Canny lass

Tomorrow, June 6, is our national day. It’s relatively new, just a few years old and we had to give up Whit Monday to have it. A bit of a loss all round as the latter, always falling on a Monday, meant a holiday every year. The new holiday falls even on Saturdays and Sundays but there is no day in lieu. However, this year there is a cloud on the horizon. This week, our national day got a twin – “the big fight against lupins day”. Yes, you read that correctly! These beautiful flowers, originally from North America, are considered as invasive weeds which “don’t really belong here” and threaten to “take over the natural habitat of our native wild flowers thus destroying the habitat of our native insects” (Sound familiar?) War has been declared against lupins! Field biologists are hoping that the nation will be inspired to go out and get rid of lupins. They’ve even managed to get EU funding to do it. This is taking immigration policies to their limit. People don't believe me when I tell them that we buy seeds and plants to have them in our english gardens.

Definitely Arthur Brodie, front row, 4th from the left, leaning on his euphonium. To the left of him (3rd from left) is, I believe, a very young Joe Grant from Clifton Row. A fantastic cornet player who often played the solo spot outside the council offices (where the judges sat) at the miner's picnic. He is the only specs- wearing member of the colliery band I have seen. Judging from his age this photo must be early fifties. Perhaps Joan Morland might remember him as well. Other than those two there are only two others I recognise but can't put a name to them as yet.

Thank you, Andy and thanks for removing that last post.

So you think you are being attacked, Moe! Don’t you think that you are being just a bit hypersensitive? As far as I can see, it’s only yourself who is having their posts censored by admin because you are dishing out personal insults. Need I say more about being attacked? I think what you should have said is that you are being asked questions about Bedlington which you are unable/unwilling to answer and I think you are misinterpreting this as being “attacked” or at least 'not believed'. Did you ever get off your high horse just long enough to consider that people may be really interested in the size of the problem you describe? I certainly am. I have seven lovely, musically talented grandchildren ranging from age 11 to 24, for whom Bedrock might be a nice event to visit with me. I could maybe even combine it with the heritage trail (note, I use the word ‘heritage’ not ‘history. I don’t think you understand the difference). It would have been nice if, instead of throwing out insults, you could have answered my questions about the size of the problem, thereby allowing me – and anybody else who may be interested - to make an informed decision as to whether or not the event was suitable for just me/them. After all is said and done, we are all individuals. What’s one man’s meat is another man’s poison. Some people will be offended at very little while others have more patience and understanding. Take the noise outside your house as just one example. People could make as much noise as they like for me outside of mine. I’m semi retired and choose myself when I work. I don’t have to get up for work the next day so I could make the sleep up whenever I wished. You, on the other hand are clearly still working, so I can understand your irritation. Please don’t take it out on members of this site. It’s the same with events involving crowds and alcohol. Inebriated people spewing or relieving themselves publicly wouldn’t spoil my day, anybody can be caught short or drink too much and I think that’s just part of the scene. However, were it dozens of people then I wouldn’t take the grandchildren. It clearly disturbs you as a now non-drinker and people’s advocate regarding public toilets. That’s fair enough but do allow, or even help, others to decide what they themselves are willing to put up with for a good day out. You have a veritable mountain of unanswered questions which interested members have asked: myself, Eggy, Vic, for example. Swallow your pride and start writing.

Moe, Why do you think it’s so strange that former residents still have an interest in a town that has helped form their lives? I think it shows a great misunderstanding on your part to say that we “know absolutely nothing about what happens on the front street late at night and early mornings”. Firstly, it’s hard to imagine that Bedlington alone has managed to escape the wave of antisocial behavior that appears to be sweeping the nation, or indeed the whole continent of Europe. We all read the newspapers. It is also hard to believe that Bedlington alone has somehow managed to avoid employment problems, decreased spending on public services etc. Those problems appear to be widespread. You yourself said “its “just the same as most places these days” (21 May) so why should people from other places not know how things are? Secondly, we use sites like this one, where members share experiences, to keep ourselves up to date with developments. One of the reasons that many of us are here is to keep ourselves informed about the town, whether that be its progress or its decay. In order to do that we are grateful for all information that other members supply, whether that be photos, newspaper articles, memories, minutes of meetings or personal experiences – such as, for example, your personal experience of Bedrock. They all help to paint a picture of the town as it was, is, and may someday be. We show our interest, get involved in discussions and we ask questions, which most members – but unfortunately not all, take the time and trouble to answer. The result of all this is that some of us, at times, are more informed than some of the residents – I give you the example of paying council tax to Northumberland County Council as just one example, which not everyone in Bedlington seems to be aware of would you believe. So, Moe, even if we don’t reside in Bedlington, we do not live in total ignorance of what is happening there – at least, no more than some of the residents.

