29/10/2026
Considering the reply I got back from the Leader at the last full Council meeting where he stated Bedlington was right up there in terms of investment across the county and pointed to the replies had had received from the deputy Leader for my previous questions……..
I had just expected a simple yes or no however the first reply I got back seemed to me to justify a supplementary one……..
I could take this apart at the seams but I’ll let everyone consider it in their own minds!
Question 5 from Councillor Robinson to Councillor Wearmouth
“Looking at the criteria behind one strand of the new Northumberland Growth
Fund, help for SME’s, and in particular several comments from cabinet members at the cabinet meeting on 7th April where it was mentioned, that this funding will be deployed right across the county. I would like to ask if for once we might see some dispensation applied towards the Bedlingtonshire area, seeing as once again we see our area asset stripped and benefits flowing in every other direction but inward! I would therefore ask for some sort of well publicised local event, held in Bedlingtonshire for local people and businesses to learn about and understand where and how they might be able to access and utilise this funding. Could this be arranged?”
Councillor Wearmouth responded by highlighting the work carried out in Bedlingtonshire including the £3 million of Borderlands Growth deal spent on completing Bedlington Station, £10 million on the active corridor, investment in the town centre development, £12 million at Foundry House to develop dementia accommodation, Earth Balance site acquired and the unlocking of employment sites and the Plessey Woods investment. It was confirmed that although the Northumberland Growth Fund was established to support jobs and growth right across the county it would be launched in Bedlington. Discussions could take place to work together to find the most suitable location for the launch and invite as many businesses as possible to promote growth in the area as well as the rest of the county.
Councillor Robinson asked in reply how much of Northumberland County
Council’s taxpayers’ money had been used on all the schemes just outlined and how much came from central government or other external funding. Councillor Wearmouth explained on a scheme-by-scheme basis the funding.
Borderlands approximately £3 million had been involved although the precise proportion retributed to the Council depended on the source of funding.
Bedlington Station was approximately £60 million with the Council’s contribution estimated around £15-£16 million. Approximately £1 million had been spent on the active travel corridor. Loans had been provided in connection with Aldi, B&M and Starbucks developments amounting to several million pounds. All £12 million allocated for Foundry House was Northumberland County Council funded. The funding used to purchase Earth Balance was all Council funding.
There was a considerable sum used for Northumberland Strategic Investment
Site. Also, the work carried out at Cambois Dock was partially funded by the
County Council, 16 September 2026 Council along with Advance Northumberland. Therefore, there was a fair amount of Northumberland County Council funding used to improve the local area.
