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" |
Reports from our County Councillors
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Looking to the future
The process of change to the new Council is gathering pace. Councillors and officers from the County and District Councils are working together to make sure that the likely changeover on April 1st 2009 is carried through with the minimum of disruption. Elections for the new Council will be held on May 1st this year.
It now seems certain that Amble will be part of the North Area in the new Council structures. What matters is that services continue with minimal disruption although these are challenging times for everyone involved. Our Town Council will continue as now and I hope that it is given the chance to be more involved in delivering local services.
Caring for our elderly
I chair a group of councillors who are looking at home care services for the elderly. We are talking to staff and to users of the service as well as their families. I know from my own experience as a former carer just how important these services are. I am delighted that Amble Day Centre has now relocated to a new home in the Fourways building. This provides better facilities, far more space, and hopefully a more comfortable environment for both clients and staff. Day centre buildings are much less important than what goes on inside them, although after 34 years, the Charles Road site was cramped and not up to modern standards. Hopefully what will not change is the caring atmosphere and the chance to make friends.
Amble Welfare
I have made a contribution through the Members’ Small Schemes Budget towards the work on Amble Welfare and it is good to see progress at last. My allocation is for the relocation of the skateboard park. This is a partnership project involving the Development Trust, Leisure Alnwick District and Amble Town Council. After years of neglect it will be good to have a facility worthy of our town.
Robert Arckless
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Elections
The new Unitary Council looms ever closer. The election of the councillors for your new authority to replace the County Council and the District Council will take place on May 1st 2008 and the current County and District Councils will cease to exist in May 2009.
I am pleased to be able to report that the Highways Department of N.C.C.has agreed to start a consultation process with regard to speeding on Acklington Road with a view to improving safety on this busy road.
Welfare and Drop-In
Work has commenced on the Welfare field at last and I am taking a keen interest in its development as it is crucial to give somewhere for our youngsters to go to and get involved in sport and leisure activities, especially after the untimely removal of the Skate Park.
The Amble Drop-in Centre has undergone a number of staff, financial and structural changes but I believe it is now in a secure position and better suited to offer its services to the young people of Amble who I hope will take full advantage of the opportunities it presents.
Future developments
There is a lot of interest in developing various parts of the town at the moment and if you are interested you will have ample opportunity to air your point of view at the various meetings and consultations that are taking place. Who was it that said recently that the town was ‘dying’? I said then and I will say now that I think that Amble has a great future. What we all have to ensure is that the development of the town is done in a way that residents want and not the way that people who don’t understand and don’t know the town think it should be done.
As always I am available on 713629.
Jeff Watson
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