Bedlington........Dying On Its A..e

[rosco]

Didn't/Hadn't realised how scruffy and run down Bedlington is till yesterday,we all know about council cutbacks etc and the long winded market place development but don't people take any pride with the appearance of house and gardens anymore

I walked down to the post office at the spar and the state of front gardens in a lot of houses is embarrassing,now i appreciate some people ie elderly disabled may or cant keep gardens tidy but as for the rest..........come on have some pride in your house do you really want to live in a house that looks a 5h1thole from the outside 

Later on i walked up to Boots in Front street and first impressions on a nice sunny day looking up from Northumberland Arms towards Red Lion is good........but on closer inspection Oh dear what a mess. Excluding the the Tesco/Great Wall Of Bedlington Site shops are closing at an alarming rate....The Wool Shop,Durham Beds and Theresa's Ices.on a plus note it was good to see workman inside the old Lloyd's Pharmacy shop but i will reserve judgement until i see what opens no doubt another hair/nail/takeaway or cafe

The Development of the Lairds House was supposed to have stated by now or have owners decided its a dead loss and what on earth is going on in the Barrington Arms it looks like a cheap conversion to flats done really badly

I presume the new owners of Market Tavern are running on a shoestring judging by hand written signs in windows and the shockingly bad plastic hanging baskets as well as only opening on limited days to sell cheap beer.Which brings me nicely to another problem in the Front Street.....Breakers Bar and its clientele who were congregated outside in full view and what a smart bunch they were🤣Bedlingtons finest.On a side note has there been a increase in single male/unemployed/drink/drug related people moving to our town recently or do all the lowlife head to Breakers Bar during the day

Do we have no litter bins in Bedlington or are people just to lazy to walk over to them and would rather chuck it on the ground and who will no doubt vandalise the flower planters on a Friday night.Of course as well as no bins🤭we have no toilets.....every town centre has at least one working public loo except Bedlington.

I used to be proud to live in a nice town but when people now ask where i live i'm almost embarrassed to tell them Bedlington

 

Edited May 15, 2018 by rosco
spelling

[moe19]

Well said that man,

 

Mind a suppose we should be grateful for what  wa have, like  the giant cardboard cut outs,  one of Scooby-Doo  (with a big boil on one of his lugs) and  one of Thomas the Tank engine, down Atley Park, am not sure what the one on the entrance from Choppington is , but it looks like the grandfatha clock from the Addams Family hoouse.

Rumour has it wa gana get a giant model of King Kong on top of the old council offices   ta put the wind up all them gannin ta sign on 🤯 

 

Edited May 16, 2018 by moe19

[mercuryg]

What a pity to find such comments as this. I no longer live there, but upon returning (as I regularly do) it's always a joy to drive down the wide, tree-lined Front Street - it looks lovely at this time of year - and admire the flowers and planters that have so lovingly been put together by volunteers who take pride in the town. I guess I'm not one to focus on the negatives. 

I'm a little perplexed by Rosco's comments about the Market Tavern; it's a private business, they don't have money to burn, at least they've made an effort. As for them 'only opening on limited days', in the same sentence you complain about Breaker's Bar, which is open every day! What do you want? Bars open, or bars closed? 

Shops are closing at an alarming rate: why? Because people don't use them. I don't know where you shop, but maybe directing your expenditure closer to home might see these shops NOT close, although like you I have little use for wool or ice cream.

Moe: the sculptures you mention celebrate the history and culture of the town, which should surely be more prominent and encouraged. Bedlington was a world centre in the development of the railways, yet there's barely a mention. At least those who commissioned the works mentioned did so with this in mind. The village nearest tome here has a long-standing history of military service; you can't move an inch without being reminded of it. It's good that people are proud of the history of their town.

Perhaps look for the positives next time; yes, parts of the town are run down and tired (and I'm amazed it's taken this long to notice) but others are very attractive, unique and welcoming. 

[moe19]

6 hours ago, mercuryg said:

. I no longer live there, . 

Ya hit the nail rite on the heed hinny

[webtrekker]

Yes, Bedlington's a lovely place......... to pass through! 🚗 <<<<<<<<<<<<--------------

[John Fox (foxy)]

I usually stop and have a pint......love the place

[moe19]

Edited May 20, 2018 by moe19

[moe19]

One of our so called historic buildings 🤣

I love the curtains,   they may well be an original  pair of Queen Victoria's old bloomers,  with significant historical value 😂

It will take more than a few pots of pansies to tidy this place up

[mercuryg]

On 18/05/2018 at 15:03, moe19 said:

Ya hit the nail rite on the heed hinny

Yeah, I moved from a place where there is apparently nothing, to a place where there is actually nothing. You think Bedlington had potholes? You reckon the town has no facilities? Try here! The point I was making is that, to coin a phrase, you don't miss your water until your well runs dry. Bedlington is a pretty, historic and friendly town. Cherish it.

