Bedlington Weekly Market

[tomtom]

I had thought (and hoped) that once the weekly market had transferred from the car park to the revamped Front Street area near the market cross that it would become more of a small town market selling what markets should sell (i,e) Fruit and Vegetables,Breads and Cakes and other consumeables with the stall selling bird seeds being an asset to we bird and wild life lovers, What we don't need are stalls selling bric-a-brac, rubbishy second hand junk and past the sell by date provisions.

[Malcolm Robinson]

That exact point has been made time after time at Town Council meetings but nowt's changed?

Also the fact that we went halvers with Ashington on the new stalls with the colourful covers on and where are they? Seems its too expensive to put them up these days?????????? That was two or three grand well spent then!

The restoration and resurgence of small town markets is/was a central plank in the County's economic regeneration policy, I presume that's netty paper now?

[Keith Scantlebury]

I had thought (and hoped) that once the weekly market had transferred from the car park to the revamped Front Street area near the market cross that it would become more of a small town market selling what markets should sell (i,e) Fruit and Vegetables,Breads and Cakes and other consumeables with the stall selling bird seeds being an asset to we bird and wild life lovers, What we don't need are stalls selling bric-a-brac, rubbishy second hand junk and past the sell by date provisions.

If anyone else made a mess like that every Thursday in the Market Place, they would be nicked for fly tipping.

[doglover]

i TOTALLY AGREE WITH TOM TOM. WHY DOES EVERYTHING THE COUNCIL STARTS DOES IT FINISH AS A RIGHT FARCE. wHY IS IT WE HAVE TO SUCCUMB TO CAR BOOT SALES .i AM SURE IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THEY JUST HOLD THEIR HANDS UP TO FAILURE AND ADMIT IT HASN'T WORKED. PLEASE STOP MAKING OUR STREETS A TIP.

[Symptoms]

Just in case anybody missed it I wrote the following in "The Lion Garage" thread:

"Bedders needs a Waitrose ... folks would come from miles around. Waitrose would be an 'anchor store' attracting other worthy retailers and various top-notch refreshment outlets. The prices would ensure the shell suit hordes didn't infest the place resulting in a rather pleasant shopping experience for the visiting 'county set'. All could be centralised around the Market Place with Waitrose built on that empty patch at the back; obviously all those bland buildings would have to go and be replaced with nice bijou establishments. Just imagine the scene - smart couples clad in expensive designer gear promenading up and down Front Street, quaffing their cappuccinos in some pavement cafe, loading their quality groceries into their Range Rovers before heading home to their Georgian piles 'up country'. Tons of dosh being spent and plenty of work for the villagers. You know it makes sense. "

Oh, if the Moderators want to 'smack my bot' for double posting I'll happily bend over and take my punishment.

[John Fox (foxy)]

Just in case anybody missed it I wrote the following in "The Lion Garage" thread:

"Bedders needs a Waitrose ... folks would come from miles around. Waitrose would be an 'anchor store' attracting other worthy retailers and various top-notch refreshment outlets. The prices would ensure the shell suit hordes didn't infest the place resulting in a rather pleasant shopping experience for the visiting 'county set'. All could be centralised around the Market Place with Waitrose built on that empty patch at the back; obviously all those bland buildings would have to go and be replaced with nice bijou establishments. Just imagine the scene - smart couples clad in expensive designer gear promenading up and down Front Street, quaffing their cappuccinos in some pavement cafe, loading their quality groceries into their Range Rovers before heading home to their Georgian piles 'up country'. Tons of dosh being spent and plenty of work for the villagers. You know it makes sense. "

Oh, if the Moderators want to 'smack my bot' for double posting I'll happily bend over and take my punishment.

I'm not sure if your having a joke or just working your ticket as usual Symp but if I could vote this posting down I would.

[Symptoms]

A worky ticket? Moi?

"... but if I could vote this posting down I would. " Gagging 'little old' Symptoms - poo.

You know a lovely Waitrose would look great there!

