MenuAmble Town Council
The events of the past year have been quite exceptional for Amble and reputation, at least the Olympic Torch is not expected within the life time of those currently among us. The turnout for the torch was impressive. Although it was a very bad damp morning nevertheless, an enthusiastic crowd turned out between the Wellwood Arms and Mark’s Bridge. There was a loud cheering even though the rain was coming down in sheets at times. The Queens Diamond Jubilee occurred shortly after and attracted an impressive number of visitors to both events in Queen Street as well as the celebratory events at the Little Shore. The work put in to achieve this degree of success was notable. Even the lighting of the beacon at the Marina at 10.30 attracted about 200 people.
On a more sombre note, the clearing of the Jus-rol site and closing of Boarder Lairds has brought to a close the last of the ‘big’ employers in Amble. The construction of the Tesco store has been deferred and we await further updates on this.
After the Parish Elections a new Council will take over, mainly the same faces but not the same positions. I will not be Chair of the Council or the Planning and Finance Committees. It is time to make way for newer members. The back benches call!!
Ian Hinson
Town Mayor
Amble Development Trust:
Earlier this year the Trust Director working with Professor John Shutt developed a working plan for the future regeneration of the town, which is aligned with current and future EU funding streams. A range of projects were identified, which we will look to implement as and when funding is secured – not an easy task.
One of the major highlights of the year was the visit of Prince Charles. The request to assist with planning the visit came as a very pleasant surprise. And following a wet and dull summer the town was in need of a little light relief.
HRH took great interest in Pride of Northumbria, the new frontage, craftsmanship, products, crafts and of course staff and volunteers.
I am happy to confirm that Pricne Charles and his entourage thoroughly enjoyed their short visit to the town and have vowed to return. We offer a big thank you to everyone who turned out to enjoy the day – Amble did us proud once again.
While not successful in gaining the status of Portas Pilot scheme we did secure £10k to host events and Try Amble 1st Campaign – as voted for by town team members.
As I write this a notable group of volunteers are working on delivery of the first Puffin Festival. A two week event that we hope will bring visitors flocking to the town and of course spend their money.
Regeneration & Physical Development –
Amble 2020 – To date we have initiated a partnership board, comprising local government, private and public sector organisations, community groups, ARCH and a representative from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership. Our first meeting was held in January – to bring everyone together and share an understanding of the tasks ahead. Future meetings will be held quarterly.
First stage work has already commenced on a feasibility study to determine what should replace the former Northumberland Foods factory site. Early indications are that there will be a co-ordinated approach to developments which we hope will include the harbour and other designated areas.
We also intend to concentrate efforts on completing work to the first floor of Pride of Northumbria as well as a new purpose for Fourways1.
Sport England funding was secured earlier in the year to refurbish the pavilion building. Amble Town Council also contributed to the work, which is now almost complete. Work has included: replacing windows and doors, installing a new central heating system, new kitchen and sanitary wear. New tiling to showers and painting of the interior are still to complete – that along with the outputs relating to the grant, which are to create 11 new teams using the facilities.
Our next challenge is to improve the football pitch!
Amble GPX has proved to be a big success with visitors and we are now working with a group of Business students from Northumbria University to market the game to other like minded organisations. Income from GPX would help sustain the Ambler and future media projects.
Both Fourways buildings secured new tenants. All small office accommodation within Fourways 2 has now been let, with only one large room remaining. We may explore the opportunity to sub divide the space creating smaller units.
Community Development –
We continue to provide community development work through employment counselling & ongoing support, The Ambler and media projects.
Julia Aston
Director
Pride in Amble
This organisation had a successful year 2012 with floral displays in the Town Square, South Roundabout and at the bottom of the Wynd. The basket displays were disappointing in that the take up response from Queen Street was very limited.
The display at the Wynd was of special interest as it dealt with a logo for the Queens Jubilee celebration.
Planting and preparation was once again carried out by very few volunteers who worked tirelessly for the benefit of the Town. Plants in plug form were passed to the Prison for ‘bringing’ on, a method which proved to be highly effective.
Our thanks for finance to various groups including ATC, ADT and fundraising by our volunteers.
We look to 2013, with more plants from the prison, sourced this time from seed. The weather has given us a slow start so far, but the volunteers are ready for the planting to start, preparations have been made in the usual areas and it is hoped to plant roses in memoriam around the Town Square. Eventually the plan is to plant perennials to make to jobs easier in the future.
Volunteers are still required even just to give advice or the odd cup of tea.
Many thanks to all who take part.
Craig Weir
Chairman
Amble Action Group
Since the last meeting the Action Group has initiated and taken part in the event for the Queens Jubilee, we rated the event as a success for the Town as it brought the community together and made Northumberland aware that Amble exists. A great day.
The next event we were asked to assist with was the Xmas Lights and Parade, the Action Group alongside the Lights Committee put on a display that the Town could be proud of, let’s hope this becomes an annual partnership?
The two events were used by the Action Group to ‘piggy back’’ on a known theme, so it was decided that they would action an event which would not have been done before? This became the forthcoming ‘Puffin’ festival.
