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Andy Millne

Bedlington Welcomes Lidl

By Andy Millne, in News,

The tills were ringing yesterday as Lidl opened their brand new store in Bedlington to mixed but mostly positive reactions. The development provoked protests in May last year when a willow tree much loved by a group of residents was felled. Traffic disruption during the build also caused local residents to voice their anger across social media. The new store is now open however, and employing up to 40 locals.
Speaking on Facebook, local resident Marjorie Glass said, "Impressive. It was full of shoppers yesterday, in the midst of that nasty weather. Hope it's very successful and brings folks into Bedlington."
Lidl employee Donna Clark, after her shift said, "Can honestly say, after a 10 hour shift, I'm worn out! It's nice to know it's all been worth it and people are happy with the store and the efforts of all the staff today"
Others were optimistic but had reservations. Olive Maddigan said, "Just hope we don't lose morrisons as Lidl is great but some things in Morrisons are great too".
A new mini-roundabout was recently installed at the junction with Schalksmuhle Road with the aim of reducing congestion caused by the expected increase in traffic to the store and surrounding area.
It is hoped that with this new development and other proposals like it residents will be encouraged to shop within the town centre instead of travelling to supermarkets elsewhere.
Local media group DW-Media posted a short video of the new store to YouTube which will form part of their Bedlington development series.
 
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Two convicted of fraud offences

By Bot, in News,

Two men have been convicted of fraud offences after targeting vulnerable victims.
The men both from Northumberland, Jimmy Nicholson, 25, from Lynemouth, and Andrew Kane, 22, of North View in Cambois were sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, February 20.
Nicholson was jailed for 16 months and Kane handed a 18 month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work, for his part in the fraud which targeted elderly and vulnerable householders.
The pair were convicted after pleading guilty, Nicholson admitted two counts of making false representation, two counts of theft and one of fraud. Kane pleaded guilty to two counts of making a false representation. The offences related to four victims via Nicholson’s businesses Oakland Tree Services and Woodland Tree Services and Driveway Cleaning.
In one case which happened in Bedlington between July 11 - 23, in 2014, Nicholson carried out extra block paving work at the home of a vulnerable 78-year-old woman in Bedlington assisted by Kane. He charged the woman in excess of £13,800 for work later reviewed by an expert witness who found it to be inadequate, and would only have been worth £2,800 (not including VAT) if carried out correctly.
On four occasions Nicholson drove this elderly resident in his van to the bank so she could withdraw cash for him totalling £13,800. He was helped in this business by Kane who on one occasion walked the victim to the bank doors in Ashington and waited to walk her back to the van.
The fraud was uncovered when the elderly resident was ill in hospital and her daughter found large and unaccounted for cash withdrawals and reported the matter to the police.
The other offences occurred in Blyth, Hazelrigg and Winlaton.
DC Peter Kennedy said: "Nicholson preyed on the elderly and vulnerable who were trusting and acted in a calculated way overcharging people for inadequate work, fleecing them of their hard earned savings.
"These men clearly targeted vulnerable people and there may be other victims out there who haven't realised they have been a victim. I would urge anyone who recognises these men and believe may have also have fallen victim to them to contact police.
"We want to remind people to make sure you make the necessary checks of anyone who comes to your door asking for money, offering to carry out work or finding any reason to gain access to your house. Any genuine caller or salesperson will be happy to show you ID and return at a later date once you have been able to check their authenticity.
"I would also ask people with elderly or vulnerable family, friends and neighbours to make sure they are aware there are people calling door to door who may not be who they claim to be and if they are in any doubt they should ring police straightaway."
Pictured; Jimmy Nicholson and Andrew Kane
Andy Millne
Outline Plans for the Bedlington town centre re-development have been registered with the planning department at Northumberland County Council.
The application on behalf of Arch (Development Projects) Ltd is said to "bring forward a retail-led mixed use scheme, in order to regenerate this key site, enhance the existing range and choice of retail provision in Bedlington Town Centre and generate economic benefits for the local area" 
The application is accompanied by an illustrative masterplan and elevation drawings, as well as a Design Code, which sets out parameters in relation to the scale and type of development which could come forward on the different parts of the site. 
The scheme includes the following elements:
A 1,716 sqm gross foodstore on the eastern part of the site. New family pub/restaurant, comprising 560 sqm gross, on the northern part of the site. A range of retail/commercial units on the western part of the site, ranging between 100 sqm and 1,500 gross in size (and totalling around 5,206 sqm), along with a health and fitness club (238 sqm gross) clustered around a pedestrian boulevard. 12 residential units, above the smaller retail/commercial units. Around 250 car parking spaces located across the site, in between the foodstore pub/restaurant and pedestrian boulevard A co-ordinated scheme of hard and soft landscaping. Whilst not included on the Illustrative Masterplan or the floorspace figures set out above, there is potential to include office accommodation as part of the development, above the new shop units which would be created. The description of development set out above includes Use Class B1 in order to allow for this. 
Application Summary
17/00444/OUT | Demolition of existing structures and erection of buildings in Class A1 (retail) and/or Class A2 (financial and professional services) and/or Class A3 (restaurants and cafes) and/or Class A4 (drinking establishments) and/or A5 (hot food takeaways) and/or Class C3 (dwellinghouses) and/or Class B1 (business) and/or Class D1 (non-residential institutions) and/or Class D2 (assembly and leisure) and/or betting office (Sui Generis) uses, with associated parking, landscaping and access (with all matters reserved). | Car Park Vulcan Place Bedlington Northumberland NE22 5DN





