angechica

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.

good news. Hoping this will make Gallager Park more accessible for pushchairs. Maybe they'll even think about putting some playground stuff in for littlies.

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.