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How much can it cost to keep a lavy open, they don't have piped music or white jacketed attendants to hold your jacket or spray you with cologne and offer you a fresh towel in fact your lucky if they have any toilet paper. A lick over with a mop and a dollop of jeyes fluid the cost is a drop in the ocean when you see what is been blown on other fanciful plans costing millions.

It's a data collection tower for use by NAREC the offshore wind agency. As well as anemometry it collects other data.

Three in Morpeth Malcolm, all seem to very nice with music playing one even has pictures hanging on the walls, and they have attendants (not white jacketed ones spraying you with cologne) I believe the main street in Ashington also has a lavy , no surprise in that they have everything else . Blyth also has two that I can think of again with attendants. And Cramlington also has very nice public toilets. Anyone who attended last weeks fair must have been peed off, literally. I know some of the publicans were by folk using the toilets and not buying nowt. I suppose its typical for Bedlington, we aint got as much as a pot ta p - - s in . .

Funny you should mention that. When I was in Sicily earlier this year I saw a group of nuns splahing about in the sea, fully clothed. They appeared to be having the time of their life, laughing and shrieking like children. ... and we all share the same world which is even more important. ... used to? Now you've just spoiled my picture of you!

I was refused the use of the Library toilets four weeks ago, The Librarian told me they weren't for public use but I should be able to use the Health Centres Loo if they were open.

Very informative post. Thankyou. So Northumberland County Council which is based in Morpeth and supposedly moving to Ashington at some point both have fully maintained public conveniences. The one in Morpeth car park over the bridge hasn't long been refurbished. My point being that Bedlington is always at the bottom of their priority list. Surely even the rentable Portacabin style ( not portaloo thunderboxes) be a start until they decide what to do with the old ones.

First of all public toilets are a casualty of NCC cost cutting. Its NCC who haver responsibility over public loos throughout the county. Now having said that the Town Council have asked about the one opposite the library with a view to taking it over and getting it reopened. There are major problems with tree root damage which NCC wouldn't justify spending the money on and if they couldn't the Town Council would be facing a huge extra bill. As it is the Library is open for the public to use their toilets and are now being paid to do so.......... Next ones down in the old Tesco car park..........see picture thanks to Foxy. These are now within the Arch development site or should that be were! Lastly the ones down in Attlee Park, the Town Council are seeing about getting them reopened but only if its cost effective. Now I appreciate all the comments but all of the above information was and is available through the Town Council and everyone can go to the monthly meeting. Failing that all the minutes and agendas as published on the web site...... http://www.westbedlington.org.uk

I don't think think they would appreciate me dropping in on a Monday morning after a weekends worth of beer and an Indian curry to offload . Jokes aside though, this is a problem that needs addressed with supposedly more shops opening. You never know when you might unexpectedly need to use these facilities when you are out and about. But if you were to be so desperate as to relive yourself behind a wall you would be fined for urinating in public. Instead money wasted on new Street lighting in the housing estates which is dimmer than before and makes you feel more unsafe walking your dog late at night.

Cameron gave special advisers pay rises of 24% when most of public sector got just 1% ...and on it goes. The more you look into Cameron, his background, and what he got up to, the more you realise what a self-serving lying turd we elected as a PM. It's almost as if we learned nothing from the Blair years. Perhaps this is part of why May is so keen that we should believe that she means what she says, and will actually get on with what she has promised. A long overdue overhaul of the honours system, and a total clean out the House of Lords can't be too big an ask - can it?

ooo ad hominem -- not heard that for a while - it brought back memories of oxford and camels in tents (no that wasn't an initiation thing!) canny lass you need to read Private Eye' excellent cartoon in todays edition of the thought police tackling a woman for wearing a burkini until she explains she is a Carmelite nun! .... ahem - attitudes and press agitation come to mind - after all the nuns have been garbed like that since the days of Cadfael and no-one objected. <-- haven't got a nobbly prize either but a few mates are FRS lol which I think is one below. (he did ok with that dynamite invention!!!) I used to have long hair and long beard and I was asked by a quite concerned Muslim if it was for religious reasons as he was worried I was some sort of radical. knowing some of the Muslim community for many years they have been worried for a long time about the disenfranchisement of their children. I recall going to a party in a shebeen in Deptford with a Rasta friend, many years ago, and I was a bit concerned as I would be the only 'white face' there. he said "It's ok, they hate everybody" time we accepted the fact we all share the same basic DNA strands and get on with life, after all whats a bit of melanin atween friends?? there are much more nasty and dangerous human traits than colour or background! I was told in Belfast in the 80's that hate -is not a basic human instinct and it has to be taught. maybe a lesson for us all. (er sorry that was a rambling rant - ill take the medication now)

do they have letterboxes??

