POLICE and council chiefs are set to meet at an abandoned housing estate in Hexham early in the new year.

But the councillor who called for action over Fairfield, which stands derelict behind the town's police station, has revealed he hasn't been invited.

Coun. Derek Kennedy, who represents Hexham West on Northumberland County Council, wanted to meet Northumbria's police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness at the site in January.

He wanted to demonstrate first hand his concerns over the decaying state of the 1970s homes, built originally for police officers and their families, and the need to bring them back into use as social housing.

Instead, representatives of the police commissioner's office will meet local authority officers to discuss a way forward.

Coun. Kennedy said: "While I am pleased the pressure I have brought to bear is starting to pay off, with police and council officers prepared to converse and review the site, I am disappointed my request to meet the PCC will not be honoured.

"I wanted to show her exactly the state the police authority has left such a decaying estate for the last few years. Her attendance would provide me and the people of Hexham with assurances that she is willing to take action."

Coun. Kennedy said that he remained willing to meet Ms McGuinness and her representatives.

Miss McGuiness said: "I want discussions to progress quicker on this site, but as has been the case with many things this year, Covid has impacted plans. My hopes for the future of the premises remain the same – that we are able to bring them back in to use as good quality housing that serves a social purpose."

Located behind the town’s police station, Fairfield was built around 50 years ago.

The dozen properties were later let out as social housing, but in 2015, tenants were asked to leave over a three-year period.

It was part of a plan by Vera Baird, the then Northumbria police and crime commissioner, to sell the homes to release more funds for the police, and by 2017, most of the tenants had gone. It is understood two of the homes remain occupied, but the remaining 10 have been boarded up and left derelict ever since.