[moe19]

22 minutes ago, mercuryg said:

 Bedlington is a pretty, historic and friendly town. Cherish it.

Historic is nay good if ya want ta buy a pair of shoes or a shart an pants hinny , historic is nay good if ya want ta use a branch of ya  bank Historic is nay good if ya oot on the street and want ta gan t the Lavvy. 

Its a doorty owld pit village hinny not Stonehenge, apart from St Cuthberts church it has really nowt else worth looking at. Its plagued with drink and drugs problems  and vandalism an burglaries  just the same as most places these days, what's left of the streets shops are a collection hairdressers, barbers,  takeaways and tattoo parlours most of em hidden behind rusty owld shutters that rarely go up . What you call the  market place is a mess of boarded up graffiti covered empty shops, with the so called historic buildings  on the street sporting plastic  widows and front doors from B&Q , satellite dishes blooming like mushrooms on the walls and air con units hinging oboot the place, All the empty lots and areas especially around the Court House  are overgrown  and full of rubbish.

A rekon that optician ont front street must be selling  some folk glasses wi rose tinted lenses  😎  

 

 

   

[mercuryg]

Historic is great if you make something of it, capitalise on the heritage of the town, and make that the reason people want to visit. What follows then is that retailers have people to sell something to. I'm aware that at least one of the local County Councillors is of the same train of thought.

The short-sightedness of some people is infuriating. You're getting a new town centre development that has been pushed for for many years; it won't please everyone, but I'm pretty sure when it's done, you'll be able to buy a pair of socks. The question is this: will you? Will you, and others, utilise the local shops and satisfy their need for footfall, or will you continue to shop in bigger, more expansive superstores elsewhere? Because Bedlington, thanks to it's available space and location, is never going to get a Manor Walks, or even a Bebside Asda. You're always going to have smaller, satellite stores offering the basics. 

For the record, if you want the lavvy when you're out, the Red Lion welcomes you, and no, you don't have to buy a drink. As for local banks, they're a thing of the past throughout the country - and in the wider Western world. A bit like cheque books. 

I concur with you about the problems with vandalism and so on (although I would say I see more examples of a drugs and drink problem in my local, much smaller town than back there) but that's not the town's fault, and nor is it that of the people who are trying their best to improve things. It's something the police need to tackle.

Here's an idea: if you're so bothered about it, why not put your hand in? I see plenty posts on FB about people organising litter picks in the parks; there's volunteer groups who tend to the planters and hanging baskets on Front Street; goodness, you could even pick up a piece or two of that rubbish blowing about the place, and put it in the bin! There's a thought for you!

 

 

[webtrekker]

I take your point about people not using local shops in favour of larger superstores. 

Years ago I used to run a market stall. Ashington, Blyth, Cramlington, no problem, good sales all the time. Bedlington though? .......... nothing but a bunch of tight wads! No wonder the market collapsed in Bedlington. 

 

[moe19]

51 minutes ago, mercuryg said:

Historic is great if you make something of it, capitalise on the heritage of the town, and make that the reason people want to visit. . 

For the record, if you want the lavvy when you're out, the Red Lion welcomes you, and no, you don't have to buy a drink. As for local banks, they're a thing of the past throughout the country - and in the wider Western world. A bit like cheque books. 

re's an idea: if you're so bothered about it, why not put your hand in? I see plenty posts on FB about people organising litter picks in the parks; there's volunteer groups who tend to the planters and hanging baskets on Front Street; goodness, you could even pick up a piece or two of that rubbish blowing about the place, and put it in the bin! There's a thought for you!

 

 

Hinny  ya sound like a canny lad but ya living in Cuckoo land. if ye think Bedlingtons historical , hysterical mevies , its all in ya mind hinny, its a pit village the same as Ashington Blyth Pegswood and Choppington, and a divint see flocks of tourists gannin doon ta the Gate in search of ootside netties and weshhooses  ta photograph.

And if ya think I am ganna climb the hill from Morrisons and cross the rooundaboot ta the Red Lion ta have a mutta then ya must be barmy a can hardly climb the stairs in the hoouse, we have a porfectyly good lavvy  in the car park boarded up. and a pay my council tax ta Wansbeck not Weatherspoons.

