There is now a dedicated website for Riding Mill Village Halls.
Please click here to access the site: https://www.ridingmillvillagehalls.org/
Riding Mill Women’s Institute
In 2015 the Women’s Institute celebrates its Centenary and in Riding Mill we will be having our 86th Birthday.
The Organisation has evolved over these years and still aims to be for women everywhere, inspiring, supporting, educating, and providing an atmosphere of friendship and fun for our 34 members.
We meet at the Parish Hall, Millfield Road, Riding Mill at 7.30pm on the first Thursday of the Month, except August.
Our programme includes speakers, demonstrations, and entertainment with organised outings and fundraising events including Film Shows and Afternoon Tea.
We also have the benefit of taking part in walks, food events, craft days, and quiz and games competitions with other WI’s in Northumberland.
Our meetings are a chance to meet old friends, make new friends and be somewhere to inspire you.
Come along and join us.
Contact – Barbara Nelson, 01434 682739
The Mothers Union, St James Riding Mill
Welcome to the Mothers Union!
The Mothers Union (MU) www.themothersunion.org is a Christian organisation with more than 3.6 million members worldwide. The backbone of the MU is its worldwide network of volunteers. Whatever their individual backgrounds, members are related by a commitment to marriage and family. They give their help generously to others, whether by running local projects, supporting international campaigns or fundraising.
Mary Sumner, the founder of the Mother’s Union was all too aware of the burdens and responsibilities of parenting: of the feelings of inadequacy that swamp young mothers.
She believed that the primary responsibility was to raise children in the love of God.
The MU is a Christian organisation that fully embraces the ideal of love and service at home and abroad.
Branch leader: Lynda Padgett
For further information, contact Anne Foster 01434 682437.
Lunch Club
Riding Mill is fortunate in being able to provide a Lunch Club and Meals on Wheels service twice a week. Every Tuesday and Thursday volunteer cooks and helpers prepare and serve lunch in the Parish Hall and other volunteers deliver meals around the village.
At the moment we cater for around 15 to 20 people but we have the capacity to cook for more. Those “who lunch” would welcome more company.
We are always looking for volunteers to help us continue this service. If you would like to join us, please contact Christine Andersen 01434 682535 or Anne Lawrence 01434 682351.
Riding Mill Drama Club
Riding Mill Drama Club is a friendly, busy group; currently has about 65 members and is always happy to welcome new people. Younger members are particularly welcome.
We were established 60 years ago and usually perform plays twice a year (in March and November) as well as holding acting workshops, play readings and other social events.
There really is no limit to the kind of play we tackle – if somebody has a play they want to direct, we will consider it. This attitude makes for a varied and challenging repertoire that has seen us perform everything from farces and musicals to Shakespeare and Chekhov. The group has also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, to commercial and critical success, (the last occasion in 2007) and we have participated in, and won, the Tynedale Drama Festival on a number of occasions.
Not everybody who is part of the Club wants to act – there are opportunities for all kinds of backstage roles from something as simple as organising props to as complex as ‘doing the lighting’. All you need is enthusiasm and a team spirit.
If you would like to find out more, please contact the Secretary, Judith Wilthew on 01434 682590 or any committee member whose contact details may be found on the Club’s website.
Dry Stone Walling Association – Northumbria Branch
Serving the craft – preserving our heritage
The Northumbria Branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association was formed in 1993 and actively promotes the aims of the association; namely the preservation of Dry Stone Walls throughout Great Britain and the training of people in the craft of dry stone walling.
The branch holds “introduction to dry stone walling” taster days locally throughout the year and has demonstrations at most of the region’s agricultural shows.
The branch has members from all over Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and Durham and meets 6 times a year in the Church Cottage, Riding Mill.
Vist their website: www.northumbria-dswa.co.uk
Riding Mill Cricket Club
Riding Mill Cricket Club have been established since the late 1800’s and have been back at Broomhaugh since 1987 when the late Mr Dickinson provided the funds for the clubhouse and re-modelling of the outfield to allow the housing development at the top of whiteside bank.
Games are mostly played on a Sunday afternoon from around 2pm. There are a handful of 20 over night games played throughout the season. We play friendly fixtures against a mixture of opposition, always played in a good competitive yet friendly spirit. There is no selection policy, if someone wants to play then it’s as simple as putting your name in the book.
Tea is taken at around 5pm, anyone wishing to come and watch is more than welcome to pop in for a cup of tea and a cake.
We are keen to develop cricket in the village from a young age and are very keen that anyone wanting to play should come along or contact myself. However as our very own Bryan Stevens continues to demonstrate at the ripe old age of 77 that age is no barrier.
Contact Simon Law – Captain: 01434 682397 or 07897 551100.
