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There are to many do-gooders now. I think there is a big difference in disciplining a child and abusing a one.. We are talking about a smack here not a full blown assault lets get this right. I think the kids have decided that they are in charge because they are not taught that its their responsibility if the've done wrong and thats because everyone is frightened to do anything about it as it's their so called rights. I don't think there is anything wrong in having a reason to be afraid that a smack will happen if bad behavior is happening child line and ethser rantzen has a lot to answer for.

Although I don't live in Bedders anymore I'm always curious to know what is going on with the Red Lion as I worked there for about 3 years and it was my home as I used to stay there when the bosses were away. I am so disappointed that people are planning on changing it from a Pub into retail space??? I'm all for the restaurant upstairs, I think that is a fab idea but I think someone should be fighting to keep the downstairs as a pub and turn it back into a traditional pub with the quiz night on a thursday with the old spin the wheel, fridays 70's and 80's night, Saturday just a normal party night and maybe bring back the £1 a drink night on a tuesday minus the kids though. I know it's been de-licensed but it's not that hard for someone to get a license back as long as they prove that they are going to put measures in to ensure that it isn't going to be the same as before. that's what happened with the Blue Bell at one point. What it needs is a partnership of a few people, one to take on the upstairs and the other to take on downstairs and I am sure that it would work. Honestly if I had the money I would do it without a 2nd glance. What Bedlington needs is someone who is willing to put their heart and soul into something that will put the town back on the map but they can't do it single handed. The problem with the pubs is that they are all 2 faced. When I worked in the pubs all the owners/landlords/landladys said oh yes we need to do this and that and maybe we can bring some custom back to the town but people were trying and others were sitting back and letting others do the leg work. I tried to get something organised where all the pubs clubbed together and we had a weekend of live entertainment across all the pubs a couple of years ago but that went wrong because when it came to the crunch nobody wanted to risk spending money for it to fall flat on it's face but if you don't try then you don't know. I remember when we used to take 20K a week in the Red Lion and gone are those days because the owner messed the managers around then got some cow in who ran it to the ground and then he closed it, then JR took over it from Blyth and that went even more into the ground and destroyed it. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years time there's the Ridge Farm, The Wharton and the Barrington Arms left at the top end of Bedlington and that's it. It is such a shame with the Red Lion because it has been a pub for so many years and theres so much history behind the place, years ago when the pits were in Bedlington all the miners used to go there on a Friday night before they went home for the weekend and upstairs there were different coloured rooms with certain ladies of the night up there. The pub wasn't half as big then, it has since been extended but I just think that if only someone had made a proper go of it then it would still be there now. RIP Red Lion

Im not keen on the Idea. I would not let my kids (not that I have any) ride/walk down that small dark road next to the police station to get to the BMX track. I can remember the one where the police station is. It was crap. Always full of muddy puddles and kids sitting round drinkin.

I support better facilites for Bedlington. Good news about the BMX track - however just to kill the buzz a bit, who will fund mantaining it and dealing with the increased litter problem, policing needs etc. as you can bet your life kids will hang around there late and drink etc. I know I know, they do anyway, but I think it will increase it. Alas Gallagher Park and surrounding common and woodlands does not have "country park" status. If it was, it would probably be better maintained, better paths, landscaping, bins, dog poo bins etc. I have always thought it would be nice if was like Weetslade Country Park. I asked the council once but they said we have Bedlington Country Park and Plessey Woods so they have no more funding for any additional ones near here. I was quite amused to see the addition of 3 rustic benches on the heap recently though, installed at great expense to the taxpayer Last year having seen a "community payback" scheme in action at QEII country park, where shamed criminals were improving the paths and disabled access, I made some initial enquiries to see if maybe a similar scheme could happen with the heap. At the very least it is in dire need of a serious litter pick. I got a couple of contacts but life got in the way and have been too busy to carry it forward. If anyone interested please send me a message and I can pass on the contacts. It would be a way to improve the facilities without the use of the council's nonexistent coffers. I think if I remember right, national ring fenced money from the probation service is used.