New car park for Amble all lined up with land purchase agreement finalised

The land adjacent to the existing car park on Turner Street and the car park itself have been purchased by Northumberland County Council, following confidential commercial negotiations with the landowner.

With planning permission for the development already confirmed, the main building blocks for a new facility are soon expected to be in place.

The county council will develop a new car park which will combine the existing and new parking areas, increasing the number of spaces from 49 to 134.

Cllr Jeff Watson, Amble town councillor and county councillor for the Amble West with Warkworth, said: “This is extremely good news for Amble. I am very pleased that after all of the hard work by a number of agencies towards securing new car parking, it looks like we are on the final stretch.

“This site will be ideal, close to the town centre and the quayside, and the popular visitor attractions there. I will continue to work through the county council, town council and our partners to bring this project to fruition.”

Cllr Terry Clark, county councillor for the Amble ward, added: "Amble is a town that has struggled over the years with parking issues, so this increase in parking provision is a welcome addition.

“It will benefit residents, provide workplace parking, and help provide space for visitors, especially during the peak holiday season, with tourism benefiting our local economy.

“A new car park in the centre of town will give easy access to shops and cafes on Queen street and towards our Harbour village and Pier, hopefully reducing congestion within our residential streets.

“I look forward to seeing this proposal improve Amble’s future parking needs and help take the strain. A truly welcoming addition for the town.”

The news was also welcomed by council leader Glen Sanderson.

He said: “These are major milestones in providing the community of Amble with important new town centre parking.

“We have been working on this for a number of years now – looking at different sites and options - and I am extremely pleased that we have now reached this stage.

“We will now start to progress the arrangements for site clearance and firm up the schedule and timescales for construction of the new car park.”

The council has been working with a number of partners in the town to develop plans for car parking, including Amble Business Club, Amble Town Council and Amble Development Trust.

The new car park will provide seven disabled parking bays and six electric vehicle bays. Spaces for motorcycles and bikes will also be included, and an existing cycle route will need to be changed slightly. Drainage, lighting and access to the site will also be improved.

Before the car parking can be established, work will have to be done to prepare the site, which previously housed a service garage and forecourt until the mid-2000s, and the planning permission includes the demolition of an old bungalow.

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