I run a business have done for years and my customers all pay me in cash that has ta be banked, a cannit pay punds shillings and pence in ta me keyboard hinny ,a have ta trail owa ta Cramlington and bank it, and for the record a still post cheques  to pay me suppliers  

And as for face book or whatever it is a never used it and probably never will, it seems addictive like  crack or booze, a see all these zombies bumping in ta each other walking  around the supermarket  or ont the streets staring at  face book on tha phones in some sort of trance, and litter picks what a laugh the weeds are up ta ya neck hinny under the weeds aint just litter its owld pushcairs and car tyres ya would need a fleet o skips, an why should folk risk injury doing jobs like that, we pay for them sarvices man, its like paying the winda cleaner an tellin him ya will weesh the windas ya sell .

Them new shops, if they ever get anyone interested in taking one they better give em it rent and rates free an pay the electric and staff wages for the them,coss a tell ya nay one we any business sence would ever hoy tha money away trying ta sell owt in Bedlington

Aye ya a canny lad hinny, but as a say ya livin in La La land          

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

On 18/05/2018 at 19:21, webtrekker said:

Yes, Bedlington's a lovely place......... to pass through! 🚗 <<<<<<<<<<<<--------------

I find that most born and bred Bedlington folk, that now live elsewhere (because of work, marriage etc.), like to stop and say hello to Bedlington people and socialise with them. I would expect that anyone interested in Bedlington, for whatever reason,  who spend time and money there . Anyone that didn't  then surely they should just take a different route to get to where you would like to stop . 

 

[Ovalteeny]

Thanks to rosco for opening up this topic (lighting the blue touch paper) and then standing back. It's always good to see the subsequent responses. Personally, I'd much rather read the ones whose glasses are half full (i.e. Foxy & Eggy) than those who are half empty. Sure there are always things than can be improved and Bedlington is lucky that there are still people who are concerned and care about the town, people who will organise and sort out issues, people who will stand against the establishment and try to make changes for the greater good and for the wider majority. But all these things take time and effort. Whingeing will not change anything.

So, moe19 and rosco, if things are that bad and you are so unhappy with the town, then vote with your feet and try to find somewhere better, somewhere that will make you both happy and proud to live.

By the way, we all pay our "council tax" to Northumberland County Council and not Wansbeck, that changed something like a decade ago. 

[moe19]

15 minutes ago, Ovalteeny said:

 Whingeing will not change anything.

So, moe19 and rosco, if things are that bad and you are so unhappy with the town, then vote with your feet and try to find somewhere better, somewhere that will make you both happy and proud to live.

 

Hinny if folk divint winge noowt will change, and am not sittinn wi me hand owa me gobb ta keep the likes of yee happy.

And am not upsticks an moving the bussiness  av ran for years  an me hooose coss ye and ya marrows divint like ta hear what av got ta say aboot the one horse toon wi live in.

If you happy hinny thats champion am chuffed for ya , but divint try an tell me ta pack me bags and bu--er off   

 

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

On 16/05/2018 at 13:19, moe19 said:

Well said that man,

 

Mind a suppose we should be grateful for what  wa have, like  the giant cardboard cut outs,  one of Scooby-Doo  (with a big boil on one of his lugs) and  one of Thomas the Tank engine, down Atley Park, am not sure what the one on the entrance from Choppington is , but it looks like the grandfatha clock from the Addams Family hoouse.

Rumour has it wa gana get a giant model of King Kong on top of the old council offices   ta put the wind up all them gannin ta sign on 🤯 

 

Gateway features that someone made the effort to design - commission and have placed : -

 

Photos taken by Simon Williams

So there are people enjoying the Gateway features.

What idea have you come up with @moe19 that will please all of the people all of the time? 

 

Edited May 23, 2018 by Eggy1948

[moe19]

35 minutes ago, Eggy1948 said:

Gateway features that someone made the effort to design - commission and have placed : -

 

So there are people enjoying the Gateway features.

What idea have you come up with @moe19 that will please all of the people all of the time? 

 

Wee are these folk enjoying these so called features Eggy,  it must be ye and ya marrows cos everyone a naa said they are a waste of dosh, they look like sumic the bairns have cut out at school  and should be clagged on the classroom walls, an all tell ya sumic else if ya asked anyone what tha were supposed ta be they would not have a clue.

