Issue 91 Feb/April 2015 One way system ignored by motorists one way system introduced at During January the harbour area in December is the scheme was Astill being ignored by a handful monitored by the of motorists, say residents. And despite County Council increased signage and road marking, and signage and motorists are still driving the wrong way road markings were along Leazes Street. improved. But The temporary one way system was some drivers are introduced from the bottom of Queen Street, continuing to drive along Coquet Street and Leazes Street, the wrong way, ending at Newburgh Street. The intention causing concerns is to trial the system for twelve months to among locals that Motorists claim the width of the Newburgh St junction onto Leazes St makes see if it will ease traffic congestion along the an accident is it hard to see the new no entry signs harbour area. waiting to happen. In the last issue of The Ambler we told Several Not yet, but come summer they are allowed readers of the County Council’s one way commenters on our Facebook page claimed to go in the opposite direction to traffic. This plan, which was due to be introduced on not to know about the one way system. One may be part of the national cycle way but I 15 December. However, two months later, claimed it was unnecessary and ‘ a farce’. think this needs to be considered - cycle lane some motorists are still driving west along ‘Old habits’ were cited as a reason, as maybe ? Just a thought ....” Leazes Street, and the change has increased was the width of the Leazes Street junction JF: “the [Leazes Street] junction is big the number of HGVs now using Lawson and making it difficult to see the new ‘no entry’ ...but so is the letters saying NO ENTRY !” George Street. signs and road markings. RW: “What if a child came out of Poor signage and a delay in implementing Here are a selection of your Facebook their house and just looked one way in the the one-way system was blamed on the initial comments: direction the traffic should be coming? confusion. DH: “It’s a mixture of habit and people Would people be saying oops then or saying A failure by the County Council to notify not looking at signs” the child should have been taught the green residents of the change, resulted in the start CT: “I do believe there is a few innocents cross code and check both directions? If you of the scheme being delayed for a week, until (the signage needs to be better at the drive then you know the Highway Code and just before Christmas. Many locals had not large junction ) but I see regulars who are know how important it is to follow it.” been made aware that Lawson Street and zipping down the wrong way to Broomhill Give us your views; email editor@ George Street were included in the one way Street. There has been more police presence theambler.co.uk or join the discussion on system. stopping cars but, my concern is cyclists. Facebook/TheAmbler Big steps towards Paddlers makeover t a recent town council meeting it was “I am using my full year’s allocation Aagreed to grant £20,000 towards the of funds to support this exciting project,” Paddlers renovation. Members have been said Jeff Watson. “It seems to me to be very considering innovative plans for the Paddlers appropriate to breathe new life into the play area which has fallen into a state of Paddlers and give a recreation facility that disrepair over many years. young and old can enjoy.” The project has already secured £20,000 “I remember playing at the Paddlers as a from Northumberland County Council and boy.” said Robert Arckless. “I am delighted £30,000 from the Small Schemes allowances to support this project which will give the of Councillor Robert Arckless and Councillor same chance to youngsters in the future. I Jeff Watson. This amount is set to be welcome the staunch support of the County matched by NCC from its parks and green Council and Amble Town Council who have spaces capital projects programme. worked in partnership to make the scheme a Craig Weir, Mayor of Amble, said that he reality.” was “very pleased that the hard work carried As well as the new water feature, the out by the Town Council, and in partnership paddling pool area will be landscaped, with Northumberland County Council has footpaths and entrances improved, and Above: Amble Town Councillors Robert Arckless reached this stage. The proposed work will outdoor table tennis and gym equipment and Craig Weir at the Paddlers play area. be an asset to Amble and bring great pleasure installed. Tenders will be invited for the to all who use it in the future”. work in the next few weeks. Heap lie on here’s still a lot going on in Amble town