Is your business affected by the poor road infrastructure of the A1?

We need to hear from you.

Our Dual the A1 Campaign is making steady progress, and we are now building the economic arguments for dualling, to set out to Transport Ministers & Chancellor of the Exchequer why a dualled A1 would be worth the investment for the future economic growth of the North East & Scottish Borders.                          

We are hosting a discussion meeting:

Monday 21^st May 2012 from 6-8pm at Paxton House, Berwick upon Tweed

We would be very pleased if you could join us to talk about the potential economic impact of a dualled A1 on your business.

• What new business could you transact if the A1 were dualled?
• How might you change the way you do business if the A1 were dualled?
• Can you give some idea of the potential impact of a dualled A1 on your annual turnover, potential greater employment and profitability over 5-10 years?

Please join us if you can.

Please would you take a few minutes to go online and complete our short survey about the impact of a dualled A1 on your business, at

www.surveymonkey.com/a1businessview

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Present:

Leslie Bilboe – Mayor
Elaine Brown – Town Clerk
Ian Hinson – Councillor – Amble Town Council
Helen Lewis – Councillor – Amble Town Council
Jane Dargue – Councillor – Amble Town Council
Kate Morrison – Councillor – Amble Town Council
Craig Weir – Councillor – Amble Town Council
Robert Arckless – Councillor – Amble Town Council, Northumberland County Council
Julia Aston – Amble Development Trust
Anna Williams – Amble Development Trust, Ambler
Andy Sim – Amble Development Trust, Social History Group, Resident
Simon Crosstwaithe – Homes for Northumberland
Lynda Coulthard – Trinity Methodist Church
Fred Thurgood – Amble Photographic Group
David Bell – Amble and Warkworth Rotary Club
Ken Henderson – Coastguard
Vic Brown – Coquet Shorebase Trust
Ann Burke – 42 Queen Street
Richard Wardman – 42 Queen Street
Colin Harris – Amble Business Club
Karl Brunton – Amble Marina
Bill Stevenson – Resident
Diane Gelson – Resident
Pat Dunn – Resident
Diana Shutt – Resident
Margaret Davison – Resident
John Young – Resident
James Willoughby – Northumberland Gazette

Apologies: Lynne Riddell, Ken Graham, Velda Nicholson

1. Parish Reports – The Parish Reports had been circulated prior to the meeting.

2. Items Arising from Parish Reports – The Mayor asked those present if there were any matters arising; there were no matters arising.

3.  Amble Jubilee Event – Craig Weir ran through the event timeline which was being publicized around the town along with posters advertising the event.  He thanked the businesses and the community for getting involved but said more volunteers were needed on the day.  The Mayor thanked Craig and encouraged the townsfolk to get involved.

Craig also pleaded for help with the Pride in Amble Initiative as without more physical help the town would look very shabby.  John Shutt commented that there are a lot of funds around green deals and that horticulture was identified on the Town Plan as a growth Industry.

4. Amble Supermarket – The Mayor asked Amble Councillor Ian Hinson to update the meeting on the plans for the Supermarket development.  Cllr Hinson stated that following a meeting with Tesco Corporate Affairs Manager, Doug Wilson he could pass on the information that the development would still be going ahead but was not due to be take place until 2013.  The Supermarket would be an eco store such as the development in Berwick. Access would be provided by a deceleration lane, there was no change to the plans i.e. no roundabout as any change could result in a new application having to be made and the planning process begun again.  The delay was a result of a drop in trading figure over the Christmas period which was resulting in Tesco investing capital in refurbishing their existing stores. At the meeting with Doug Wilson the Town Council encouraged Tesco to demolish the existing buildings on the site as soon as possible.

