By ROBERT GIBSON

Last updated at 12:56, Friday, 12 March 2010

CONTROVERSY continues to surround the handling of plans for a new fire station in Prudhoe as residents learned no Government scrutiny would take place over Northumberland County Council’s actions.

The scheme, which was given outline planning permission on February 2, departs from local planning guidelines and it was thought that Government Office for the North-East would have the final say.

But when River View residents sought to share their grievances with the body, they were told this would not be this case.

The new station is the latest in line for central Government funding as the fire service seeks to modernise its facilities and provide more community activities.

Since the proposals were first drawn up, however, they have attracted criticism from several quarters, including parents concerned that the site on West Road lies just metres from Prudhoe West First School.

The town council has lodged a formal complaint alleging no consultation notices were issued, reports before the planning committee were inaccurate, and procedures were bypassed to meet deadlines for funding.

School governors, meanwhile, say the site is their school field, and have formed a small subgroup to pursue the issue.

Vice chairman of the governors Pam Brown has also written to Trevor Doughty, the county council’s executive director for children’s services, inviting him to attend their next meeting.

“The governors are anxious to hear your explanation of events thus far,” she wrote. “You will be aware that we have a duty of care to ensure the highest quality of education and recreational provision for our pupils.”

The governors believe that proof of the field’s original allocation could lie in minutes of a governors’ meeting held on December 5, 2002.

One, Richard Whinney, is requesting these from the council via the Freedom of Information Act..

Another, John Grigor, is pursuing a complaint on the grounds that he was only given 55 seconds to speak at the February 2 meeting.

Northumberland County Council says it has followed proper procedures throughout, while Northumberland fire and rescue service says it is keen to work with the local community.

First published at 09:45, Friday, 12 March 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk