Concerns have been raised that the design of Amble’s new school has been simplified and scaled back
New plans which were submitted after initial groundwork began in March
show the new building will be smaller and have fewer outdoor features than originally agreed
A groundbreaking event for the new school building was held on 18 March
Amble Development Trust have asked Northumberland County Council (NCC) why new plans were submitted as minor amendments to approved plans
two weeks after NCC’s own groundbreaking event on 18 March
The plans show the building footprint reduced by 530sqm
the budget for the school has increased by £11m
Some external facilities and features have been simplified or removed from the approved plans
Exterior decorative brickwork has been reduced
a trim trail has been excluded from the contractor’s brief
with a suggestion that NCC will carry out the works after the school is complete
Strategic Project Manager of Amble Development Trust said he calculated the reduction in size amounted to the loss of four classrooms
He also questioned why these new plans had been submitted at such a late stage in the project and after contractors had begun working on the site:
“These changes are fundamental in nature
The last time that any public consultation on the plans took place was in January 2023
In a town that has houses being built all around the school
to make it substantially smaller with reduced facilities reflects badly on all those making these decisions
Decisions that the end users of the school
and indeed the community have had no input into
The Development Trust also raised questions about the size of the new school sports hall
In reply NCC accepted the reduction in the size of the school but denied there was any major change
“There have indeed been some slight reductions in the square footprint of the building in the final design stage of the project
It is the case however this has not resulted in the loss of four classrooms
In order to reduce the total gross internal floor area of the building
four out of the five humanities classrooms from the wings of the building have been relocated to the south elevation under the croft area
The only “teaching” space that has been removed is the T-Level catering area.”
He added “The sports hall has not been reduced and remains a 4-court sports hall sized
this is larger than what is recommended by the DFE for the number of students who attend the school
There has been a slight reduction in the number of brick projections as a way of rationalising
however they still remain on the main elevation of the building.”
It’s just like taking candy from a baby,all the original proposal is radically changed
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The views expressed in The Ambler and The AmblerOnline are not necessarily the views of the Editorial Team. The Ambler is a project of Amble Development Trust
A proud member of the Independent Community News Network
Results of the Northumberland County Council elections for the two Amble wards are as follows:
posted hateful bigotry on their social media accounts
My grandfather and great grandfather died fighting against people with their hateful opinions and now we have them as our local reps
They didn’t campaign on any local issue but surfed on the back of Farage’s cult
Why do people follow him when he has failed us so many times
We needed a change but too many people didn’t turn out to vote or voted for someone who could not win
If you don’t like this and you didn’t vote
Get off your bums next time and go to the polling station
A little clue: if they don’t campaign on local issues they are lazy and just in it for the money
In response to Terry McInally’s comment: “Both of these
Why would people vote for these fascists?”
I hope you have factual evidence of such claims
you are opening yourself up to libel claims
along with 396 others in Amble West with Warkworth voted in a democratic vote for my choice of candidate
Please also note that the turnout for our ward was one of the highest in the county with 45.95% which Pauline Davidson won signifying this was more than just a protest vote
This is indeed a very sad result for the less extreme
My comment would be that the only candidate who made the effort to knock on my door was the LibDem candidate
Perhaps too much takes place on social media and the algorithms skew the true picture
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Irish folk trio Amble is excited to announce new dates to their ongoing world tour in support of their highly anticipated debut album
Amble’s live performances have captivated audiences worldwide
The band will now perform in more cities across North America
sharing their captivating live show with even more audiences worldwide
These newly announced dates come on the heels of the band’s previously revealed biggest Irish show yet at Dublin’s 3Arena on December 4th
further underscoring their remarkable growth from intimate pub gigs to major venues in the last 18 months
Tickets for the newly announced dates will go on sale Friday
showcases Amble’s signature sound: relatability
and authenticity seamlessly blended with no-frills acoustic instrumentation
recorded live in various studios across Ireland and Los Angeles
captures the spirit of the band’s early days
we’re all sitting in a circle and playing together around a microphone,” says Robbie Cunningham (lead vocals/guitar)
You can feel the energy when you get the right take
has experienced a meteoric rise since forming in late 2022
The trio’s journey from quitting their day jobs in rural Western Ireland to achieving international recognition
buoyed by over 100 million streams and sold-out shows
is a testament to their dedication and connection with audiences
“We’re unapologetically ourselves,” says Robbie
we’d love for you to hear a level of originality.” Oisin concludes
Our ambition was to make an album that would be great 100 years from now or 100 years ago.”
