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"

Half term is upon us, Easter is approaching with that strange holiday set up from the schools which unfortunately doesn’t seem to have caught out the travel companies with their price hikes for school holidays! Still it good to get up and see daylight on your way to work and with the nights getting lighter the days seem much brighter despite the strange weather.

As you will have seen, we have moved into the new Fourways building although the nightmare of moving twice in 6 months is not recommended – stress levels have been very high as anyone who has moved house will know. We have had some difficulty with our phone system, matters entirely outside our control but we have done our best to cope, apologies if you have had a problem.

Trust staff are on the lower ground floor, Dilston Terrace entrance with the main entrance on the Straffen Court side being for Tenants, conference guests and visitors. We have had some difficulty in removing the lamp post which currently blocks the ramp but we expect this to be removed in the coming week – apparently NEDL/NCC need a cable jointer and they are in short supply despite our paying a substantial sum to have the work done the order being placed over 2 months ago!

We do have rooms for hire on an hourly, half day or full day basis and Julie Wood will handle any enquiries. We also have space to let for businesses, if you are interested give us a call.

The Care Trust is now fully operational in the Fourways with their day care provision being transferred from Charles Road, we hope the users of the new facility enjoy their new surroundings and settle in well, money well spent on a facility that matches the needs of the community.

On a less positive note, it seems that the few mindless morons in our midst are determined to try and wreck the Pavillion at the Welfare having now had at least two goes at the roof and heating and ventilation system as we as damaging the dug outs for the football teams who use the site. We simply do not have the resource to keep repairing this mindless wanton damage on a site where we are about to invest a considerable amount of money in new facilities and equipment.

This is an important community facility and we would ask you to help us report to the police or ourselves any damage or anti social behaviour you see. Let me make it plain we will prosecute those involved in this criminal behaviour and we will seek compensation from those involved, CCTV will be used to identify the culprits. Let’s put a stop to this now.

I was interested to note last month’s County Councillor piece around the Belonging Communities debate. The Trust supported the link with South East Northumberland favoured by Cllr Arckless and therefore we disagreed with Cllr Watson. The point that neither makes is the wider issue of economic resource and the impact of the Regional Development Agency Regional Economic Strategy with its focus on City Regions and improving GVA (Gross Value Added).

Put simply funds will follow where the impact on the region’s economy will be greatest, hence we believe to continue to face north linked to Alnwick is economically unwise whilst for some politically preferable. These are not just fuzzy lines on a map as has been put to me; this is about real resource without which this town and adjoining communities may suffer. “We get nothing from Alnwick” is a phrase heard many times in this town, well that was the chance to something about it – too late was the cry. I hope I am wrong.

To end on a positive note, we are working on a number of major projects as we approach our financial year end – The Welfare – equipment is due to arrive shortly – delayed by snow in China I understand!!

We have secured some resource to implement elements of the retail distinctiveness Study and Consultants have been appointed, at the same time we are working with Northumberland Tourism on their Market Town Welcome initiative – all positive stuff for the town. We are looking to launch a number of new initiative in the coming weeks and once all the details are confirmed we will let you know.

Hope you enjoyed half term, Easter is not far away – just off to the travel agents to pay my bill !

David Milburn
Executive Director, Amble Development Trust
davidm@ambledevelopmenttrust.org.uk