debrad65

needs printing on toilet paper!

HA HA! well said!! :D

And by me voting doe`s what exactly? Surely by now, you can see the way this works? Just incase you missed it, they say `we`ll do this, that and the other, we promise to change things for the better etc etc`..what then happens..they`re voted in by gullible people that takes anything in..brought up to not think for themselves..

No wonder this country is in the state it`s in..there`s absoluteley no hope.

Any person with any sense wouldn`t vote. They need to throw the lot of the over-paid moron Mp`s out and start from scratch. Get shot of the lot. Greedy, dishonest,manipulating !*!@# .

Well said!! couldn't have put it better myself!!

Debra I am a little older than you and this subject about US getting leisure facilities has been the subject of conversation of supposed councilors for decades, its one of those things that ALWAYS gets a mention coincidentally at voting times funny that

I know- I remember at West end first school when I was a bairn us getting asked what we wanted in Bedlington n we said swimming pool/leisure centre back then!! there are a lot of people who have lived here all their lives and they are sick of us having nowt, never mind those that haven't lived here long! we got no shops, no leisure facilities, no nowt - and the little bits we've had and cling on to are being taken away from us! Everyone who lives here has had enough by the looks of things, but who's going to do owt about it? our voices don't seem to count!

So the community centre looks set to close? And the sport/leisure facilities looks like a "never gonna happen""? Are our MP's and local councillors going to do anything or are they happy to represent a Ghost Town? it's near election time - they want to get their fingers out asap!!!! Us residents have had enough of Bedders being neglected.

when I was younger, many moons ago, it was drummed into me that Labour were for the workers and would fight for the workers rights. What went wrong? I am at a loss as to who gets my vote, looking at it there is nobody who I want to run this country! Also at the time it was a good thing to work you could afford to have things that those not working could not, that was the incentive to work! Now you work, you get the feeling you are penalised for doing so. Some people who work are worse off than those claiming benefits. There should be a very big difference between working and claiming benefits, alas the minimum (slave) wage put paid to that!

Spot on Merlin! We as a family are worse off working. it's all wrong! I too am at a loss as to who gets my vote. they all promise this n that and never follow through

Dont know much about politics-all I know for sure is they promise this n that n never follow through! This country is in a mess and most decent folk have had enough! We pay their wages - its about time they listened to the people! we all have gripes - ie the nanny state, the price of food/petrol etc..(and our wages don't increase enough to meet these added costs),the fact you can be arrested for protecting your own home/family etc.. an endless list!

Has he got a curtain for a changing room? does it have cameras in the ceiling?

see you must've edited this post as I read summik else b4 lol

ha ha! I can't bide that either.. you go in and they straight at you."can I help you?" erm no.. just looking. "have you seen this n that?" erm.. I'm just looking thanks n they watching you look! folk don't like that n a nearly said so! maybe they read stuff on here n get the message ! sure they had a shop in Bedlington before.. at Market Place?

Don't think the new discount fashion shop will last long. Went with elderly neighbour I help go shopping with and you go in the door and they straight at you like vultures. Nobody likes to be snared as they enter a shop.. they like to browse without being pushed into looking at items to ensure a sale.Another shop that won't last long me fears!!

Merlin I totally agree.. You are spot on!! Start your own discussion....political gripes or something and we'll forward them to all the parties!! I have too many gripes to write about People being better off on the dole than working, nanny state (ie why can't us parents go into our kids classrooms anymore? If a child is upset, why can't teacher's comfort them? If they bleed, why can't teacher's see to them? For god's sake, they've been police checked! The list is endless but we are breeding a generation of kids who won't know genuine human kindness. the nanny state has gone ott).Then there's the prices of food - our incomes don't go up to compensate do they? And the nhs etc..Too many to write at the mo!We do need a people's party-with someone like you running it who knows right from wrong! Well done for a great food for thought post