[Maggie/915]

The Red Lion are about to get the Mordue Breweries Radgie Gadgie.

What is not to like about controversy.

[Maggie/915]

Seems there was talk of a shopping centre in the past.

[Malcolm Robinson]

In the News Post Leader 'All out yesterdays' section recently they reported plans by BUDC to build a shopping centre, hotel and leisure centre. That was 1962.

In the early 70's I know there was project put forward to build a shopping centre on what has come to be known as the Gap Site. I have seen the plans!

In the 90's I know there was a project put forward to build a walkthrough shopping centre on the Gap Site again.

First two were stuffed by WDC, the last by NCC and the Health Authority.

Seems Bedlington has always been well served by local authorities!

[John Fox (foxy)]

.

And still are.

Edited January 31, 2013 by foxy

[John Fox (foxy)]

In the News Post Leader 'All out yesterdays' section recently they reported plans by BUDC to build a shopping centre, hotel and leisure centre. That was 1962.

In the early 70's I know there was project put forward to build a shopping centre on what has come to be known as the Gap Site. I have seen the plans!

In the 90's I know there was a project put forward to build a walkthrough shopping centre on the Gap Site again.

First two were stuffed by WDC, the last by NCC and the Health Authority.

Seems Bedlington has always been well served by local authorities!

This lot we have now take some Beating!

[threegee]

...

That was 1962.

...

Seems Bedlington has always been well served by local authorities!

I remember the 1962 utopian vision very well, and recalled it here many moons ago. Then I was young and silly enough to believe that it would happen. The later proposals called for a much larger degree of scepticism. Historically it all goes back to the local aristos frustrating George Stevenson's simple plan. That bit of political manipulation not only cost Bedlington dearly, it also cost peoples' lives!

But, whilst there were undoubtedly external forces to point fingers at, complete failure to get our act together is the main culprit. Consistently and overwhelmingly voting for a single party in the conviction that its Hampstead-dwelling elites cared a jot about what went on 280 miles North of their cosy intellectual pursuits, was the other. Nothing changed because the town short-circuited the democratic process - it allowed itself to be both taken for granted and totally written off by the respective political parties, and at both national and local levels. Nothing ever happened because nothing ever needed to happen!

The farce nowadays is that the Labour Party, which has cost the town so dear, has moved on from Socialism. Bedlington has not woken up to this simple fact, and continues to sell its votes for the proverbial mess of pottage! It might have been that a close-run contest between the LD's and Labour would have got us out of the mire, but the LD's, faced with the realities of power, have now killed their chances stone dead. Another gleam of hope consigned to the "All our yesterdays" inside-page-filler of history!

[Symptoms]

" ... Hampstead-dwelling elites .... cosy intellectual pursuits"

Just imagine 3G - all that could be ours here in Bedders. The joy which is to be had frequenting Hampstead High Street could be experienced on Front Street - folks would come from miles around.

[threegee]

http://www.nw3hampst...stead-shopping/

Hampstead NW3 is famous for its historic and leafy streets as well as for the unique setting of Hampstead Heath – 800 acres of glades, woodland, heath land, meadows, swimming and boating ponds, footpaths and the most stunning panoramic views...

Activities include open-air concerts on summer evenings on the slopes below Kenwood House, book and poetry readings and fun fairs. Hampstead also has theatres, museums, a cinema and several art galleries. At weekends musicians play in the High Street and a walk through Hampstead's historic streets unveils some of London's oldest and most beautiful streets and more Blue Plaques than anywhere else...

No solicitors; no estate agents; no social club; no chippy; no dole office - what a crap place!

[tomtom]

......are there any intellectuals in Bedders - if there are then show yourself and together we can move forward to victory and defeat those who plot against us!

[Maggie/915]

A neighbour once confided in me that Bedlington is/was not like it used to be!

People walk past your house and you do not know who they are!

Maybe we need to appreciate that it is a brilliant place to live.

One day things will change.