Members of the public met and questioned the Amble candidates for the forthcoming county council elections at a hustings event – the first of its kind in living memory
who heard from six of the candidates for the two Amble wards
The candidates gave a short introduction about themselves
before answering a number of questions which had been sent in beforehand
Members of the audience were then invited to question the candidates directly
Moderator Matthew Connolly explained that the organisers had been particularly keen to involve young people in the event
believing it is very important to include them in the democratic process
He said all the candidates had been invited to attend
and great efforts had been made to invite everyone
one candidate couldn’t attend and submitted a statement (Terry Clark); one candidate said no (Arty Hume); and one candidate didn’t respond (Pauline Davidson)
Statements were read out from Terry Clark and Arty Hume
Twenty eight questions were sent in to The Ambler
It soon became apparent that the hot button topic of the night was the lack of sports provisions in the town
Candidates on stage expressed a range of views about how to address this issue
ranging from the retention of the existing sports hall on the current JCSC site
to the construction of a new venue in town
whilst others argued that the cost of upkeep made the construction of a new facility unlikely
Incumbent councillor Jeff Watson argued that the sports facilities included within the JCSC new build would adequately meet the community’s needs
A question from Kieron a JCSC Sixth Former
centred around Anti Social Behaviour in light of recent police activity in the area
Several candidates commented on the importance of local voluntary and community groups offering youth services
in tackling behavourial attitudes at an early stage
Other candidates commented that it was a generalisation to attribute ASB to young people
Others said that according to Police reporting
ASB in Amble has in fact reduced over the last few years
Kieron said he felt that youth provisions ought to be expanded beyond the current sports offering
highlighting the value of the likes of music
Further questions were posed from the audience
ranging from whether the salary of the CEO of Northumberland County Council was too high
a request for help for young people with autism in mainstream education
and queries over why parking in Amble is not free like other market and coastal towns
Kieron told The Ambler “I follow the general elections closely and enjoy watching political debates
Attending the local election hustings was a great opportunity to listen to what the candidates had to say face-to-face
I really enjoyed being in the audience and being part of this political environment.”
“I think hustings are a great idea and holding local ones are really important
As voters we can easily access candidates policies and opinions in writing but it is much more personal and impressionable receiving this information face-to-face.”
Matthew Connolly said “Young people wanted to be involved in the democratic process and it was great that they came along to pose questions and listen to answers direct from the candidates
They told us ‘we hear all the time about misinformation from the internet and spending too much time on screens
so it was great to have a real-life opportunity to be involved’.”
Organiser Luke McTaggart said he had been pleased with how the event had gone
“I’d hoped the event would allow the voters in both our Amble wards to gain a clearer sense of the personalities and platforms of those standing for election.”
He added “At a time of low public trust in our political system
I think it is vital that county council candidates are properly scrutinised and our community is given the chance to put forward questions on topics that matter to them most.”
“We are looking forward to work getting underway imminently.”
Headteacher at James Calvert Spence College
students and wider community I am delighted that the County Council have supported the exciting and transformative re-build of our school.
“This investment in the Amble community will ensure that generations of young people will have access to high quality facilities and increased educational opportunities in years to come.
“I am excited to work closely with Kier
Ryder and all stakeholders to support the project and look forward to construction starting very soon.”
Residents were shocked and disappointed to hear that the Co-op food store on Queen Street is closing on 22 February
The food store will close on 22 February 2025
said: “We carry-out reviews of our existing store locations
do we take the difficult decision to close a store
our priority now is to fully support colleagues
and we would like to thank the community for its support of this store.”
it will be readied to hand back to the landlord
Co-op will not have an involvement over the future use of the site.”
They also confirmed that Co-op Funeralcare Amble will remain open
director of Amble Development Trust said “It’s extremely disappointing news for the town
This decision seems to have come about rather quickly
I don’t think any of its local members were consulted over this closure
“We will be trying to make contact with the property owner to see what plans if any they may have for the future of the building.”
Doris Highgate and Pharmacist William Adamson
The Co-op even had their own gardens on Gloster Hill
the Co-op has undergone several corporate reorganisations in recent decades
meaning close historical ties to the original society and the town have gradually reduced
The Amble Co-operative Society was replaced by the North Eastern Co-op in the early 1970s
The current food store is owned by The Co-operative Group
Julia Aston of Amble Development Trust remembered her time working in the office at the Co-op: “My first job was to answer the switchboard which consisted of pegs
Then I had to sort the cheque slips out to be added up for the dividend.”
They were situated on Gloster Hill where Mariners View is now
We’d love to hear your memories of those days
Northumberland County Council elections take place on 1 May
We are asked to vote for two people to represent the two Amble wards on the County Council
there will be a Town Council election in one of our three wards
There will be a hustings event on Tues 8 April
to which all the above county council candidates are invited
If you have a question you’d like to send in
please email it to editor@theambler.co.uk with the heading HUSTINGS QUESTION
In addition there will be elections for the Central Ward for Amble Town Council
Only those who live in the Central Ward will be able to vote
Two candidates should be chosen from the three listed here
The following wards are uncontested as there are more seats than candidates
The following people will represent the East and West Wards:
Can have a postal vote like the county council election
Rachael is currently a Team Vicar in the Dereham and District Team Ministry in Norfolk and will take up her post here in July
she happily worked as a teacher and had no thoughts of being ordained
just a little feeling” says Rachael “I didn’t think it was real until I began to hear more and more people say to me that I should become a vicar!”
Rachael was trained for Ministry at Durham and has loved the North East ever since
when she saw the advert for Amble and Chevington she just had to apply
Rachael came to see what the town and area was like
“It probably wasn’t the best time to see the town” she said “many shops were closed
it definitely didn’t show Amble at its best.” Rachael suddenly beams with joy “but the people were lovely and that’s what is important
cross stitch and historic samplers and revelled in her delight in finding ‘The Pin Cushion’ on Queen Street
the staff and parents with an equal love that lived out her faith
it’s the example of being there for people that matters.”
unkindness and thoughtlessness are what upsets her
and she values honesty and openness which is what she will give
Rachael is very joyful and personable; she is a people person and loves life
Her enthusiasm is infectious and she will engage with many aspects of community life
she has many other interests and is an advocate for live donor transplants
Rachael enjoys the countryside and looks forward to walks on the beach with her eight-year-old rescue dog Maya
part bloodhound and part American cattle dog
She will be out and about in Amble and Chevington when she arrives
so do go and get to know her if you see her
There will be a service to Licence Rachael as Priest-in-Charge of Amble and Chevington on Thursday 3 July
Armed police and the police helicopter attended two separate incidents in the Amble area on consecutive days in April
Threats to kill were made on both occasions and two men were arrested
Police say they are not currently treating these events as linked
“A man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill
He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries
“The victim is being supported by specially trained officers
Police attended an incident on George Street
The second incident took place on Monday 7 April in George Street
Police were called to a disturbance shortly after 6.40pm
The police spokesperson said: “Officers attended the scene including armed response as a precaution
“A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and remains in police custody
“Anyone with information is asked to get in touch by sending a private message on social media
If anyone is unable to contact us in this way
“Please quote crime reference number: 039056Y/25.”