If ya like em Eggy hinny teck them owa ta Seghill and clag them up owa there an see what the lads in the comrades think aboot them a can tell ya exacly where they will say ta stick them 😲

Your anotha one who doest not live in Bedlington tellin wa wots good for us and wot wa should be doing

Ya want ta try sorting Segghole oot before ya start on Bedlington

Edited May 23, 2018 by moe19

[Ovalteeny]

 

[moe19]

 

[Canny lass]

On 21/05/2018 at 13:09, moe19 said:

Historic is nay good if ya want ta buy a pair of shoes or a shart an pants

How many people in Bedlington would prefer to buy their shoes, shirts and trousers in Bedlington? I’m not denying that there are some who would and some for whom it is necessary, but for every one such person you can show me, I’ll wager that at least twenty would prefer a day out in ‘the toon’ or even Blyth or Ashington. Why? There’s a better selection of brands and shops in a town larger than Bedlington and the goods are often cheaper. That it’s a bit of a day out, and away from the kitchen sink with somebody else preparing and cooking your lunch is another good reason – at least for women – to prefer Blyth, Ashington or Newcastle.

There are reasons for that which I’m sure that you Moe – being a businessman – will understand. Businesses, retail businesses in particular, have a tendency to place their outlets where there are potential customers, so choosing a place like Newcastle rather than Bedlington makes more economic sense. The potential market is greater. This, in turn, helps determine the cost of your shoes, shirts and trousers. Buying in bulk from the manufacturer gives a better price per article. For a business to buy in twenty shirts will cost a great deal more – per shirt – than buying 1 000shirts. Naturally, the cost is passed on to the customer. But of course you know all that, being a businessman.

I may be wrong, but I believe the demise of the market in Bedlington may have had something to do with this. Bedlington people are not “a bunch of tight wads”, as webtrekker puts it. I know many Bedlingtonians who preferred to visit the market in Blyth simply because it was ‘a day out’ and it was a bigger market with a better selection of goods.

Large chain stores in Bedlington are not really a viable proposition. I don’t think it’s ever going to happen, unless the population at least doubles, and there’s not a great chance of that happening as it seems that many people are opposed to more housing being built. Which brings me to the question ‘Where do we go from here?

It seems to me that if we don’t want more people living in Bedlington then we should be investing in getting people to visit Bedlington. Shops – brand names and chain stores – don’t appear to be the answer. There isn’t a big enough market among the population and who’s going to travel to Bedlington from Ashington or Blyth for shops? They’ve got shops of their own!

I think we may have to accept that Bedlington is what it is – a dormitory town, and a very nice one at that! As Mercury says, Bedlington has a great deal of potential just waiting to be cashed in on. Its history is just one part of that but it needs people in order to come alive. Those people don’t have to be’ tourists’. Plain, ordinary, everyday ‘visitors’ will do just as well so thank heavens that Bedlington seems to have a bunch of people (a majority, I believe) who are dedicated to trying to make that happen by helping to make the town attractive.

Yes, Bedlington has its black spots. Yes, Bedlington has taken a back seat when it comes to getting money for improvements and yes, it is time to turn things round. That won’t happen as long as negative thinking prevails – even among the few.

[Canny lass]

On 21/05/2018 at 13:09, moe19 said:

Its a doorty owld pit village hinny

I noted with interest, Moe, that you were unaware of the NCC having replaced Wansbeck DC. Maybe it has also escaped your attention that Bedlington is not a “village”. Bedlington is a town.

A village cannot and does not have a mayor or local government because a village is part of a town.

 A town, on the other hand, has fixed boundaries and a local government

A village has a population of a few hundred to a few thousand.

A town has a population of one thousand to twenty thousand.

[moe19]

18 hours ago, Canny lass said:

There are reasons for that which I’m sure that you Moe – being a businessman – will understand. Businesses, retail businesses in particular, have a tendency to place their outlets where there are potential customers, so choosing a place like Newcastle rather than Bedlington makes more economic sense. .

Whey av probablly forgoten more aboot business than ye will ever knaa, wi been runnin worse for owa forty year and its still  gannin strang .

But am pleased ya agree wi me that them new shops are never gan a meck anyone any money and are doomed afore they open   .

Its nee good selling Champagne when the demand is for Broon Ale hinny

Edited May 24, 2018 by Andy Millne
Personal insults

[moe19]

35 minutes ago, Canny lass said:

I noted with interest, Moe, that you were unaware of the NCC having replaced Wansbeck DC. Maybe it has also escaped your attention that Bedlington is not a “village”. Bedlington is a town.

.

Ehhh a thusand apologies pet. mind  If that intarrested ya hinny   you must have had a slack day,

A will have ta start and call it a doorty one horse Toon.

Mevies  wa can make one o them new shops inta a Toon Hall , betta than stannin empty

 

Edited May 23, 2018 by moe19

[Ovalteeny]