Monies have been raised from all sources, especially grateful for ATC, ADT and local businesses. Volunteers are as usual always at a premium especially in the formative stages when a lot of doubt is apparent.
As with the past events the idea is to raise the profile of Amble and to make this a community event to be proud of .
Craig Weir
Chairman
Girl Guides
Summer 2012
We’ve worked towards the 3 On Your Marks badges this term, tiding up the Fish Monument in Amble, painting pots, spraying graffiti walls and various sporting games, even some we invented ourselves. We finished the term with a beach party at Druridge Bay with volleyball, sand art and ice creams. We joined in with Alnwick guides one night for rounders. Three guides made their promise and we paraded for the Queen’s Jubilee down Amble High Street before the Mayor awarded us our Jubilee badges.
Autumn 2012
We had a sleepover for the Craft badge in Warkworth which the guides really enjoyed – making baubles, friendship bracelets, marbling, a sleepover badge and chocolate roll Santas. We completed the Outdoor Cook badge in the dark at Widdrington. Our three patrols worked on the Globalistic GFI, Passion for Fashion GFI and Move on Up. We went geocaching in Newcastle with a trip to Macdonalds, one group found 2 geocaches. We now have 16 guides. The highlight of the term was three guides completing their Baden Powell Award.
Spring 2013
We completed the Reduce Reuse Recycle challenge, making ice cream and candles from crayons and wax were quite adventurous and successful.
We tried to do our World Guiding Badge to remember Thinking Day – it was too much to complete in one evening, but using another 30 mins later on in the term gave us time to finish it.
We went geocaching in Alnwick, with one group coming back covered in mud after sliding down a hill and another completing a mammoth 10 stage cache we finished off with milkshakes and cookies in the Strawberry Lounge. We also went bouldering, playing games led by an instructor.
We rounded off the term with an Easter Egg hunt through Warkworth and took home goody bags of sweets and chocolate.
The new term has started with Bivvy building at Druridge Bay in preparation for our annual regional Bivvy out and we also cleaned & weeded at the fish
We still require adult assistants so please spread the word about our ‘Bring an adult evening’ on May 13th,7pm at St Cuthberts Church Hall and come and see what Girl Guides is all about
Jan-Marie Claridge-Hall
H.M.COASTGUARD
Role & Responsibility
Her Majesty’s Coastguard (HMCG) is an integral part of the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) which is an executive agency within the Department for Transport.
The MCA’s vision is to be a world class organisation that is committed to preventing loss of life, continuously improving maritime safety and protecting the environment.
The MCA’s response to emergencies is undertaken by Her Majesty’s Coastguard which is responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of civil maritime search and rescue within the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Region. This includes the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources (e.g. RNLI, RAF, Royal Navy, CG helicopters and Coastguard Rescue Teams) to respond to persons either in distress at sea or to persons at risk of injury or death on the cliffs or shoreline of the United Kingdom including certain designated inland waters e.g. Lake District.
HMCG is a “Blue Light” emergency service and if anyone should have any concerns about anything they have seen on the sea or shoreline they should on land dial 999 and ask for the coastguard or if at sea contact the coastguard on marine radio Channel 16 (the international maritime distress frequency).
HMCG is organised into a number of SAR (Search and Rescue) areas each under the command of a Coastal Safety Manager. Each area contains two Maritime Co-ordination Centres (MRCC), with a common command, control and communications system enabling either MRCC to provide mutual support during emergency response operations. Each area is divided into three or more Sectors and each Sector contains two or more rescue teams manned by the Volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service (CRS). The rescue teams in each Sector are managed by a full time Coastguard Officer known as the Sector Manager and each rescue team is supervised locally by a Station Officer who is an experienced volunteer member of the team.
The Coastguard Rescue Service
The Coastguard Rescue Service (CRS) is an organisation of Coastguard Rescue Teams (CRT’s) that are positioned at strategic locations around the coast. Each CRT is equipped to deal with incidents appropriate to the risks associated with local coastal terrain and local shoreline activities and conditions. All CRT’s have a search capability and in addition, many have a cliff and/or mud rescue capability. Each CRT has an initial response capability for investigation, surveillance and reporting purposes but in some locations where no CRT exists, small teams known as Initial Response Teams (IRT) have been established to provide initial response.
The Coastguard Rescue Service is made up of men and women known as Coastguard Rescue Officers (CRO’s) who have independent full time jobs in all walks of life, who, like the RNLI, are volunteers on page 24/7, 365 days per year and who give up their spare time to assist others injured or in danger on the coast and at sea and also take part in a varied training programme covering most aspects of Search and Rescue e.g. Search (LANDSAR) techniques, Planning and Incident Control, Rope Rescue, Mud Rescue, Communications, First Aid, Water Rescue etc.
