Do They Know Something We Dont!?

[tomtom]

I suspect that one of the reasons for the apparent investment in Bedlington ie Wetherspoons and the new Tesco is the fact that the town is now emerging as a great place to live - well away from the hustle and bustle of Greater Tyneside and on the door step of the countryside. In general I think people appreciate the locality and the better the facilities on offer become the more content people will be. On the other hand, once Wetherspoons is up and running what future for the other pubs who I doubt will be able to match the beer prices.

[Hillbilly]

STOP PRESS... WHATS THIS??.... Scaffolding up at the front of Elliots Garage!???

Any one know what the crack is??

Edited October 4, 2010 by Hillbilly

[Merlin]

They found plenty of cracks...hence the scaffold

[Merlin]

There's an interesting post by Pete in The Sports Club section well worth a read and could have some impact on discussion in here. Have a read and see what you think!

[Malcolm Robinson]

There's an interesting post by Pete in The Sports Club section well worth a read and could have some impact on discussion in here. Have a read and see what you think!

I had to look at the calendar to make sure it wasn't April!

Looks to me like we are starting to get the basics of something we can build on and turn the fortunes of the Town around!

[Pete]

I had to look at the calendar to make sure it wasn't April!

Looks to me like we are starting to get the basics of something we can build on and turn the fortunes of the Town around!

It seems strange that this American has found a big hole in the market, his idea of selling Bedlington terrier merchandice through the Bedlington Terrier worldwide dog club could be a winner. Owing to the number of people that own Bedlington Terriers across the world Bedlington could become a major tourist atraction for these people if the correct infrastructure was in place. Anybody got a few quid to buy or build a new hotel?

[Malcolm Robinson]

Pete,

This was something the Development Trust was considering and not just the Dog emphemerabilia! Also there is talk about the possibility of maybe something along the lines of an annual dog show which would build on the Town's link to the breed and promote tourism in general. At the end of the day we have to work with the hand we have been dealt, but we can always use a bit of nouse to exploit all and any possibilities!

[Merlin]

Things certainly are looking up for Bedlington. The future is bright, the future is Bedlington Terrier white

[Terrier_Tez]

If all this development is going to happen, then why has nobody mentioned a Sports Centre.

This will be good in Bedlington instead of building more houses etc....

I have to go to Crammy to play 5 a side. This town needs something like this to get the kids off the street.

[Malcolm Robinson]

Terrier_Tez,

A sports centre has long been an aspiration for Bedlington, it would seem Ashington and Newbiggin were found more deserving!!!!!

Bedlington Forum pushed this as much as possible with the result Go-Wansbeck came up with some funding, earlier this year, to do a feasibility study. That study had to look at all aspects, with an important one being financial sustainability. It reported that even if it was built with grant funding it wouldn't be financially viable insofar as operating costs went.

Fall-back position was to develop units within school grounds which could be accessed by the community at out of school times, evenings, weekends and school holidays. In fact there was a project on the table already. This was quashed when the new Academy School replacing the High School was proposed and best option then was to try and make sure the sports facilities which would have been brand new there were done in such a way as to make community access easily possible. That Academy idea has gone by the boards now so basically we are back to square one.

Well not exactly there are some people still working on the original concept although it probably won't be a multi-use facility now, more likely a single sport facility.

I think your post highlights another important area worthy of consideration, youth provision within Bedlington or the lack of it. We really need to get this sorted out, it's all very well saying the kids are making a nuisance of themselves hanging around the streets and back alleyways but they really don't have much option.

[Terrier_Tez]

Malcolm.

hanks for the reply.

Well i know it would be used not just by me but the Football Club as well, as they have to train else where. Would have been nice for Bedlington Terriers to train ion Bedlington, then going to Ashing, Crammy etc....

Just a shame "us Lot" in Bedlington get left behind again.

I think Bedlington People should rally against the so called "Council" and demand somethings for Bedlington, as we pay our Council Tax as well, and get nothing in return (well apart from bins being emptied)

[Vic Patterson]

Sports Centre, Leisure Centre, Recreation Centre, all good names for what Bedlington would like, (like or need!) that has to be defined, how close are the facilities that are already available? as it so happens our Recreating Centre is in the process of being redeveloped as it is 40 years old! at a cost of about $20 to $30,000,000!!!

Where is the money coming from? well there is lots of funding around if you can find it! (and secure it) seniors get a lot for such as crown bowling, Aqua fitness etc it often comes from Lotto's, casinos and gambling Education authorities need facilities for fitness like swimming, soccer and gymnasiums. The soccer club need training facilities, there are other groups like running and cycling that could contribute to the running costs (nothing comes free!) when all else fails it is TAXES! (population 2,300)

Our facilities will include some meeting rooms, Community Health Centre, Pre-school centre, and other agencies that will contribute to the running costs, I think the school board pays for the use of the pool, rink and a school hot lunch program.

[Merlin]

Malcolm.

hanks for the reply.