So you think you are not knocking the residents of Bedlington, Moe? If I’m first allowed to don my linguist’s hat for just a minute, I’d like to point out that statements about people or places – or anything else for that matter – do not need to be made directly. In the trade, we call it ‘inference’, that’s to say, something which the reader/listener is able to deduce from the written/spoken word using only a bit of simple reasoning. Example 1: Mary had a little white fluffy lamb with three legs. It was last seen at the school bus- stop. That statement tells us directly what the lamb looks like, who its owner is and that somebody has seen it a school bus-stop (presumably having followed its owner). Indirectly, however, and without mentioning the fact, it also tells us that the creature is now missing. Should that sentence have appeared in a local newspaper headed’ Bedlington parents are worried’, then we could also have deduced that the lamb had disappeared locally. The clue is in ‘the school bus-stop’. The writer expects everybody to know just which school bus-stop he is referring to. It’s impossible to use the word ‘the’ otherwise. So, Moe, You don’t have to put something into words in order to make a statement. I am quite happy to stand up and be counted as one of those who think that you are knocking Bedligton and its residents. You do this in several ways: direct statement, inference and allowing others to make wrongful derogatory statements. The thread is about Bedlington (the clue is in the title) so it seems reasonable to assume that people are talking about Bedlington in their posts, does it not? Let’s just have a look at some of the things being said about about the town and its residents. 20/05 “It will take more than a few pots of pansies to tidy this place up” – Inferred, Bedlington residents make their town untidy. 21/05 “Its a doorty owld pit village” – Inferred, Bedlington residents do not keep their town clean. 21/05 “apart from St Cuthberts church it has really nowt else worth looking at” – Inferred, Bedlington residents do nothing to make their town attractive. 21/05 “Its plagued with drink and drugs problems” - Inferred, Bedlington residents are unable to control themselves. 21/05 “Its plagued with vandalism” – Inferred, Bedlington residents have no pride in their town 21/05 “Its plagued with burglaries” – Inferred, Bedlington residents are criminals. Note: To be plagued by - to be a widespread or continuous problem or defect in something – as in the sentence ‘his incorrect use of thee, thy and thou plagues the entire topic, thus causing confusion and misunderstanding’. 23/05 One horse town (i.e. having no attractions). 23/05 Webtrekker called the residents of Bedlington “a bunch of tight wads”. I didn’t see you springing to their defence – even though you and yours were included in the insult. That was left to a non resident. I draw the conclusion that while you did not say it, you certainly agree with it thereby inferring that Bedlington residents are indeed “a bunch of tight wads”. 23/05 “zombies in some sort of trance” 23/05 “if ya asked anyone what tha were supposed ta be they would not have a clue” – Inferred, ALL Bedlington residents are ignorant. The list goes on, and on, and on, and on

Bedlington needs more people like your son! I wish him every success in this venture.

Hi Maggie! Lovely to have you here again. That's definitely appropriate for Bedlington but I'm afraid the 'desperandum' bit has already set in for some.

You are not answerable to me and I don't mind that at all. But you do owe the people of Bedlington, who you so readily slag off, a few answers. Why are you being so rude and childish?

Point out one instance and then get on with answering the questions you've been asked. We are all waiting. I've got twenty quid on that an answer never comes. Why are you being so rude and childish?

I believe also that Moe has a point to make. Just how much exaggeration’ or otherwise Moe is using to make that point we do not know as he hasn't answered any questions related to the magnitude or otherwise of the problems he describes.. Maybe he, who witnessed all these events, just found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe he just has an affinity for that kind of thing and such people are drawn to him. Maybe he deliberately went looking for such behaviours. What do we readers know? As he himself says, we don’t live there. Some of us, however, do have family there while others own property there. So our interest and concern is well warranted. All I know is that Moe paints a very black picture. It does not describe any place that I would like to live, own property, or run a business and, having read Moe’s description, I certainly wouldn’t want to bring up a child there given that it’s a place where you can have a good day out if you are a drunk, minger, fighter or a spewer and is, ironically speaking, just the place to take the children! Opinions are divided. You think it’s OK during the day but Moe’s accounts of daytime events say otherwise and it’s hardly between the hours of 11pm and 3am that people take their children to Bedlington. I agree with you about removing people from the town centre after closing. What have they to do there? There’s nothing open and apparently nothing to occupy them except mindless vandalism. If that remark was adressed to me then what's going 'off' outside your house may have everything to do with me. Things that are 'going off' have a tendency to smell. ... and Yes Moe, you did tell us that you are a businessman - several times.

Before you go bothering the chief constable, nip into the council offices and make sure that permission hadn't been obtained to drink in the street. Certainly, the town centre of Bedlington is a designated public space with a relevant DPPO in force regulating the consumption of alcohol within its boundaries. The restrictions are quite clear: “no person shall consume alcohol at any time in any part of the restricted area” (Schedule 2.2.1). However, reading on we can see that the restriction does not apply to licensed premises (Schedule 2.2.2a and 2b) or “places within the curtilage of” said premises (Schedule 2.2.2c). There are plenty of places with curtilage on Front Street. And perhaps most important, in relation to the events of the week-end, we can read that the restriction does not apply in: “a place where facilities or activities relating to the sale or consumption of alcohol are at the relevant time permitted by virtue of a permission granted under section 115E of the Highways Act 1980” (Schedule 2.2.2e (known as a walkway consent). Such consent may be obtained – it may also be refused – by applying to the council who have the right to grant permission “to do on, in or over a highway to which this Part of the Act applies anything which the council could do on, in or over such a highway under section 115B (1) to (3) or 115C” (Highways Act 1980, section 115Ea). Note, however, that the council “may not grant a person permission to do anything […] unless they have first obtained the permission of the frontagers with an interest” (Highways Act 1980, 115E:3). Plenty of those on Front Street as well. Neither may they grant permission “to provide, maintain or operate facilities for recreation or refreshment or both on a walkway unless they have first obtained a walkway consent” (Highways Act 1980, 115E:4c) I find it hard to believe that the organizers of this recurring event are unaware of this requirement and/or have neglected to make the necessary application. The police would have had a field day!