Whey,aam a bit late o' finding this thread,but just as weel cos if a start wi aal the nyems a knew at Choppington high pit,and aal thi fowks a knew at Choppington and Guide post...........aal not get ti bed thi neet! Ti hell!....let's see hoo many a can mind of..... Started the pit in 1959,but lived at Hollymount Square in Bedlington by then. Born in Gudepost,lived also at Storey's Buildings,on the Willow bridge.....till 1947/8,then Bedltn after that. Started in the timber yard wi Pat [Paddy] Purcell..[a went ti school at Westridge with his Daughter Pat..lovely jovial lass..],and his marra was Tommy Taylor. Jimmy Framm was the Keeker,[in charge of aal the men on bank],Ned Cushing was the Training Officer,[both of who remembered my Father working there as a laddie 14yr old putting,in 1929!] George Ferguson was the screens chargehand,[an NUM man,but paid a few shulling extra for tekking charge],old Jackie Levison was on the screens with only one hand,[he knew me the day a started,and said "are ye Bill A...........'s Son,lad?,ya the spitting image of him when he was a laddie!] [aa was 15 yrs aad] John Brown was also on the screens,[he had one leg blown off by a dropped .303 rifle..the bullet took his leg off above the knee,and he stood aal day at the screen belts on an artificial leg]....smashing bloke wi us kids. "Baggy" [?] was also a chargehand on the screens,him and Geordie Ferguson were the only two awful-natured and bad tempered fella's oot o' aal the Heapstead men. Bobby and Davy Wood....Banksmen,Alfie Cairns [senior]...Winderman,["Brakesman"],Walter Gobin[R.I.P. Walter]....Shakers,John Richardson....Shakers,"Chalkie" White,....cleaning tubs oot alang a gantry from the Heapstead..Willie Givens..Pit pond cleaner-a-oot-a-raa.... He's Brother,Arthur Givens..Shunter,Ronnie Hunt,...Shunter,Harvey [?]....Shunter,Old Jimmy Mitcheson [R.I.P.] [?]...travelled and repaired the branch line from the Low Pit up ti thi High Pit every day.,old Jimmy Armstrong[?] ..Oiler on the Heapstead,[R.I.P.],old Billy Puntin [R.I.P.] ...Underground oiler,Billy Smith..Baths attendant,Mr Fenwick..Manager,Cyril Bird..Undermanager..,Jimmy Marley..Manager's Clerk,Davy Mitcheson..Timeclerk["timekeeper"] Charlie Dent..Lampcabin man,Harry Dent [brother]..pit Deputy,Raffie Weightman..Blacksmith,Alan Stewart[?],Blacksmith [and pony shoe-er],Bob Nichol..Blacksmith,Jimmy ["Sticker"] Nichol..big coal-filler,Harvey Knox..Onsetter and union Secretary,Billy Proctor..Onsetter,Les ["Fingers"] Dawson..Shaft-bottom pushing tubs into cage,[full'uns],Jimmy [?] Greaves..Shaft-bottom hanging chummins on ti thi rope,[empty tubs],Harry Barnes.Horse-keeper, Arthur Fennel..Horse-keeper and union treasurer,Basil Hunt [?]..Shaft-bottom superviser [new created job],Alfie Cairns [Junior]..Loader-end,Geordie Sproat...Loader-end,Larry Thompson[?]..Loader-end..[bad accident to his leg nearly killed him-Chris Arkle ..Fore-Overman saved his life],Joe Barratt.. Back-Overman,Fen Barratt...Ventilation Officer,Danny Barratt..Pit Deputy, [all Brothers],Ray Barratt ...Linesman,[Fen's Son][was in my class at school], Bartie Slaughter,Willie Humble,and Jimmy Aitchieson....all Rolleywaymen [and haulage -rope splicers],George McCallum,Surveyor[?] Linesman,Ronnie Barber ..Surveyor [?] Linesman,Bob Barber..[brother]..Timberleader,Old Jake Jenkinson..Button-man,Dor Dreyer..Main-Timber-set lad,"Cockney" Ernie Watson..[Dor's cross-marra on the set],"Maverick" Dennis Barwick..,Frankie Greaves..Eddie Allison,John Halliday,..all Timber-leaders,Bobby Brooks..Tony Shippam,and John Mash[R.I.P.],all Girder-leaders,John Dickinson..John Wardlow..and Me...Heavy transport lads,George Wardlow..[John's Brother]..Shaft bottom..Dreggin fullun's up on the Kip,Jimmy Armstrong[?]..Button Man,Billy Myers..Overman..[knew me Father when he was a laddie also at 14 yr old..in the 1930's!,old "Salt" Dawson,Bart Dawson,Tucker Dawson,Harry.["Harper"]Dawson..Coal-fillers,[same family]"Big Toss" Dawson... Cutterman,"Daa-Daa" Alan Dawson...Driller,Billy,Tommy,Dickie Nicholson....all Coal-fillers on the same face![brothers] ,Raffie Nicholson..[brother also]... Timber-leader. Ronnie Brown..Filler,Geordie Brown..Timberladdie,Curly Taylor and Walter Etheridge..Coal-cuttermen,Harvey Tilbury.."Scrammer" George Young.. ..Jimmy Prime..Cuttermen,Johnny Gobin ..Caunchman,Geoff [his Son]..Coal-filler,Brian "Doc" Gobin[ also Johnny's Son]..Timber-laddie,John Arkle..Master-Shifter,Chris Arkle [afore-mentioned]..Fore-Overman,Ernie Arkle..Development-Worker..[all Brothers],Jackie Lake,Jimmy Swan,Councillor Eddie Teasdale..Deputies,Bobby Cross..Overman,George Carr..Fitter,Eddie Hagerty..Electrician,Freddie Cadwallender[senior]..Electrician,Freddie Cadwallender[Junior],Apprentice Fitter,Arthur Smith..Ditto,Ken Tyrie..ditto,Jimmy Haley..Electrician,old Walter Grey..[R.I.P.]..Stageloader Stall-man, old "Sol" Collis..Button-man,Harry Derbyshire..Deputy,Dawson James..Stoneman,Ernie Clough..Development worker,"Limpet" Llodundra[?][correct name given in his Family search in another thread]..huge man..Coal-filler,Harry Undeldorf..Development worker. My fellow-trainee young-uns who were sent to Choppington high Pit together in 1959;Me, Kieth Cooney..[R.I.P.], Harry Common..[R.I.P],Geordie Ord, Edwin Collis,Ronnie Hannah. The late night,plus my empty stomach means I will have to pack up!! Hope this post gets read after me spending the last two hours typing it in!!