'Dirty protest' in Alnmouth and plea for donations from holiday home owners among issues raised at meeting

The parish council has received £600 after sending out letters requesting a £25 donation towards its council tax precept.

Cllr Shaun Whyte, chairman, said: “Unfortunately our letters went out just as we went into lockdown so £600 is a pretty good result but we think many were probably lost in the pile of post that’s been stacked up behind doors.

"We’ll send out a second letter to those who haven’t responded yet because it’s been quite useful, particularly in view of us needing quite of lot of money to pay for the playground resurfacing at some stage. If we keep it going and make sure people pay every year it will be quite an addition to our finances.”

Drains were cleared on June 16 following reports of a ‘pungent’ smell hanging around the village during a spell of fine weather.

Councillors noted that there had been access issues so not all the drains were checked.

Meanwhile, Cllr Whyte revealed the men’s public toilets had to be closed last week after ‘someone committed a dirty protest’.

New signs are to be put up around the village by Northumberland County Council after concerns were raised about dog fouling and litter, including barbecues and picnic plastics.

The parish council has also agreed to purchase a new bin to replace one which was destroyed by a disposable barbecue on Riverside Road.

A small trailer has been donated to the parish council by Alnmouth Friary.

Members heard that the Secretary of State had dismissed an appeal over the refusal of plans to extend and convert a garage to create a two-bedroom dwelling at Wellfield Gardens.

Consultation on the neighbourhood plan started on July 20 and will run for eight weeks until September 16. The previous consultation process was abandoned due to coronavirus.

The plan is designed to ensure that any newly built dwelling or newly created dwelling, such as a large house divided into flats, would have planning granted subject to a permanent residency condition.

Documents can be viewed online at www.alnmouthparishcouncil.org.uk or email clerk@alnmouthparishcouncil.org.uk for a hard copy.

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