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5th November, 2026
On 4 November 2026, county councillors defeated an amendment seeking stress testing of the Maltings project financials and a deferral of the loan decision, and passed a motion to pile more debt onto hard-pressed residents to the tune of £2.6m.
This will amount to perhaps £3.5m once interest is taken into account, and will take NCC’s total debt to well past the £900m mark. Almost certainly, it won’t be the last time councillors are asked to approve rifling through all of our wallets for more cash – whether we use the Maltings or not.
But there was a significant rebellion from some councillors, asking sensible financial questions that were grumpily dismissed by those in favour. There were 42 votes for, 2 votes against, and 16 abstentions. The video of the full council meeting can be found here.
In their answer to our emailed question about Maltings Trust subsidies mentioned but not detailed in agenda documents, NCC revealed that between 2025 and 2029, it will cost the council £350,000 to compensate the Trust for the lack of a building and the income they could have generated with it. This is on top of Arts Council funding.
The answer to our second question confirmed that NCC had not asked Borderlands if they could fund a cheaper refurbishment, as it was not “expected” that they would.
Thank you to all those who supported our open letter. We don’t know how many councillors bothered to read it or watch our video: but it’s heartening that over 180 people were willing to stand up and be counted, in a toxic local climate that punishes a difference of opinion over design and funding.
The letter will contribute to an understanding of the division and distress this project's execution has caused. And it will be a useful point of reference when asking whether decisions were made in ignorance of the financial risk and the damage that would be caused to Berwick’s crucial aesthetic appeal.
Work is expected to begin shortly on demolishing the 1990 Maltings building. Many will grieve for the fabulous views that will be permanently brutalised by a generic utilitarian block. If you’re upset by such disrespect for the town you love, remember that you’re not alone. But remember too the sheer ruthlessness of the county council, the Borderlands bureaucrats, and all those locally who conspired against Berwick’s beauty – a stunning resource that could be enjoyed by everyone, without the need for a ticket.
Julian