Seaside parish council raises ‘Blackpool’ street lighting concerns

Beadnell Parish Council has joined the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership in raising concerns about lighting proposed at The Kilns, a 45-home development under construction in the village.

Cllr Jen Hall said: “It would be a shame if when you’re down on the beach you look up and it’s like Blackpool staring at you from Swinhoe Road.”

Cllr John Rhind added: “For the people buying these homes, presumably with the intention of enjoying a rural setting, the last thing they will want is to be lit up like a Christmas tree.”

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson said he had been getting complaints about mud on the western end of Swinhoe Road caused by construction traffic. It has been raised with Northumberland Estates.

Meanwhile, parish councillors felt cones should not be used to prevent parking at peak times on Harbour Road. It was one of the ideas which came out of a coastal summit organised by Northumberland County Council.

The parish council has also made contact with the owner of a plot on Harbour Road following concerns raised by local residents.

"They will build but not immediately as they are considering submitting new plans for the plot,” reported chairman, Cllr Alison Nation. “Before long they will be erecting boards as fencing ahead of the build and to secure the site.”

She revealed the owners are open to the idea of a community project to paint the boarding. A local organisation has come forward and will liaise with the owner.

Plans for a drinking water fountain next to the beach public toilets have been shelved due to concerns about value for money.

Cllr Adrian Baker said: “When we first started with this we were successful in getting a £2,000 grant for the cost of the fountain and we got an offer from the county council that it could be mounted on the wall of the toilets and use its water supply. In terms of installation it was probably going to cost us another £500-£600. We got to the point where that £600 had got to in excess of £4,000.”

New letters are to be sent to holiday let owners seeking donations. Over £2,000 was raised last year.

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