Full plans can be viewed at https://publicaccess.northumberland.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=OL2FGUQSMP200
Andy Millne
Following the submission of a Planning permission application for the Bedlington town centre re-development, residents are being asked to vote on a new name for the area. A pre-determined list gives the voter four choices; "The Forge", "Piper's Place", "The Cross" or "Market Square". The names are said to have been chosen taking into account the character and history of the area, looking to the future and with the aim of providing a strong and appealing name for occupiers and customers.
The investinbedlington.co.uk website states that the aim of the development is to "create a vibrant new town centre for Bedlington, but also contribute to the economic growth of the town, by creating 180 permanent new jobs, 33 construction jobs, and injecting at least £1m into the local economy."
Votes can be cast at http://www.investinginbedlington.co.uk/Vote
A link to the planning application itself will be posted here once available.
 
Andy Millne
Bedlington Town FC, a local sporting club run by volunteers, have today announced that plans for a new full size floodlit 3G sports surface are in the late stages of development. It is reported that all of the required funding has been secured.
The club which achieved FA Charter Standard soon after its formation in 2010 has grown quickly with over 300 youngsters now part of the club.
The players are a range of girls and boys teams between under 7 and under 18 years, with each squad competing in local leagues under the guidance of fully-qualified volunteer coaches.  The club also now have a senior team competing in the Northern Alliance League.
Updates regarding the status of the pitch development will follow.
Andy Millne
Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident in Bedlington.
It happened on Saturday February 4, between 9.45pm and 10pm, outside Breakers Bar on Front Street West in Bedlington.
A 55-year-old man was found with facial injuries after it is believed he was assaulted and taken to Northumbria Hospital where he was released following treatment.
Police are appealing for witnesses, anyone who was in the area and who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, is asked to contact police.
Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting reference number 1207 of 04/02/17 or ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Assault in Bedlington