Computer Association
The Supper Room in the Parish Hall houses four computers with printers and also a laptop supplied and funded initially by a government grant and now the property of the village.
The Computer Association look after the administration connected with the computers and have organised various courses ranging from Instruction for Beginners to Digital Photography and Computers. We also open the facilities for drop-in sessions and are willing to answer queries by telephone or by home visits if knowledge permits.
The computers are there for the benefit of the village – either organisations or individuals – and the Committee are currently considering the most effective way of using this asset. If you have any views or if you wish to suggest any courses that could be of interest, please contact:
David Harle: 01434 682234 or
Christine Andersen: 01434 682535.
Riding Mill Choral Society
The Riding Mill Choral Society is a long established part of Riding Mill village life. We are a four part choir of about 45 members who live in and around the area.
We usually perform two concerts a year, normally in the Parish Hall. One concert is before Christmas, and the other before Easter.
Our repertoire is fairy extensive, ranging from Steiner’s Crucifixion to Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast to Gilbert and Sullivan and a lot more in between. We meet on a Monday evening in the Parish Hall at 7.30pm and are always pleased to welcome new members – no audition!
Although the months between April and September are free from rehearsals, we are sometimes called upon to perform at various functions in the summer months.
We are non-profit making a happy band of singers who enjoy singing for the love of it!
The Riding Mill Choral Society also have their own website , you can see it here.
Contact – Val Barnes on 01661 843787.
Riding Mill Allotments Association
Riding Mill Allotments occupy a small site In Broomhaugh. There are just 18 plots of all sizes with rentals starting at around £20 per year inclusive of water and a discounted seed scheme. The soil is an easily worked light sandy loam which can produce good crops of a variety of fruit and vegetables from raspberries to radishes or leeks to lettuces!
The Association is run by Members who have recently negotiated a new long lease from the Parish Council. As before, plot holders are limited to Village residents which means that plots may become vacant as people move away. So if interested, find out more and put your name down on the Waiting List by contacting the current Secretary via sallyrogers2306@gmail.com.
Parish Council Minutes February 2012
You can download a copy of these minutes here (PDF file).
Broomhaugh & Riding Parish Council
Minutes of meeting held on 13th February 2012 at 7.45 in the Parish Hall Supper room
Present: Cllrs Mills (in the Chair), Howe, Dunhill, Eakins and Carew. County Cllr Dale was present with 4 members of the public and, for item (4), Rob Archer of Riding Mill Tennis Club and Kathie Keady from North Country Leisure.
1. Apologies : Cllr Reid
2. Declarations of interest: Cllr Eakins is a member of Riding Mill Allotment Association.
3. Minutes of the meeting of 12th December 2011 were agreed as a true record with the following amendments: insertion of “or groups” after “families” twice in item 6d and “the County Council” after “meet” in item (8).
4. Tennis Club: Kathy Keady described the poor playing surfaces of the tennis courts and the need to improve them. Sport England’s funding stream “Inspired facilities” could provide a grant for which RMTC is eligible. Matched funding is a requirement (70:30) and RMTC are already raising funds and approaching the one-third match amount. The single court could be made available for other uses such as football or netball. RMTC are hoping to have a temporary bridge as access to the double court gifted to them. RMTC asked for an extension of the lease to 30 years and a letter of support from the Parish Council to which the Parish Council agreed on the basis that the application would be made by RMTC rather than the Parish Council. Cllr Reid had indicated that the use of the single court should include the general public. MA/RMTC
5. Matters arising: a) Car Park: The working group had agreed on the plants for the bed. The siting of the warning sign in the car park had been opposed by a neighbour and the Council would consider moving it to the back corner of the walled bed nearest the Parish Hall depending on the cost entailed. MA
b) Weir: Tyne Rivers Trust (TRT) is having a further look at the proposed work to be carried out and will come back to the Parish Council. Some Councillors favour removing the weir altogether to absolve the Council of any further costs and some wish to keep it in some form.
c) Double yellow lines: The consultation has been carried out and Cllr Dale will circulate the results in Confidence to Councillors. Subject to the Parish Council’s agreement, the work can go ahead.
Ade/ALL
d) Lighting on Car Park: It was felt there was sufficient light for safety and it was agreed not to seek more lighting. MA
e) Grit bin: The County Council had placed a bin near the bend at Beauclerc as it was a health & safety matter.
f) Entrance to Wentworth Grange: Cllr Dale had spoken to highways and was due to have a meeting with Mr Lee about the signs and the traffic to and from the Grange.