Perspective is all I'm seeking, Ovalteeny. I am in no way suggesting that the events described by Moe are untrue. I'd be very surprised if they were. They are, I believe, part and parcel of such events in many places. I do believe that he has seen some, if not all, of the behaviours he describes. What is not clear from the account rendered by Moe is the scale of the problem which he alone seems to have witnessed. There are no specifics stated. Phrases such as "some lasses" , "all owa the place" and "botha" (bother) being an "understatement" leave the reader free to assess the proportions. This is typically a tabloid style of reporting and the typical tabloid reader would have no difficulty in proportioning larger than life dimensions. However, this is not a tabloid newspaper. This is a discussion forum, a serious discussion forum which is open to the general public all over the world. In this case, I have to add 'unfortunately' for who knows what opportunities Bedlington may miss out on because of the picture being painted? I don't expect Moe or anyone else to have counted the incidents he reports but it would be nice to know if they amount to 10s, 20s, 100s or 1000s and just what percentage of the crowd we are discussing.

Police and/or ambulances every where People vomiting Ugly, unpleasant people (mingers – I had to look it up) Excessively drunk girls Mid-afternoon drunkenness Fist-fighting females Fighting everywhere People urinating everywhere That’s a bleak description of the town and its inhabitants (assuming that they weren’t visitors) during the bank holiday festivities. It makes very disturbing reading - not least because it’s being blazoned out for the entire world and it’s granny to read. It is, however, only one person’s account of events and one person cannot possibly be everywhere all of the time – despite reports of things happening “all owa the place”. Further, the events are described in terms that are somewhat vague, making it rather difficult to get a grasp of the magnitude of the problem. It would be nice to get the reported bad behavior put into some kind of perspective, if for no other reason than to give prospective business investors, house-buyers and visitors to Bedlington a fair and unbiased picture not only of the town but even of the Bedlington people who are their prospective customers, neighbours and perhaps colleagues. Can we add some facts and figures to the account please? Moe, it would be nice if you could share some details related to the size of the problem you describe. It would also be useful to know how many others witnessed any of the events described. How many people were in Bedlington for the event? An estimate will do if you don’t have access to official figures. Did you see any blue light vehicles? How many? Did you see anybody vomiting? How many? Did you see any ugly, unpleasant people? How many? Did you see any girls who were excessively drunk? How many? Did you see any excessively drunk girls, mid-afternoon? How many? Did you see anyone fighting? How many? Did you see any girls engaged in fist-fighting? How many? Did you see anybody urinating while standing? How many? Did you see anybody urinating while squatting? How many? (Children under school age should not be included when answering the last two questions).

Thanks Foxy.

Do you mind if I download a copy of these pics, Foxy?

You are clearly moving in the wrong social circles, young man.

...it was very handy for doing the odd vasectomy a few years ago.

What! and leave us women with a shortage of men to nag at!

Welcome to the forum jaxe45 and welcome to Bedlington. I'm sure you'll enjoy great friendship in both.

Lovely photos Foxy! Nice to see people enjoying their town. The planters are looking good, as usual. All credit to the volunnteers who look after them.

in an ideal world - when I am Primeminister - that will be taken care of!

Thanks Eggy, It's always nice when someone takes the time to answer another member's questions! You can add my name to that list as well. I love them!

I didn’t think house prices in Bedlington were so very different to Blyth, Ashington or Cramlington so I had a quick look at Zoopla this morning. In the past year prices have risen in Bedlington by 3.96%. That’s a good bit better than Ashington prices which have shot up by 5.53%. On the other hand, prices in Cramlington and Blyth have gone downmarginally by 0.48% and 0,63%. That still leaves actual house prices with only marginal differences. The average prices paid during the past year for houses are: Bedlington – £134,942 Cramlington - £140,291 Blyth - £129,558 Ashington - £115,231 Of course, they are not all new-builds. But first time house buyers, if they have any sense, usually cut their coat according to their cloth and work their way up from an anorak to a mink. Looking only at properties on sale in Bedlington this year I can see several that are well below market value: Queens Road - £62,000 Stirling Drive £47,500 Millbank Crescent £50,000 Stead Lane £90,000 Roslin Park £82.500 And for those with a higher income: The Wynding £148,000 Octavia Close £150,000 Bonchester Close £127,000

Potential customers, Moe, potential customers.