Thank you to all those who turned out to see Santa light the village Christmas tree tonight, despite the cold and wet. Consett Brass played whilst carols were sung. Businesses had extended opening times. Santa was at Sarah Thew Photography and the art show and Dickens Trail were in Butler & Gee.
Also thanks to the Shotley Bridge Village Trust volunteers who helped to steward the evening and the local councillors for funding the tree and lights again. [Click on any image for a slide show.]
The Shotley Bridge Business & Community Partnership are holding their annual Christmas event in the village centre.
On Friday evening the programme of entertainment starts at 6.00pm with the pealing of the church bells at St Cuthbert’s. The lighting of the Christmas Tree is at 7.00pm.
On Saturday morning Santa arrives by horse & carriage at 10.00am and rides in the carriage will be available until 2.00pm or until the horses become tired.
Musical entertainment in the Methodist Church starts at 1.00pm.
Please note that there will be no Christmas Fayre at Shotley Bridge Village Hall this year.
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.
For a second year, the Benfieldside, Blackhill, Bridgehill and Shotley Bridge Community Partnership are hosting a free Fun Day for local families at the Cricket Ground, Shotley Spa, this Bank Holiday Monday, from 1-6pm. This year there is a community games theme, inspired by London2012.
As there is limited car parking on site, please walk to the event or catch the free YMCA bus if you can. It leaves from the Cricketers PH at 12.30, 13.00, 13.30, 14.00 & 14.30 and stops at all the bus stops down Durham Road to Shotley Cricket Club returning at 16.00, 16.30, 17.00 & 17.30.
The Village Trust will have an exhibition about Blooming Shotley Bridge and a Tombola stall to raise funds for future planting.
Click on the poster to enlarge it.
Shotley Bridge Village Trust 