A COMPANY redeveloping the grounds of an historic Northumberland building has been knocked back in its bid to begin demolition before contracts are signed.

Developer Lindisfarne Homes has been turned down by Northumberland County Council having asked to remove two conditions of a planning approval for the building of homes in the unkempt garden of the town's Grade II-listed Governor's House, which dates back to 1719.

Continuing last week's coastal theme, Environment Editor Tony Henderson talks to an artist who knows every nook and cranny along the region's shoreline.

When artist Ron Thornton read last Saturday's report in The Journal about a pioneering management plan to protect the Northumbrian coast, he could not have been more pleased.

For Ron has devoted a lot of time and energy over the past two and a half years on the North East coastline.

This week's dip into The Journal's photographic archive feels decidedly chilly with a look back at the recent history of the village of Belford.

With the Division cups taking place, only one North Northumberland League game was played last weekend.

But it was a significant result, with Belford taking over at the top of Division Two with a 3-2 win at Springhill.

David Jardine notched twice for the home side, before Ryan Lillico pulled one back for Belford. But two late goals from Kevin Greshon meant Belford took the three points - and the No 1 spot.

PLANS to build a housing estate in a seaside village look set to be given the go-ahead.

The Duke of Northumberland's development wing, the Northumberland Estates, wants to build 38 homes at Beadnell, on the Northumberland coast.

The proposals will go before a county planning committee tomorrow night, when councillors are being recommended to approve.

The application for land north of Longbeach Drive includes 13 affordable properties and a new access.

It has attracted 15 letters of objection from people living in the vicinity, and has also attracted comments from Beadnell Parish Council.

Concerns have also been voiced by the National Trust and the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership. Opposition centres around the scheme being a perceived overdevelopment, its design and height being inappropriate and the strain it will place on local services.

Concerns have also been raised about the likelihood of the scheme adding to the number of second homes in the village and its impact on neighbours.

But Northumberland County Council's North area planning committee is being advised that the development will not impact on the landscape or neighbours and that the affordable properties will assist the vitality of Beadnell.

The meeting takes place at Alnwick council chamber at 6.30pm.

Youngsters have begun transforming a coastal site for people and wildlife.

Young rangers in Seahouses secured funding from the Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) and the eaga Community Fund from the Community Foundation.

The £20,000 grant will be used to improve a former limestone quarry for visiting humans and animals.

A Northumberland housing group has been given funding to fit homes with low-carbon measures.

Berwick Borough Housing was awarded £18,000 in the 'Retrofit for the Future' competition, run by the Government-backed Technology Strategy Board.

Retrofit for the Future is a £3.5m project that will be shared nationally in two phases.

A strategy which is a UK first aims to protect one of the best coastlines in Britain. Environment Editor Tony Henderson reports.

A pioneering management plan has been launched for a coastline hailed as a national treasure.

The strategy, unveiled at an event in Berwick before more than 60 representatives of a wide range of organisations and groups, covers the Northumberland Coast area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast European Marine Site (EMS).

Health care chiefs have given the go ahead for a £200m investment in services in Northumberland, including a new emergency care hospital on the outskirts of Cramlington.

Wansbeck and North Tyneside hospitals will see significant investment while community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle will be rebuilt.

The package of measures was approved yesterday at a meeting of the NHS North of Tyne Trust.

This week's delve into the Journal's photographic archives for Journal Extra focuses on a few pictures from the recent history of the quiet coastal village of Beadnell.