Alnwick Town Council round-up

Mayor Alan Symmonds, left, with pupil Annabel Samuels and chairman of governors Bill Grisdale in the new library at the official opening of the extension at Swansfield Primary First School.
Picture by Jane Coltman — Mayor Alan Symmonds, left, with pupil Annabel Samuels and chairman of governors Bill Grisdale in the new library at the official opening of the extension at Swansfield Primary First School. Picture by Jane Coltman

All of those who returned feedback forms said that they would attend future events and another is being lined for either April or May.

Deputy Mayor, Coun George Mavin, who was one of the driving forces behind the event, said that a number of people who didn’t attend last month had since expressed an interest in the next event.

Coun Mavin and the town council’s project and funding officer, Tim Kirton, also had a meeting with Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP at the Pure Fishing premises.

They discussed the availability of training grants for Alnwick businesses as well as the proposed deallocation of Willowburn Industrial Estate and the current housing plans. Mrs Trevelyan also expressed an interest in attending one of the networking events.

• As part of his Mayor’s update, Alan Symmonds reported on the opening ceremony for the new extension at Swansfield Park Primary School last Tuesday. “First impressions at the school are very good,” he said. “There are very good things going on in the classrooms with very good teaching.”

• Efforts are to be made to tackle concerns raised by the town council about the pedestrian routes to McDonald’s at Cawledge. Work is due to be carried out to the footpath under the underpass, which is not lit at present, while the fast-food giant is to look at installing steps up the grass bank.

• The final consultation on the Alnwick and Denwick Neighbourhood Plan ended in January, with no major issues raised. The county council now needs to sign if off before it goes to referendum. However, it is still not known when this will take place and May’s council elections may cause problems.

• The new flats that have recently been completed on Dispensary Street, across from Morrisons, will have addresses of 1-37 Malthouse. It follows concerns about Alnwick having two The Maltings, but this is only to be used for marketing the apartments.