5. Amble Town Plan – Prof. John Shutt explained the requirement of the Localism Act to have Town Plans and that 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships has replaced Regional Organisations.  Working in partnership with Amble Development Trust and the Town Council ‘Amble 2020’ had been created based on the Market Town Initiative to apply for funding from various avenues such as the Coastal Regeneration Fund which had a deadline for applications of 27^th April.  Amble 2020 is part strategic and part plan.  An information sheet detailing the Highlights of a new strategy for Amble 2020 was circulated.

Prof. Shutt commented that Amble is being held back by lack of investment in public realms.  Northumberland County Council Chief Executive is to meet with key partners to discuss the key long term projects before the end of June.

There are too many fragmented developments in plans for the Town, all need to work together rather than individual large projects.

Prof. Shutt said he would forward the Clerk a copy of the power point presentation.

The Mayor thanked Prof. Shutt for the excellent presentation.

Vic Brown requested that Coquet Shorebase Trust be involved in any future discussions of the Waterfront.

Cllr Hinson stated that the Place Making Programme was not clear.  Colin Harris believes there should be a focus on setting up business hubs/centres.

Robert Arckless commented on Border Lairds (Young’s Foods), saying not to expect any dramatic turns in the near future.

Two film makers were also in attendance.  They were working on a project for the ‘Communities on Route’ for the Olympic Torch and anyone could get involved in helping to produce a promotional piece for Amble. They wanted to know what was special about Amble in terms of person, place, group etc.

Diana Shutt made reference to the friendly atmosphere and new enterprise, Robert Arckless urged school involvement. ‘The friendliest port’ story and a resident present when the torch went through London could be utilized.

The clip for each community would last approx. 1-2 minutes and photography would be used to map out the route of the Olympic Torch through the town.  It would preview at Berwick Media Festival. Thoughts on content or offers of help could be forwarded to Anna Williams.

The meeting closed at 7.00pm with all agreeing it had been very worthwhile

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In a reverse fixture, Ashington played host to Amble in the final game of the season, played on a windy morning at Hirst Welfare. Amble controlled most of the play but were hauled back by two stunning strikes that kept Ashington in the game.

Amble kicked off into a strong wind and were almost undone when Ashington fired over after only two minutes. Amble then got the ball down and played nice football to pull the Ashington team around the pitch. Amble had a great chance when D Handyside raced through and went around the keeper, only to see his shot kept out by a covering defender on the line. M Kerr struck a vicious effort from the rebound, which saw the keeper get back and make a great save. M Kerr followed this up shortly afterwards with another well struck shot that was again well kept out. R Paton , B Handyside and K Goodwin kept Ashington at bay, and the one opportunity Ashington created was kept out by a brave save from keeper T Hall, who took a knock to the head when going down at the feet of the striker. Amble continued to caress the ball about well and kept good width through D Handyside and D Armstrong, who both caused their markers problems all morning. It was Amble who opened their account shortly before half-time, where J Ford followed up his original shot to blast the ball home. Half-time 1-0.

Amble then had the wind at their back and took advantage early in the second half when D Handyside sent over a pinpoint free kick for D Ramshaw, to finish neatly at the back post (2-0). However, when Amble thought that they were going to have an easy morning, Ashington responded with a fantastic long range strike, which had T Hall at full stretch, but despite getting his fingertips to it, the ball snuck in under the bar (2-1).

Amble were undeterred by this set back and pushed on for more goals. D Handyside once again broke through and was thwarted by a good save from the keeper, and K Goodwin also had a shot well saved before Amble netted once again. It was, once again, D Handyside who assisted another goal with some good play, before squaring for sniffer Ramshaw to once again finish in style (3-1). With time ticking down, Ashington once again came back into it with another top class strike, which rifled into the very corner of the goal with T Hall, once again, having no chance (3-2). Amble managed to see the remainder of the game out and came away with a good victory against a very good Ashington team in a match played in great spirit.