and this issue is crammed with activity of all kinds - some Treceived with excitement, some received with horror. We’ve got articles on projects that have been visited by a Baroness (page 14) and an MEP (page 16), plans that people didn’t know about (page 3), plans that people didn’t want to know about (page 4) and plans that people have been expecting to hear about (pages 2 and 3). We’d like to draw your attention to a wonderfully thoughtful and mature article written by 10 year old Lily Tibbitts. She and two other members of Artograffi have been considering the complexities of freedom of expression. Please read her article “Is it ever OK to insult someone’s beliefs?” on the The Ambler Artograffi centre pages. Fourways 2 Spring is definitely here because there are daffodills at the top of Percy Drive - bringing a welcome 6 Dilston Terrace cheer and brightening up the roadworks at the fish roundabout. Welcome to Persimmon (finally) and Northumberland NE65 0DT to the new properties next to Dandsfield Square; the population of the Friendliest Port will soon be Tel: 01665 712929 nearing the size of Alnwick! www.theambler.co.uk [email protected] New initiative will sell Amble fish directly from the harbour Twitter: AmbleByTheSea longside the new Harbour Village, wanderers in the UK, so we end up importing the majority YouTube: AnnaAtTheAmbler1 Aalong the quayside will doubtless have of it,” said Andrew. “This massive demand puts noticed the construction of the curvaceous a lot of pressure on a handful of fish stocks. If new Seafood Centre. This will be home to the we want to help solve the problem, we need to Northumberland Seafood Initiative, the first ever diversify what we eat.” Follow us on Facebook centre of its kind in the North East. The UK’s inshore fishermen catch a huge Follow us on Pinterest Helen Spark and Andrew Gooding have variety of quality, fresh, local fish, using low been appointed to job share the Seafood Broker impact methods. But most of their catch is Editorial Team: role. “We will be selling fish and developing new shipped straight to the continent. New European Justin Cooper - Vivienne Dalgliesh markets within the region,” said Andrew. legislation is also putting increased pressure on Norma Hinson - Tim Jones “We’ll be selling directly to customers and fishermen to land 100% of their catch with no Lou Pickering - Cath Teasdale through shops and restaurants,” said Helen. “And allowance for any discards. Anna Williams we’ll be setting up a fish club, there will be fish Andrew and Helen have put together a short Thanks to: auctions and people can buy fish directly from the survey to gather information on people’s needs, Mark Beswick & The Artograffi Crew Seafood Centre.” preferences, opinions and behaviour when it Bartle Rippon The aim of the Northumberland Seafood comes to buying and eating local seafood. You Initiative is to put more local fish on local can collect a hard copy version from Fourways2, Printing: plates. By supplying both wholesale, retail and or access it online via: www.ambleharbourvillage. Azure Printers, Pegswood consumers directly with locally caught fish, co.uk/news-events. Would you like to join the intention is to take some of The Ambler team? We are a friendly the strain off overfished stocks, group who welcome contributions introduce consumers to new types of and help from anyone who would delicious seafood and help support like to volunteer. Amble’s inshore fishing fleet. Don’t forget our subscriptions list. “As a nation, us Brits are a If you would like a copy of pretty unadventurous bunch when The Ambler delivered to a friend or it comes to seafood,” said Helen. relative in this country or abroad, She explained that over 75% of all just let us know. the seafood we eat comes from the Contact Anna for more information. big five: salmon, cod, haddock, tuna Thanks to all our contributors, and prawns. sponsors and advertisers: “We don’t catch enough of these Inner Wheel Club of Amble and Warkworth Harbour Village Rotary Club of Amble and Warkworth fter some disappointing delays Sir James Knott Trust Alast year and into this year, Amble Harbour Village is finally Northumberland County Council Community Chest in the last stages of construction. 15 Pods are now in place and the Seafood centre is very near well as celebrate the Harbour Village opening. completion. Our Seafood Brokers are now in place. Helen There is still some work to do on site and and Andrew will be opening the doors to the on the walk-way from the harbour and around seafood centre and sharing their plans for the year The Ambler is a project of the waterfront towards the Marina but it is all ahead.