Malcolm Robinson

Sadly there would seem to be valid reasons.......... http://uk.news.yahoo.com/boy-11-found-garden-pond-dies-180826444.html

Keith, It's obvious how genuine your intentions are with respect to this subject and I agree there are a lot of unanswered questions but I would like to ask you one thing. Your reference to the Top End getting whatever is going at the expense of the Station, what exactly are you talking about because as far as I am aware the Top End gets nowt too! Take away the Heritage upgrades and what are we left with? The money I was talking about, if memory suffices, went into things like the People's Houses and infrastructure improvements. Must have been about 15-18 years ago? I have just been informed that if the Metro did come to Bedlington Station the earmarked actual station is to be along the road next to what is/was Ready-mix. That's a mistake, to have any chance of upgrading the central area it has to use the original station! I would think that in itself would regenerate the whole commercial aspect in that area. Half the platform could easily be given over to parking and the few remaining busses, as is, already use this road area. Diverting everything along to the Barrington Road is just daft! I only go through the Station when I have someone riding shotgun!

I think you guys are right in most of your grievances. I think the best bet for some real investment into the Station is to get the Metro to use it that's why I had no hesitation in signing this petition…. http://committees.northumberland.gov.uk/elps/elps.pl?op=HandleEntity&entityref=C5AR9ACiCOAOAJQv5gAWcbm&searchreq=60 Just scroll down to the bottom to sign. To put a couple of things into context, the only way the 'Top End' got their upgrades was because of the Conservation Area status and Heritage. The Station doesn't have that but it does have, I am sorry to say, higher deprivation figures so there is ways and means of attracting some investment. I know years ago the Station got about a million squid and the Top End couldn't even get into the pot because it was all based on deprivation figures. How that money was spent might very well be open to question! So the Top End is actually in a Catch 22, not affluent enough not to need help but not figured in the deprivation indices enough to get it that way. Why not start an action group and see what you can achieve. Go along to your Parish Council and say this stuff.

Don't know if anyone caught this t'other night but at last Peter Schiff makes it onot British TV screens! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG4JemfAvlo&feature=player_embedded#at=80

There is a perfect storm looming and it could start today. If the American payroll stats are negative look for a market route. In Europe we now have the Spanish PM admitting the latest rescue package isn't working and Spanish and Italian 10yr. bonds are heading northwards towards the magical 7% mark. Once they hit that they are technically insolvent and there isn't enough money in the ECB to bail them out. I believe what we have seen is a transfer of wealth from West to East, along with our jobs, but our leaders have hoodwinked their populations into believing all was fine and dandy in the garden. The only way that illusion could be maintained was to allow debt levels to escalate and so maintain living standards. In effect they have and are creating new credit cards (QE) to pay the mortgagees with and there is no chance of any repayments just another credit card to pay off balances. That in itself created bubbles in economies such as the housing one we are about to see explode. That is why the only real expansion of jobs in the supposed boom part of the cycle was in the public sector something which is having a dragging effect on our economy at a time of shrinkage. If we consider the associated benefits some of these people have, pensions, golden handshakes/goodbyes protected working conditions etc. even clearing them out to get back to some equilibrium is vastly expensive especially at a time of cost cutting. What is needed are leaders with fortitude both morally and intellectually but what we have are leaders who are career politicians with no real world experience and the backbone of amoebas. This could end very badly for them, it's certainly going to end very badly for us!

I will certainly ask the question for you and get back. I know there is an upcoming police meeting the chair of the Forum is attending.

Merlin, I agree security is a valid concern and has to be taken into account but I don't accept we should forget about any ambitions we might have for the sake of hypothetical problems. At the moment we have to win the initial arguments to get some focussed effort. Once we get something more concrete then we consider the possible resulting issues and at least try and pre plan contingences for them. The more questionnaires we get back the more serious the whole thing is taken. Let's win the argument before we shoot ourselves in the foot! I have added your suggestions, they are both already there and interestingly a bowling alley is quite a popular one. Brettly, Added your idea for a 'reusable' graffiti board.

Merc, I agree with your comments about the perilous state SME (especially micro) development is in and it angers me when I hear both central Government and NCC talk about support for the private sector as a means of addressing the imbalances in public/private sector employment while at the same time running counterproductive polices. I argued that cutting the NCC Economic Regeneration budget was madness, we should be maintaining if not increasing it at this time, because it is the only department which was making a positive impact in that scenario. Pretty soon councils are going to be able to retain business rates, let's hope there are still going to be some businesses left paying them.

Charlie, The officer I asked was just as frustrated as anyone else but these days there can only be water in if there is a lifeguard present all the time.

Looks like the deal has been done..........pass the chop sticks.

Merlin, You sure you're not working for council on this one!!!!! I think you raise invaluable points and only an idiot wouldn't take them into consideration but the only chance we have of seeing any sort of development is to work with the positives, no matter how tenuous they are! There is support off the boys in blue and their input will be invaluable regarding some of the points you raise. Yesterday I was looking at 'vandal proof' modular buildings (and that's not an open invitation to test them!) so there are ways and means we can eliminate some of the possible problems. Personally I think we have to get the kids to buy into the whole initiative and allow them some form of ownership because I think peer pressure is vital with regard to at least maintenance issues. If everything was prefect Bedlington would have all the facilities it deserves but it doesn't and it's far from perfect so we can only work with what we have and make best use. BTW, over 1700 replies now and 40 different suggestions between them! I would really like to double that first number!

Hmmmm, and Yahoo are trying to knock Opera out........

Anyone know the history of Dr Pit Park?

Merlin's right it is a health and safety issue...........

Forgot about him keith, as you say there now't new in that world. For anyone who doesn't know about one of Blyth's former MPs........ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ryman

Well in the blink of an eye they are getting out now............... http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/news/shamed_mp_freed_after_four_months_1_3635995

Yep and it wouldn't be me neither keith.

Think you will have to elaborate on that a bit Merlin..........?

Don't try this at home.................. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=E3mzhvMgrLE&NR=1

Italian banks looks to be facing meltdown if yesterdays runs are continued. Spanish bonds have gone from 5% to over 6% in a month. If this is a rescue package its akin to throwing a drowning man a cup of water.

Thanks Alison, noted. Even though that is already suggested, and something along those lines is currently the clear top suggestion, the fact that more and more people support it keeps it in that top spot.

Good point Julie and lighting is one of the suggestions already in. I am under the impression a cycle club use the Park now for training sessions? I will see if I can get them to post on here saying when and where they hold them. Also I think you are right about events, but the more facilities which go in there the more chance there is of all sorts of events being organised. If anyone wants to get involved in organising an event why not go along to the FoGP meeting and suggest to them directly. There is the Portrait Bench unveiling, along with other exhibitors etc planned for Sept 10th, once I have details I will post them here. Merlin, The Bedlington Forum commissioned that study into facilities in Bedlington and Gallagher Park was one of the sites investigated. One of the main concerns for the Park was lack of access road but the one Sustrans has just put in has blown that out of the water as far as I am concerned! I now have 31 suggestions out of about 1400 replies, and thanks Mr D yours is included. Please if anyone has any suggestions post to this topic and possibly the more off the wall the better! We have to organise them by popularity then see what can be included in current funding bids and what are more longer term ambitions.

Back to Europe.......... ''Moody's Investors Service has today placed Spain's Aa2 government bond ratings on review for possible downgrade.'' So much for the Europrats and their bailout packages...........

I agree and to achieve Premier status at a site which is really on a rat run from the Station to the Top End is quite an achievement.

I would rather we had 'won' the football bids..............