I recently returned to Bedlington on my annual pilgrimage "Back Home" and as always visited the family grave.

After a walk around the Church I was shocked at the state of the grave yard and surrounding area.

Does anyone know why the Church has slipped into this state and has anyone any comments to add.

Hi Alanc, the last time I visited St Cuthbert's was at the end of last year and the grounds were under a lot of snow so didn't notice much.

What kind of a state are they in?

There seems to be some kind of disease around that area.It started in the nearby School and is obviously very infectious as it spread to a local Garage and now it looks like there is a possibility the Community Centre is coming down with the illness. I'm not sure what the disease is called but suppose we could call it "Incompetent Council" until it is more clearly identified. Maybe things could look a lot brighter after the recession if the Government introduces a Slum Clearance programme.

There seems to be some kind of disease around that area.It started in the nearby School and is obviously very infectious as it spread to a local Garage and now it looks like there is a possibility the Community Centre is coming down with the illness. I'm not sure what the disease is called but suppose we could call it "Incompetent Council" until it is more clearly identified...

It has been diagnosed! It's called Conservationareaitis!

It's survivable in healthy areas, but when it strikes an already blighted community it can be terminal. It mutated from the one-size-fits-all-socialism virus.

Like many other Bedlingtonians I despair at the state of the town - run down empty buildings, fag ends outside pubs and litter all over the place especially around Tesco in the market place. If people have to smoke then why in God's name don't they put their fag ends in receptacles instead of the pavements - likewise why can't folk put their litter in the bins provided ot take it home with them. We had friends visiting us lately who were not impressed with town area - please, please will someone in authority sort the mess out!

Because of the original post the state of the Church grounds has been brought to the attention of the relevant authorities! Remedial action has been promised.

This may well precipitate a call for volunteers to take part in a clean-up of many areas within Bedlington.

Anyone interested?

Because of the original post the state of the Church grounds has been brought to the attention of the relevant authorities! Remedial action has been promised.

This may well precipitate a call for volunteers to take part in a clean-up of many areas within Bedlington.

Anyone interested?

It would be nice if we could get the owners of the Church School and Elliots Garage interested!

Like many other Bedlingtonians I despair at the state of the town - run down empty buildings, fag ends outside pubs and litter all over the place especially around Tesco in the market place. If people have to smoke then why in God's name don't they put their fag ends in receptacles instead of the pavements - likewise why can't folk put their litter in the bins provided ot take it home with them. We had friends visiting us lately who were not impressed with town area - please, please will someone in authority sort the mess out!

Good post tomtom

...a clean-up of many areas within Bedlington.

Anyone interested?

Count me in!

I can't remember if St Cuthberts is CofE or one of those other dodgy Prot sects? But isn't the Verger the guy who's meant to look after the upkeep? If not then I suggest herding the Sunday crowd out to tidy the place up. Maybe even start a rumour that Songs of Praise are coming ... that'll soon get a rubber-necking crowd in for their 15 minutes of fame; this lot could then be driven out to tidy up.

I'll not have a thing said against Conservation Areas ... they keep the scum-sucking Tory property developers under a degree of control from knocking all the period houses down and felling all the beautiful trees.

Edited July 4, 201115 yr by Symptoms

II'll not have a thing said against Conservation Areas ... they keep the scum-sucking Tory property developers under a degree of control from knocking all the period houses down and felling all the beautiful trees.

It hasn't worked in Bedlington

I can't remember if St Cuthberts is CofE or one of those other dodgy Prot sects? But isn't the Verger the guy who's meant to look after the upkeep?

I believe council have a STATUTORY duty towards church yards, graveyards, etc. for their upkeep. If we are paying for the service then lets have it!

I can't remember if St Cuthberts is CofE or one of those other dodgy Prot sects? But isn't the Verger the guy who's meant to look after the upkeep? If not then I suggest herding the Sunday crowd out to tidy the place up. Maybe even start a rumour that Songs of Praise are coming ... that'll soon get a rubber-necking crowd in for their 15 minutes of fame; this lot could then be driven out to tidy up.

I'll not have a thing said against Conservation Areas ... they keep the scum-sucking Tory property developers under a degree of control from knocking all the period houses down and felling all the beautiful trees.

C of E

Watch that space..........

Because of the original post the state of the Church grounds has been brought to the attention of the relevant authorities! Remedial action has been promised.

This may well precipitate a call for volunteers to take part in a clean-up of many areas within Bedlington.

Anyone interested?

Why volunteers Malcolm? As you say we pay for this service to be done, so it should be done without the need for volunteers to save the cooncil some cash! If they aren't spending this money on what it should be spent,it begs the question 'What the hell ARE they spending it on?'

I agree Merlin and we have to keep up the pressure but if we see the place untidy and we can do something about it why not do it.

If they aren't spending this money on what it should be spent,it begs the question 'What the hell ARE they spending it on?'

If you really want to know............

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AseczIbaCr1qdER3ZHE1YmVfaFEtX1VCVEZVVFlrd2c&hl=en#gid=0