Buildings: the new and the problematic

SORRY I didn’t blog last week. I know it’s disappointing to my fans. Steve, in particular, gets really upset, while Chris and Laura just get downhearted.

The thing is: I was exhausted after a draining few days and was hoping to come back refreshed, following a weekend staying in Glasgow with friends.

Alas, alcohol interrupted the first night’s sleep, while the second was cut short by the impassioned morning babbling of their two-year-old son.

Add to that the fury I felt that the city, far from being in the grip of a heatwave, was freezing, wet and a grey and you have one tired, useless journalist.

Anyway, in Prudhoe at least, the news was a bit cheerier last week, with the announcement that the town could be in line for a new high school.

As readers are probably already aware, the building - like many schools in the area - isn’t in the best condition and headteacher Dr Iain Shaw was among those calling for more investment to be made.

My colleague Robert Gibson interviewed Michael Gove on the subject when he was in North East a while ago and was struck by his confidence that the Government would not only listen but act.

Then again, rural schools in Northumberland have so long been dealt poor cards by Westminster that any further delay would have been a huge embarrassment for the coalition.

Buildings. It was all about buildings last week. And the news in Mickley was less encouraging.

Several households on North View appear to have been hit by mining subsidence, causing huge cracks in walls, along with other structural problems.

Yes, it’s to be expected now and then in villages in places like Tynedale, but that’s probably little consolation to those affected, particularly those who have had to move out.

Let’s hope the Coal Authority get to the bottom of their investigations quickly and embark on whatever remedial work can be carried out as soon as possible.

It’s upsetting stuff and, when I think about it, I realise I shouldn’t moan about the weather.