6. Millfield Road Bridge: Cllr Howe summarised the position on Millfield Road Bridge and explained the alternatives for its repair/replacement. The options are to 1) do short term repairs for about – £15000 which will give a 5 year breathing space in safety; (2) make a brand new bridge, in excess of – £200,000 with ~- £80,000 to make the whole road including the bridge adoptable; (3) more expensive improvements of Option 1 to 7.5 tonnes with the same width restriction; (4) close the bridge to all except foot traffic or (5) make a box culvert – which could be more expensive than option 2. It was agreed that in the short term Option 1 should go out to tender and to put Cllr Howe’s article onto the website. MA
7. Water/drainage problems: Cllr Dale reported that the County Council had put the problems near Grey Court and a subsided drain on the A68 onto their schedule of works. At the Nick there are many springs and neither the Environment Agency, nor Northumbrian Water will take responsibility if water runs off private land. The Legal team at County Hall are looking into who ownership of and legal responsibility for the land where the springs arise. Ade
8. Speed through the village: Cllr Reid had raised resetting the flashing signs to a lower speed level than the 34mph currently required by the County Council. It was agreed that the first essential was reliable working. Cllr Dale had spoken with Duncan Roberts from County Hall about the footpath where the new tarmac had been used up. He suggested painting 30mph signs in the road to help warn motorists. Cllr Carew asked that such signage be considered for the west end of the village also. Ade
9. Celebrations/Events: Cllr Carew had organised a well attended meeting that discussed a number of events to celebrate both the Jubilee and the Olympic Torch run including a Sports event on the Cricket Club field, a fun day event organised by the Wellington, a dance at the Parish Hall, themed Olympic scarecrows in the village. Michael Pritchard had agreed to video as much as possible and William Radice had offered to write a poem for a plaque to be placed in the Parish Hall gardens. It was suggested that invitiations be sent to villages through which the Torch would not pass such as Slaley and Healey and Corbridge; parking problem would need stewarding. The Parish Council approved a budget of – £500 to pay for trimmings/bunting etc. EC
10. Fence between Play Park and Parish Hall garden: the working group felt the cost of a brand new fence was too high and they would arrange for the gaps totalling some 12 metres only to be filled. Working Group
11.Annual Parish Meeting: It was agreed, that the APM should be held before the Parish Council meeting on the 14th May at 6.00pm. No guest speakers would be invited and the meeting would be in the Supper Room. It was also agreed to cancel the April PC meeting as it was due on Easter Monday.
12. The Handyman’s report was submitted as usual to Councillors and it was noted.
13. Trees below Weir, opposite Cartref: these were being removed at a cost of – £500.
14. Planning:
1. Considered by Northumberland County Council:
a) the following was granted consent under delegated powers:
11/02324/PRUTPO – Millstones;
b) 11/00903/FUL – House at land west of Kingmead: decision still pending, subject to a S.106 statement;
2. 11/03163/FUL – The Bungalow, Broomhaugh – application withdrawn;
3. Considered by the Parish Council;
12/00062/FUL – extension at Lyn-Dene; No objections
TPOs: the County Council have issued guidance on TPOs which will now go out for an 8 week consultation to Parish Councils.
15. Correspondence: a) Joint NCC/PC meetings. The next date in the West area is Tuesday 13th March at 6pm at Ponteland Community High School. It was suggested that Cllr Reid might attend;
b) A request had been received from a member of the public about (i) a light on the station footpath – this has been explored in the past with no success due to the cost. and (ii) -a mobile Post office stopping in Riding Mill. The Clerk would explore the possibility of the latter. MA
16. Finance: a) the financial statement was accepted. It was noted that the budget had been exceeded. The Fiduciary Guarantee increase had been submitted to the Insurance company. BTBell charges would be checked. MA
b) the following payments were authorised:
Northumberland County Council/dog bin waste – £331.12
BTBell – for meetings and associated work – £585.60
BTBell – for meetings and associated work – £435.60
VHT/rent – £36.00
Handyman invoices (17/18) – £140.00
RM Allotment Assn/ Insurance repayment – £ 68.90
Playdale/cradle swings – £411.36
Playdale – insurance repairs to playpark – £1,331.41
Proforma invoice to Kingdom Teak for benches – £695.95
MFAnderton/Salary Jan/Exp. December – £482.48
Watson sign for Car Park – £174.00
17. Minor Matters: a) It was agreed to insert an addendum into the Parish News clarifying the Police action regarding the Vandalism;
b) Neighbourhood Planning – no action;
c) Website: Dave Porter is proposing changing the Parish website to a CMS ( Content management system) which will reduce costs and be easier to use. Cllr Eakins will invite him to the next Council meeting to talk on the matter. JE
The meeting closed at 10.10pm
Parish Council Accounts – February 2012
Parish Council Accounts February 2012