If you’ve seen activity on the land opposite the Amble Inn
it’s because ground surveys are being carried out
the development arm of Northumberland County Council
The surveys are to identify possible mine workings
ahead of any potential development schemes
Surveys to identify potential mine workings are taking place
A spokesperson for Advance Northumberland told The Ambler
“We are conducting standard ground investigations on a piece of land to assess the existing conditions
particularly to identify any potential mine shafts
site surveys are being undertaken to evaluate any potential future development plans
To ensure the surveys are conducted properly and safely
the site requires some clearance to facilitate these investigations.”
The land is owned by Advance Northumberland
The spokesperson would not be drawn on what kind of development they might have in mind
The land at the southern entrance to Amble
is currently unallocated through the Northumberland Local Plan
The Amble Neighbourhood Plan steering group is currently in the process of exploring how the land could be allocated in the future
added: “The cutting of the sod ceremony was an opportunity for all the stakeholders involved in this project to celebrate years of hard work coming to fruition
“We were delighted to involve seven of our Year 10 construction pupils in the ceremony
who will be supported by Kier with work experience on the new school site.
students and wider community I am delighted that the County Council have supported the exciting and transformative re-build of our school.
“This investment in the Amble community will ensure that generations of young people will have access to high quality facilities and increased educational opportunities in years to come.”
Along with a new £35.5m state-of-the-art secondary school
the wider redevelopment of the JCSC site includes the refurbishment of the former middle school to create new facilities for Amble First School and a satellite provision for Barndale House School to provide 50 new places for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
There are nine candidates for the upcoming county council elections on 1 May
Six people are standing in Amble West with Warkworth
together with their reasons why they’d like your vote:
Lib Dems care about community politics- we don’t dismiss things like fixing a church roof as irrelevant
we have seen a Conservative council mired in scandal
we have a Labour government that has broken its promises
We need change- but change that actually delivers
we need to build homes for young people so they don’t leave after finishing their education
But you do that by working with the local community
And by holding developers to account for the promises they made
making them pay for necessary infrastructure- local Conservatives have frequently failed to do this
I would push to reinstate the £2 bus fare cap at a county level
I would campaign to stop water companies pumping sewage into our rivers
I would push the council to oppose Starmer’s cuts to Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners
as well as his retaining of the 2 child benefit cap
but increased provision of youth clubs is also needed
The Liberal Democrats can win Amble West with Warkworth
a clear second to the Conservatives- we are the clear tactical vote for change in this area
and I will fight every day to demand better for our communities
Vote Ann Burke on May 1st – your Independent candidate for Amble West with Warkworth
It’s time to vote for someone who cares and is passionate about the ward
I have lived in Warkworth most of my life and owned a florists on Queen Street Amble for 30 years
Amble West with Warkworth needs a strong voice for the electorate and the ward
not a political squabble and knee jerk reactions
I was humbled to be invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party
whilst Chair of Amble Business Club and working with Amble Development Trust
to help establish the Town Centre car park
winning the Great British Coastal High Street
and the establishment of the “Bord Waalk” art trail
On a Saturday morning I volunteer at Parkrun
where participants range from babies in buggies to over 80’s
it is a wonderful community event where there is no judgement and people take part for heath & wellbeing
I am a retired Nurse Practitioner having worked for the NHS for 37 years
I developed many clinical skills as well as a solid foundation of knowledge in communication
I have always had a commitment to lifetime learning and caring
retired and an immensely proud Husky owner
I have lived in the Northeast all my life apart from spending 8 years in Cyprus
one of the reasons I am doing this is because I am so angry with this government and with the local council
there are several issues that are important to our communities that we need to fix:
You may know me through my business or from when I worked at Coquet High School
My family moved here twenty years ago after setting up a holiday company in Tanzania
Before that I was running outdoor education centres in Scotland
I helped to stop the opencast coal mine at Druridge Bay and successfully challenged the Coal Authority to tackle the mine water that was flooding Hauxley’s allotments and causing quicksand on the beach
member of the Amble Neighbourhood Plan team
has been run down so there is a fraction of the books on the shelves
we have no sports centre or public swimming pool
The wrong types of properties were given planning permission
so retired couples move here from far away
the population here is falling; young families cannot afford those houses
With funding based on the size of the declining population our NHS services struggle
especially as an older population requires more health support
Our experienced team of professional people
will hold NCC to account and reject extremist
my name is Amy Spriggs and I live in Amble
I work locally supporting the community for Hadston House and AIM North East
I am a older persons coordinator running services for those who need it in the Warkworth
In addition to this I am a trained youth worker who supports young people in our locality
I had no passion for politics until recently
over the last few years I have been working with Scott Dickinson the Leader of Northumberland Labour and local County Councillor
Seeing what someone can do when they put their community first made me interested
to offer my self to local people to represent them and our area
Working alongside fantastic Councillors like Scott Dickinson and Terry Clark I could become part of the team delivering for local people
Over the past few months I have held drop in sessions across the ward allowing people of the community to share their thoughts
I will listen to the community and represent your views
