A fantastic community effort yesterday resulted in an incredible 38 bags of litter collected!

As we move through the winter months, we wanted to share an update about our town’s sustainable planting schemes and acknowledge the dedicated work of our Neighbourhood Services Officers, Mark and Ryan, who maintain our public spaces along Station Road, at our town gateways, and alongside our memorials.

You may notice that our planted areas look different from previous years. This is intentional - we have moved away from seasonal bedding plants that, while providing bright bursts of colour, require frequent replacement and have a larger environmental footprint. Instead, we have embraced sustainable, climate-friendly planting that provides year-round interest through varied textures, forms, and seasonal changes.

While winter gardens may appear less manicured than summer displays, there is beauty in seeing plants through their natural cycles. Our officers work hard to maintain these areas, ensuring they remain healthy and well-tended, even as the plants enter their dormant period. The structural elements of our chosen plants - seed heads, architectural stems, and evergreen foliage - create winter interest while providing valuable habitat for wildlife. Spring bulbs will start appearing soon!

As we head into the final days before the holidays, we at Ashington Town Council want to extend our warmest wishes to everyone in our community. Though our office hours will be limited so our staff can enjoy time with their families, we remain committed to serving you in any way we can.

The Town Council office will close on 24th December at 2:00pm and reopen fully on Monday 6th January 2025, but we will be checking messages and emails throughout.

During this time of celebration, let us not forget those who may be facing hardship. The following services are available throughout the holiday period, with some closures on Bank Holidays and weekends. The links below show available hours.

The Alexandra Road Play Area is now available to use following repair after multiple incidents of deliberate vandalism.

Ashington Town Council has awarded a significant grant of £5,000 to the Hirst Welfare Centre as part of its annual grant funding programme. The money was awarded in much earlier in the year and the spending is starting to show now with improvements in the Centre.

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.