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Who knew LIFE could be so good...!
Probably not very many people - myself included – if we had been completely honest with ourselves when we set off down the path of the Newbiggin LIFE initiative three years ago, writes Wansbeck Council Chief Executive Bob Stephenson.
Not even in our wildest dreams could we have forecast that investment of well over £30m would have been secured for Newbiggin in that time; scores of new homes built for sale or rent; village parks created or improved; ‘Gateway’ entrances designed to inspire a sense of belonging to the community; a dedicated team based locally to rapidly respond to problems of
litter, vandalism, graffiti or anti-social behaviour; and £10m invested by the Government in the Bay breakwater, beach
recharge and artwork project.
LIFE even had a Royal visitor to Newbiggin – the first to visit the village in living memory when the Duke of Kent re-opened Memorial Park.
It may seem hard to believe, but the facts speak for themselves. Unprecedented investment has been attracted to the village by LIFE, set up by Wansbeck Council in partnership with Cheviot Housing, stakeholders, the community and voluntary sectors and not forgetting, of course, with the wholehearted backing of local people. What we have achieved together in such a short space of time, has been little short of remarkable. A lot of credit must go to the chair of the LIFE Board Councillor David Nicholson (Deputy Leader Wansbeck Council) and Mike Goodman, who chairs the Newbiggin Community Area Partnership (CAP), for their leadership and unwavering commitment.
Our officer team has worked exceptionally with the Board and the community to drive forward change and we must recognise the contribution of LIFE Director John Johnston and previous managers Roberta Buchanan and Andrea Malcolm. The neighbourhood management team is bringing significant benefits to the village and I am sure the future of LIFE is in very safe hands with the likes of new community development worker Heather Ashburner on board.
Credit also the unstinting support of the partners and stakeholders for having the confidence in LIFE to enable them to invest in Newbiggin’s future in the way they have.
But, perhaps the greatest praise should be reserved for local people who have enthusiastically embraced the LIFE concept of regeneration that has breathed new life into Newbiggin. But we can’t sit back and rest on our laurels – the challenge now is to maintain the momentum by continuing to secure the sort of investment and commitment from partners that will build
on what has been so successfully achieved. We will do that, I have no doubt, if we continue to work together and I offer this
invitation to everyone in Newbiggin. Get in touch with me if you are willing to join focus groups debating how to drive forward the LIFE programme; attend the events and exhibitions that will be held; or go to the CAP meetings to express your views on what you think still needs to be done in Newbiggin.
I personally guarantee what you have to say will be taken into account and acted upon to help us deliver LIFE’s vision for the future of Newbiggin. You can contact me by email to r.stephenson@wansbeck.gov.uk or by writing to me at the Town Hall, Ashington.