I will address the local issues around ASB and motorbike nuisance impacting our area
pavements and potholes and I will ensure the local community is put first by ensuring your voices are heard
Jeff Watson is a coal miner’s son who left school at 16 to pursue a career path in sales and marketing throughout the UK
culminating as managing director of the Canadian subsidiary of that company
in his spare time Jeff served 11 years in the Royal Navy Reserves and Territorial Army
Jeff has continually lived within the Acklington
Amble and Warkworth area since his return to the UK in 1994
He first served as a District Councillor and from 2010 became elected member for Amble West with Warkworth in the Northumberland Unitary Authority
For the last 6 years Jeff has held a senior role as Cabinet Member responsible for Libraries
Museums and Theatres as well as supporting his own ward
Jeff is proud to support the ex-service community
He previously served ten years as Chair of Warkworth & Amble RBL Branch
even though his ward is not the town centre
he has been instrumental in progressing the Turner Street Car Park
installing speed awareness cameras and has donated funds to local charities including Amble Food Bank
Currently a Warkworth Harbour Commissioner he has chaired Amble Youth Project
served as a member of Amble Development Trust
Amble Town Councillor and a local magistrate
Jeff is proud of his involvement in the exciting educational developments where £47 million is being spent on the new SEND school provision
the new King Edwin Primary school and the James Calvert Spence school
Jeff was also responsible for having South Avenue resurfaced
Jeff believes that his co-operation with Amble Town Council has contributed to making Amble a vibrant visitor destination point providing new employment opportunities for the town
I would be honoured to represent the new ward of Amble and Hauxley after having served eight years representing Amble
Hauxley and North Broomhill working alongside town and parish councillors and Labour colleagues at County Hall
new social bungalows being built converted from garages
Immediate action to repair and construct good quality affordable housing
improving council housing for local people
A council that is open and transparent & more accountable
A county council can only run off the back of those who care and love the area and the work they provide for the community
When you make your choice on the first of May even if you choose not to elect me
I hope this phrase stays with you: ELECT THOSE WHO HOPE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND ONLY THE COMMUNITY
This election I stand before you after serving two terms as your county councillor
I ask for your support again as someone who has grown and lived in Amble most of my life
its people and who is running to serve the people of Amble and Hauxley and not for any self-interests
as a Labour group within County Hall we will continue to work effectively while listening to the community
In June 1971 I was an apprentice electrician
moving to Whittle Colliery and finally Ellington Colliery in 1987
I took redundancy and started work for Northumbria Police in 1992.Retirement from Northumbria Police came in December 2011
county and people of the area for most of my life
Amble obviously has special meaning to me personally having lived and been brought up in the area
I believe I have acquired a certain knowledge
and I’m eager to help the small businesses together with young job seekers
Reform candidates can change that for the better
On May 1st Amble residents will have the opportunity to vote in the Northumberland County Council and Amble Town Council elections
I bring energy and experience to help Amble achieve its full potential
My husband Lee and I have been married for 26 years and have two children
We chose to make Amble our home to be closer to Bekka
who is completing her final year of medical school at Newcastle University
Both of our children share the values of public service
I believe small businesses are essential for thriving communities
As Company Secretary for our commercial landscaping and fencing business
I’ve worked with local authorities and architects during the planning stages of new developments
This experience will be valuable in ensuring that future housing projects in Amble meet the needs of the community
As we’ve gradually scaled back the business
I now have the time and commitment to serve as a local councillor
I spent six years as a Senior Parliamentary Assistant for a Member of Parliament
where I gained insight into handling local issues effectively
Having previously lived and worked in a new town
I understand the importance of planning and will focus on this area if elected
With government housing targets increasing
I am dedicated to ensuring that new housing is built in the right areas
with proper infrastructure and affordable options for local residents
Only the Northumberland Conservatives will stand up to the Labour government’s 200% increase in housebuilding targets
I will hold developers accountable to planning conditions to ensure that new developments benefit our community
Amble hustings: ‘a great idea’ for local democracy
Candidates who represent Parties that have been in power for decades and destroyed Britain
I have nothing whatsoever against our local candidates
I feel that the North East doesn’t really know what happens beyond the Tyne
Labour has come up with a great asylum seekers plan with France
We give back to France illegal immigrants that came from their shores and they give us their legal immigrants on a one to one basis
For one illegal immigrant we send back to them
they send us one of their legal immigrants.I got to know about it in History Debunked channel on YT
I can see how both Labour and France are in it together
Labour is effectively subcontracting France to process our backlog of illegals and return them to us as legal immigrants
Who are these legal immigrants that France wants to send in exchange
Maybe for starters France will make legal all asylum seekers waiting in queue on French shores to sail across to Dover
Also there is the possibility that France might organise a round trip for the asylum seekers we have sent to them and they will send them back in boats to us all over again
I doubt we are efficient enough to have records of their identity to cross check
It is a recycling process that will meet with the Green’s approval
France will continue to be the thoroughfare of the whole world to get to the UK legally using this circuit
That is why I will shout for Reform as change for the country starts at grassroots
04 Oct 2024 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Excited pupils in Amble are celebrating as two new schools opened their doors.
