Letters and emails: April – May
Supermarket plans – Trolleys
I’m writing this to warn the people of Amble what to expect if a Tesco Supermarket is allowed to be built there. I have family members living both in and close to Amble, so I’ve come to like the town very much. I’d be sorry to see it affected in the way my own town has been.
I live in Withernsea, a small coastal town thirty miles south of Bridlington. We have had a Tesco store here for about seven years. Let me explain the real price paid by our community in exchange for a slightly cheaper weekly shopping bill.
On arrival, Tesco drove out of business our established Supermarket “Proudfoot’s”, part of a small, family-owned chain based in Scarborough but they seem to have had a far more detrimental effect on the town’s small shops than Proudfoot’s did.
But by far the worst problem for us has been caused by the SHOPPING TROLLEYS. Showing no concern for the town, they have failed to put in place any security system whatever. This means that trolleys are regularly and casually wheeled away from the store. They become children’s playthings ending up in the playgrounds, the skateboard park, beach and amongst the paths and land-drains of our rural surroundings.
The local manager is un-contactable by phone. I extracted a Freephone number (0800 505555 – take note of it; you will definitely need it). This connects you to a Customer Services Office for what they quaintly refer to as “UPLIFTING” trolleys.
So, people of Amble, beware! You WILL find shopping trolleys dumped in the Coquet; in the marina, in the harbour and on the beach, in and around any paths and water courses that go to make up Amble’s rather lovely environment.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Paul McGilvray
Supermarket plans – Amble needs a big organisation
The author of the letter(Issue 67 p6) titled “Only five minutes for objections” raises some points that I would like to comment on.
The author raises a valid point that pollution would increase. However, this could easily be offset by planting a number of trees in the region, a low number to account for the extra pollution. As the author is concerned about pollution I do hope he travels only by public transport and has never been on an aircraft, which severely adds to carbon emissions.
How dangerous does he feel the junction would become? The speed limit for that stretch of road is only 30 mph! A simple roundabout would calm the authors worries, but at 30 mph I think Amble could cope.
I would like to know which shops the supermarket would affect? Walter Wilson’s at the top of the street I agree would have trade reduced. The other shops such as the butchers, the hair dressers, the florist would thrive! Look at Turnbulls in Alnwick for example. What other shops would suffer?
“..the site is on a grade two flood plain and should never have been approved” he says. London is built on a flood plain and buildings are continually going up there.
And finally the author of the piece then, I feel, makes his arguments flawed. He comments “there was no attempt to consider the alternative site on the industrial estate”. If the supermarkket was built on the industrial estate does this mean there would be no pollution, no dangerous road junctions,no shops will be adversely affected, does it not matter that there are shops in Alnwick/Ashington? Is the reason the author does not like the supermarket because his house is near the supermarket site, but if it was built elsewhere he would be happy?
I am not saying that I am for or against the supermarket. I just feel those against should be honest why they are objecting. The supermarket would provide employment. What is this thing about noise? Amble is a port, with industrial work, creating noise. Sadly, Amble is no longer that busy port and it needs a big organisation to employ people, pay people and those people can then reinvest in the local economy.
Carly,
Newburgh St Amble
Withernsea, East Yorkshire.
The letter above has been edited due to space restrictions
Danger in dismantling Coastguard
What the Government is proposing to do is to reduce the Maritime Rescue Coordination Stations by dismantling some completely, reducing others to day time only and two others, namely Lea-on-Solent and Aberdeen as 24/7 stations These two stations would be expected to control all emergency situations around the British Isles, Channel Isles and hundreds of miles into the North Sea – a disaster waiting to happen.
Humber CoastGuard which is a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), that covers the North East coast, will be down graded to a part time station. The Department of Transport believes that the experienced Coastguard Officers are merely call takers yet nothing could be further from the truth. The watch keeping officers are in fact front line emergency staff.
Coastguard Officers enter the service with a maritime search and rescue background. All undertake a years training and are continually examined through their service to ensure they maintain the skills needed to continue this search and rescue work. These officers are the very front line of making life saving decisions. Humber MRCC covers an area from the Scottish Borders to South of the Humber and half way across the North Sea.
Throughout Humber’s patch last year coastguard officers also dealt with 140 coastal rescue units, one of the highest incident rates in the country. It is also one of the busiest taking 1801 emergency calls last year.
As a frequent pleasure boat user myself along the north east coast I am well aware that not all boats at sea have radios or cell net phones and would not necessarily be able to summon help immediately. A small example was on returning from the Sunderland Air Show in 2010 our vessel heard a broken message via radio which purely said ‘engine’. A short time later a man was waving to us from a 23 foot motor boat. Going over to investigate we found the boat had seven children and four adults aboard and was being washed on to the Marsden Rocks.
