Northumberland County Council’s cabinet has approved a 9 million pound fund to expedite the delivery of projects under the Borderlands Deal, addressing concerns over the slow progress of the initiative. The funding will go into revitalising areas such as Alnwick, Bedlington and Newbiggin.
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00:00Northumberland County Council's Cabinet has approved a £9m fund to expedite the delivery
00:05of projects under the Borderlands Deal, addressing concerns over the slow progress of the initiative.
00:11The new £9m Town Centre Transformation Package aims to accelerate a range of key projects
00:16across the county, including in Annick, Prudder, Bedlington, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Bellingham,
00:21Holtwhistle and Rothbury. These initiatives will receive between £200,000 and £1.5m,
00:28with specific projects including bus station upgrades in Annick and town centre revitalisations
00:33in Bedlington and Prudder taking priority. In Annick, the funding will contribute to
00:38the first phase of a comprehensive town centre transformation. This includes improvements
00:43to Northumberland Hall, the Bailiffgate Museum and enhancements to the town's transport
00:48hub and bus station.
00:51Council Leader Glen Sanderson highlighted the need to address the current condition
00:55of Annick's bus station, describing it as an eyesore, and emphasised that these upgrades
01:00will significantly improve the town's appeal for both locals and visitors. In Newbiggin-by-the-Sea,
01:05the funding will support the first phase of a major promenade upgrade, including improvements
01:10to the car park and public spaces along the seafront. The project aims to enhance the
01:15area's appeal as a visitor's destination and improve the experience for both residents
01:19and tourists. Council Leader Glen Sanderson stressed that the goal is to speed up delivery
01:24and ensure that important projects are completed more quickly.
01:30The approved funding will support various local schemes including public realm enhancements,
01:34heritage cafe developments, car park upgrades and the creation of business pods, all designed
01:40to boost the region's amenities and economy.