Reports from our County Councillors: Aug – Oct 2014
School Celebrations
Amble First School invited me to join in the celebrations at the end of a year-long project to mark the launch of a new history book produced by staff and pupils at the school working with a team of volunteers from the Bailiffgate Museum.
The book is colourful and gives a child’s perspective on Amble past and present.
The family of each child involved will be presented with a copy of the book and I am sure they will be treasured in the years ahead.
I am a former pupil of Amble First. I have a long association with the school; I served for many years as a Governor and as Chair of Governors.
I particularly enjoyed this event because it brought together staff, former pupils, governors past and present and the children. The school building is part of the fabric of Amble’s history and dates back to 1908. What is amazing is how bright the school is now and how well an old building can be adapted for use.
The history project is a credit to Mr Pringle one of the staff team who contributed greatly to the success of the book and the Head, Joyce Jenkins, who has developed links locally and internationally.
I also visited a “Well Done” assembly at Amble Links First School. Paul Heeley, the Head, introduced these assemblies and they are a real celebration of success at Amble Links. Every child is involved and there is a strong feeling of a school community.
The children are known to staff and they are encouraged and nurtured to achieve. The assembly was full of laughter, music, and fun but there is a serious purpose too; all children are included as part of the school family and all have the potential to achieve. Amble Links encourage the involvement of families at these assemblies and this one was well attended by parents, grandparents and siblings, including tiny tots.
It felt good to be reminded of what a good start is being provided to the educational journey of our children by these schools as the staff looked forward to a well-earned break.
Robert Arckless
Robert.Arckless99@northumberland.gov.uk
Park and Ride
I have been working very closely with the Town Council and the County Council to ensure that the experimental Park and Ride scheme is conducted and signed properly.
For those of you who have not noticed, a free Park and Ride scheme is operating on a Saturday and Sunday 10-4 until September between the industrial estate, the Town Centre (including stops for the harbour and beaches) and the Braid. The return journey is via the same route and there is a regular schedule of journeys.
Although I have never thought this service would solve all the traffic problems in Amble if it is run properly it has to be a help.
The question remains however, if the service is successful, then who pays for it in the future?
WWI
WWI commemorations are in full swing as I write this and I am proud to be involved in the events that help us to remember the huge sacrifice made by our local men and women.
Harbour Village
Work on the Harbour Village has started and plans are being drawn up for a connected Skills and Training Centre in Amble, I am heavily involved with this project and I and Councillor Arckless have contributed funds from our members small schemes grants to assist its start up.
Hopefully we will see some real benefits coming out of this scheme and result in some much needed employment opportunities for our young people.
Persimmons
I do believe that the major housing scheme being proposed by Persimmons is about to start. Once it has started the planning agreements to benefit the town will begin and we should see a considerable improvement in the Welfare Fields.
Have a good summer!
Jeff Watson
As ever I am available on: 07802385367
Jeffrey.watson@northumberland.gov.uk