By Bot, in News,

Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident in Bedlington.
It happened on Saturday February 4, between 9.45pm and 10pm, outside Breakers Bar on Front Street West in Bedlington.
A 55-year-old man was found with facial injuries after it is believed he was assaulted and taken to Northumbria Hospital where he was released following treatment.
Police are appealing for witnesses, anyone who was in the area and who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, is asked to contact police.
Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting reference number 1207 of 04/02/17 or ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Andy Millne
Prominent high street retail premises in Bedlington are being offered RENT FREE for 12 months in an enterprise competition. Aimed at encouraging a fresh new approach to retailing in Bedlington, the competition will seek out commercially viable, creative and ambitious ideas that can be made a reality. Startup businesses or existing ones that want a high street presence are able to apply. Not only that but the winner has also been offered half price accountancy fees for the first year of trading by Grimes Accountancy Services and Free advertising on bedlington.co.uk for the lifetime of the business.
The successful applications will be put to a public vote. Votes will be cast by members of the bedlington.co.uk town website and local Facebook groups such as Make a Noise for Bedlington, Bedlington Matters and Bygone Bedlington.
To enter, applicants should submit a business plan no later than March 31st via email to competition@bedlington.co.uk. A panel of judges will then choose suitable applications to be put to the public vote. 
"This is one of the best retail locations in the town, close to a major bank, the post office, and acres of free parking" said Andrew Millne offering up the space. 
Mayor of Bedlington, Malcolm Robinson, said "What a fantastic opportunity not only to try out your business idea for a whole year with reduced costs but to also work with a first class business advice service (Bedlingtonshire Development Trust) with a proven track record in helping small businesses succeed.   
It would also seem a very opportune time because your business might just be hitting its viability when the wholesale redevelopment of the Town Centre is underway.  I am sure business premises will be at a premium the closer to being finished that gets, so now is the time to dip your toes into the water if you are thinking about it!"
Competition winners will see one of the biggest costs of doing business removed entirely for their first year although businesses must be able to show evidence of future sustainability in their plans. Some businesses and local organisations will also qualify for small business rate relief but day to day running costs such as utility bills must be accounted for. 
"It's time the people of Bedlington had a say in what they need on their high street. By winning a competition like this the enterprising retailer will already have the firm backing of local residents which gives them every chance of success." said Christina Laking, local property investor.
Everyone can participate in this innovative competition by commenting on what you would like to see in your town in the comment section below.
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Bedlington traffic incident

By Bot, in News,

Police investigating a traffic incident are appealing for help from the public.
It happened on the Spine Road in Bedlington at Furnace Bank slip at 11.56pm on Tuesday, January 10.
Two detectives and two members of the public were in an unmarked Corsa police car and officers were driving along the road when there was an incident in the vehicle, and the car skidded towards a pedestrian. The car narrowly missed the man who was walking along the grass verge who then continued walking on his way.
The police vehicle stopped and two passengers, two male members of the public who were in the police vehicle, got out of the car and ran off. A short time later both men were found by officers. No one was injured during the incident.
Police want to trace the male pedestrian who was walking along the grass verge at the time, he would have been startled by the incident and officers want to check on his well-being. Police also want to speak to him as he may have witnessed the incident.
A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with causing a danger to road users by interfering with a motor vehicle and appeared before Northumberland Magistrates' Court on January 11.
Enquiries are ongoing.
This pedestrian, and any other witnesses, are asked to call police on 101, quoting reference number 1202 of 10/01/17.
Andy Millne

Bedlington Robbery

By Andy Millne, in News,

Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at an address in Bedlington.
It happened at 1.20pm on Sunday, January 8, at a house in Centurian Way in Northumberland.
Three men wearing masks entered the house via the rear door. They threatened the householder, an elderly man, and held him down, and searched the house.
They stole jewellery including a gold necklace featuring a Krugerrand coin encrusted with diamonds around the edge set on a gold chain and a gold charm bracelet with charms one of which was a gold padlock.
The offenders then left in a black coloured VW Golf saloon car.
The householder was shocked and was taken to NSEC Hospital in Cramlington as a precaution. Officers have been carrying out house to house enquiries in the area and are appealing for witnesses.
Neighbourhood Acting Inspector Garry Neill said: "We want to hear from anyone who was in the area of Centurian Way at the time of the offence and who may have seen or heard anything which could help officers. This type of incident is unusual and we have extra offices in the area to speak to residents and answer any concerns they may have.
"We have an image of the car believed to have been used by the offenders driving away after the robbery and are appealing for help from the public in locating the offenders and the vehicle."
Police are appealing for witnesses, anyone who was in the area and who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, is asked to contact police. Officers also want to speak to anyone who knows the whereabouts of the offenders and the vehicle they used, or who may be offered the stolen jewellery for sale.
Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting reference number 469 of 08/01/17 or ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Pictured, the vehicle police want to trace


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