Certificates and gardening vouchers were presented to the 3 winners of the Trust’s ‘Best Front Garden’ awards. The Trust’s volunteers will be planting the winter bedding in the tubs on Saturday 27th October.
The 2012 Dickensian Christmas Spectacular was announced, being held this year on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th December. The Shotley Bridge Business and Community Partnership are finalising the programme and leaflets will be distributed at the beginning of November. Participating businesses are each contributing £100 to fund the event. Volunteer stewards from the Village Trust are needed for both days.
The Photographic competition has had few entries this year, insufficient for the judging to go ahead. Councillor Stephen Robinson gave a report on items of interest that he had been involved with since the last meeting.
… six weeks make to Blooming Shotley Bridge. When I made the last post after the Northumbria in Bloom judges had visited, the tubs and barrier baskets were not very colourful. Now with a lot of rain and more sunshine they are in full red white & blue colour. This blog has been on its summer break during the intervening time, whilst London2012 has taken centre stage.
The colourful bunting in the village centre has also made a big difference to its appearance and will remain until after the Paralympics. Thank you to the businesses who put up hanging baskets and to John Beales who made an excellent job of putting up the Union Jack flags above their windows. Thank you also to the Village Trust volunteers who continue to water and look after the bedding plants.
83 families took part in a Treasure Trail last Saturday, organised by the Shotley Bridge Business & Community Partnership, as part of the Olympic Torch Relay celebrations. All the correct returned answers were placed in a draw for ‘day out’ passes to local attractions. Click on the image to find out the winners.
Thank you to the Derwent Manor Leisure Club, Hall Hill Farm and Killhope for donating the prizes and to Lydia Price who designed the mini Treasure Trail and also donated prizes. She is going to design a full scale Treasure Trail for the village, which will be published later this year. Meantime, if you fancy having a go at one of her other Treasure Trails in County Durham visit her website.
The Olympic torch is on it’s way.
It arrives in Newcastle this evening and sets off for County Durham tomorrow morning from Gateshead.
The torch is due to arrive in Shotley Bridge just after 4pm on Saturday 16th June.
The Shotley Bridge Business and Community Partnership has decorated the village centre with bunting, and if you come down during the afternoon [from 1pm] the Partnership are handing out flags to wave and presenting chocolate medals to primary school children dressed in red/white/blue. As there are limited supplies come early! There is also face painting at Sarah Thew Photography.
Families can take part in a Treasure Trail around local businesses, with the chance of winning ‘day out’ passes to local attractions. To obtain the flags and medals and to take part in the Treasure Trail you will need to go to Butler & Gee Accountants.
If you would rather stay at home you can watch the Olympic Torch Relay live on the BBC website.
Shotley Bridge Village Trust 