It is believed that police officers covering the Haltwhistle region will be among those impacted, at a time when criminal activity would appear to be on the increase across the North of England. We recently covered the story of an increase in burglaries across Haltwhistle and surrounding areas and the fact that police were still looking into the situation but where not on the verge of making any arrests. So will the situation get worse as the Olympics gets closer?

The likelihood is that a number of officers from Northern police forces will be taken out of circulation while the Olympics is ongoing and may even leave the area before the Olympics begin in order to accommodate themselves with new routines and procedures. It is highly likely that the Northern police forces will be able to claim back various additional costs such as shift allowances in due course but this is likely to be an ongoing battle with the Home Office that could take many months to resolve.

Police force cuts across the region, and indeed across the UK, were not supposed to lead to a reduction in front-line forces although if the rumours are correct then this is not the case. Forces across the North England have been pressured into making multi-million pound cuts to their budgets and while a reduction of staff in the region of 8% does not sound an awful lot, it does really depend upon where these reductions are being made. Do you believe that ongoing austerity measures announced by the UK government will lead to an increase in crime in the short to medium term?

Over the last six months devices have been found in Haltwhistle, Blyth, Alnwick, Prudhoe, Newcastle City Centre, Darlington, County Durham, Cockermouth, Moffat, Workington, Carlisle and York. Despite the fact that more and more people are now aware of such scams it seems that fraudsters are becoming ever more adventurous leading to significant withdrawals from victims bank accounts.

While many of us take for granted the fact that hole in the wall/cashpoint machines are safe the truth is that they are not. If you come across a cashpoint which appears to have been tampered with in any way shape or form then you need to contact the police immediately and make them aware of your concerns. Even if this proves to be a false alarm it shows that the population is more aware of the issue and will also make fraudsters think again before hitting a particular area.

The more widespread the issue of scamming becomes the more likely we will be aware of potential problems and possibly be more aware of machines which appear to have been tampered with. The speed at which the fraudsters can quickly clone a card and use your pin number to withdraw cash or transfer to other accounts is breathtaking. So don’t automatically think this will happen to your neighbour and not you because we are all at risk unless we keep our eyes open and remain vigilant.

This increase in scamming devices comes hot on the heels of a number of break-ins in and around the Haltwhistle area which have made many residents uneasy. Never more so has there been a need for the Neighbourhood Watch to remain vigilant and all residents of Haltwhistle and the surrounding areas to remain on their guard.

Haltwhistle Spring Walking Festival

Those who have even visited Haltwhistle for the shortest period will be well aware of the absolutely beautiful countryside surrounding the town which takes in everything from the hills and valleys to the Roman Wall. There are few areas of the UK which can boast the type of natural beauty associated with Haltwhistle and when you also take into account the fact it is only 35 miles from Newcastle and 21 miles from Carlisle, it really does have enormous potential.

So whether you are just looking at the proposed walks over the Spring Walking Festival or perhaps you are looking to visit the area, we strongly recommend looking at the Haltwhistle Walking Festival website. All of the details with relation to the Haltwhistle Spring Walking Festival will be available by February and this should give those interested more than enough time to make their preparations and their plans ahead of 28 April.

If you are looking to take part in the Walking Festival then perhaps you might be kind enough to forward your thoughts and pictures once you have recovered. Please send these to mark@haltwhistle.org.uk and we will attempt to list as many as possible on the website in due course.

The £225,000 scheme, funded by local authorities, was part of a three-year programme under the “Market Town Welcome Project” which is looking to revitalise and enhance the town centre of Haltwhistle. There are many other elements to the project which has also seen the installation of a bronze Centre of Britain feature in Haltwhistle, a subject which has attracted more than its fair share of controversy over the last few years. However, the Haltwhistle Partnership and the local authorities are more than keen to make the most of the town’s position in this particular argument.

While many of the rural towns and villages in the North of England continue to struggle, especially against the current economic backdrop, it is good to see a local authority in tandem with the Haltwhistle Partnership looking to invest directly into local businesses. The developments have been well received by people across the town and the region and there is no doubt that it is already making a significant difference to not only the appearance of business outlets in Haltwhistle but also the level of business conducted in the region.

It will be interesting to see what other developments and projects emerge as part of the ongoing development of Haltwhistle town centre as there is no doubt that there is significant potential for further growth.

There is speculation as to the identity of these alleged burglars and police are asking for the public’s help to bring to an end a worrying trend. So far nobody has managed to catch the thieves in the act although there have been a number of close calls with one lucky homeowner in Stocksfield coming down the stairs to find their porch and front door wide open. While nothing was taken on this particular occasion it is believed that the thieves were scared off when they heard movement in the house and people coming down the stairs.