That completes Amble’s maiden season in what has been an absolutely tremendous response from the young seasiders, who have matched up well to the big guns in the area and more than held their own. FC Amble would like to give a massive thank you to Bruce Durham from Premier Corporate Training, who provided strips and raincoats for the newly formed team, and also Katie Spurr from Spurreli Ice Cream Boutique, who has provided ice creams for players attaining the man of the match. This support has been massive in respect of getting the team moving in the right direction and is greatly appreciated.

Spurreli man of the match (joint): D Handyside / T Hall.

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Held at Alnmouth Ex-Servicemen’s Club, WFA meetings start at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm. Visitors and new members are always made most welcome. The suggested minimum donation is £1 to include a light buffet supper.

At last month’s Western Front Association meeting Clive Bowery described the role of the 8^th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry in the 1918 Battles of theLys.

The peace treaty which followed the 1917 Russian Revolution presented the Germans with a short window of opportunity and numerical supremacy on the Western Front before the American build-up could greatly influence events.

The Lys Offensive, Operation Georgettes to the Germans, was the second phase of their Spring Offensives launched in Flanders after attacks inPicardyhad petered out in early April

With 160 raw replacement troops recently arrive from theUK, the DLI battalion was in the process of moving forward over a few days to relieve Portuguese troops holding the front line near Neuf Berquin.

Fortunately, before the relief was completed battalion officers had already reconnoitred fall-back positions around thevillageofLestrumwhich is where the battalion was immediately sent when the Germans, with the advantages of firm ground and a thick morning mist, launched their attack on 9 April.

DLI positions held on the first day so that by the evening they formed a salient around which the Germans moved. The salient was expunged on 10 April but the battalion continued to hold ground on the edges of Lestrum.

During the next two days it was obvious to higher command that ground would have to be ceded to avoid a major disaster. Orders were issued for a fighting withdrawal in the general direction of the villages of Neuf Berquin and Merville.

Despite having been re-built with young inexperienced men fresh fromEnglandthe battalion gave a good account of itself. The fighting between 9 and 12 April was stubborn and the Germans only succeeded in advancing five miles. By 12 April the front line, then lying immediately to the west of Merville, held firm and the German offensive exhausted itself.

However, a heavy price was paid. Casualties were so heavy that, at various times, remnants of different formations were mixed together to form composite fighting units. When, eventually, the scattered remnants of the 8^th Battalion, DLI were collected together there were only 9 officers and 158 other ranks who were organised into a composite company which was finally withdrawn from the line on 15 April. Casualties, killed, wounded and missing numbered almost 500 men.

Clive’s meticulous research and tremendous use of maps, photographs and film allowed him to translate and bring the subject matter to life & into the present day for his most appreciative audience.

The WFA’s next meeting, on 23 April, will be an opportunity for members and guests to share their interests and reflections on the First World War generally, including family histories.

The next talk, on 28 May, will be delivered byGeoffSpringwho will relate the story of ‘Artillery of the BEF in 1917.’

Held at Alnmouth Ex-Servicemen’s Club, WFA meetings start at 7:30 p.m. for 8:00 p.m. Visitors and new members are always made most welcome. The suggested minimum donation is £1 to include a light buffet supper.

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Amble travelled to Bedlington on a very gloomy evening that was lit up by some very bright and entertaining football from two very good and evenly matched teams.

Once the match kicked off, both teams were very tentative and the football was mainly played in the midfield area of the pitch with J Ford, D Armstrong and D Handyside holding their own against a strong Bedlington line up. It was after five minutes that J Ford sparked the game into action with a piece of magic that saw him ghost past his man and blast the ball into the top corner of the goal to give his team a 1-0 lead. As the game progressed, Amble continued to shade the first half with some good football and some good defending from R Paton and B Handyside with T Hall mopping up behind them.

The next clear cut chance that came along was created by a bit of individual brilliance from D Handyside, which saw him perform an amazing turn that Messi himself would have been proud of, before firing over. With the half coming to an end, it was Storm who created the last chance of the half when a corner was fired in and met by the onrushing player, who shot, only to see T Hall keep it out with a great reaction save. Half time 0-1.

