Byrness with Rochester Parish Council | Ofgem scams to be aware about

NEWS

On this page you will find Notices of forthcoming Parish Council meetings and other local news. If you have items of news you would like to have included on this page, please contact Martin Chilvers, Rochester with Byrness Parish Clerk (details on the Contact Us page) or send a message using the Guestbook.

18 April 2025Empty medicine blister pack recycling at Otterburn Memorial Hall

With the assistance of Ray Windfunds, Otterburn Parish Council has purchased an 'empty medicine blister pack recycling box'. This will be located in the foyer of the Otterburn Memorial Hall and will be available to anyone to place their empty blister packs that would otherwise go to landfill.

If the Memorial Hall is closed then please feel free to deposit the packs (in an envelope) through the letter box.

It is vital that the blister packs are completley empty and DO NOT contain any medication residue as these will not be recycled.

The box CANNOT accept expired medication, hazardous waste, medicine bottle or sprays, inhalers, cardboard packaging, aerosol or pressurised cans.

02 April 2025Community car scheme - volunteer drivers needed

Are you a driver and have your own car? If so and you can spare a bit of time each month please consider being a volunteer driver.

Expenses are paid as well as the necessary DBS and training. Any increase in your car insurance may also be covered.

Please see attached poster and contact either the Church & Community Partnership on the contact details provided or the Parish Clerk at rochesterwithbyrnesspc@gmail.com

25 March 2025Parish Council meetings

Parish Council meetings

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Tuesday 13 May, 2025 at 7.00pm. This is scheduled to be held at Rochester Village Hall. This will include the Annual Parish and Ordinary meetings

Should you wish to contribute to the meeting please contact the Parish Clerk at rochesterwithbyrnesspc@gmail.com.

The Agenda for the meeting can be found here or in the appropriate section of the 'Document Library' a few days before the meeting.

Additionally a draft version of the minutes from the previous meeting are available to view within the 'Document Library'.

The Parish Council meet on the last Tuesday of every other month. Below are dates and locations for the next six meetings

29 July, 2025 @ Byrness Village Hall

30 September 2025 @ Rochester Village Hall

25 November 2025 @ Byrness Village Hall

27 January 2026 @ Rochester Village Hall

31 March 2026 @ Byrness Village Hall

26 May 2026 @ Rochester Village Hall (to include Annual Parish Meeting)

24 March 2025Notice of elections

Please find attached the deails of the Parish Council elections

14 March 2025Parish Council vacancy

Parish Councillor role

Are there any improvements you would like to see in Elsdon, Otterburn, Rochester & Byrness?
Would you like to have more of a say in how your Council Tax is spent?
Do you feel strongly about the future of your local community?

If you have answered ‘Yes’ to these questions and are able to provide a few hours of your time each month then you might be interested in joining your local Parish Council.

On 1 May, 2025 there will be local Parish Council elections and this is your chance to take an active part in what goes on within your parish. As a Parish Councillor you can help to influence how the Parish Council element (precept) of the Council Tax is spent. With fellow Councillors you will prioritise local projects / services that will improve the overall look of the community as well as the standard of living in your parish for all residents.

For more information or to register an interest please contact one of the existing Councillors or the Parish Clerk, Martin Chilvers, at

email – otterburnpc@hotmail.co.uk or elsdonpc@hotmail.co.uk or rochesterwithbyrnesspc@gmail.com

or telephone – 520535

As a Parish Councillor here are some of the topics that on behalf of your community you may wish to have a say in and how these areas develop.

Open community space belonging to the Parish Council	Grass cutting	Community transport
Litter bins	Planning applications	Footpaths
Local youth projects	Amenities and services within the parish	Bus shelters
Traffic calming	Donations to local charities and clubs	Children's play areas
Street lighting	Community allotments & garages (where applicable)	Roadside signage

If the Parish Council is not appropriately represented then Northumberland County Council will have a greater say on where funds are spent across the county meaning that Elsdon, Otterburn, Rochester and Byrness as well as the wider Redesdale may miss out on vital services.

09 March 2025Mobile phone coverage survey

Please find below a link to a survey being conducted by the iNorthumberland team into mobile phone coverage across the County.

The survey link will be live from Monday 10 March until 30 April, 2025 and is also contained in an iNorthumberland leaflet that is going out with Council Tax bills next week.

Northumberland County Council are working with mobile phone network providers to make sure all areas of Northumberland have good mobile coverage. They would like to hear from you to understand more about coverage in your area.

External Link

08 March 2025BT Digitial Switchover roadshows

A series of drop-in sessions from BT will be happening across Northumberland in April to help residents with questions about the Digital Switchover.

Please see attached the posters for your information and to share through your Town and Parishes.

The event details are also listed below.

More information about the Switch can be found at the link below

1-2 Apr	Prudhoe	Prudhoe Library, 58 Spetchells, Front Street Prudhoe NE42 5AA	10am-4pm
3-Apr	Haltwhistle	Haltwhistle Sainsbury's Car Park, Fair Hill, Haltwhistle NE49 9DZ	10am-4pm
3-Apr	Allendale	Allendale Village Hall and Recreation Ground, Leadgate, Town, HEXHAM, Northumberland, NE47 9PR.	10am-2pm
4-Apr	Bellingham	Town Hall, Boat Rd, Bellingham, Hexham NE48 2AH	10am-4pm
10-11 Apr	Cramlington	Cramlington Village Community Association Carpark, East Farm Terrace, Cramlington NE23 1DT	10am-4pm
15-16 Apr	Morpeth	Morrisons, Dark Lane, Morpeth NE61 1HQ	10am-4pm
17-Apr	Rothbury	Rothbury Jubilee Hall, Bridge Street, Rothbury, Northumberland, NE65 7SD	10am-4pm
23-Apr	Amble	Morrisons, Coquet Enterprise Park, Amble, Morpeth NE65 0PE	10am-4pm
24-Apr	Belford	Bell View (Belford), 33 West Street, Belford, Northumberland, NE70 7QB	10am-4pm
25-Apr	Wooler	Cheviot Centre, 12 Padgepool Place, Wooler, Northumberland, NE71 6BL	10am-4pm
29-30 Apr	Berwick-upon-Tweed	Morrisons Berwick, Loaning Meadows, Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1UQ	10am-4pm

External Link

25 February 2025Kielder activity from February 2025

Please see attached details of activities at Kielder from February 2025

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