What you say #139
The Ambler is a great read!
Thank you for the latest edition of The Ambler. It is a great read, full of the local information that is relevant to residents of this town.
We are new to Amble, having moved here in November 2021, following early retirement. We had been spending a lot of our leisure time in Northumberland, so it was a natural progression that we should live here.
I found the article by High Tindle, headlined “Disappearing wildlife habitats” very interesting. Someone so knowledgeable about the fauna native to this area has so much insight of the changes, which have clearly taken place.
We had a lengthy search in Amble for our new home, finally settling on one of the new build properties on Hauxley Grange, mentioned in Mr Tindle’s article. This provided us with an affordable home, in a location we liked, without the need to do renovation work. Property has become increasingly unaffordable for many, a situation echoed throughout other popular places to visit.
As a nation, we need more housing in all towns and cities; alas this is at a cost to the very things that make areas like Amble so attractive. Likewise, new residents bring money into the area, hopefully creating employment for local people.
We walk the length and breadth of Northumberland, always our dream, we are so lucky to live here. Everyone we meet is friendly, the town has everything you need, we are proud to support local businesses, and hopefully become part of the community.
I look forward to the next edition, thank you.
Kind regards.
Susan Smith via email
Birthday gifts help Air Ambulance
David Beaty (pictured) celebrated his 92nd birthday at the Bede Street Club with family and friends and raised £860 for the Great North Air Ambulance, and would like to extend a big thank you to everyone for their support.
Mary McNally
via email
Looking for Joseph
I would like to ask your readers if anyone has a copy of the video that was made at Amble Middle School, in the early 1980’s, of “Joseph and his Technicolour Dream Coat”.
The lead of Jacob was performed by our son Simon, and we have never seen the recording that was made.
If anyone can help, we would be very grateful.
Sue Lillico
thelillicos@hotmail.com
Economics vs environment: the battle continues
litter collected
On Sunday 5 February, a remarkable activity took place on the Coquet Industrial Estate. A group of people gathered to clear up litter on the patch of waste ground in front of the Coquet Motor Company premises.
They did a magnificent job filling several sacks as well as collecting a mountain of drinks cans. I wondered at the time why they had chosen to clear this particular site. It seemed to me that there were more obvious targets to tidy up, such as the public footpath behind Brambles rather than an out of the way patch of waste ground.
However, about a fortnight later this same area was obviously being prepared for development. A metre wide strip had been cleared around the perimeter of this area and the spoil had been dumped on the site. Perhaps the site was being prepared for enclosure prior to future development.
If this were the case, then this site which has been colonised by small skipper butterflies and is also home to orchids, would be a sad loss. I wondered if anyone had bothered to carry out any environmental impact assessment before considering any future development here.
I am well aware that all businesses are economically important but could there not be some kind of adjustment to protect sites, which are of environmental value too?
I do not suppose many people are aware of the presence of butterflies and orchids on this particular patch of land, but to lose a couple of jewels like these in Amble would only further diminish its already fragile natural heritage.
Hugh Tindle, via email
Petition launched for Freddy the dolphin
Freddy the dolphin outside Amble harbour . Photo George Guthrie
We are trying to get a memorial statue of Freddy, a bottlenose dolphin that was a well known visitor to Amble during the late 80s to the early 90s.
You can see the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/statue-for-a-dolphin-called-freddy
Debbie Vincent
via email
Boatyard could become wildlife haven
It was disappointing recently to see another boat go from the WHC boat area at the back of Broomhill Street. There are only six left now including several in a poor state of repair. Instead of the boats, the area is becoming more and more of a rubbish tip. The increasing amount of debris and rubbish makes the area look dirty and abandoned.
Recent complaints from neighbours have resulted in the area being looked at by the Environmental Enforcement Office. What a reflection on the WHC and Amble as a community that it has come to this? Since their intervention all that seems to have been done is the pulling up of some buddleia bushes, arguably the least offensive occupants of the space and a wonderful home to wildlife in the summer.
Whilst nature is doing its best to fill the area with wild flowers and grasses, it is a pity that this area continues to be so neglected by its human custodians. Isn’t it about time that WHC, Town and County Council, local residents and other stakeholders get together to discuss creative ways of supporting WHC to manage this space in a way that enhances this part of the harbour? It might be a back lane but it is viewed by lots of people visitors and residents alike.
Some of us remember when the area was open and grassed over. If it was returned to this it would be an improvement and boats could still be stored there.
Alternatively, as has been suggested before, it could become a managed area for wild plants and flowers and the wildlife
they attract. This is an opportunity for Amble to make another small contribution to climate change. Let’s not waste the opportunity and allow this area to continue in its neglected state.
Broomhill St resident via email