Main Roles of Coastguard Rescue Service
Carry out coastal search and rescue including cliff, mud, search and water rescue operations;
Provide incident attendance and on-scene co-ordination;
Provide mobile communications including relay and remote radio site operations;
Report and identify presence of pollution and other hazardous objects e.g. chemicals and WW1 and WW11 ordnance (e.g. mines) on shore to the MRCC;
Carry out duties on behalf of, and as required by, the Receiver of Wreck;
Carry out coastal and inshore surveillance in relation to coastal erosion etc;
To assist local authorities and other emergency services when requested and approved by line management in relation to counter pollution, flood relief, missing person searches and other emergencies as a Category One Responder.
Amble Coastguard Rescue Team
The team consists of twelve volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers who are all trained in search and rescue techniques, water rescue and with some of them also trained up to assist neighbouring teams in cliff rescue scenarios. The team are based in Coquet Street, Amble (next to the Boatyard) and are equipped with a 4 wheel drive Coastguard Rescue Vehicle that carries all the equipment required for the team to carry out their Search and Rescue Role.
Early History of Amble Coastguard
Earliest records on file show that a brigade of coastguards was located at Amble as far back as 1858.
The first coastguard officers were located in the Old Coastguard Cottages overlooking the Little Shore. The cottage nearest the sea at the landward end of the South Breakwater had a boathouse where a rowing boat was housed. Remains of the boat ramp into the Little Shore can still be seen. It is understood that this was used prior to a lifeboat being introduced by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and was manned by the coastguard officers.
The equipment for the coastguards at this time was housed in a stone built cart shed. This was located in an area about 200 metres to the South of an area known locally as the “Rocket Hill”.
In here was kept a cart which carried a heavy hawser and a heath jackstay for the breeches buoy. Horses for the cart were provided by a Mr. Douglas of Bondicarr Farm at the time.
This team situated on the South of the Coquet was known as the “Heavy Brigade” and was alerted by means of three mortar maroons that were fired from a wooden box sunk into the sand – hence the name “The Rocket Hill”.
The Original heavy brigade cart shed was sold to the then Amble Urban District Council on 11 November 1958.
Eight years after the station had been built on the South side of the river, it was recognised that there was a need for rescue equipment on the North side of the River Coquet. Therefore, in 1866, a “Light Brigade” was set up at a housing station on the North side of the river in a location approximately opposite the marina.
The “Light Brigade” carried lighter whips and they were enhanced to a heavy heath jackstay team in 1934. Their callout was by way of four mortar maroons. Horses for the team on the North side were provided by Mr. Johnstone of Northfield Farm.
The station on the North side was closed down on 22 August 1952 about the same time as the closure of the RAF Search and Rescue base that was also situated on the North Side to recover pilots downed in the North Sea during the Second World War.
LINKS FOR TIDES AND WEATHER
www.tidetimes.org.uk/amble-tide-times
Gives details of high and low tides and sunrise/sunset.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine
For shipping forecasts, inshore forecasts and other marine information.
Annual Report: Coquet Shorebase Trust.
The Coquet Shorebase continues to provide watersports to the community through the Coquet Canoe Club, Coquet Sailing Club and Coquet Windsurfing Club. Although a lot of our beginner activity takes place at Druridge Bay Country Park; including all the windsurfing and the Cadet Sailing Grou; the Canoe Club and the main Sailing Club find more interest in and around the Harbour. The annual Kayak Race round the Island went well, with thanks to the RNLI and the Coastguard for additional safety cover, and a good time was had by all. We have been busy this year progressing plans to improve facilities at the Country Park, by replacing the old portakabin with proper changing rooms. This will be an attachment to the Visitor Centre. It won’t, however mean we are abandoning the use of the harbour. Our main office and premises remain here in Amble. But it will make it easier and pleasanter for people to use the Lake to learn the basics of boat handling, before tackling the more interesting problems of tides, waves and other boats. Watch this space! Vic Brown Manager, Coquet Shorebase Trust
Amble Army Cadet Force
There has been a change in the detachment commander with Sergeant Watson taking over from Sergeant Hedley in January 2013.
The Cadet year officially starts at the end of Annual Camp which is held during the summer holidays in August. Last year we went to Wrathgill Camp in North Yorkshire which makes use of a lot of the Catterick Training areas. Whilst there is a continuous and progressive training program in place that lasts the entire year, all of the cadets managed to complete their “star” or proficiency level at camp, where it is only possible to do the more involved activities, such as section attacks using blank ammunition and ambushes (depending of course on their training).
There is further more specialised training for our more senior cadets with one becoming the High Sheriff’s Cadet this year and the same cadet also completing his Master Cadet Award at the ACF’s headquarters in Surrey. We are also a DofE Centre and have 7 cadets doing their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and a further Cadet progressing to their Silver award. This is also being assisted by the teachers at the JCSC as assessors in some of the activities chosen by the cadets, for which we are grateful.
The detachment also recently won the award as Best Detachment for 2013 in a recent competition held within our Company. We also attended along with the local British Legion a presentation for the Lord Lieutenants’ award for collecting money during the 2012 Poppy Appeal for the second year running. We will also be attending the upcoming Puffin Pride Festival in May with a Climbing Wall and some other activities and march in the Remembrance Day parade in both Amble and Warkworth depending on the wishes of the local British Legion. As ever we are looking for new recruits to join.
Sergeant Watson