Housing shortage causing decline of village life

Jun 22 2009 by Sara Nichol, The Journal

Affordable housing would improve prospects

SITUATED around five miles from Wooler in north Northumberland, Milfield is currently nursing its fair share of battle scars.

At the start of the year, the village post office was forced to close down despite fierce opposition from Milfield’s 250 or so permanent residents.

And just last month, it was announced that Milfield First School is to shut its doors at the end of this school year with pupil numbers having fallen to just seven.

The village store which housed the post office before its closure could be next.

Owner Brenda Brodie admitted in January it would be difficult to keep the shop open without the post office.

But she has vowed to make every possible effort to keep it going.

"We are all very uncertain about the future of the shop. Everything is very much up in the air but we are going to keep going and see what happens. We have added a number of new lines such as homemade goods to try and attract new custom.

"I am optimistic about the future and take each day as it comes. The big concern is the winter months, without the day trippers and holiday makers."

The National Housing Federation says that such shops face the threat of closure due to a chronic lack of affordable housing in villages like Milfield.

It also warns that pubs could suffer a similar fate.

But across the A697 from Brenda’s shop, Iain Burn, landlord of Milfield’s Red Lion, has no such fears.

Mr Burn, who is also a member of the village’s parish council, is in negotiations with his brewery to buy the pub.

And he says he would not be doing this if he thought it was on the brink of closing.

Mr Burn has 40-plus diners each night from Easter through to October.

He says it is a question of businesses in Milfield and other similar villages carving themselves a niche. Mr Burn welcomes fishermen and shooting parties over the winter.

While acknowledging the potential for more business should affordable homes be built, Mr Burn says he and others would still have to persuade newcomers to the community to use their facilities.

Two longstanding residents of Milfield did agree that more affordable housing would enhance the village’s prospects.

As a builder Peter Adamson, 56, of Wheatriggs Avenue, knows more than most about the lack of homes being built in the area.

But he says those that are built at neighbouring villages like Ford and Cornhill are usually overpriced, with the result that many stand empty.

"It is just one of those things, there are so many things going wrong in this area, it is all down to the affordability of houses."

Mr Adamson would like to see young families move to the village, although their children would come too late for Milfield school where his eight-year-old son is a pupil.

He also marched through London 10 years ago in protest at a previous attempt to close the school which failed.

Peter’s retired neighbour Bernard Smith, 70, said it would be nice to have young families in the village although he says there is no work for them partly because establishments like the school and post office have closed.

Mr Smith said: "We are thankful that Iain has still got his open."

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