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Hi thought I`d say hello & introduce myself. I`ve been involved with local media, in the form of Hospital radio/tv, & community radio as well as media education for more years than I`m willing to admit! I passionately believe in local TV & Radio for local people You might of noticed the latest news on Bedders.co.uk, about the possibility of a Bedlington based radio station. What do you think? Do you think it`s got appeal? Would you listen if we manage to raise the many £Ks needed? Have you got a spare £57k? If that`s a yes I can come around tonight! Look forward to your comments on this thread. John W. SNRG

Does any one out there have any history on the Band Stand. When I walk by there I always wonder what went on there- Im sure it must have been a hive of activity in days gone by.I have never in 10 years seen it used for anything. Wouldnt it be great if a few local bands/groups could entertain there from time to time- an out door venue for music and local gatherings! It wouldnt be costly, I'm sure, to spruce up a little and have organised events there (obviously in better weather)............any comments Bedlington?

Did no one see that coming? When I saw those slabs going down I thought about buying my own BMX (my last one was 26 years ago!). Looks a great place for 360's,double pegs(great to wear that sandstone down), freestylin, half cabs, half pipes, icepicks and jumps. i passed there only an hour ago and counted 25 kids on bikes and 8 on the seats (I wonder who has engraved their 'TAG' first?) I think us adults will have to use the TESCO rear entrance soon, or if we cant beat em join em and buy a BMX! WELCOME TO THE TESCO PLAY PARK!

Different set of people I think. Once you can't tap him for hush money no point in labouring the point. Did he harm any kids? I don't think so! Did the kids enjoy being on his tacky 'ranch'? Yeah, of course they did! Overrated? Yes - but aren't quite a few current pop idols? Deserves his place in history, and doesn't deserve to be bad-mouthed from beyond the grave.

Hi all Ok, I know Im a bit early with this one but..... Because we have now had a little bit of a do for the switching on of the Christmas lights, does this mean that we can now have a summer fair again??? When the council was asked a few years ago Why is there no street fair, We were told it was because it cost to much for the insurance and policing and they did not get enough donations by the local shop owners ??? but now they have shown that they can do it. It was so nice to see the street alive again. Bedlington used to be the place that everyone came to, now it's just a ghost town with business closing left right and center. Also with Tommy the eggs man switching on the lights, all because of a group of facebook I think the people have more power than we think. It's now time to fight back and get OUR BEDLINGTON BACK. Im sorry if none of this makes sense, I don't type very well when I get excited.

Have you thought about adding a donations bit to the site? Any money donated would be towards what the people of Bedlington want, so this site is the ideal place to start. I`m not sure about raising thousands for the radio, but i suppose that all depends on how many people donate and how much money they donate Any donations, however small, will help. It all adds up. We might be able to afford some xmas lights for next year too, paid for by the people of Bedlington. Take matters into our own hands without relying on the council.

Not sure I quite qualify as a 'more mature member' Fourgee....but lets just say I have a good memory of my childhood in Bedlington. The Miners Picnic was the annual gathering of Northumberland mineworkers & traditionally took place in Bedlington (until Ashington stole it in the 1980's - just as they did the Christmas lights the Bedlington Traders bought...enough said.) The day began with a march, by all the Northumberland colliery bands, from Westlea all the way down to Atlee Park (stopping on route outside the Council Offices for the band competition). Jazz bands from all over the region also marched this route.The sound was amazing & crowds gathered all along the way to watch & clap. After the bands, the miners would march with their Colliery Banners. Once at Atlee Park, local & national dignitries & miners union reps would give speeches. Everone would be sitting around the band stand with their picnics. Once the speeches were over, everyone went back up Front Street. There was a fun fair on the 20 Acres field, stalls & sideshows along Front Street and of course all the pubs were open! The merryment continued all day & evening. The Bedlington Fair is a much more recent event which I only rmember running for a few years then fizzling out. There were stalls & side shows along Front Street and a procession of floats, I remember but it was not nearly as huge an event as The Picnic which brought in people from all over the region. It would be fantastic to try to have an event along these lines again. I for one would love to be involved in making this happen & I'm sure alot of other Bedlingtonians would keen to help out too. Maybe we could all 'sign up to be involved' then meet up in the New Year to get the ball rolling?

