Reports from our County Councillors #159
📷Cllr Pauline Davidson
Communication with the Neighbourhood manager for North Northumberland has assured us that the grass cutting schedule was back on track after the deluge of rain we had in June. Further information can be found on the council website: Grass cutting and ground maintenance/Northumberland County Council. It is worth noting that the agreements with Town and Parish Councils about frequency of cuts may differ from that of the County Council.
Pedestrian Crossings. Many residents have expressed concerns about the difficulty and danger of crossing the road between the top of The Wynd and Beal Bank. Traffic speeds can be high, making it challenging for pedestrians, families, older residents and visitors, to cross safely.
A pedestrian crossing located at the bottom of The Wynd, close to Riverside Park, would provide a significant improvement to pedestrian safety and accessibility. While it is encouraging that a crossing has been included within future plans, residents should be aware that its installation is tied to the proposed Wynyard development on The Gut. Under the current arrangements, the crossing will only be approved following the first occupation of the development and then will be delivered according to an agreed timetable.
In the meantime, concerns remain about crossing the busy section of road, and many residents will be keen to see progress made as soon as possible.
We are making enquiries on behalf of the residents from Longstone Manor to see if there is also a condition attached to the proposed Tantallon Development. If not, for safety reasons, a request will be sent to NCC for installation of a pedestrian crossing.
Digital Takeover. Digital switchover to full fibre broadband is planned for completion by January 2027. This will replace the old copper wiring system. Digital lines allow for clearer calls, stronger data infrastructure, they can block scam calls, and it is 25 times faster than the analogue system. Everyone will receive a letter four weeks in advance. An engineer will make an appointment with householders and where necessary, plug your system into the new broadband router. If you or a household member needs in-home assistance, do not wait for the automatic switchover date. Please contact your specific landline provider directly to register your needs and request a technician visit. For further information visit;
GOV.UK Guidance on Digital Landlines or check resources provided by Openreach
Proposal of Charges at Coastal Car Parks. County Council are proposing to introduce charges at Creswell Beach, Amble Braid and Warkworth Beach. This is estimated to generate net income of £9k in 2026/27 and an additional £10k in 27/28. The proposed charges are as follows:
1 Hour – free; 2 Hours – £1.00
3 Hours -£1.50; All day – £3.00
The charging proposals will apply from 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. Understandably, many residents are concerned about the impact that this will have on them as they already feel overburdened by their contributions to Council Tax.
Overgrown grass and shrubs on either side of the public footpath in front of the boarded area of the new JCSC development was obstructing the view of drivers exiting Barndale onto the B6345, creating a potential road safety hazard. It appears that Northumberland County Council are not responsible for maintaining this area, until the 28 August when the new school is officially handed over to County Council. Rather than risk an accident, my husband and I took the initiative to cut back the overgrowth, clearing part of the footpath and in front of the bus stop. Since then I have discovered that the responsibility lies with Keir, the construction company. Hopefully they will be attending to this very soon.
A huge thank you to my husband for his hard work. Community spirit and looking out for one another can make a real difference.
Cllr Pauline Davidson
Pauline.Davidson@northumberland.gov.uk 07889143980
This report was received before The Ambler learned of the sad death of Councillor Arty Hume.
This month I have decided to share information useful to residents who may need support, or who know someone who does.
There are a number of financial support schemes available through Northumberland County Council and its partners:
• Exceptional Hardship Scheme – available from 1 April 2026.
• Council Tax Support.
• Crisis and Resilience Fund – available from 1 April 2026, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), providing help with food, energy, water and other essential household costs.
• Discretionary Housing Payments – available from 1 April 2026, funded by the DWP, to help residents with housing costs.
The Council also commissions Citizens Advice Northumberland to provide free, independent, and confidential advice on:
• Maximising your income
• Debt and monetary management • Energy costs • Housing
• Employment.
For council housing tenants, the Council offers benefit advice and financial assessments to identify any gaps in income and ensure residents are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.
The Council’s website also provides guidance on a wide range of support, including:
• Benefits and financial support
• Cost of Living support
• Household Support Fund
• Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payments
• Disability benefit claims
• Budgeting, debt advice, and grants
• Universal Credit housing support.
Residents who are experiencing an emergency, financial hardship or are at risk of their circumstances escalating into crisis can apply to the Council for an immediate hardship payment. If you need help or advice, you can:
access support online, speak to someone over the phone, or come along to one of our surgeries and talk to us in person. Please do not struggle in silence. If you think you may be entitled to support, or know someone who could benefit from it, do get in touch.
Also, as most of you know, I work closely with ADT, ATC, we have been meeting with NCC officers to try and get the best possible outcomes for our town, this includes input into the Local Plan and involvement with Community Partnerships. Also to cover as much as possible in the way of consultation to try and get the best outcomes for our town, both Cllr Davidson and I are arranging regular meetings with The Puffin Lounge and Dry Water Arts. Both these two organisations are working hard to get the best for Amble and its residents; we look forward to exchanging ideas and collaborating where possible in the near future. We will keep you updated as things progress.
My request for Bridge Street to be resurfaced has been accepted and works are to commence in the new year. These things take time, but are worth pursuing; a big thank you to NCC.
During this time, the Reform U.K party has undergone a leadership change which we all hope will prove to be fruitful going forward. However, this has meant both Cllr Davidson and I have had to take on extra responsibilities to fill the void left by the outgoing leadership team.
There has been an uptick in casework recently involving Housing, Antisocial Behaviour, Planning, Theft, and Parking, in and around Amble. Meetings are booked with the respective personnel.
Arty Hume, County Councillor for Amble
