Maggie/915

Surely landlords, the council local and county not to mention central government can get together and change things for our town. Everywhere I look there are many more viable shopping centres with less to offer! Our town and the people who live here need a change of attitude by anyone remotely interested in providing a service to the local community. Profits would and will come when these people change things for the better.

Last year was 'Gold' standard. Well done to anyone who helps make our town a better place to live. Flowers are said to be 'Loves last gift' Hopefully our town lives and goes on to greatness. Someone said that new houses should be built because it is a good place to be.

May be of interest

I hope you are wrong mercuryg. It seems to me that the volume of people are there. You only need to see the rush for parking spaces in Morpeth or Cramlington to see a different side to the argument. Cramlington is not on the A1 or the A189. Ashington is out on a limb. Morpeth has accieved more since the new Sandersons Arcade was developed. People , for long enough now, have not got all they need from the Bedlington Shops. Introducing Waitrose and more variety could change everything. On numerous occasions we (and people I know) have been unable to get simple items in Bedlington. Once that happens patterns are set to shop elsewhere. I personally would like to see our town prosper with a vibrant town centre. Anyone who remembers Bedlington in the past will / would know there is a need for more variety and diversity.. Given the shops and quality , people will return . I will say again 'In huge numbers'.

Foxy let us hope things work out. The site at the Market Place is second to none as a retail opportunity . The number of people who live in our town and the number who drive through must be huge. People come to the Court House and all we need is a brave company. Waitrose are looking to expand. No other town has any better site.

We are a small town here in Bedlington but we have a huge number of people living in the 'Shire' and beyond. There is an opportunity to build and convert an existing property or two into a thriving business. Most towns are overdeveloped and only have the usual boring shops. Your company Waitrose together with John Lewis would have people travelling from far and wide to shop here. The link up with the morals and ethics of your company could have many many unique possibles . Our little dog The Bedlington Terrier is one . Then there is :- Saint Cuthbert . Our Mining heritage gives us many Banners that reflect your company ideology.

This is the time to feel optimistic ! What comes next could be significant in turning things around for Bedlington. Tesco's could not help our town ! Now we may find someone or some company with drive and initiative to help return the town to its 'Glory Days' The people are here in large numbers all we need is someone to believe and everything could so very easily change. I remember a time when it was said people travelled from Seahouses to shop at a discount shop here. This is just a small setback and leaves space for improvement and for job creation.

We have to hope Bedlington rises again. It is a great place to live.

Pea shooters I remember. No health and safety.

Thank Goodness for Peace and not War.

Even the Glen Miller Orchestra. The legend does live on.

Where is the entrance toffo?

It seems the photo may have something to do with BUDC post war slum clearance scheme. Parker -Morris Housing that took place Stead Lane , Hartlands, Guide -Post and Westlea. The chap on the right may be David Cowans Dad and the bespectacled man next to him Archie Seaton. The house with the side window has had one all along threegee that is the style. The angle of the photo misses some houses and hits the house next to the gap site. The last house before the road and next to the telephone box.

Excellent posts well worth reading.

There is the dilemma Symptoms. View the picture and I would have to erase the memory because you could die laughing.

Well done Eggy1948. Excellent use of the photos. I did not even have to stand on a lamp post In 1951 a photographer came around Westlea taking pictures. How do I know , well my mother bought the photo of me because she did not want it seen or published. A prize possession and very much the orphan look with a broken arm. That is how I know the year. I wonder if that is the year this photo was taken.

Sorry about the photos foxy. Must head down under, I seem to have an upside down view of the World. I like the fact that one photo has made us all into detectives.

There are many reasons to think the picture is /was Westlea in the long old days of the 1950's. However after consultation and looking right here right now there are certain things that just do not look quite right. I wonder if certain houses were built, or filled in spaces, at a later date. They did leave areas / spaces between houses that , I believe, were fire breaks . These are now enclosed gardens and some garages have been built. On one space two new houses have appeared.

Hope you are right on all counts mercuryg. Many people argue the traffic in and around Bedlington is not good. My point is that there are contrary arguments..

Al Murray as a comedian has,with his comedy, raised some very valid points. By over stating or making ridiculous suggestions people may think carefully about what is happening and who they vote for in the coming election. There are so many claims and counter claims that all to often the whole election process can be comedy pure and simple. Common sense! As Al Murray would say.

They have all the answers but no answers. Older generations will maybe live longer. The figures can be disputed on every count. Working extra years and the old NHS problems may end up with people not living longer. Zero hour contracts and lack of job prospects mean lots of the younger generation are moving back into the parental home. Basically our children and grandchildren cannot aspire to a house purchase. They claim to have looked at the figures of houses for sale against properties not selling. The conclusions could be disputed! Yesterday we drove to Tynemouth and back by Blyth. We were shocked by the number of new developments. Blyth from Bebside was traffic saturation , no one was moving. The traffic jam was unbelievable. Being late for your own funeral must happen all to often! What happens to all the extra traffic when the new developments are complete! By 2031 when this Core Strategy has been completed we will truly have a very different SE Northumberland. The details and the 'No Protected Green Area' will have huge implications. Developments are being turned down but consider that 1) there is an election soon and 2) developers with money to spare can and do appeal to the Secretary of State, where all to often local decisions are overturned . The consultation time is nearly up and all that is planned will happen . My wish is it does not ruin this beautiful area that we love so very much.

When Al Murray started his comedy life as the pub landlord his opening line / lines were that in his pub it was :- 'A pint of beer and a glass of white wine or fruit based drink for the lady those are the rules. Without rules where would we be :- France! Too many rules :- Germany!' Interesting that he is being taken seriously. Maybe comedy is the only way to highlight issues. As Adam says it will be interesting to see how many votes he gets! Commonsence!

Bedlington is a great place to live but everyone needs to consider the whole strategy planning. The building process is only just starting.

The brochure on the Full Draft Plan for Northumberland is interesting. Before 2031 South East Northumberland which is the narrow band from Amble down to the Tyne is to be 'Delivered' of 12,540 new houses. The rest of Northumberland is to be 'Delivered' of 11,000. On the basis of this planning it seams South East Northumberland will have no protected 'Green Belt' The brochures will be available today at Choppington Social Welfare Centre 1pm till 4pm Newbiggin Leisure Centre tomorrow 10am till 2pm. Huge significance for us all and our narrow South East Northumberland Area. Will we end up like the ghost areas of Southern Ireland where new houses just did not sell. I hope this does not happen and the planned growth and the forecasts are true and accurate. No one wants to halt progress. Headlines in the News Post Leader this week suggest 800 people have signed a petition against 480 new houses. This is just the start, if we are not considered to have any protected 'Green Belt'. Please, if you can, get a brochure this is the future for all of us.

Be careful Tonyp ! Re read what Canny lass says. Maybe that is what you mean.