Councillors from across the district met at Broomley First School in Stocksfield on Tuesday night and debated the Your Right To Know campaign’ after it was raised during public questions by Prudhoe’s Gordon Stewart.
The campaign was launched in response to a decision taken by Northumberland County Council – without consultation – to stop publishing the notices relating to Tynedale which alert the public to issues such as road closures and planning matters.
Since December, the notices have instead been placed in the Northumberland Gazette , a newspaper which serves the north of the county.
Haydon and Hadrian’s Coun. Alan Sharp described the decision as “appalling” and proposed that the committee supported a motion which calls on the council’s administration to reinstate the notices in the Courant .
It received support from the eight councillors present.
Coun. Sharp said: “I’ve been asked about this by four parish councils and I had to tell them I was sorry but I knew nothing about the decision until I read it in the Courant . That’s what annoys me about this administration. They do what they want and to hell with the people in the west.
“It’s an appalling decision and shows a lack of respect for us as councillors.”
Hexham West’s Coun. Derek Kennedy said it appeared the council “knows the cost of everything but the value of nothing”.
“I have signed the petition and would encourage others to do the same,” he said. “The whole thing is ridiculous and I’ve submitted a Freedom of Information request asking how this decision was arrived at.”
He added: “The ( Gazette ) is full of stories from Alnwick and Seahouses and other parts which have no relevance to people in Tynedale.”
Hexham East’s Coun. Cath Homer asked the members of the public in attendance whether anyone was representing the Northumberland Gazette , but received no reply.
Haltwhistle’s Coun. Ian Hutchinson said: “This decision does stick out like a sore thumb because, in my opinion, the Courant has been reporting the truth about what goes on at County Hall.”
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