P.A.W.S.

They thought it was all over . . . Since PAWS ceased operating several months ago, Allen has worked tirelessly to tie up all the legal and financial loose ends - no mean feat. Remaining assets have been sold, requirements of the Charity Commission satisfied and keys handed over to the Council, following a satisfactory inspection of the premises some time in March. Now it seems the Council want to squeeze us for £2000 (which is no longer there), claiming a breach of the lease terms, i.e. that the premises were not left in a good enough state of repair. Admittedly, the decor was less than perfect, but we saw no point in decorating a building that was surely destined only for demolition. The outside areas at the back and side were left wild to discourage the sort of vandalism that had occurred in the past. Generally speaking, the premises were in much better condition than when we took them over. Just wondering why it was deemed satisfactory a few months ago and now is not. Could the Council be trying to claw back some of the £millions spent unnecessarily on buying Manor Walks? Perhaps they should be chasing some local builders happily vandalising Bedlington, or are they just targeting those they can more easily bully?

They thought it was all over . . . Since PAWS ceased operating several months ago, Allen has worked tirelessly to tie up all the legal and financial loose ends - no mean feat. Remaining assets have been sold, requirements of the Charity Commission satisfied and keys handed over to the Council, following a satisfactory inspection of the premises some time in March. Now it seems the Council want to squeeze us for £2000 (which is no longer there), claiming a breach of the lease terms, i.e. that the premises were not left in a good enough state of repair. Admittedly, the decor was less than perfect, but we saw no point in decorating a building that was surely destined only for demolition. The outside areas at the back and side were left wild to discourage the sort of vandalism that had occurred in the past. Generally speaking, the premises were in much better condition than when we took them over. Just wondering why it was deemed satisfactory a few months ago and now is not. Could the Council be trying to claw back some of the £millions spent unnecessarily on buying Manor Walks? Perhaps they should be chasing some local builders happily vandalising Bedlington, or are they just targeting those they can more easily bully?

P.A.W.S. is grateful for the help that's been offered over the last few weeks, not least from Bedlington.co.uk, but, as you say, efforts have fallen short. Appeals to local big businesses have fallen on deaf ears (except for Tustain and NUFC who at least had the grace to reply, if only in the negative). Donation requests via Facebook resulted in just four pledges of regular payments. Our hopes of reviving the '100 Club' lottery were shot as only a very few showed interest. Pre-Christmas tombolas raised an average of less than £100 each. And still the bills came in. All of this despite great outcries of regret, sadness and horror. The FB page has over 900 'likers' who clearly didn't like us enough; £1.50 per month each would have solved the problem! Perhaps the most disappointing thing is the paucity of help offered or given by present or former clients, who, if not cash-rich, could have donated some time to fund-raising. Sheila promised Mary that she would carry on for as long as she could. In fact, she has gone beyond that, despite major joint-replacement operations and being in constant pain from one source or another. None of us now is in much of a physical condition to do more. It is also interesting to note how quiet the phone line has been. Whilst sympathising with the genuinely needy, as has always been the case, we now wonder whether we are needed as badly as we imagined. I think Mary can rest in peace, knowing that we did our best.

About half a dozen, Keith, maybe 8. And some space on the road. Never seems to be a problem.

Janice from P.A.W.S. is there with her Milly . . .

It's a nice little place. Friendly staff, good service, comfortable. Food pretty good too. Great to see something like this in the Station as a change from the likes of the Clayton, more takeaways etc. And it's within walking distance . . .

Trying it tonight, but TripAdvisor give the wrong phone number. Should be 01670 820130

Grand opening tomorrow.

Opencast blots don't last as long as Tom Sharpe.

I'm backing Bistro! Great food, lovely atmosphere. You deserve to be fully-booked.

Where is her home?

Great news. Watching this space as we speak . . .

Burdon House is behind the dentist's, accessed by a pathetically narrow drive. It was built in 1912 as a nurses' home and is now my daughter's family's house. The dentist's is in a silly plce.

Great piece of work! I'd like to know more about the building on the right of the first image; is this now the dentist's?

Can anyone recommend a repair shop for my camcorder?

"censuses" it is.

Got to be in with a good chance, judging by the quality of previous broadcasts. Good luck

Not for the first time, the earth didn't move for me . . .

Before they grassed Gallagher Park we had a black film of grit over everything s they lowered the heap.

Used to go up there each year, staying at Deneholm overnight. Fabulous way to spend New Year.

You're right - there's Keef coming out of the chemist's.

Must go & see Les Misérables for ideas on barricade-building.

Fifty Shades of Keef - genius!

The Station tree lights are better arranged than those in the Market Place.

Front Street lights are OK but switch-on ceremony was a bit plodding again. Can we get a lively compère next year?