There is no rhyme nor reason to these burglaries and thefts as the thieves appear willing to try their hand at any door or window which is unlocked. Police are now advising residents of Tynedale, and Haltwhistle in particular, to ensure that all of their doors are locked at all times and windows are securely closed. The police have a number of leads which they are following with vigour and we will keep you updated with developments.

If you have any information or require assistance from the Police please visit their website at Northumbria Police Force.

So whether you have all photographs of a football team, old photographs of the Roman Wall, old photographs of the mines which pepper the area or anything else you can think of, we would like you to send a copy with your full name and address to mark@haltwhistle.org.uk. We will ensure that all photographs published have the permission of the owner and those involved in the photograph in order to abide by current privacy laws.

We are also looking for new ideas with regards to Haltwhistle news, both modern day and historical, and would welcome the opportunity to speak with those who have perhaps lived in Haltwhistle the vast majority of their life and would like to express an opinion on any subject. It would also be interesting to do a number of articles on people who have lived in Haltwhistle and perhaps moved away to pastures new in order to get a different angle on modern day Haltwhistle.

Why was Hadrian’s Wall built?

It is unclear exactly why Hadrian’s Wall was built in the first place but what seems certain is the fact that it was planned well in advance of the Roman invasion of Britain. There are some who believe the Roman Emperor Hadrian set about separating parts of the UK so that he could maintain control with rumours of rebellions although there are others who believe it was the fighting spirit of the Scottish people which forced the construction of the Roman Wall.

However, many experts believe that Scotland was sparsely populated at the time of the Roman invasion of Britain and therefore the creation of such a monumental wall across the country could not have been purely and simply to keep out the invading Scottish armies.

There is a more common theory with regards to the creation of Hadrian’s Wall and the fact that it was purely and simply a political issue and a show of strength. While not widely reported it is believed that the wall was covered in plaster and whitewashed upon completion meaning that it was able to reflect the sunlight and was visible from many miles around. Whatever the reason there is no doubt that the creation of Hadrian’s Wall was an amazing feat and one which has stood the test of time.

Construction of Hadrian’s Wall

The wall was constructed across a line which you could draw from Carlisle across Corbridge and through to Vindolanda and beyond the north-east of England. The original idea appears to have been a ditch with a wall and 80 milecastle fortlets across the way, each at one Roman mile intervals. However, history shows that the terrain was more brutal and more demanding than the Romans had originally thought and indeed the location of these fortlets was in fact anywhere between 200 yards east or west of the one Roman mile post.

Originally the wall was built from limestone although some areas of the sparse terrain were not easily accessible and turf was used to complete some parts of the wall. When you take into account the fact that the wall is indeed 80 Roman miles long which equates to 73 modern-day miles and 120 km it was certainly a massive project.

What happened to parts of the wall?

When you consider the wall actually goes back to A.D. 122 it is no surprise to learn that large areas of the phenomenal defence wall have actually disappeared. History shows that large sections of the stone used in the Roman Wall were taken and used for road building from the 18th century. However, it is not so well known but a gentleman by the name of John Clayton actually set about buying up vast areas of the Roman Wall between Brunton and Cawfields back in the 1800s to ensure that farmers and industrialists were prevented from dismantling this amazing spectacle.

Conclusion

This is just a relatively short overview of the Roman Wall and a brief history of this world heritage site. We will soon be looking at specific elements of the Roman Wall including various forts such as Vindolanda which to this day continue to attract massive tourist interest. When you take into account the fact that the Roman Wall began back in A.D. 122 it is amazing that any of the wall is still visible today.

The British Telecom broadband investment programme is certainly speeding up broadband in the area and is set to be available to around 84% of domestic homes and businesses across the north-east by the summer of 2012. The high-speed broadband service will also be available to wholesale providers, thereby bringing much-needed competition into the area and excellent value for money for businesses and homes in the region.

While many people see Haltwhistle as a tourist destination as opposed to a business arena there is no doubt that the area has much to offer. Bringing together to tourist from around the world, local businesses, international businesses and entrepreneurs has certainly changed the look and feel of the town over the last few years. The area has made significant use of its location and the very fact that the Roman Wall and some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK is close to hand.

However, those from Haltwhistle will be well aware that local businesses have suffered over the last few years due to the economic climate and a lack of investment. However, business certainly seems to be on the up and local services and retailers have adapted their approach to business and business services in recent times. The introduction of high-speed broadband, with British Telecom estimating speeds of up to 20 Mb per second, will certainly make a massive difference to those living and trading in the region.

If you’re looking for high-speed broadband in Haltwhistle simply click on the link below for further details and information.

High Speed Broadband In For Haltwhistle

Site :- http://www.haltwhistleleisure.co.uk

Site : www.haltwhistlewalkingfestival.org/