SEVEN statutory notices regarding road closures and the introduction of new speed limits across Tynedale appeared within the pages of last Thursday’s Northumberland Gazette .

Northumberland County Council’s controversial decision to place these notices in a newspaper which only covers news and events in the north of the county is already having an impact on local communities.

Gill Whatmough, chairman of Hexhamshire Parish Council, said she was not aware of plans to close a C-road between the hamlet of Juniper and Hexham.

The notice for the temporary closure of the C78, which will leave residents with a detour via Whitley Chapel, Dipton Mill, Dipton Mill Road and Yarridge Road, is aimed at warning residents of the closure planned for March 23 to allow for tree pruning.

However, many residents are currently unaware of it.

“This situation is total nonsense and feels like we are being ignored,” said Gill.

“No one in this area reads the Northumberland Gazette and not everybody has the access or know-how to find these things online.

“As a parish council, it’s not insurmountable because we receive notification of these types of closures and spread the word as best we can, but it’s the principle of it.

“The notices should be reinstated in the Courant as soon as possible.”

Two more notices in the Gazette featured details of road closures on the C263 Hammermill Lane junction to Unthank and the C261 Hammermill Lane, Shotley Field.

Clerk of Shotley Low Quarter Parish Council, Marian Green, said it was difficult to find a copy of the Gazette in Hexham.

She acknowledged that most residents, in Kiln Pit Hill, Unthank, Snod’s Edge and Shotley Field, read the Courant .

The other applications included a closure of the C233 Church Lane at Allerwash; closure of the C327 Craigs Bank to Blenkinsopp, Lambley; closure of the C327 Lambley junction to Craigs Bank, Lambley and the introduction of a 20mph speed limit at Riding Dene, Mickley.

Eight more notices relating to Tynedale appeared in yesterday’s Gazette .