Malcolm Robinson

Worrying thing to me is that they are up for good! Yes there is a good argument to have CCTV installed in certain areas but once they are up you (the public who they are supposed to be protecting) cannot get them taken down. If the need for them has been a fairly recent social development, say the last 10-15yrs, then might not that need disappear in the next 10 yrs or so, or do we all have a very pessimistic view of the way society will go? I was involved in the bid to get them into Bedlington and I asked for a clause in the bylaws where it had to be voted on, by elected councillors say, every few years to keep them up. Either that or some way we, the general public, could have them taken down when we felt there was no need for them. That idea was quashed by…………..the cops! The very people we give special powers to police our society in the way we want it to operate and for that reason they should have absolutely no input into the making of laws! The law is there for us to agree on and for them to police! It is a sad indictment of us to have the need for them, it is even sadder we have no control over them!

GGG, Wasn't it the case that the power station paid its rates in the old BDC and that was why it was in the black? It would certainly seem an opportune time to do something about giving a new one the right place name! It might have been "North Blyth" power station but I don't remember an invasion by the Blyth lot to take over the land there? While they are on they could always build some sort of import export facility because it is much easer, or could be, to get road and rail access there, then they could build their new 80 acre industrail estate at Cambois and leave the North Seaton resident alone! A bit of forward planning for when the Shire, hairy feet included, gets it independence!

I think one of the reasons that Ashington is getting more help now is because people feel guilty about the royal seeing to that the town got after the minors strike. All told it was pretty much left to rot...plus unlike Bedlington, it wasn't the most attractive of towns to begin with. ?????????????????????????? The problem was with the decision made years ago that Ashington HAD to be the commercial heart of WDC. Anyone with a bit of grey matter would have made Bedlington the heart as it lies about mid point of Morpeth, Ashington, Blyth and Cramlington. With that degree of bias and the political power base there both Newbiggin and Bedlignton were relegated to also rans'. Of course that decision could have been recinded but we never got councillors willing to tackle it, even when the majority of the ruling councillors came from Bedlingtonshire! Best thing to do now is to impose passport controls on Stakeford bridge and declare independence for the Shire! At the very least we have a council offices we own!

Just wondering, if Mr Brown is a Scottish MP and they, as Mr Salmon wants, break away from the Union will he be disbarred from sitting in Westminster? Seems strange to have a Scot, again, as PM when they have their own Parliment.

Thanks for the link ck, after looking through their pages it does seem they are saying the same sort of things as the other parties, maybe they thought they have to? I would have thought a more aggressive radicle manifesto might have produced better results as with only 3 councillors they are by and large impotent. Full marks for trying though! With all the changes to the local gov scene coming soon it may be the begginings of more small parties standing on local issues. Roll on the BIP, (not BNP Pete!) Bedlington Independence Party!

Getting back to topic, what was this Fresh party about?

I believe the "developer" for the flats was M.M. There was also another set put in to turn it into a kind of youth hostel. As already mentioned the actual owner was always an enigma with no one really sure? The Church was trying to claim it and do some sort of Social developement, eg youth centre with accomadation. I believe flats have been given the go ahead but the quality of the work and the materials used to date have upset the planners! Much the same as the old Ford garage!

I can understand the high wastage but what puzzels me is, how can that bread be fresh when it arrives in England considering that it had to be loaded onto vans sailed across the sea, traveled from the south of England, probably arived in Bedlington the day before or the night before the market. It would be impossible to make a French bagguete in France and drive it back to sell in Bedlington, they are almost unedible if you buy in the mornings and try to eat them that same evening! Every French boulangerie sells sacks of day old bread for 1 euro for chickens, ducks etc. And by the way I made a mistake with the price it should have been 40 cents, about 25p. So the only conculsion I can draw is that what was being sold was "speciality" foodstuffs which not only last longer but also command a high price. It is very noticable that the continentals, French Germans etc, buy up to a quality whereas the UK food industry is driven by price so that expensive sausage most poeple are complaining about would probably be a staple in a continental shopping trolly! Maybe Bedlington was the wrong venue for a scheme such as this but at least people got a choice and a chance to sample different wares? The French markets I have been to are loaded with shellfish and fish off the boats that morning, vegetables pulled that morning, and fruit picked that day as well so there is no comparsion with the multi nationals where most of the foodstuffs have been irradiated and travelled half way around the world! Until people realise you really do get what you pay for Beldington will continue with a car boot sale instead of a local farmers market!

