Work is set to get underway on two major regeneration projects in Ashington town centre. The council’s cabinet has given the green light to get spades in the ground for the highly anticipated Portland Park Cinema and restaurants complex.
Construction is expected to start this spring, with a second scheme to revitalise Wansbeck Square set to follow in the near future. The projects form the central plank of the £36 million Regenerating Ashington programme, which the council say is aimed at ‘revitalising’ the town centre.
At Tuesday’s meeting of Northumberland County Council’s cabinet, members approved the project business case for Portland Park and the outline business case for Wansbeck Square.
Speaking at the meeting, deputy leader Coun Richard Wearmouth said: “There are some really great things happening in Ashington. This paper covers two projects in particular.
“Funding is finally established for the cinema at Portland Park and for the work at Wansbeck Square. This is an important decision for Ashington to make sure it thrives in the future, and make sure we use the investment that has already gone in to boost the town’s economic performance in years to come.”
The new cinema and restaurants development will feature five contemporary cinema screens, a family-orientated competitive socialising space and two restaurant units. Planning has already been approved and REEL Cinema has been lined up as the operator.
Wansbeck Square Gateway Project
The Wansbeck Square Gateway project is anticipated to get underway this summer, once final approvals are granted. It aims to create an “attractive and welcoming” point of arrival for passengers using the new Northumberland Line station.
It includes plans to construct a new accessible footpath connecting the station with the high street surrounded by new seating areas, landscaping and trees and introduces new access to the adjacent Memorial Garden.
Speaking after the approval, Labour’s Ashington Central councillor Caroline Ball said: “It’s good news to see that spades will be going into the ground shortly on these key sites, along with a variety of other works progressing in the town.”
A report presented to members stated that the Wansbeck Square project will cost more than £7 million, while the Portland Park scheme comes in at over £16 million. This brings the total cost to just under £23.1 million.
John Johnston, Ashington Town Forum Chair added: “It’s great to see these key milestones being achieved and change happening on the ground. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to help develop these exciting plans and for local people’s support while the work is happening.”
Addressing the hole
The council has previously come under fire for leaving the Portland Parksite derelict for almost a decade. Locally, the area was known as the ‘Ashington hole’ after Labour-backed schemes to relocate the council’s headquarters from Morpeth were dropped by the Tories in 2017.
Addressing this, Coun John Riddle said: “It’s a great move forward. If you cast your minds back a few years to what was proposed to happen at Ashington, and the moving of this headquarters – that would have been a total waste of money.
“We have been chastised about this hole in Ashington. This is actually happening and it will be a far better move than what was proposed. I wish it well.”
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