Storm came out for the second half fired up and went straight on the offensive, pushing the young seasiders onto the back foot. They got their just desserts after 30 minutes when they forced the ball home and Amble failed to clear yet another corner to level at 1-1. With the bit between their teeth, Storm continued to press and were denied by a great double save from T Hall who was in determined mood against his former team. Storm continued to produce some great approach play including a fantastic solo run from Aidy, but could not convert their chances until the 40th minute when Amble again failed to react to the second ball allowing the home striker to nip in and finish (2-1).

When it would have been easy to collapse, Amble got their second wind and started to compete again and get back into the game. They got the ball down and produced some good football, before equalising after another very good finish from J Ford with his right foot with only two minutes left on the clock (2-2). Both teams played out the final couple of minutes with no further scares, to finish the match at 2-2.

This was an absolutely great advert for junior football, with Amble shading the first half and Bedlington controlling the second. Both teams produced some great football on a very dreary evening, and neither side deserved to lose, so I think all that watched the game will have enjoyed it and would agree that a draw was a very fair result.

Spurreli’s Man of the Match: J Ford

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Tuesday 1 May 2012  10.00 – 2.30

 Led by Anna Corbett

 Celebrate May Day with a workshop about wild food and foraging. Explore the opportunities for gathering food from forest, field and hedgerow, and find out how to use them in delicious recipes.

 Includes a walk in Alnwick to identify spring plants in the ‘outdoor larder’ on our doorstep.

Anna Corbett is an experienced forager, and is often to be found eating ‘weeds’! Come and find out more, meet others with similar interests and learn new skills at an informal & fascinating workshop.

Advance booking essential

Cost £15

For more information contact Anna on 01665 574771

 To book a place contact Northumberland Adult Learning Service, Alnwick 01665 604563

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Amble threw away two precious points as Cramlington Jrs equalised with the last kick of a very good match.

Amble were once again slow out of the blocks, and keeper T Hall had to be alert when Cramlington had their first effort on goal after just 20 seconds. This seemed to awaken the youngsters, and D Ramshaw tested the home keeper with a smart shot. Amble continued to push and got their rewards after ten minutes when D Ramshaw turned the defender inside out, before playing in D Handyside, who then picked out M Kerr at the back post to strike a well placed shot passed the keeper (0-1). Both teams pressed for more goals, but it was the seasiders who went in to the halftime interval in front.

After a tight first half, the match sparked into action with a flurry of goals. Amble went 2-0 up when J Ford broke through and finished with a delightful finish into the far corner of the net. At this point, Amble were controlling the game and were comfortable. They then switched off and, rather than pass the ball, had a crazy three minute spell where they totally lost their shape and concentration, and found themselves level after two quick goals (2-2). They managed to recover their composure and went back in front with three minutes of the match left, when J Ford played in D Ramshaw, who tucked the ball away (2-3). With the clock ticking down, Amble needlessly gave the ball away and Cramlington took full advantage with a cross that evaded everyone except the home striker, who was unmarked in the centre of the goal with an open net (3-3). There was not even time to kick off as the time was now up.

The youngsters from Amble need to realise that you need to concentrate fully for the duration of the match and, at this level of football, you will be punished if you switch off. They went from being totally in charge and moving the ball well, to a team that looked like they had never played together. They now need to pick themselves up for next weeks match at home to Wallsend Boys club, and regain the passing game that has served them well so far this season.

Spurreli’s man of the match: J Ford

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In a reversal of last weeks match, it was the young seasiders who came out on top with a last gasp winner to gain a great three points against their illustrious hosts.

Amble were once again slow out of the blocks on what was a very good playing surface, but were thankful to keeper T Hall early on after he pushed a well struck shot around the post to keep Wallsend at bay. The game was played mainly in the middle of the park with a good midfield tussle, before Wallsend broke the deadlock with a deflected shot that found its way into the net (1-0).