King Edwin Primary School and Barndale-by-the-Sea welcomed pupils into their new classrooms following the redevelopment of the former Amble Middle School site in South Avenue.
King Edwin Primary is the new home for the former Amble First School and includes an early years wing
outdoor space and playing fields.
Barndale-by-the-Sea caters for pupils with a range of neurodiverse needs
A satellite hub of Barndale School in Alnwick
it features bespoke classrooms and therapy rooms
The move is part of Northumberland County Council’s £39m investment in the Coquet Partnerships of schools that aim to transform education
sports and community facilities in the area for generations to come.
New classrooms have also been completed at Amble Links
Broomhill and Grange View C of E primary schools to accommodate their additional pupils.
A new building for James Calvert Spence College (JCSC) will also be constructed
opening to pupils in 2026.
Official openings will take place for the schools in the coming months once the children have had the chance to settle in.
said: “It is fantastic to reach this latest milestone and see pupils enjoying their new schools and excited about all the additional facilities they offer.
“This has been a major project to move from a three to a two-tier system of education and to open two new schools
I would like to thank everyone involved for all their hard work
“We’re investing in education right across the county so that all our young people can have access to the right education for them as close to home as possible.”
Cabinet member for Healthy Lives and who represents Amble West with Warkworth
said: “This is brilliant news for families in the area.
Take a tour of Barndale-by-the-Sea here.
See inside the new classrooms for Amble Links, Red Row, Broomhill and Grange View C of E primary schools
Storm Éowyn made her presence felt in various parts of Amble last Friday (24 Jan)
Perhaps most alarming of all was when a roof from a construction site flew off and landed on neighbouring properties
The roof hit Carol and Steve Ratcliffe’s home as they sat inside
Carol and Steve Ratcliffe were watching tv in their living room
when a roof being installed on a property on the other side of the road hit their house
The roof was part of a construction site for modular eco bungalows on Alndale
part of Northumberland County Council’s (NCC) new affordable housing scheme in Amble
“The roof lifted off from the far side and came up and over
There was a huge bang and it hit our house
Steve was sitting on the sofa with his back to the window
The roofs had been craned onto the bungalows only the day before
which was well advertised with an amber warning for wind
workmen were in the process of tying the new roofs down
but just before 9.30am one section blew off
Both Carol and Steve feel they are lucky to have escaped injury or significant damage to their home
See Carol and Steve’s CCTV footage above
If there hadn’t been that second spin I believe it would have been through our window
“Steve has still not gone outside the front of the house
Carol and Steve believe their solar panels saved their roof from too much damage
But neighbours Margaret and Charlie Smith’s property sustained more damage
Margaret and Charlie Smith’s property sustained the most damage
but my husband heard the noise,” said Margaret
“Fortunately he was at the back of the house
He heard a big bang and felt the house shake
[Councillor] Terry Clark came round to see if we were ok
I’ve never seen so many people with phones and cameras outside taking pictures.”
County Councillor for the Amble ward told The Ambler that full repairs will be carried out on the properties
“I visited Mr and Mrs Smith whose bungalow was damaged when Friday’s storm tore off new roofs being fitted to Husk development bungalows in Coquetdale blowing them onto adjoining bungalows
Operatives were on site removing the structures and keeping everyone safe while making the damaged properties secure and watertight
Luckily the only damage was roof tiles and guttering.”
“I did sit with Mr and Mrs Smith who sustained the most damage
They did appreciate the work being done securing their roof and the time NCC Officer spent liaising with them
Both seemed fine and in good spirits considering what could have been.”
“We sincerely apologise to the residents whose homes were damaged as a result of Storm Eowyn blowing materials from neighbouring construction works
We are currently conducting an internal investigation
we are committed to fully addressing and rectifying any damage caused
as we have done in the days following the incident
we deeply regret the inconvenience and damage caused.”
The four eco bungalows on Alndale in Amble are part of an affordable housing scheme by NCC and HUSK
The four new eco bungalows are part of a series of conversions from NCC owned garages, into affordable bungalows
Fourteen dwellings in total are being constructed by NCC and local developer HUSK in several parts of Amble
Other damage caused by Storm Éowyn included tiles which came off the roof of the old Barclays bank on Queen Street
and a gable end was destroyed on a house on Cove Way
at Gloster Hill was also seriously damaged
Work will begin on Amble Welfare Playzone on Monday 24 February
There will be a smart new Playzone area marked out for basketball
netball and football on one half of the current MUGA site
New fencing will be installed with gated access to the Playzone end
One half of the current MUGA area will become a Playzone (coloured in green)
The area will be closed for up to 12 weeks while the work takes place
“We are pleased to announce that the work to create the Playzone is finally going ahead
but we hope it will be worth it in the end.”