well said merlin! we work our arses off n struggle. As I said in my previous rant, it took us 6 months to save £300 for a crappy laptop for our teenage daughter for xmas and them on dole got a free grant for a £500+ one and a year's free internet! My youngest can't do music lessons n stuff at school as we can't afford the fees, but them on dole get them free and money for the instrument! The budget's giving them with kids aged 1 and 2 an extra £4 per week and it's when they at school we need money. if we weren't working, we'd get free milk, trips, help with uniform etc.. I have mates on dole n they can go on holiday n buy new tv's n one mate can eat steak! we can't even afford crisps unless they on offer! it's crazy!! my partner was recently diagnosed epileptic after several severe fits-he's classed as disabled but can't get extra money for it (but someone depressed or alcoholic can!). he also has arthritis. He can be on the sick 6 months on full pay yet he goes to work every day ill or not to provide for his kids as he's that kind of bloke n we have nowt? it's not on is it when decent hard working people are worse off than them on the dole. I too have given up on who to vote for... they all promise this n that but it rarely happens!!!!

ha ha symptoms..very funny

Not happy with meeting re: sports facilities tonight. No further forward in my eyes and it was said the community centre is to close??? It seems to me Bedlington never gets the full cake.. it just gets the crumbs or nowt at all! The residents are speaking up though as everyone has had enough! More rants n info to follow!!

parents of 1 and 2 year old's are going to get £4 per week more child tax credits? this is insane!!! howay - I've got 2 kids n I know there's nappies n stuff to buy but it costs more when they are at school!!! For God's sake - it costs us well over £20 a week for school dinners, then we have milk money n compulsory trips and the rest to pay - never mind the uniforms etc..! We work hard and we can't afford the tuition fees of guitar lessons and other activities (those on dole get them free). We would be better off on the bloomin dole n it took me 6 months to save £300 for a crappy laptop for my teenage daughter for xmas n them on dole can get a voucher for a laptop for over £500 for free and internet access free for a year! The rewards of working your butt off eh!We should have a revolution - kick all the parties out n replace them with a panel of decent hard working people who know right from bloomin wrong..... aaarrrggghhhh!!!! politics drive me up the wall!!

I've been on holiday so I've come into this debate a bit late, though I see Dajazar has given info about the town council.

I'd only add that though it is the town and county councillors' responsibility to revive Bedlington, we can't do it alone. We'll be launching a grants scheme from April to give money to people who have ideas to set up activities in Bedlington, whether they are sports, arts, crafts, martial arts, music, dancing, cooking and whatever a group of people would like to do (legal, decent and honest!) that would make Bedlington a better place to live. Those ideas and activities are going to have to come from the community though.

We know also that people want more shops in the town centre, and they are only going to come if national chains or local businesses take the commercial risk. So somehow investors need to get good information about the market here - what local shops will people really use, and are we likely to use them enough to make them viable?

Is this the £5,000 Community Chest? If so, it's not much to work with! You should set up a new discussion on here asking people to submit ideas about activities etc.. This forum is excellent but the trouble is excellent posts relating to an issue can emerge in various categories.I'll put something on Save Bedlington facebook page too

Incase you didn't see on "Who's Responsibility is it to sort out Bedlington"... this is the reply I got today to my e-mail a few days ago which I've copied and pasted:-

Dear Debra,

Thank your for your letter to the Councillor Pegg expressing concerns about Bedlington.

I am writing on behalf of West Bedlington Town Council ( WBTC) to inform you about the current situation.

Bedlington library is scheduled to stay open.

Councillor Pegg and I have had 2 meetings with Northumberland County Council (NCC) about Bedlington Community

Centre and expressed the view that it should not be closed.

WBTC will continue to talk to NCC about the Community Centre expressing the same view.

WBTC is a relatively new Council but has :

-Announced a "community chest scheme" from 1 April with a budget of £5,000

-Taken new services from NCC - allotments, play areas and bus shelters are being transferred to WBTC control from 1 April, which will be followed by more services in the following 2-3 years.

Announced that it is looking to provide summer events in Bedlington for the benefit of the general community.

-Signed a lease for an office from early April in Bedlington " Council Offices" which will provide an easier contact point for everyone.

The Council would like suggestions from forums, groups and residents about what services or events they would like the Council to provide or improve.

Please contact WBTC at any time if you would like to discuss any points further or would like more information.

