Newbiggin by the Sea
“The fight back”
What has happened!
The Fight Back. In the early 1990’s after twenty years under the control of Wansbeck District Council Newbiggin by the Sea was a dying community. People were moving out, businesses were declining and the environment was an ecological disaster; raw sewage was pumped on to the rocks at the Church Point, subsidence of the seabed increased the offshore water depths supporting bigger waves causing serious coastal erosion that was threatening the centre of our community. Chronic institutionalised neglect of our social housing accelerated the decline.
Fortunately Newbiggin by the Sea has a strong sense of community and we campaigned.
The first big breakthrough was in 1990 when Northumbrian Water acknowledged the pollution from raw sewage in the bay and they built the sewage treatment plant with a 2000 metre pipeline into the sea. We now have a bay with clean sea water and Blue Flag status.
In 2007 after two very expensive failed attempts at coast protection we got the breakwater and we now have a protected bay with a beach.
The quantity of kelp being washed up on the beach is testimony to the recovery of marine life. The water is once more fit to bathe in. The recovery of marine life attracts a wide range of sea birds that use our bay bringing bird watchers from across the country.
After a long campaign, during which the land at the north end of the moor, next to the Power Station, was contaminated with decades of colliery waste that had been dumped in the sea and was described by Cllr Alan Thompson as the worst environmental eyesore in Western Europe, the authorities acknowledged the truth of that statement and cleaned and landscaped the area.
Another eyesore was the entrance into Newbiggin by the Sea from Woodhorn. This has been transformed by a simple landscaping process that gives a much better first impression.
There were plans to build houses on the site of the former railway station opposite to Memorial Park. These were quashed by public protest and we now have an attractive open space in the middle of our community called Central Park. The new road to access Central Park, opposite Memorial Park was extended further to provide sensible access to our Grace Darling Campus.
In 2006, our Memorial Park was restored to its original condition and is now a joy to behold and once again a fitting tribute to those to whom we owe so much. Our forebears originally paid for the Memorial Park by public subscription after the First World War that ended in 1918 and it is one of the finest war memorials in the country.
Car parking for allotment holders at the West End was a problem for years and now
They have a car park inside the allotment land making the road safer.
Between Spital and Welfare estates the children have a high quality play park with access for all children.
What happens now!
