Reports from our County Councillors #148
Cllr Terry Clark
Husk bungalow development should have started as this issue of the Ambler appears.
A few common questions which have been raised regarding the new bungalows, follow:
Q. Are the bungalows going to provide affordable rental properties?
A. Yes, they will be for affordable rent, approximately £105 per week. This isn’t set in stone, they will need to have the units valued to establish an exact rent.
Q. Is there an age restriction on them?
A. The bungalows will be for those people with need for ground floor accommodation; or those who are 55 and over. However, you might get a family with a disabled child moving in who aren’t necessarily over the age of 55, but who need ground floor accommodation.
Q. Are they managed by the Council?
A. Yes, they will be managed by the Council and will form part of NCC housing stock.
Q. Will they be subject to Right to Buy?
A. Specialist accommodation such as bungalows can be protected from RtB. As such these will remain Council properties and will not be lost to RtB or turned into holiday lets.
Concerns were raised by the community in relation to youth ASB and using off-road motorbikes within the town and wider area. Officers have been working to identify and target those involved, responding to these concerns Neighbourhood Teams have stopped and seized scooters. Northumbria Police are quite clear that off-road motorbikes should not be used on footpaths or open roads / recreation fields. Wherever you live, if you see it happening, please report it by phoning 101 for non-emergency or 999 in an emergency.
Cllr Terry Clark Amble, Hauxley and North Broomhill
Terry.Clark@northumberland.gov.uk 07779 983768
Cllr Jeff Watson
As I write this report the opening of the new special educational needs school and the new site for the primary school both on South Avenue is on schedule for the new Autumn term. It will be wonderful to have the new builds and the additional facilities at the feeder schools in the Coquet partnership. I have arranged for the road outside the schools to be renewed when the work is finished, probably at half term in October
I welcome the new Headmaster of James Calvert Spence College and look forward to working with him and making the school much more community oriented than previously. JCSC new build is scheduled to open in Spring 2026.
I am still trying to solve the issue of parking on Acklington Road when football matches or training is taking place. I believe we are near a solution.
Can I ask those residents who receive a pension from the Government to check their entitlement for benefits. If you are in receipt of any benefits you should be able to still receive the pensioner winter fuel payments that have been cancelled recently by the current government.
Discussions are taking place about the use of the Edwin Street school site and all options are being considered. I am asking for a consultation of residents’ thoughts to take place before any decision is made.
I managed to have the faulty traffic lights repaired at the Masons Corner.
The dredger in the harbour has finished its work for this year but it will return next year to maintain the navigability of the river.
Where has the Summer gone?
Jeff Watson
Jeffrey.Watson@northumberland.gov.uk 07802 385367