Regards

John

John Nicholson

Town Clerk

West Bedlington Town Council

copied and pasted e-mail I got today:

Thank your for your letter to the Councillor Pegg expressing concerns about Bedlington.

I am writing on behalf of West Bedlington Town Council ( WBTC) to inform you about the current situation.

Bedlington library is scheduled to stay open.

Councillor Pegg and I have had 2 meetings with Northumberland County Council (NCC) about Bedlington Community

Centre and expressed the view that it should not be closed.

WBTC will continue to talk to NCC about the Community Centre expressing the same view.

WBTC is a relatively new Council but has :

-Announced a "community chest scheme" from 1 April with a budget of £5,000

-Taken new services from NCC - allotments, play areas and bus shelters are being transferred to WBTC control from 1 April, which will be followed by more services in the following 2-3 years.

Announced that it is looking to provide summer events in Bedlington for the benefit of the general community.

-Signed a lease for an office from early April in Bedlington " Council Offices" which will provide an easier contact point for everyone.

The Council would like suggestions from forums, groups and residents about what services or events they would like the Council to provide or improve.

Please contact WBTC at any time if you would like to discuss any points further or would like more information.

Regards

John

John Nicholson

Town Clerk

West Bedlington Town Council

824970

Deb

I sincerely hope I haven't put you off posting about anything, believe me that was not the intention at all. The problem for me with the whole Market Place is that it was originally a community driven idea which, probably because of the amount of money it brought in and the PR associated, was 'taken' over by council. That means it started with a few people getting off their backsides and putting some work into doing what they could for the place. Isn't that exactly what you are calling for now? When I read comments like, 'the place is a disgrace' and 'it's a mess' I hope the people who put their time and effort into the project don't think, why the hell did we bother!

I understand completely where you are coming from and in many ways agree I just think we should be a bit more selective in where we throw the stones so we hit the right targets, god knows there are enough of them!

no you haven't put me off posting anything! nobody's gonna shut me up!!

no probs Jim...... n aye Dejazar - well done for speaking up and as Jim says let us know what we can do as a community

Malcolm I'm not going to reply to any more comments about the Market Place, because when I do you seem to have a go at me! I agree with what you say.The council should put signs up saying no bikes etc.. and impose fines. At the end of the day riding around on bikes,scooters, skateboards etc.. on the Market Place could cause an accident. I'm saying nowt more about the Market Place! At the end of the day, all I want is a future for Bedlington. We have a great, safe community and deserve decent facilities to meet our needs. That's what I'm focusing my energy on-not a constant rant about the state of a few stones!

erm... just to let you know Jim - my other half's a bin man and they don't get a decent salary!!

I got reply straight away. Sent another e-mail tonight saying to view all the forum posts to see that the people of Bedlington have had enough! you have to make a nuisance of yourself!!

I agree with the inability to get an answer from anyone. I Contacted Arther Pegg about 3 years ago, and am still awaiting and answer. I have also written to Fiona Hall our MEP, but still no answer, apart from an email acknowledgment, with the promise to raise the issue the next time she was home from Brussels.

So I say again, what is the point if nothing happens!

Malcolm... I agreed with a post regarding the market place being a mess..but I've suggested nothing about the council keeping it clean and tidy?I know it's the kids to blame but think about it... if they had places to go here they wouldn't have to hang around the market place in the first place!! Yes I made a comment about us being let down as a whole community.That had nothing to do with the market place! Hey, if we care about this place, we shouldn't be nit picking between ourselves!We should be united

I agree with Toffo.....The market place is a disgrace. A few days ago they cleaned the tyre marks off and they're on again!(you'd expect more wearability from expensive stones!!!!). It looks a mess. And I know it's cold, but more folk sat on the seats the way the old market place was! All that money...and for what? And as I have said, surrounded by empty eyesores, it makes it look a joke!

I think the questionnaire is an excellent idea! But I doubt the councillors will go for it. We can ask I suppose!

Like Jim, I have lived in Bedlington all my life, and I am disgusted that our wonderful community is being so let down by all those that run the show. However, there is unrest amongst us and I feel the more we stick together and complain, the more noise we will create... surely they will have to listen to us? Just wait til the buggers knock on our doors for votes...