Media centre deserves praise but planners must look again at traffic

WELL, it's finally here. Prudhoe's £2.5 million Fuse media centre opened its doors last week in suitably grand style.

Young 'uns from around the region flocked to the impressive structure at the town's high school to take part in a Channel 4 talent scheme, designed to give them an insight into the working lives of creative professionals.

Those behind the project are to be congratulated - it's an honour for Prudhoe to be chosen as the site for such an innovative centre.

And the benefits will be felt not simply in the town but throughout Tynedale and beyond.

In saying that, the plans for the centre haven't always gone down well with everyone.

When the proposals were first made public, my colleague Robert Gibson was inundated with phone calls from residents angry about everything from 'visual impact' to Media Studies being a 'Mickey Mouse' subject.

Naturally, I'm not going to support that assertion, but the objectors certainly raised one valid point - the traffic problems in the area are a nightmare and development threatens to make them unbearable.

As well as the media centre, we'll have new housing at Prudhoe hospital and, if all goes to plan, a development including everything from a hotel to new sports facilities.

Then, just down the road, our friend, the Duke of Northumberland, intends to give the town centre a facelift.

From what I gather, the media centre has been built with consideration for the neighbours and, crucially, parking has been increased, allaying fears somewhat.

That's a good start, but, as county councillor Bill Garrett observed at a recent planning meeting, what's really needed, when it comes to future schemes, is an in-depth look at traffic in that area, taking account of cumulative impact.

Quite rightly, the planning systems considers developments on their own merits, but - especially with the added complexity of outline followed by full planning applications - this can sometimes mean the overall picture is lost.

Planners must take a step back and look at the residents' day-to-day experiences of jam-packed roads, illegal parking and seemingly endless noise from buses.

Otherwise, they could be getting some bad press from those future media professionals.