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@PetePete I know what you mean Pete – it’s the same here. There are quite a few who only do home visits. The wife uses a hairdresser that used to rent a space (one chair, bench and mirror) in a local Hair Salon. The covid lockdown resulted in that hairdresser starting to work from home and she has now converted one of her rooms into her ‘one person at a time’ salon. Once I got to my teens, mid 1960’s, I hardly went to a barbers. I preferred the hippy style to the Teddy Boy brylcreemed wave. These days I never go to a barber or have a home visit – It’s a do-it-yourself hair shaver job with a No 3 guard so one length all over.

@rosco Do you think the space now under development at the Market Place would have been large enough to hold a leisure facility, with all the amenities, for the whole of Bedlington? Bearing in mind I think it would have to have it’s own car park. I know we all would prefer to see a thriving Front Street but would we all be prepared to spend more in the individual family Butchers, Bakers, Greengrocers, Florists etc. than we would in a Supermarket? Even for those that could afford to pay extra for their weekly shop there are still many more that would prefer the cheaper option. If Bedlington did not have Supermarkets would the town’s folk, with transport, shop elsewhere. I know a few relatives, from Bedlington Station, do their weekly shop at Blyth (Cowpen) Asda and only use the Station Co-op and corner shops for the odd items they may need through the week. One of our daughters used to be in charge of the Guidepost Co-op But still did a large shop at ASDA.

Twenty years ago I, and many women like me, enjoyed a day in the town, trailing around the shops looking for a bargain and despite the unavoidable sore feet and inevitable clock-watching (couldn’t afford to miss the 4 o’ clock bus home because the old man would be wanting his tea) this was, believe it or not, considered to be a relaxing day out! ”Go and enjoy yourself” my OH said, quite seriously, and I did! Now I, and many like me, think it’s much more relaxing to sit in a comfy sofa, lap-top on knee, G&T in hand and find my requirements without the sore feet and clock-watching. It also has the added benefits of non existent travel/parking costs, time saved and being able to shop when I want rather than when the shops are open. I certainly agree with you that local authorities need to adapt to new life styles and how to put disused buildings to use. However, I don’t know just how much of Bedlington Front Street, if any, is council owned. I do think they ought to be able to approve, or disapprove, new businesses even in private properties but then comes the dilemma: Should we allow another hairdresser etc. to open shop or should we say no and let the property stand empty. The latter doesn’t look too good in any town and the former gives an employment opportunity(even if it’s only for the owner) and keeps the street alive. If hairdressers etc are succeeding there must be a need for them.

Rosco, I hear what you're saying and I understand that you are disgruntled with what’s on offer in Bedlington but the very fact that there are so many surviving small businesses in just those categories (hairdressers, barbers, nail bars and beauty salons) is in fact proof that they are meeting the needs and requirements of the Bedlington populace and as such must be deemed as being useful. They would have gone bankrupt long ago if they were not. Clearly, this type of business isn’t anything that appeals to you – and, if I’m honest, three of them don’t appeal to me either – however, as Eggy and Pete very accurately outline above, shopping/selling patterns have moved with the times and services of many kinds are now only a text message away. Unless Bedlington high street has changed dramatically during the past few years the businesses which you are deeming to be of no use occupy small premises not suitable for the retailing giants. They are therefore reliant on small businesses for their use. Such premises also bring with them costs for rent, heating, lighting and water so it’s not surprising that many hairdressers, barbers, nailbars and beauty salons today choose to be ”a text message away” and go to the customer’s home instead of having the customer come to them. Shouldn’t we therefore be thankful that there are still people willing to occupy these small premises in Bedlington because without them – whatever their line of business – this is what Bedlington would look like today:

If you count up the number of hairdressers/barbers/nail bars/beauty salons in Bedlington main street and just off it comes to about 20 And as regards the town centre development they may as well just build a load of housing on it as nobody else will want to open up a shop because we aren't going to get a leisure facility etc

Only a matter of time! In the larger towns here, robots have already replaced bike messengers for delivering, ready to eat meals. They are also being tried out for delivering, groceries and packages. I can't agree with Rosco that hairdressers and barbers don't fall into the category 'useful' but I do agree that Bedlington women have no need for beauty parlours. They are just perfect as they are.

Unfortunately it used to be the public that went up and down the Font Street that would influence anyone in business to open a shop. These days it's only the things you can't but online - Hair dresser/Barbers - Nail Bar - Beauty Salon & Cafe that will tempt a business owner. I can't imagine a business owner thinking - what retail shop could I open, in any town, that will bring in joe public during normal working hours? The majority of families, weather house owners or renters, have all the bread winners working. Even after child birth the parent wants to get back to work asap, even when child minding costs as much as they will earn. Even green grocers can't compete with the way the Supermarkets have forced the farming industry prices to below what an independent Highstreet trader could make a decent living from. I have always though that Supermarkets should only sell food; not clothes, cosmetics, gardening tools & plants, electrical goods etc. etc. I wonder if by 2050 house will be built without kitchens - ever meal delivered to your door!!