Fears voluntary organisations could be harmed by Blyth culture hub plans

Northumberland County Council unveiled plans for the Culture Hub on Blyth Market Place last year.

The venue will include a three-screen cinema, a studio and multi-purpose space for a range of events, an area for creative activities and a café and bar.

The £15m scheme is being funded by the Government through the Future High Street Fund with additional cash provided by the council. The local authority say it will be an ‘attraction for the whole community and visitors to enjoy’.

However, Coun Eileen Cartie has called for an impact assessment to be carried out looking at the effect the plans could have on existing organisations in the town.

The Labour councillor, who represents the Wensleydale ward on the county council, felt the money could be better spent elsewhere.

She said: “I am pleased money is pouring into Blyth but it would be better if it was spent on making life better for local people. Money could be spent improving our doctors’ services.

"Our town centre shops have nearly all gone – you can’t buy a pair a shoes any more in Blyth town centre, or a man’s suit, white goods, or new furniture.

“You have to go out of town where at one time you could practically buy anything. It’s worse now than it ever was.

“Morpeth and Amble with much smaller populations are both vibrant, busy towns while Blyth has a large population that is increasing with new developments. Surely the money could be spend on improving the town centre shopping and encouraging more new shops into Blyth.

“Regarding the culture centre, the council have not carried out an impact assessment on the projects around them. We have so many good community sector projects that have so many volunteer opportunities and provide employment.

“There are many voluntary projects that have run for over 50 years plus could be wiped out leaving no or very little voluntary community projects in Blyth.

“This will also cause a ripple affect to the wider community projects across the other Blyth localities. We need this money to help make living in Blyth easier more accessible and safe.

“If we had our police based right in the town centre, the town council and other essential services, better GP services and more dentist facilities this would help local people more. More shops are needed, I’m fed up with the saying people go online to buy now but everybody does that.

“There are so many elderly or those with no access to a PC who do have a computer, internet or have never used a computer.”

One of those organisations fearing the impact is the Briardale House Community Centre. The centre employs seven members of staff and supports around 300 people through a range of activities.

Manager Candice Randall said: “My concerns reflect those of other community organisations in Blyth and is based on feedback from local people. We are a community centre and we get a good idea of people’s thoughts and feelings.

“The traffic situation in the town centre means people avoid it. This will force more people into the town centre and put more pressure on the road network.

“The revenue we get from room rental is the vast majority of our funding. We rely on donations and the more money we can earn the less we have to ask funders for.

“If the hub’s rooms are at a low or no cost, it’s going to have a really negative impact. That’s my staff wages or gas and electric bills.

“There is far greater priorities in Blyth to invest in, like the poor state of housing. Rather than tackling the root cause of the issue, it’s putting a sticking plaster on and making it look pretty.”

Responding to the concerns raised, a spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: “As a council we want every organisation in Blyth to thrive. We have continually sought to work with and re-assure culture partners in the town who may naturally be worried about how the new town centre offer will impact them

“To inform the plans we undertook an in-depth consultation with local people and businesses in Blyth. Through widespread engagement local people identified a desire for a cinema and cultural facility in the town centre.

“The funding secured had to be focused on initiatives within the core town centre which re-purpose and regenerate the area by introducing new and different uses to the existing retail offer. The funding bid was supported by the Blyth Town Forum and subsequent consultations and surveys have been overwhelmingly positive.

“There were no objections from either members of the public or organisations following the planning process.”

The council also said that a “robust” business case and feasibility study had been carried out involving further consultation with stakeholders. The feasibility study also suggested that the project would benefit existing organisations.

The spokesman added: “Ultimately the Council is committed to ensuring the project will have an important role in developing a cooperative and collaborative partnership approach to benefit the whole town.

“In addition there is a new focus of up to £20m as part of the Long Term Plan for Towns centred on community and cultural projects and programming which a range of organisations in these sectors will be able to utilise.”