The Ambler Online

There have been difficulties as the new Unitary Council gets established: internet access, telephone contact, muddled Council Tax demands, and the continuing uncertainty for staff still not sure of their future but it is remarkable how smooth the transition has been and that is a huge tribute to them.

It is encouraging to see the public interest at our North Area Committee and the Area Planning Committees.
The new Area Committees include two innovations: a facility to consider petitions and the second a “Community Chest” which will allocate up to £50,000 in each financial year to community and voluntary groups.

Amble supermarket:The Area Planning Committee has approved the proposal for a new supermarket. The officers did an excellent job in summarising complex issues succinctly and fairly. The officers supported the proposal on the principle of retail development and the need for wider choice, the proposed location of the supermarket, and the principle of housing development including affordable housing.

On road access, the officer recommendation was to refuse the application with the clear implication that an alternative access should be negotiated. I understood the concerns expressed forcibly against the road access but thought they were outweighed by the potential benefits of the application. Nor was I convinced that there is an alternative road access.

Amble office: I continue to press the case for an Amble office, with the County Council and Homes for Northumberland. Radcliffe:I am supporting Radcliffe and Hauxley residents who are concerned at traffic speeds through their village.

Robert Arckless
Telephone: 01665 711938
New email address: Robert.Arckless@northumberland.gov.uk

The new Council is now up and running and apart from some hiccups, particularly with regards to council tax bills, the transition does not seem to have gone too badly.
The first meeting of the Northern Area Committee has taken place in Alnwick (Berwick next time) and there were a good number of local residents who took part in the question session that is available to all members of the public.

The application for planning permission for a supermarket in Amble was granted by the development control committee of the new Council, this committee includes several local members. Amble Town Council was in favour of the application as were many other residents. It was a difficult decision for the members to make and I personally have some reservations about the access to the site although I have always been in favour of a new supermarket somewhere in Amble. I suspect we have not heard the last of this application.

The boundary commission has been looking at the wards of councillors in the County, but it would appear that there is little desire for any change in the Amble West with Warkworth Ward and the Council has put forward its recommendation that it stays as it is
As the Summer approaches I would like to ask parents to remind their children just how dangerous it is to “Tombstone” or, as most of us would say, jumping or diving into the river or the harbour. There was an accident last year that could have been very serious.

As ever, I am available to residents of Amble West with Warkworth Ward on 01665 713629

Jeff Watson

New email address: Jeffrey.Watson@northumberland.gov.uk

The views expressed in The Ambler and The AmblerOnline are not necessarily the views of the Editorial Team.
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