The area will be closed for up to 12 weeks while work goes ahead
The other end will continue to be free to use
but the surface will be relaid and new basketball/netball hoops will be installed
Information on how to book the Playzone will be released by Amble Development Trust soon
The M U G A Is being used The Temporary fencing has in large part been pulled down
There has been attempts of vandalism in the play park
what plans are in place to ensure the money and care that has been spent here Wil not be in vain
For this issue I had the privilege of interviewing a man who was born while they were still building said memorial
George Young celebrated his 100th birthday just before Christmas
receiving his card from King Charles and Queen Camilla
His family presented him with a photo book of memories entitled ‘100 years of George
George Young with his card from the King and Queen
George was born in Marine Road and spent much of his youth outside on the adjacent grassed area
Brother Eddie took him along to a Duke’s School sports day and he was in awe of the sports fields there
when he finally made it to the school himself
he was a member of the school cricket team and became captain of the football team
On a visit to Acklington Aerodrome he recalls seeing a spitfire and marvelling at its speed
strafing Windsor Terrace and Hauxley Colliery
On another occasion he attended an incident in Alnmouth
where a German bomber had caused a number of casualties
During his training he was billeted in the Royal Albert Hall Mansions
but they had been stripped to the bare bones and had no heating
After being demobbed he joined the Civil Service and worked in the Ministries of Work
invited George along to Amble Cricket Club and here he met Lorna whom he married in 1952
(Lorna ran a ladies clothes and drapery shop
now the site of Raggy Dolls.) George and Lorna have one daughter
he will leave that to a younger generation
So wonderful to read of George’s life
keep up the good work for those of us who are far from Amble shores
we cruised the Pacific in our yacjht for 25 years and now reside in Kettering
In recent months we’ve seen several new independent businesses opening their doors
proving that there is life on our High Street
Ten years ago Amble won High Street of the Year in the Coastal Communities category
Since then we’ve seen some big changes – as most UK High Streets have
So it is encouraging to see so many people willing to invest their time and money into our town
Above: Barry Coatman and Nicola Park (centre) with staff at Seaside Travel Amble on Queen St
This independent travel agency has already opened eleven other branches around the North East
seeing a need for face to face help in booking a holiday
“There will always be people like my mother who likes to go in and get advice and not do it herself on a computer” said Nicola
With four staff already and looking for a fifth
she told The Ambler they were very happy to be in Amble
The window is going down a storm in the street
Above left: Tulip Design opened their new showroom on Wellwood St at the start of the year
bedrooms and home offices: www.tulipdesign.uk
Above right: Coquet Confectioners’ retro sweets shop on Queen Street is proving very popular with people of all ages (See Artograffi’s report, centre pages)
Above left: Amble Market Shop opened on Queen Street at the beginning of January
The business is run by David Ward who also has a stall on Amble Market
The shop is open Monday – Saturday 9am-3pm with one late night opening
Above left: Evolution Flooring who already have a unit on the Industrial Estate
will be opening another outlet on Queen Street
Above right: Local photographer Darryn Wade has just opened a gallery and shop at Pod 11 at the Harbour Village
Check his Facebook page: Darryn Wade Photography
An election hustings event is being held on Tuesday 8 April
The hustings event where you can see the candidates is on 8 April
“JCSC is proud to be hosting these hustings as we want to engage young people in the democratic process and support the community with important decisions
“We want to welcome the community into our school to show how best to ask and answer questions that hold elected representatives or candidates to account.”
will see all candidates standing in both Amble Ward and Amble West with Warkworth Ward invited to answer questions submitted by members of the public via The Ambler
views and vision ahead of the County Council elections taking place on Thursday 1 May
Local elections will determine the 69 local representatives sent by towns
villages and parishes across Northumberland to County Hall in Morpeth
The largest group on the County Council typically makes up the administration
making important decisions on local services and spending
A full list of candidates for the Amble wards will be posted on our website in early April
Since the last county council elections in May 2021 Northumberland County Council has been held by the Conservatives with a single-seat majority
Councillors go to County Hall to represent the residents of their wards
They also work closely with Town and Parish councils in order to lobby for better outcomes for communities
The Ambler is pleased to be supporting this event alongside JCSC which we hope will engage the local community in conversation and debate around the future of our area
If you have a question you would like to be put to candidates please submit it with subject line ‘Hustings Question’ to: editor@theambler.co.uk
This event is being organised in the spirit of public debate and civic participation
discriminatory or libelous nature will not be accepted
Not all questions will be able to be put to candidates due to time constraints
A planning meeting descended into chaos as furious residents vented their frustration over the approval of plans for a new housing development in Amble
Land south of the Gut will be developed into a mix of supported living and residential homes
Locals from Amble branded the decision “disgraceful” while one man claimed he would have to sell his home as he “could not live” next to such a development
was forced to delay proceedings and ask the public to leave as tempers flared
brought by the Duke of Northumberland’s property company Northumberland Estates
will see 58 supported living apartments and 40 standard homes built on land at Braid Hill
Despite the fact the plans were recommended for approval by council planners
there had been stiff opposition from local residents
A total of 55 letters of objection were received – although some objectors submitted more than one letter – while Amble Town Council also objected on the grounds that the site is on a flood plain with Riverside Park suffering from sewage flooding during heavy rainfall
Residents complained that Riverside Park frequently floods with sewage
objector Paul Dancer outlined residents’ concerns
I urge you to take a decision in the public’s interest and not in the interest of the Duke of Northumberland
“Management measures for flooding are woefully inadequate
“There is going to be a two-year construction period
It will be equivalent to living next to an opencast site – life will become unbearable.”
Northumberland Estates’ development planner Guy Munden defended the plans
He explained a previous application had been withdrawn and reworked to make it more acceptable to council planners
Mr Munden added that measures being installed as part of the application would improve both current road safety and flooding situations following the completion of a road safety audit and lengthy discussions with the Lead Local Flood Authority (LFFA)
He continued: “There has been some localised flooding on Riverside Park
The application includes measures for an oversized surface water attenuation tank and extra road gullies at the site access
to the betterment of the existing situation
The development will have a mixed demographic of residents with the extra care scheme alongside housing suitable for a range of ages and stages of life including affordable housing
It is an exemplar of a what a lifetime neighbourhood can be.”
