Councillor Cath Homer is in Peter Jackson's cabinet with responsibility for culture, arts, leisure and tourism. Here she talks about some of the successes of 2017, and how Northumberland Conservatives are working to celebrate what Northumberland has to offer during 2018:
'As we enter 2018 there is much to celebrate in Northumberland and a great deal to look forward to in the coming year. In November we were proud to see Northumberland win the silver award for Best County Holiday destination at the British Travel Awards 2017, seeing off competition from our neighbouring 'rivals', the Lake District. So many of our tourist attractions, delivery partners and small businesses have many accolades to celebrate this year in the various national and regional tourism and culture awards.
This year we have worked with our home grown producers to develop our quality mark 'Produced in Northumberland'. Where you see the PIN mark on your product, you can be sure it's locally sourced and locally produced.
More details can be found here http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Campaigns/Produced-in-Northumberland.aspx and we look forward to exciting times in the new year when the scheme will welcome more businesses and have the opportunity to showcase its successes at events locally, regionally and nationally, including at Westminster, in May.
Many of you will have celebrated the festive season in our county's theatres, museums, historic buildings, leisure and heritage centres. I must pay tribute to the cultural offer we have in Northumberland. Whether it was a visit to see Santa or an advent carol service, a walk in the countryside or a Christmas fair, a rip-roaring trip to the panto or a Yuletide dip in the North Sea, there has been so much going on over the festive period across our beautiful county. I must highlight the wonderful work of all our staff, partner organisations, businesses in the county and volunteers who work tirelessly all year round to provide such an outstanding offer, attract visitors to our county and engage with you, the people who live here, to make our communities great places to live in.
If you are looking to see what's on near you visit http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/whats-on/ or the 'what to do' section of http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Home.aspx.
If like me, you are still holding onto your New Year's resolutions look no further than here www.activenorthumberland.org.uk where you can discover new activities, and find out what's on for you and where, in the county's leisure and sporting facilities.
In 2018 we will continue our work across the county, strengthening and developing our cultural, arts, leisure and tourism offer. We will maximise opportunities, embrace change but cherish what has gone before us. With our partners we are planning for a number of milestone events in 2018 from the centenary of the end of WWI to the FIFA World Cup to the Great Exhibition of the North.
2018 will undoubtedly be an opportunity for everyone to make it the year of Northumberland.'