Pete, The price of bread in France is regulated by the Gov! (Shades of let them eat cake!) The price for a normal baggette is around 40p, the parrot dropping ones obviousely dearer. Because of what is used in the making (or not used!) it cannot be kept so there is a high wastage which is in the price. So how much were they on sale for in Bedders and were they the basic type? (Probably not it wouldn't be worth the effort!) The councillor showing his grasp of local Gov funding by wanting all the shops closed, the shops actually pay a dispropotionate amount of rates which comes back to the district as central Gov funding and is based on the amount of shops and trade premisis in the district, is now no longer a councillor and I believe is drinking his pints with the Almighty!

Got to agree!

It is certainly looking that way Pete. The trouble is that all the apathy is playing right into the hands of the autocrats!

Joe, What I cannot understand is the people who say that but offer nothing as alternatives. I admire anyone who challenges the status quo but only if they can do so creatively with some constructive criticism! The only logical conclusion is that people want the “Nanny State”, in the worst sense of the wording, so they are led nose first from birth to death. That scares me! I AM NOT A NUMBER………………………

Denzel, This has taken quite a bit of digging but here is the answer. The top blew off this shelter so it had to be demolished as it was unsafe. It will be replaced but that takes months? Adshel not WDC say when, again? However it should be replaced with something in keeping with the rest of the "street furniture" as will be the one on Ncl Bank. It should also be paid by the community group which got the grant for the rest of the steet package, PROVIDING some cash is left! I know there are a lot of people on this board knocking the present upgrades to the street furniture in Bedlington and to them only a few words: lets see what you can do! By and large the only reason this is getting done is because some people got off their arses and actually applied themselves! Of course I have to say that bus shelters are needed NOW not so much in the summer months and why on earth people have to wait in the rain for a service which they pay for, and which provides some commercial return, I do not understand. You would think someone would be getting their fingers out now during the winter months!

I am the same Joe maybe it was our education that was lacking! Monsta, The art of conversation is using a language common to all participants (do the spell check for me swal) so everyone understands what is being relayed. I am not being patronising only practical as you have some valid points to make but half of what you are writing is unfathomable to me. The only other recourse is to have a simultaneous translation done?

ps I'm in no doubt I'm not the only one who thinks like this, and that it's views like this that should be making our councillors squirm in their beds that they are not serving us right! hear hear Viv, but remember you will soon have an election................course if there ain't anyone worth giving your cross to, but that is a different matter! I vote for viv!

Mr Darn, I was told, years ago now, the that line was just an old freight line going down to the power station? Mr Darn, I was told, years ago now, the that line was just an old freight line going down to the power station?

I don't think ideas, or lets even say grand plans, are the problem as Bedlington has had a lot of "proposed WDC development" over the years. The problem comes when they have to be realised and actually built that is where it all falls down! The reasons..........make your own minds up!

Joe, I presume you are talking about the Metro extension which had been promised years ago. In the end it couldn't be financed but it is now back on the cards. One good point is that the original scheme would not have stopped at Bedlington Station only Ashington, it has to go through the Station on it's way??????????, but now a stop in Bedlington Station is included in the proposal. Somebody must have listened!

swalnalla, Don't know if it is still WDC owned? There was an option given to the club and its members to take over the golf course a few years ago (when the "councils" Hartford Hall development fell through) but I do not know what happened? At the time every ratepayer in the district subsidised it the tune of about £11! There was also one planned for between Ashington and Lynmouth but I believe that never got off the ground?

Didn't mean to cause offence Brian it was just I was talking to someone who lived in Aussie for many years and he said it was Australian day when I spoke to him, so I asked if it wasn't in Feb going off your posting.

PS. If you use Firefox 2 browser it has a built in spell check...... Thanks Swalnalla didn't know they made a sequal to Firefox derrrr.....

This time difference must really be something or should that be 26th Jan?

Mr Darn, There seems to be nothing wrong with your rationale about promoting this site and the businesses in the town but when this site was first opened all local busiesess were given FREE space and only a very few had the forsight to take the offer up. It should also have been the first town in the country to have it's web address underneath all road direction signs but WDC/NCC would not allow that for some reason even though other towns adopted the idea!