Surf spectacular
National championship at Druridge Bay

A Dog's life
We have the best dog beaches - it's official!

Affordable housing
Dreaming of your own house?

Deer Ambler
Spring surprise

Everybody's talking
Community forum promotes our interests

Hedging bets
Doing what comes naturally

Saving wildlife
Making a river change its mind

RNLI station shop
Spend money and save lives

Amble slimmers
Get thin and save lives

Editorial
Supermarket snags and what's in this "life saving" issue.

Have your say
Letters and email, including photos

Improving Queen Street
Grants can give you an uplift

National 'Elf
Dress up as an elf and save lives

Veggie basket scheme
Disadvantaged people help community

Neighbourhood watch
Keeping an eye on your neighbours

Coquet High School Partnership
Expected drop in pupil numbers

Women's house building project
The house that Jill built

Artograffi
Easter fun

David's Diary
News from Amble Development Trust

Town council report
News update from the Town Council

Confessions of an addict
Harry gives up the weed

Age Concern Northumberland
...need people who are concerned

Chinese freeze affects Welfare
Snow stops take-away

Child Trust Fund
Invest in your child's future

Penny
New year Resolutions

Amble Churches Together
Thoughts for New Year

County Councillors report
Future developments

A tale of two thefts
You have been warned

The Peer Mentors
Students help each other

Residents get the hump over bumps
Calming the traffic?

Dirty wellies in a wine bar
Rural romance

Small skinny latte
Toddlers make their own coffee shop

Poetry corner
Safe to shore

Paddlers Paradise
New look play area

Snippets...
Local food, recycling, school numbers, welfare update

What's On
Including live music, Easter services, volunteering at Warkworth Castle and more.

Greetings from Aglaia
Message from a tall ship

Ray King column
Kevin Keegan takes over. "We all eagerly await"

David's Diary

Less than 4 weeks to Christmas, where has the year gone, perhaps it just me getting older!

First of all I need to update you regarding the current Fourways building. As you will have seen, we are replacing all the ground floor stonework and windows within the original building. This has needed attention for some time but has been a matter of resource, and now that we have new Tenants in the Ground Floor effective from January 7th we wanted to get all the work out of the way at the same time to save further disruption. I am sure that the general appearance of the building will be greatly enhanced by this works and last for many years to come.

With the Care Trust occupying the Ground Floor, access to the upper floor where CAB and ourselves currently sit will be via the George Street entrance only. We also have a new Tenant taking the former DAWN call centre space – Igen will be operating their E2E contract from the Fourways having relocated from Alnwick. We are delighted to welcome them to Amble.

Our new building at 6 Dilston Terrace, Fourways2, is almost complete and we expect to move in over the Xmas / New Year break. The Trust will be occupying the lower ground floor with access straight off the footpath in to the office. We will also take space on floor one for management offices and have created an IT suite, mainly to accommodate The Ambler and related projects. There is a ramp and steps to the side of the building and the main reception for Tenants and conferences will be via that reception area which will be permanently staffed.

CCTV will operate to cover all aspects of the building. Our plan is therefore to close the current Trust offices on December 21st and re-open to the public in our new building on January 7th. The main switchboard number will be 712929, we have installed more lines but rationalised some of our other numbers which are not used and no longer required. Our e mail details remain the same.

We will be arranging an official opening and an open day but we have not agreed a date yet as we need to ensure that all our new systems are operating properly. Once the hoardings come down from around the building, the full extent of our investment can be seen. DP Builders have done a marvellous job in constructing this building, the standard of workmanship is first class. We have endeavoured where possible to engage local contractors and labour so that the money invested in the building finds its way into the local economy. We look forward to welcoming you to the new Fourways in the New Year.

Two other items I need to comment on; the loss of the skateboard park at short notice has come as a blow to the young people of the town. We are working closely with the High School to engineer a solution more than likely at the Welfare where work is due to start shortly on the MUGAs and the Play area. Secondly, we have just been advised the Planning Inspectorate has allowed the Grainger Homes development on the Boatyard site following their appeal against the Alnwick DC decision. The Trust has supported this development from the outset and we are delighted with the positive result and look forward to work commencing. We feel sure this development will have really positive impact on the town.

We look forward to next year with great anticipation, we expect to focus on Queen Street and try to restore the vitality and footfall to the street. We already have some project funding lined up and hope to spring into action early in the new year. Watch this space.

On behalf of everyone at the Trust, have a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
David Milburn
Executive Director, Amble Development Trust
davidm@ambledevelopmenttrust.org.uk