MEMBERS of an east Tynedale parish council are expressing their concerns in writing to Northumberland County Council about the absence of public notices in the Hexham Courant .

The issue was raised at the latest meeting of Stocksfield Parish Council when Coun. Mike Parker said he was concerned the lack of notices in the local paper could have an adverse effect on the people of Stocksfield.

“I think it’s a disgrace,” he said.

“It’s immediate neighbours who will get letters, but it’s not just immediate neighbours who are affected. It should be put in a newspaper for the area and it is a disgrace and it looks like it has been done on purpose. I was really incensed when I saw it in the paper and I didn’t like the excuses the council gave for it.”

Parish council chairman, Coun. Maggi Hunt, suggested writing a letter to Northumberland County Council expressing concerns about the absence of the notices.

She said: “The road closure that was in last week’s Courant shows it’s really quite serious.

“For us as parish council members we know about that kind of thing, but it shows how much the notices are important to people who are not a member of a parish council.

“I am personally very concerned and am wondering why the council think this is a good idea.

“People in this area already feel quite marginalised and taking these applications out of the Hexham Courant isn’t going to help that.”

All of the councillors voted in favour of asking the clerk, Nick Spencer, to write a letter to the county council.