We were able to place a rope on the boat to hold it off the rocks and called the Coastguard who took charge and 20 minutes later the Tyne lifeboat was alongside and took control of the casualty.
Yours,
John Merry
Address withheld
The letter above has been edited due to space restrictions
Family quest
I have been looking into my family background. Both sides of my family were from Northumberland. My parents were James Wedderburn and Catherine Marshall. James’s parents were John (Jack) Wedderburn and Margaret Marshall. Dad had a sister, Jane Bel (Jean) who married Thomas Barnett. They returned to the Jedburgh area when Tom retired. Jean had all the family photos and documents.
John’s parents, were James Wedderburn and Elizabeth ? and he was born in Norham. Margaret Marshall was the daughter of John Marshall and Jane Bel Robertson and she was born in Norham. John Marshall’s parents were Robert Marshall and Margaret? Robert was born in Ancroft and Margaret in Kimmerson.
My mother Catherine Marshall was the daughter of Robert Marshall and Isobella Brown. Robert was born in Millfield, Isobella was born in Thornton, Norham and her parents were Philip and Christine Marshall and they are my great-great-great-grandparents on both sides.
If anyone can help me in any way I would be most grateful.
Margaret Austin (Mrs.)
41, Kingsway, Bourne, Lincs. PE10 9DP
Forestry folly
The proposed abolition of the Forestry Commission is sheer folly. The products of its conservation work is vital, not only to the building and maintenance of wooden boats but also to the high quality furniture manufacturers such as Ercol and G. Plan.
The Commission ought to be self financing and if it is not it is because it is selling the products of its work too cheaply.
P.E.W. Mather, Priory Park, Amble.
Keeping involved with local schools
Now that my time is finished with council work I enjoy being able to do what I want to do but the most pleasurable is to be involved with the local schools. Whilst it is some time since I retired as Chair of Governors I am delighted to be involved in anything to do with Amble Links First School. So when invited to go along to Morning Assembly on 4th March 2011 I accepted. The children sat on the floor and when Mr Heeley started the morning’s proceedings you could hear a pin drop. The teachers are working together and all is very well.
Parents also are eager to find out just what the children are learning which means a good all round effect. Since the new headship the school has improved and changed so much. The school has recently gone through another Ofsted inspection with excellent results. Bearing in mind that grade 1 is top, this school has now achieved grade 2 in almost every category apart from about two which received grade 3. It seems that the long hard struggle to get the school back to this level after almost being in emergency status has paid off. Well done Mr Heeley, well done to all the staff and well done to the parents.
On 10th March I went to Edwin Street First school and while there Mrs.Jenkins invited me to look around the school and see the many alterations in and out of the classrooms.. The area in the centre of the school outside the classrooms is so colourful and full of atmosphere I could have stayed a little longer! Mrs Jenkins also told me that the school are now making dinners for the children on the premises after a period of over 100 years.
Last but not least I was at the James Calvert Spence College, South Avenue on Friday meeting Mr Kielty and again was taken round the school, this the last school I attended so I was delighted with the tour. In the three schools visited I was warmly greeted and found the pupils very friendly and wanting to talk.. All these places of learning are a far cry from the days we spent in school with heat, light and room to do whatever is to be done. I take my hat off to all the teachers and staff; you carry out your tasks excellently. Congratulations well done
Audrey Jones.
Ex Councillor/Governor
Generous Amble
On behalf of our collector for Castle View and Gloster Park areas of Amble and the members of the Warkworth and District British Legion we would like to thank all those who generously gave towards our last Poppy Collection. Our collector, who has just received her 35 year bar award, raised an amazing total of £487-94p which went towards our Branch total of £3208-92. Thank you all very much for supporting the valuable work which the British Legion carries out.
Cate Groome Mackay via email
Christmas lights
On behalf of the Amble Christmas Lights Committee I would like to sincerely thank Louvain Wraith for her support over the last 20 years. On forming the Lights Committee in 1991 Louvain and Edwin kindly offered to accommodate us free of charge at their farm at Hauxley. When Louvain retired from the farm her daughter Joanne and husband Steven let us continue once again free of charge.
Last year we had to find a new home for safety reasons. This proved very difficult and we were resigned to the fact that we would have to abandon the lights as suitable premises could not be found. On hearing our predicament Amble Development Trust offered us space at Fourways 1.
The lads are now moving everything to their new home delighted that they won’t be redundant and are already working on this year’s display.
Thank you all so much for your generosity. Hopefully the lights will still be with us for another 20 years.
Florence Angus (sec) Amble Christmas Lights Cttee
We welcome all your letters and email.
The Ambler, Fourways 2, 6 Dilston Terr,
Amble NE65 0DT Tel: 01665 712929
Email: editor@theambler.co.uk www.theambler.co.uk
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