They're planning to bypass my business
What's new in Warkworth? Just me and the staff keeping our heads down and working hard. Business is getting better but we've started thinking of ways to entice more local people in to the restaurant for the winter. We need to build up our winter trade a little more, so the thinking cap is on.
The Queen's Golden Jubilee was a little disappointing. Warkworth is an old village, full of WI groups and the like, so I was really surprised at the lack of events. I must admit the furthest we went was to put coronation chicken on the buffet menu for the monthly jazz evening, which coincided with the Queen's big weekend. So all the hype and preparations went to waste up here.
I always try to find something exciting, interesting or funny to write about, but it's hard when everything runs according to plan. Yes, I've got a few crises on my hands - short-staffed and overworked - but that's just the catering trade all over.
Then there's the recycling problem. My local council has said it is illegal for businesses to recycle. It's only a few bottles, cans and a bit of paper for heaven's sake; but no, I can't use the local recycling banks, and if I do, I get a very large fine. I would pay a recycling firm to collect the lot, but every one I've spoken to isn't prepared to come this far from the city (36 miles). All I can do for now is fill up my bins with recyclable things and carry on building up my compost pile. It really gets me mad.
The local council has big plans for Warkworth. It's going to bring in parking charges for the village, which could be bad for business. We don't have our own car park and depend on the village car park. It's not big enough to start with, and trying to get parked at a weekend is a nightmare, so when charges are introduced it could get worse. People will try to park everywhere but the car park. That could mean more people parking outside the restaurant and blocking the entrance, which would be a problem.
And now there's talk of them bypassing our village. I can see it from a resident's point of view - there's a lot of heavy traffic ploughing through the village and the amount of traffic can be horrendous in the summer - but from a business point of view it could kill us. We need the passing trade to survive.
Luckily, there's the castle and the hermitage. This should still bring in the holiday-makers and tourists. The new Alnwick Castle gardens should help, and the fact that it could take five years before parking charges come in is another bonus. Hopefully, I'll be able to retire by then and let someone else take on Alnwick District Council. Whatever happens, it's just another doll to add to my little worry box!
HELEN CUTTS is chef-proprietor of the Greenhouse restaurant in Warkworth, Northumberland
Next diary from Helen Cutts: 18 July
