04 November 2026
Improvements are under way at the Bothal Gateway feature on the A197 Morpeth Road, one of the main routes into Ashington. While the work is still in progress, people travelling along Morpeth Road may already have spotted some changes.
A new boundary wall has been built by a local contractor, Stuart Howard, funded by ward councillors Scott Amery, Lynne Grimshaw and Bob Walkinshaw through the ward environmental enhancement budget.
The Town Council created the ward environmental enhancement budget in 2023/24, with funding allocated to each ward in that year and again in 2024/25. Wards with funding remaining have carried their balances forward. The Bothal Gateway is a piece of land the Town Council already maintains, so the scheme was a straightforward way to make a visible difference. Where ward councillors want to create new spaces or take on new areas of responsibility, those proposals come to Council for approval.
Since then, Ashington Town Council’s Neighbourhood Services Officer, Ryan, has prepared the ground ready for planting in the spring, added some new stone features and returned suitable plants to the site.
There’s still more to do, and the gateway will really come into its own once it is fully planted up next year. In the meantime, keep an eye out for the bulbs, which will add a welcome splash of colour until then.
We have added links to each group, where available. Clicking on the link will open, in a new window, either their website or Facebook page.
| Annual Grant Funding 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Group | Amount Awarded |
| Ability 2 Play - NCC | £1,177 |
| Ashington & District Male Voice Choir | £2,380 |
| Ashington Association Football Club | £5,000 |
| Ashington Cricket Club | £5,000 |
| Ashington Hirst Running Club | £2,394 |
| Ashington JW Rugby Football Club | £5,000 |
| Ashington Join Welfare Scheme | £5,000 |
| Ashington Town Football Club | £5,000 |
| Cambois Rowing Club | £5,000 |
| Citzen's Advice Northumberland | £5,000 |
| ESCAPE Family Support | £5,000 |
| First 4 Darts | £2,000 |
| Full Circle Food Project | £5,000 |
| Mortal Fools | £5,000 |
| Narrowguage Railway | £3,800 |
| NCOS | £2,370 |
| NSC Community Centre | £5,000 |
| Repurposeful CIC | £5,000 |
| Wansbeck Paddle Club | £2,400 |
| Wansbeck Valley Foodbank | £5,000 |
| YMCA Northumberland | £5,000 |
| Small Grants - July 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Group | Amount Awarded |
| Reiverdale Scouts | £500 |
| Seaton Vale Neighbourhood Watch | £500 |
| Wansbeck Community Links | £500 |
| Wansbeck Wanderers Walking Football | £500 |
| Small Grants - October 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Group | Amount Awarded |
| Ashington RVS Social Care | £400 |
| Ashington Sea Cadets | £440 |
| Ashington Veterans and Elders Institute | £500 |
| Beyond Youth | £215 |
| Koast Radio | £495 |
| Parkhead and Wansbeck Watersports | £390 |
| Small Grants - February 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Group | Amount Awarded |
| 1st Hirst Scouts Group | £500 |
| Girl Guides | £500 |
| Junior Park Run | £500 |
04 November 2026
Improvements are under way at the Bothal Gateway feature on the A197 Morpeth Road, one of the main routes into Ashington. While the work is still in progress, people travelling along Morpeth Road may already have spotted some changes.
A new boundary wall has been built by a local contractor, Stuart Howard, funded by ward councillors Scott Amery, Lynne Grimshaw and Bob Walkinshaw through the ward environmental enhancement budget.
The Town Council created the ward environmental enhancement budget in 2023/24, with funding allocated to each ward in that year and again in 2024/25. Wards with funding remaining have carried their balances forward. The Bothal Gateway is a piece of land the Town Council already maintains, so the scheme was a straightforward way to make a visible difference. Where ward councillors want to create new spaces or take on new areas of responsibility, those proposals come to Council for approval.
Since then, Ashington Town Council’s Neighbourhood Services Officer, Ryan, has prepared the ground ready for planting in the spring, added some new stone features and returned suitable plants to the site.
There’s still more to do, and the gateway will really come into its own once it is fully planted up next year. In the meantime, keep an eye out for the bulbs, which will add a welcome splash of colour until then.
