The Ambler - Amble's Community Newspaper

01/09/2026

01Sept: Sewage pollution alerts for Amble and Warkworth beaches

28/08/2026

After their exam results, JCSC students are now looking to the future:

27/08/2026

Your letters: shock at litter on the beach, how Amble's Christmas Lights began, and remembering Nurse Carruthers:

Shock at broken glass and litter on beach Broken glassMy partner, Rachael Pocklington, was walking on...

26/08/2026

Amble woman honoured for services to ballooning:

21/08/2026

An update from Mayor Kim McGuinness on the nurdle clean-up

An update on nurdles

In the last few days nurdles have been found by local people on beaches near Amble, further up the coast than we have seen before. The numbers are thankfully small but this shows why we cannot let up on the fight to protect our precious coastline.

My team has confirmed with the Environment Agency it will send officers to the Amble area to advise local people, and Northumberland County Council has put out special bins for volunteers to use when they go out to clean-up.

I know many people are worried that as summer turns to autumn storms will wash up new nurdles unexpectedly or uncover deposits buried in the sand.

I was glad to see the shipping company insurers pay up to increase the number of workers it has out there responding quickly when this happens - it’s a local workforce they employ now and I want to see them stay in place.

We also need to make sure we learn from this disaster, for the North East and the world. I have asked for an independent expert to lead the review into how our region responded and this review will report back to me before Christmas.

Finally, I want to once again say thank you to everyone who loves our beaches and coastline, and who has been out there helping. I have met so many people who have helped it makes me proud to be Mayor of our North East.

21/08/2026

Well done!

19/08/2026

There is to be a meeting about the latest development proposals on Braid Hill. Wednesday 26 August at 6pm in the Conference Room Fourways2.

🏘️ Braid Development Meeting

I have called a special meeting of the Amble Town Council Planning Committee to discuss the recently lodged application for 19 dwellings on the site known as Braid Hill (planning ref: 26/02569/FUL). This will take place next week in the Conference Room at Fourways 2 on Dilston Terrace at 6pm on Wednesday 26th August.

Whilst this is a new Full Planning Application, the scheme in effect (if granted permission) varies the existing permitted development by removing a 58-place Supported Independent Living (SIL) block and replacing the footprint with smaller bungalows. Members of the public are invited to attend and there is a chance to make representations to members of the committee, either in support, expressing a neutral position or in objection to the proposed development.

It should be noted that the Town Council has a very limited role in the planning process, in that we are not the decision-maker and our comments are afforded some, but very limited weight. The purpose of the meeting is to support the formulation of a response to the consultation that is currently running. For the purposes of consultation the Local Planning Authority (NCC) treats us as a Statutory Consultee. We are treating this meeting as an opportunity for robust community engagement and as such are seeking representation from the NCC Planning Department and the developer at the meeting.

I have included below the material grounds for consideration that councillors must use as guidance:

Material planning considerations can include (but are not limited to):
-Overlooking/loss of privacy
-Loss of daylight/sunlight or overshadowing
-Scale and dominance
-Layout and density of buildings
-Appearance and design of development and materials proposed
-Disabled persons' access
-Highway safety
-Traffic and parking issues
-Drainage and flood risk
-Noise, dust, fumes etc
-Impact on character or appearance of area
-Effect on listed buildings and conservation areas
-Effect on trees and wildlife/nature conservation
-Impact on the community and other services
-Economic impact and sustainability
-Government policy
-Proposals in the Local Development Plan
-Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)

Issues which cannot be taken into account:
-Who the applicant is/the applicant's background
-Loss of views
-Loss of property value
-Loss of trade or increased competition
-Strength or volume of local opposition
-Construction noise/disturbance during development
-Fears of damage to property
-Maintenance of property
-Boundary disputes, covenants or other property rights
-Rights of way
-Personal circumstances are generally not a material planning consideration

19/08/2026

Find out about the county council's new recycling scheme at this meeting. Mon 24 August at 6pm in the Conference Room, Fourways2

Early next year there will be a new recycling scheme coming into effect in Northumberland. New ways to target poor recycling quality have been trailed across the county since November and on Monday 24th August at 6.00pm, Amble Town Council are facilitating a information session with the Recycling Team. All welcome to attend.

17/08/2026

🧵Are you brightening up your summer/autumn wardrobe?

Join Jane Creighton, textiles and crafting expert, as she guides us through the process of making distinctive 'visible' repairs, giving our clothing an extra lease of life!

Please bring along an item of clothing which is in need of an update (jeans or a T-shirt are good).
We will be working with holes, hems, rips and tears, but anything goes!

Suitable for age 18+, beginners and experts. £6 per person plus booking fee. More information is available here: https://www.nwt.org.uk/events/2026-08-20-visible-mending 👕🧵👖🪡👚

Image compositor Sheila Luck

17/08/2026

The funerals of two notable Amble councillors will be held in the coming days.

Serving Northumberland County Councillor Arty Hume died suddenly at the end of July. His funeral will be held at Bockenfield Crematorium on Friday 21 August at 1.45pm.

Long standing Northumberland County and Amble Town Councillor Ian Hinson has died. His funeral will be held at St Cuthbert's Parish Church, Amble on Thursday 27 August at 1pm.