Amble then woke up and took control of the proceedings, and managed to equalise after D Handyside did well, before crossing for J Ford to crash the ball home (1-1). Amble were on the up, and it was once again D Handyside who produced a great run and finish from a tight angle, after being played-in by D Armstrong (1-2). With Amble in total charge, they once again lost concentration and let in the hosts, just before halftime, when they failed to react to the rebound, after T Hall had made a good save only to see the striker tap in from close range. Half time 2-2.

After the interval, the seasiders managed to get a better shape, with R Paton and B Handyside controlling the defensive line to keep Wallsend out. It was Amble who took a deserved lead when they put pressure on the Wallsend back line and, after a scramble, the ball fell to D Armstrong, who calmly produced a quality finish from the edge of the area (2-3). Amble continued to defend well as a unit, but were caught again with two minutes left on the clock when Wallsend broke and crossed to equalise with another scrambled finish (3-3). After having the stuffing knocked out of them the previous week, conceding a last minute equaliser, Amble refused to take it lying down and, with great determination, pushed forward for the win. With the game in the last minute, J Ford drove at the heart of the defence and the ball broke to him from D Ramshaw’s pass, and Ford managed to poke the ball home for what proved to be the winning goal (3-4).

The seasiders, despite not being at their best, managed to produce a good victory and battled until the final whistle to get their rewards against a good team from Wallsend Boys Club.

Spurreli’s Man of the match: D Handyside

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The young seasiders travelled to Bullocksteads for an encounter with the current league leaders on a lovely spring morning, and shocked the league leaders with an awesome second half display.

Amble kicked off and were on the back foot from the start, with Ponteland passing the ball well, on a good playing surface. Although they pressured the goal, Amble played on the counter and D. Handyside just looped the ball over with an improvised scissor kick. Shortly afterwards, D. Armstrong had his shot well saved by the home keeper when he broke through. From this point, the game turned into the Thomas Hall show with the Amble keeper proving unbeatable when Ponteland threw everything at him. He firstly saved with his legs from a free kick, which found its way through a packed penalty area, and followed this up shortly afterwards with an unbelievable double save, which had supporters from both teams applauding and flabbergasted at the cobra-like speed of the young keeper. Not happy with this, Ponteland were awarded a penalty, and the striker put the ball in the corner of the goal only to see Hall push it around the post at full stretch. Amble continued to defend for their lives with B Handyside, R Paton and K Goodwin all putting in determined shifts to ensure they went in to halftime all square at 0-0, with good support from the midfield of J Ford, D Armstrong, D Handyside and M Kerr.

Amble took the interval to compose themselves and take instruction, and came out like a different team after the break. They pushed and managed to take the lead on 31 minutes, when D. Handyside played the ball to D. Ramshaw who picked his spot in the far corner of the goal to leave the keeper with no chance (0-1).

They again went close from another corner when the ball was cleared out to D. Armstrong, who steadied himself before shooting just wide at long range. The hosts at this time were under pressure and only had the odd break, but found themselves 2-0 down when J. Ford fired in a corner, which was met by the onrushing K. Goodwin, who lost his man and swept the ball in to the back of the net. Ponteland had no answer to the power and pace of Amble at this time, and were unable to get close as the seasiders were contesting every ball and not allowing them to settle. Amble soon extended their lead with a well worked goal, which saw D. Armstrong set D. Ramshaw away down the line. Ramshaw looked up and picked out a great pass for D. Handyside to hammer home for a well deserved third (0-3). Amble then got themselves into good shape and saw the remainder of the game out with Ponteland unable to break them down.

Amble owe this win to a fantastic display from keeper T. Hall, who made sure they went in level at half time, but it was a powerful second half display of the highest standard that the league leaders were unable to compete with when Amble took total control and put away their chances .

Spurreli’s man of the match: T. Hall

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