What you say #136
Dangerous parking on Acklington Road
I was cycling past Acklington Road with my child and saw all these cars parked on the footpath. I am not entirely sure who to complain to about it but it is not acceptable. The cars belong to parents of kids at football but they cannot just park like this. I am aware the high school do not allow parking and I am aware there is nowhere else for parents to park. They could walk them there from the industrial estate area though it is only a few minutes walk up.
Carl Donaldson
South Avenue
As someone who often walks down Acklington Road towards town, I have noticed two major issues.
The first being the speed of vehicles in both directions. At present the speed limit is 30mph. Last year I contacted Jeffery Watson regarding the excessive speed.
He said that the speed indicator would slow traffic down. It has made no difference whatsoever, if anything, vehicles are going faster to see what speed they can register.
Mr Watson is proposing a 20mph limit, and that too will not work. What is required are two chicanes to slow traffic. The first being approximately 200m from the entrance to Gloster Park, and the second approximately 100m from the entrance to the Welfare. The second one will make it safer for young and old entering or leaving the park.
The second issue is the parking.
I am a big football fan, and it is fantastic to see youngsters and adults, training and playing matches at the Welfare.
The parking is another matter altogether. People think that because they park half on the road and half on the pavement, it is all right but vehicles coming from the Togston direction still have to stop and wait for vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
This parking also makes things difficult for pedestrians. I personally have witnessed people with pushchairs having to walk on the road because of the cars. This is a serious accident waiting to happen.
In addition, parents actively encourage their children to climb the wall and cross the road, another accident waiting to happen.
The land adjacent to the Welfare could be better put to use as a car park on training and match days. A designated person from each team could be a key holder, open and then lock the gates when they have finished playing.
The last thing we want to hear is that someone has been fatally injured on Acklington Road.
Peter Wheatley
via email
Although the community orchard development is highly commendable on the ecological front. Surely, some funds and area could have been set aside for a car park to alleviate the need for the current parking system as shown on attached photos. [Photo above] taken on actual match days/times the parking is considerably more inconsiderate and dangerous.
Nicholas Hilton
via email
Dangerous Crossing
A warning to any Ambler readers who use the public bridleway from Hope House Farm where it emerges onto the A1068 opposite Hauxley Lane.
This photo shows all you’ll see on the inside of a bend of traffic legally doing 60mph towards you, with only a second or so to react. I’ve complained to the highway authority about the overgrown verge and badly placed roadsign, but hope an accident can be avoided through your awareness in the meantime.
Tom Lloyd
via email
Army Cadets
We currently have vacancies for young people aged between 12 and 18 years to join us to develop new skills, confidence, make new friends and gain recognised qualifications.
What did your child do this summer? Some of the activities that Northumbria Army Cadets undertook included: 4 Day Nijmegen Marches in Holland, Annual Camp in Scotland with activities on Loch Lomond, DofE activities and visits to shows and events supporting the climbing wall across the county.
If you are interested in joining us, then contact us: https://armycadets.com/county/northumbria-acf/ and join us at Amble or Broomhill Detachments this autumn. If you are an adult wanting to work with young people, contact us at the same address.
Lt K Cassidy Amble
Detachment Commander
Litter at the Welfare
As we know, The Welfare is one of the few open/green spaces in Amble. In comparison to many inner cities the skate park, five a side courts, children’s play area, football pitches, changing rooms, are fantastic for the various age groups.
I find it really sad that mainly, the skate park and the five a side courts are usually strewn with litter. This includes plastic bottles, cans, crisp packets, pizza boxes, and polystyrene chip containers etc. If it wasn’t for the elderly gent who litter picks most mornings, I dread to think how bad it would look.
This area is for the generation who want us oldies, to “Save the Planet”. To be honest, they are letting themselves down, although the situation with the litter bins does not help. One is damaged, and has been for several weeks, and those that do get used, are very often full to overflowing as they are not emptied regularly.
Many locals say that its tourists that create the litter, but that’s far from the truth. From young children, to adults, folk should take pride in our town. Parents should set an example to their children, and this should be emphasized in the schools.
Let’s be proud of Amble.
Regards
Peter Wheatley
via email
Prof Taylor’s Hauxley family
In Professor Fred Taylor’s obituary, Ambler Issue 135, it mentions that his father William was from a Hauxley fishing family.
Tracing back, William’s father, Fred’s grandfather was John Henry Taylor born 25th January 1890 in Hauxley. He married Elizabeth Patten in 1914. John Henry’s father also William, Fred’s great grandfather, was one of thirteen children. He was the son of Henry Taylor and Isabella Taylor nee Curry from Craster. They married at Lamberton Toll in 1840 before moving to High Hauxley with their first two children, Mary (my great grandmother) born 1841 and Richard born born 1843. With their thirteen children, born over a span of 23 years, they settled in No.11, Low Hauxley, one of the first houses to be built for the fishermen by the Widdrington family.
Many will also remember Fred’s Uncle Maurice Taylor who was manager of the fruit and vegetable department at the old Amble co-op.
Frances Irene Liddle
Hauxley
Fairy doors
Perhaps your readers would be interested to know that in the area around Warkworth there are approximately 50 secret fairy doors waiting to be discovered.
Each door has its own unique story and photo that is to be found on the website: Forthosewithwings.com
On the site there is also a map of the fairy realm showing where some of the doors are located.
There are also modern fairy stories on the site as well as a fairy newspaper with it’s own amusing classified ads.
There is something there for everyone young and old alike.
Yours sincerely
Stanley
via email
With regard to Acklington Road parking problem:
The overall problem stems from the planning authority. We no longer live in an era when the main form of transport was the horse, with or without a cart. We now have cars, buses and wagons. NCC planning should insist on new roads being wide enough to safely allow for parked vehicles and the safe passage of traffic.
It is even worse on the new estate roads to the point of being dangerous.
The planning department never consider that a 3 bed house needs off street parking for at least 4 cars, Where residents also have a work vehicle that number can double.
I wonder what will happen when the government roll out the law now in force in l
London, against parking on pavements, to the rest of the country.
Personally I advocate bringing claims against the planning authority where an accident is resultant from bad planning decisions. Especially where objections to the planning application identified such an accident as foreseeable.