Officers from the LFFA also reminded members that a development did not have to solve existing flood issues on a site
applicants just had to ensure their plans did not make the issue worse
Plans are to raise the surface level of the development as it is in a flood zone
Coun Trevor Thorne proposed approval of the plans
It has had its problems but I think the officers have come up with solutions
“We have a growing elderly population in Northumberland
yes it has its problems but location-wise it is excellent in that it can flow into the good facilities of Amble which have improved markedly over the years
“There are problems with the site but our statutory consultees and the planning department are telling us that they are happy
there might be a flood in 40 years but our flood experts are doing all they can to make sure it is a safe site
We have to recognise the advice and expertise we get.”
the council’s cabinet member for social care
added: “I’m very keen that we have extra care and supported living housing in this area.”
Coun Martin Swinbank said: “This is difficult – it is as difficult as it goes for planning
supported living is well established and it is in good proximity to the settlement – yet it is on a flood plain
“I have absolute respect for the officers but sometimes people get these things wrong
and we have seen where it has been got wrong and people’s houses have been flooded
“I’m just not confident that this is going to be enough
and I fear people are going to be flooded out of their homes
The proposals were approved by five votes to two
The existing pumping station at Riverside Park
Northumberland Estates’ planning and development director Colin Barnes said: “We are pleased that the council has approved the scheme
“All concerns raised by residents regarding flood risk and access have been thoroughly reviewed by the Local Lead Flood Authority
which also required satisfactory Road Safety Audits
The Council has consistently maintained that the principle of developing the site—previously approved for housing and a supermarket—is acceptable and the new proposals
**This article has been updated as we incorrectly described the land as being north of the Gut
and carries considerable risk to local amenities
residences and future resilience of this area
The people who have approved this plan today
bowing to the pressure of the Duke’s application
will not have long to see the error of this decision
And for what end – 40+ small overpriced houses and an independent living block no-one local will be able to afford the excessive service charges
The meeting was a farce from beginning to end
Our two local councillors were not present; none of the other committee members was a resident of Amble
none of them had even visited the Braid Hill site
It was also completely obvious that none of them had read local residents’ concerns or scrutinised any of the information they had provided; none of them commented on the detailed objections of Amble Town Council or gave any weight to ATC’s very pertinent objections either
The councillors simply accepted at face value everything that NE and NCC staff told them
Time will tell how much of this bland ugly development becomes yet more holiday lets
priced out of local peoples’ pockets
You can also make the case that it shouldn’t be the Duke’s land to begin with
Stolen from the public years and years ago
Everything I read about the so called Duke suggests he is a nasty piece of work
The idea of the royal family and the hangers on is so undemocratic and outdated
It’s one of those really cold days at the beginning of January
is selling hot sweet chestnuts in Amble Town Square
The bright sunlight contrasts with the freezing temperatures
so the heat from the chestnut roasters is welcome as I draw near
Ahmad Alkafafi has set up a business selling hot chestnuts
It’s not a busy time of year with passers-by
and this is a new experience for both the young man and for many locals
some of whom haven’t tried this seasonal delicacy yet
but it reflects a tradition of entrepreneurialism which is not new to the Friendliest Port
A chalk board proudly explains what is on offer
“These aren’t just chestnuts – they’re luxury nuts
roasted to perfection and certified by Mother Nature herself
Treat yourself to the most exclusive snack of the season.” It’s clearly been written by someone with a talent for marketing
The chestnuts are roasted on a converted bike
He lives in Amble with his mother and sister
He went to JCSC and is now studying at Newcastle College
Last year he completed his Level 1 in Business Studies
And during weekends and holidays this entrepreneurial young man has set himself up selling hot chestnuts
I asked him why: “Cause it’s unique,” he grinned
“And also because it’s how my Dad started his business
And I learned about how his Dad was one of Bashar al-Assad’s victims many years ago when Ahmad was just a young child
and an entire business set up by his father
Ahmad escaped Syria with his mother and sister
I asked how he felt about the situation in Syria now Assad has left
Despite having an unbelievably difficult start to life
Ahmad is obviously determined to try to make something of himself here in Amble
Ahmad recognises some people are not used to sweet chestnuts
His idea is to start small and keep things seasonal
so it won’t be just roasted chestnuts he sells
He has all necessary food hygiene certification and insurance documents
and has permission from Amble Development Trust to sell his products in the Town Square
Visit him throughout weekends and holidays and see what else he has on offer
and we can all appreciate this universal connection: a young entrepreneur quietly but proudly following in his father’s footsteps
Football arrived in Northumberland in the 1870’s
and the Northumberland Football Association was formed in 1883
Hunt; H Smeethen; J Manson (Trainer); R.Burton T.Johnson; J
The first match in Amble was in 1886 and the first Amble team was called Amble Coquet Lights who played Cup matches and friendlies against other Northumberland teams e.g
Alnwick Hotspur Rangers and Morpeth Harriers
They changed their name to Amble FC in January 1889 and continued to play friendlies until joining the East Northumberland League 1895 – 1900
They struggled in that league for 5 seasons but had greater success when they joined the Wansbeck Junior League1900 – 1902 (Runners up 1900/01)
They then played in the Northumberland League (1902 – 1905)
East Northumberland (1905 – 1010) and Wansbeck League (1910 – 1914)
winning Division 2 of the Northumberland League in 1903
Newspaper cutting featuring members of Amble FC
The caption reads: “…Playing under the name “Parry Bar” the team won the Charities Cup each year from 1956-66
Over the same period Amble had a successful team in the Northern Alliance League