Well i know it would be used not just by me but the Football Club as well, as they have to train else where. Would have been nice for Bedlington Terriers to train ion Bedlington, then going to Ashing, Crammy etc....

Just a shame "us Lot" in Bedlington get left behind again.

I think Bedlington People should rally against the so called "Council" and demand somethings for Bedlington, as we pay our Council Tax as well, and get nothing in return (well apart from bins being emptied)

Tez, I can see us getting on famously! I like your terminology 'us lot' But I would recommend dropping the 'u' from council and replacing it with an 'o'.

[Hillbilly]

Malcolm.

hanks for the reply.

Well i know it would be used not just by me but the Football Club as well, as they have to train else where. Would have been nice for Bedlington Terriers to train ion Bedlington, then going to Ashing, Crammy etc....

Just a shame "us Lot" in Bedlington get left behind again.

I think Bedlington People should rally against the so called "Council" and demand somethings for Bedlington, as we pay our Council Tax as well, and get nothing in return (well apart from bins being emptied)

Bins being emptied... please don't get me warmed up on that one!! We pay as much council tax as some of the counties best looked after areas in the county and the bin men won't bend down to pick a bin bag up off the floor!!!

Edited November 2, 2010 by Hillbilly

[Malcolm Robinson]

Vic,

I think the first part of your post highlights the massive problem of building cost inflation, especially revamp costings. In fact the argument that it is cheaper to build new than renovate is being used at Ashington to justify them getting a new leisure centre!

As for distances to neighbouring facilities then about 5-8 miles in just about any direction. There is an argument bandied around that by us not having our own leisure facility we pay less local rates but then we have to consider we now pay a flat rate countywide and the town councils as yet haven't taken over the facilities in their own patches so their parish precepts don't reflect that anyway. I would say the way it is set up, that argument doesn't hold water, in fact the opposite is true that by having no local facility we are subsidising others! But that's been the case since Adam was a laddie!

I think it would almost certainly be the case if we ever get some sort of facility there would need to be a charge on our local (parish) rates to help towards running costs. Of course users have to take some of the financial responsibilities and pay a sensible amount for their usage. That as well as making a unit fit for as many usages as possible, like your postings shows, is the way to make a facility as sustainable as is possible in this day and age. One of the advantages of a school based facility is that you get buy in by the school and that goes a long way towards sustainability.

If you guys can do that with your population figures I don't see why we can't do something similar with a population figure in excess of 5 times yours!

[Malcolm Robinson]

I think Bedlington People should rally against the so called "Council" and demand somethings for Bedlington, as we pay our Council Tax as well, and get nothing in return (well apart from bins being emptied)

TT,

I think this is something which in an era of austerity and cut backs we really need to sort out. The level of misinformation and ignorance (I am not having a go at any posting here in fact I would include myself in this) is huge. More than half the county budget is ring-fenced for the likes of education, health, emergency services etc, but what is the rest used for? I take an interest in this stuff and I can't give a definitive answer.

Maybe one of our county councillors might like to elucidate?

I have recently questioned the Leader of the County about this, I think he thought I was having a go but I wasn't, I just think engaging with 'knowledgeable' rate payers would be the way to go, given that we are facing massive cuts in budgets which will inevitably lead to cuts in service provision. Maybe we don't want some of the services County currently provide, maybe we want some tailored differently, maybe we are willing to pay for new ones? Without an open, informed and frank debate we will never know.

[Malcolm Robinson]

Seems we preempted Channel 4?

http://www.channel4.com/news/council-spending-reveals-money-mismanagement

[Malcolm Robinson]

Number 9 on the list of 'highest redundancy payments'?

http://www.channel4.com/news/council-spending-revealed-ahead-of-cuts

[crimsonwizard]

everyone talks about the big shops but has anyone noticed the new takeaway thats called eats and treats to go i went there the food was lush its next door to mergerats hairdresser i will certainly go back

[Monsta®]

everyone talks about the big shops but has anyone noticed the new takeaway thats called eats and treats to go i went there the food was lush its next door to mergerats hairdresser i will certainly go back

Didn't that use to be a food place? what was it called?

Ah good old google maps

Wiskys thats it!

[Merlin]

Well word must be getting round that Bedlington is on the up and up, first Tesco then Wetherspoons and a billionaire at The Terriers wow what next? Well The Big Issue seller has given up her spot at Morpeth and has took up residence outside Bedlington Tesco :dribble:

[Malcolm Robinson]

Been checking out this parking survey and it would seem Bedders is being classed as having as many tourists and visitors as Morpeth and Alnwick?

Time we had a 'visit historic Bedlington' sign on the A1 then!

[Andy Millne]

Time we had a 'visit historic Bedlington' sign on the A1 then!

A single mention on http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/ would be a start.

[Merlin]

How about starting small and getting rid of them S********n A****e signs and replacing them them with Bedlington This Way signs :dribble: