It’s that time of year again in Ashington when local shops and traders decorate their front windows with a Christmas theme around Ashington High Street to celebrate the holiday season.

Ashington celebrated the historic return of passenger trains with a launch event that brought together key regional and national figures, symbolising the significance of the Northumberland Line’s reopening.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, MP Ian Lavery, and Northumberland County Council Leader Glen Sanderson were among the distinguished guests who rode a special service marking the line’s return. The train was warmly welcomed by local schoolchildren, while the renowned Ashington Colliery Band played to this landmark moment.

The new rail service, officially opening for travel on Sunday 15th December 2024, marks a transformative moment for Ashington, reconnecting the community to a modern transportation network after more than six decades.

With a direct link to Newcastle city centre and seamless connections to broader destinations, residents now have enhanced access to employment opportunities across the North East region, more access to educational institutions, shopping and leisure in Newcastle and beyond, and simplified travel to other major cities.

The £298.5m infrastructure project promises a half-hourly service with a 35-minute end-to-end journey time from Ashington to Newcastle, dramatically reducing travel times and opening up new possibilities for local residents.

Visitors to Ashington will also benefit, with improved accessibility making the town more attractive for tourism, business, and cultural exchanges. With a new state of the art college opening soon in Ashington, getting here will be much easier. The new rail link positions Ashington as a more connected and vibrant community within the regional landscape. The launch represents not just a transportation upgrade, but a significant step towards regional economic development and improved quality of life for Ashington’s residents.

The launch of the Northumberland Line has captured significant media attention, with comprehensive coverage highlighting the transformative impact for our community. Below, we have compiled links to key news stories that provide additional insight into this historic moment in Ashington’s transportation journey.

Councillor Mark Purvis, Chair of Ashington Town Council, and Councillor Caroline Ball, Civic Head, offer their insights into the significance of the Northumberland Line for our community.

Northumberland Line officially open its first station in Ashington on Sunday, December 15th 2024, offering local residents a convenient new transportation option.

The annual Ashington Christmas Light Switch-On event proved to be an outstanding success,

Ashington Town Council’s bold investment in state-of-the-art CCTV has proven instrumental in enhancing community safety, which we hope will be even more welcomed during the festive season. Installed in April 2024, the system, managed by local contractor Asset Watch, is already yielding results, helping Northumbria Police and other enforcement agencies detect and deter crime while fostering a stronger sense of safety.

“This CCTV network underscores the Council’s commitment to making Ashington a safe and welcoming community,” said Cllr Mark Purvis, Chair of Ashington Town Council. “As we enjoy the festive season, we hope residents feel reassured knowing this system is in place to protect them.”

The cutting-edge cameras, strategically positioned across the town, offer 24/7 monitored coverage and utilise advanced technology to ensure privacy protection while maintaining effective surveillance. Regular reviews of footage and close collaboration with enforcement partners ensure the system is optimised for crime prevention and community safety.

A GROUNDBREAKING new partnership that will unlock career pathways in the built environment and develop cutting-edge skills to power the North East economy has been announced today.

Education Partnership North East (EPNE) and Northumbria University have unveiled a new partnership that will strengthen links between the two organisations, something that will come to life at the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA), a state-of-the-art facility that will educate, train, and upskill local people in housebuilding, commercial construction, modern methods and green construction techniques, including home retrofit.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Ellen Thinnesen OBE, Chief Executive of EPNE, and Professor Andy Long, Vice Chancellor of Northumbria University, the organisations have laid out plans to work together to create a cohesive strategic approach to education and skills, joining up further and higher education systems, and aligning with the priorities of the North East Combined Authority, Skills England and government’s Missions and Industrial Strategy.

The Alexandra Road Play Area remains closed following multiple incidents of deliberate vandalism, significantly extending repair timelines.

Initially closed in August due to damage to the play safety surface, costing over £5,000, the facility has since suffered further deliberate destruction. This combined damage now requires a comprehensive repair approach, effectively resetting our progress.

Despite existing CCTV coverage, authorities were unable to identify those responsible in August. However, ongoing investigations continue, with current CCTV footage under thorough review.

We strongly urge anyone with information to assist in identifying those responsible.

Our dedicated officers continue to work tirelessly to maintain and keep our play areas safe and accessible. Unfortunately, these persistent vandalism incidents have prolonged the closure of this important community facility, preventing children and families from accessing the space.

For inquiries, please contact the Town Council office at (01670) 624521

(Photograph shows Alexandra Play Area when it was installed in November 2022)

Ashington residents are invited to attend the upcoming Finance and General Services Meeting on Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 at the Town Hall (65 Station Road, Ashington, NE63 8RX) at 6:00pm.

Warmer Homes Scheme: Northumberland County Council is offering free energy-saving home improvements for eligible residents. The scheme targets homeowners and private renters with low-income households or properties with poor energy efficiency (EPC ratings D-G).

Gas Safety Services: The Council is also working with the Gas Safe Charity to provide critical home safety services. Grants of up to £500 can be accessed per household per year.

Improvement work has recently taken place at the popular Paddock Wood Play Area in North Seaton.