Attendances at the Welfare Park were often over a thousand and on one occasion [a] Christmas Day fixture
around two thousand – a gate of more than £40 with entrance at a “tanner” [6d]
They stayed in the Northern Alliance from 1935 to 1970
except 1964-65 when the League closed for a season
and they played in the Northumberland Miners Welfare League
Their heyday was between 1955 and 1961 when they won the Northern Alliance 5 times in 7 years
including a hattrick in 1959,1960 and 1961
They came 2nd bottom in both their last 2 seasons and finally folded on 5 September 1970 with the club strips and equipment being sold off to pay debts
Amble St Cuthbert’s FC celebrate winning the 2015 Robson Cup
Amble F.C (2006-2011) was separate from Swarland F.C
Swarland F.C was indeed formed in 2003 and had 30 plus footballers from Amble
The intention in 2002 was to form a team in Amble but due to Amble Welfare being used by Alnmouth F.C the club was formed at Swarland from Trident Soccer players from various local academies (Amble
Alnwick and Swarland) and known as Swarland F.C
the opportunity to use the facilities at Amble Welfare presented itself and the Northern Alliance team was renamed Amble F.C whilst the North Northumberland League team remained as Swarland F.C and used as a “feeder” team
Amble F.C Reserves continued in the Morpeth Sunday League as a combination of the Alliance and North Northumberland teams and won the Morpeth Sunday League Division 3 in 2007/08 and Morpeth Sunday League Division in 2008/09
The remaining Swarland F.C team then became Amble F.C “A” team in 2007 and played in the North Northumberland League
Maintaining three teams was a challenge but Amble F.C is proud to have had over 300 local players of all ages play football for their home town
Thanks for taking the time to acknowledge the work and efforts of all those who for many years dedicated their time to providing a platform for football in Amble
Feel free to get in contact if you would like any photos of Amble F.C or any information on the three teams
here is some information to help fill in the gaps regarding Women’s football in the town
Amble Town Women’s Football Club was founded in June 1993 by Bill Godward and played the 93-94 season in the North Eastern Women’s League where they completed the league and cup double
going unbeaten against teams such as Sunderland Blackcats
Cowgate Kestrals and Newcastle United Reserves WFC
They were however beaten 6-0 by Sheffield Wednesday LFC of the Northern Premier League in the second round of the Women’s FA Cup that year (a match played at Coquet High School where Amble trained and played their home games)
In July 1994 the team travelled to Michigan to take part in a tournament which coincided with the World Cup being played in the USA that summer
Having secured promotion to the Yorkshire and Humberside league for the 94-95 season the team found themselves facing opponents from Hartlepool
Doncaster and Grimsby amongst others with their first league defeat since formation coming in October 1994 when they were beaten 2-3 at home by Sunderland Women’s FC
Though there were some Amble residents in the team players came from far and wide including many from Bill’s old team in Sunderland
The team welcomed players of all ages (girls and women) and their main sponsors were Metro Rod of Cramlington with strips provided courtesy of Sportsworld in Alnwick
Around October 95 training was moved to Chester-le-Street to better reflect the base of players and the proximity to other teams in the league and this eventually led to Amble Town WFC being disbanded with Bill going on to instead form Chester-le-Street Town Ladies FC
Here’s an opportunity to question the Amble candidates for Northumberland County Council
The event will take place on Tuesday 8 April
6pm-7.30pm at James Calvert Spence College
officers from the Serious Violence Disruption Unit (SVDU) attended an address in Amble to execute a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
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After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK
higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend
Environment Agency
Updated: 23:03 (UTC+1) on Mon 5 May 2025
High pressure brings further fine and settled weather this week
Patchy cloud will clear this evening leaving some late sunshine to end to the day
though a few showers may graze the south coast
Feeling chilly beneath clear skies with a patchy frost possible in rural spots
Another dry and settled day with plenty of sunny spells
Cloud spilling from the east by the evening
Widely dry and settled with high pressure dominating this week
Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud
Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time
There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest
high pressure will be dominant across the UK
This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places
Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year
although there is a chance of some cold nights
Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period
fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers
with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places
temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average
A spectacular outdoor event is due to take place at Amble’s Little Shore
which it’s hoped will instill feelings of wonder
and the transformation of a familiar landscape
The event on 2 Nov will take place around Amble’s Little Shore area
The free event will consist of projections
Members of the public are invited to promenade around the area between 5pm- 7pm on Saturday 2 November
As with their hugely popular event ReKINdle, held in 2022
Dry Water Arts are once again working with members of the artistic and local communities to produce this new
The production is the culmination of a series of workshops and events at Dry Water Arts
A spokesperson for Dry Water Arts said “A consistent aim of the project has been to promote greater awareness of people and place
The performance at Little Shore will include an intergenerational ensemble of performers accompanied by a unique soundscape co created with the people of Amble.”
ReKINdle was held at the Little Shore in 2022
“Community Spirit Level celebrates Amble as a place of deep connections socially and ecologically
Connections that go very deep and very wide
It is a modern day shamanic event framed within a narrative of transformation and transmutation the sea the sky
the hand the heart – sensory experiences to foster an appreciation of the environment and our inter connectedness with it.”
Organisers want to remind people that this event is weather dependent
so encourage everyone to check social media beforehand for any changes
Dry Water Arts are on Facebook and Instagram
rigging or de-rigging will be warmly welcomed
ReKINdle festival brought magic and light