COUNCILLORS in Prudhoe have questioned future plans for the centre of their town, saying little progress has been made with a proposed development.

Plans for a new retail park in Low Prudhoe, put forward by Northumberland Estates and Advance Northumberland, will be decided by the county council’s strategic planning committee this year and include space for an Aldi, B&M and a drive-thru KFC.

But alongside the outline planning permission for the Low Prudhoe development, Northumberland Estates has also submitted outline plans for a town centre redevelopment to the north of Front Street, which was also approved in 2016.

It included permission for shops, professional services, food and drink outlets, hot food takeaways and betting offices, as well as a car park with 56 spaces and a development of around 30 houses located behind the retail development.

However, at last week’s meeting of Prudhoe Town Council, some councillors raised concerns that the development in Low Prudhoe was being prioritised over the development in the town centre.

The town council had previously voted by a majority to object against the Low Prudhoe plans.

Coun. Jennifer McGee said: “The county council should be pushing for this because it’s important that the new shops come here, and the new parking spaces.”

Coun. Glenn Simpson agreed, adding: “The original discussion we had many moons ago was that the town centre should have been a priority.”

At the meeting Coun. Gordon Stewart, county councillor for Prudhoe South said he had recently met with Advance Northumberland and reassured town councillors that the town centre development was still a priority, adding that more information is expected once the outcome of the Low Prudhoe detailed planning application is known.