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I want to focus in this article on developments at Amble Welfare and bring you up to date.

As you know with support from Alnwick DC and the Lottery we were able to invest in new play equipment and the Multi Use games areas which have been a resounding success. The next stage has taken some organising with issues of planning and the need to tender the work. Contractors will start shortly on modifying the entrance to the Welfare including a new length of roadway, although it’s not as simple as it sounds.

We have had to seek guidance from the County Council on Highways matters as there are regulations governing the sight lines needed to ensure a safe access and exit, hence reducing the risk of potential for accidents. As well as replacing part of the existing boundary wall with an appropriate fence, we have to remove one tree and re-site two telegraph poles with BT having to undertake their work first. The cost of removing the poles is over £6000 but we have no choice, obviously this takes real investment away from the Welfare itself. Planning permission for the works has been secured and we expect the Contractor to start work very soon.

Additionally, we are progressing the funding application with Community Spaces, a Lottery backed fund relating to the Skateboard facility, with tender documents being released this week. If all goes well, following receipt of tenders and further consultation we would expect a final decision around September – fingers crossed! What pleases me most about this work is the participation and the initiative shown by the young people of the Town, particularly at Coquet High School.

Whilst the young people have been helpful, we still have real issue with support and volunteers. Following discussions with our Partners in the Welfare, we would like to set up a Users Group to support and influence both present and future activity at the Welfare, contact Louise Stott if you want to be involved. By user, we mean anybody who uses the Welfare, you don’t have to be part of a team or an organised group; your support would be most welcome. You can discuss this with Louise and others at our Welfare fun day on July 11th, lookout for details of the events programme.

The major issue yet to resolve is that of the Football pitch and the pavilion, both areas with a significant cost potential. The playing pitch is in a dreadful state, the drains have collapsed, the surface is poor and overplayed and being used in inappropriate weather does not help. The pavilion serves a purpose but only just and we need to act. The original concept was for a state of the art artificial surface, floodlit and a new pavilion, but in the current economic climate we need to re-think.

We will be calling a meeting of the various football groups to discuss potential alternatives – a new properly drained grass pitch and a modified pavilion arrangement is a possibility. We have already met with the Football Foundation who are willing to provide support but need to see real endorsement from the community and evidence of organised activity and a long term plan, quite simply without this it will not happen.

Additionally, we have spoken to Persimmon with whom we have a Section 106 agreement which commits a significant financial resource to the Welfare development on commencement of their adjoining housing site. Whilst this may be a while in coming, we can anticipate those monies and use it to match against other funds.
We are also in discussions with NCC regarding a new pathway and lighting across the Welfare, the signs are positive but again we have asked to pay for relocation of existing lighting columns, we do not have a bottomless pit of money but have asked the Town Council to consider some financial support in this matter as they are one of the Welfare partners.

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

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