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merry xmas

If it was run correctly in the first place it would have been fine, but it was run by people with no imagination. 78K a year?

I'm with my 'old sparring partner' Monsta on this one. It's wall-to-wall celebs everywhere you look ... cheap & nasty telly (fodder for ITV usually), most of the newspapers, they even infect the so-called serious news programmes. There's even the occasional intrusion into my beloved Guardian ... outrageous! I've got nothing against them as people and yes, they should be welcomed back home, but, but, but, not with a chasing (often invited) pack of paps following in their wake. It always seems to be a cynical manipulation/PR type of event (designed to pander to the needs of the pathetic 'star-struck') when really these celebs should visit their nearest & dearest on the quiet. It's all terribly embarrassing really. Anyway, who is this Janet Middlemarch?

The county haven't suggested we take it on or even made any offer, to date anyway. We're making our own enquiries to see what can be done, which might just be coming up with new ideas for the county and lobbying on behalf of Bedlington. Can't be certain until we get the breakdown, but it must be possible to run the centre for less than £78000 a year

Second - not sure what you mean by your question about 'entirely' voluntary? Are you asking if the town councillors would be looking after the rooms and whether they would want some payment for it? Not at all, I was asking if this would be a completely voluntary assignation if it went to the town council with regards to the county. As it stands taking it on now would wipe out all of this years precept! Neither am I suggesting the town council taking it on is the panacea, I would have thought a very careful examination is called for

I feel strongly that people should be objecting on principle to losing resources such as community centres and libraries. As someone has pointed out maybe the CC is not the best run and if this was improved it would be much more of a hub for community activities. One thing I would specifically like to mention is the parent and toddler group on Tuesdays. The Catholic church are apparently closing their Monday group down as well. As a relative newcomer to the north east, going to groups like this really helped me meet other parents and feel part of a community for the first time since moving to Bedlington! I feel sad that these groups are dwindling. On a cynical note, I bet the council could have easily funded the running of the community centre / library for a year or two with the money they secured from Tesco for the precious York stone (or whatever it is) for the market place.