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Construction is well underway on a new outdoor climbing attraction for Plessey Woods Country Park. The investment in specially constructed ‘climbing boulders’ will complement the refurbished and improved visitor centre and toilets which are due to re-open in the coming months. Three large manmade boulders, around ten feet in height, will be installed in a clearing in the trees, providing fun and fitness for a range of skill levels and abilities. There will be a rubberised surface underneath alongside safety signage. And as part of the scheme a child-friendly boulder climbing is also being put in by the current playpark. The boulders have been paid for by the County Council, Section 106 monies and local County Councillor Malcolm Robinson through his Member’s Small Schemes fund. The boulders will complement the range of improvements to the park’s visitor centre, also supported by Cllr Robinson, which include an enlarged cafe area, modernised kitchen and improved serving area and new toilets. Councillor John Riddle, cabinet member for environment, farming and rural, said: “We are committed to ensuring our parks and green spaces are well managed and maintained, and to invest in them so that they continue to be among our most popular attractions. “We know how important our open spaces are for people’s health and wellbeing and this will be a fantastic new addition for the park, alongside our refurbished and improved visitor centre and toilet facilities.” The climbing structures have been designed to look realistic and provide a range of different holds and routes for climbers and non-climbers of all abilities to have a go at the growing sport of ‘bouldering’. Bedlington West County Councillor Malcolm Robinson said: “This is going to be a great new feature for this wonderful park, and it’s something I’ve been keen to support through funding. “Plessey Woods is so popular with residents and visitors and we hope that this exciting new free-to-access facility will allow non-climbers to get involved, helping them to keep fit as well as attracting those already involved in the sport that want to practice and improve their skills in a safe outdoor environment.”

https://www.youtube.com/live/jn8AXLt35io... I think what happened at the end of yesterday’s full council meeting was ridiculous! I had questions to ask, if not include in debate, as was put forward by the chair but after he railed against Councillor Hill he then went straight to a vote? That’s why I felt I had to vote against, not enough explanation and cutting any debate from members about how we operate within NCC was a step too far! This is after being told not to contact officers directly and now receiving no paperwork for agendas. Looking at the proposals for the Corporate Services and Economic Growth Overview and Scrutiny committee it looks like we have had our wings firmly clipped! The red strike through are what’s been taken out! This strikes me as another example of manipulation to the deterioration of me being able to work effectively for NCC and my residents! One thing for sure now is that I will be pushing to get better transparency and accountability into this system of local government!

Thanks for your words of encouragement yes Bedlington mining history is acknowledged, but the railways and many other topics and contributions are undervalued. Surely we have enough people no matter where they live who would support and maybe have documentation or artifacts which they could share. There wasn’t the social media that there is nowadays when I volunteered to help out with Beamish. I think that it is vital to first of all to collect as much info on line. The go from there. Perhaps a virtual museum at first. Anyway thanks again for your comments

Should have been done decades ago! It irritates me to see videos on the early railways which make zero mention of our unmatched contribution to the railways. I think there was an effort to kill this solely because of the politics at the time. Surely surely we can get over this in the twenty-first century?!

Thanks it was me Pegwoman. I just strongly believe that Bedlington deserves its own museum. I am currently hoping to gather a group of like minded people who would support the project. Thanks for your comment from so far away Bedlington never leaves those who lived there. I only lived there until I was twelve, but it is still a place I relate too.

I'm not sure who wrote the article but I first thought it was Ian Lavery MP , and Mal was sharing it! Good cause, Good luck whoever it was.

I am suirprised that they wanted tpo upgrade the pitch to artificial turf. I have no idea how many, if any, other teams in the league the terriers played in had 3G. But I would always want Bedlington Dr. Pit Welfare Park to have a Bedlington football team playing there🤞. Good luck Mal

Go for it Mal!!!