Just wondering if anybody else has had enough of the youth disorder in the Bedlington Area? I'm in the Meadowdale Farm area of the town and over the last 2 years had nothing but problems with youths aged 12-16 constantly banging on the door, kicking the panels of the garge in and then standing on the corner of the street "egging" us on with insults and threatening to burn the house down. When chased they disappear across the spare ground behind Featherstone Grove onto the back path that passes Meadowdale Middle School and usually make their escape to join the crowds milling around outside Moby's fish and chip shop for protection and to hide. Some may say it's just a case of "Knocky-Door-Ginger" and ignore it but after 1 year of trying to deal with it ourselves followed by 1 year of getting the police involved (called 6 times during the last 8 months alone) we've just about had enough! Friday 30th October was the latest incident. Garage door panel kicked in, door bell hammered and ran off again. This resulted in my 5yr old crying and upset once more and the police arriving too late to catch them. A house in the next close was targeted(they have also been having the same problems) and their car had been vandalised. When confornting the youths outside Moby's about it within 30 mins of it happening(the incident took place at approx 9:15pm) they said a group had passed them and told them all they were going to wreck cars and have a chase and deliberately went down that "back path" towards our estate. Without going into great detail here, the running theme seems to be that they all go to St.Benet Biscops school and there seems to be something going on that crosses a few of the years(years 9,10 and 11) and they see it as fun to deliberately target certain houses to get a reaction!!....well they do....it's got my 5yr old frightened to go to bed now incase the "bad boys" come back. I'm certainly not saying that it's all those kids that go to that particular school of course but it's just that everytime i ask those kids who have seen them run off...they say they are from that school and in those years but can't give their names/nicknames..obviously scared of comeback. Police involved but as we all know they have limited effect. St.Benet Biscops say it's out of school hours...not their problem. Have tried ignoring them so they get bored and give up....hasn't worked! Been warned off dealing with it myself by the police as i'll get into trouble. Can't afford to move, so we can't even give them their moment of triumph! Whats next eh? Totally at a loss what to do and now me, my wife and family are just wondering when it's going to kick off again! In the meantime, i'll continue to pass the large groups hanging around and continue to wonder if it's them. They know my address, make of car and me by sight now....there's no way to try and catch them! I know what i'd love to do to them if i do manage to get them...but can't say on this public forum.....i'm sure you understand.. Usually the trouble happens when the schools break up for holiday or any weekend night. I've even had to cancel 70th birthday drinks for my own father on a night out to respond to a call from my wife who had ignored a few problems that evening before eventually calling me. Anybody got any idea's before it escalates even further? Help appreciated before i call in a few favours and get into trouble myself. PS- Just for the record, to my knowledge we haven't "crossed" anybody in anyway whatsoever!

When you travel through a town it is easy to establish if you would like to live there or not. One factor is the site of damaged street furniture and graffiti. If it is prevelant you know that the local authorities are not interested in rectifying such problems and shows the likelihood of a high crime rate and reduced house prices. Although many are not bothered about living in such an envirnoment, the majority are. SO WHO DO WE REPORT MATTERS SUCH AS THIS TO SO THAT DAMAGE AND GRAFFITI CAN BE FIXED? There are many numbers and agencies to phone, but it would be nice to have a number to phone for such matters and that when phoned, we would know someone was looking at the matters in question and were going to rectify them. For years there has been graffiti on the BT box at the front of Hazelmere estate. I had spoken to a BT workman there one day about it and he didnt want to know. There is graffiti on a sign on the opposite side of the road to The Ridge Farm pub with an arrow pointing to Bedlington front street saying'TO THE **IT HOLE'(apt?).The latter is offensive but it has never been painted over. The green metal protector for a tree outside LLOYDS has been wrecked for months and nothing has been done to fix it......it goes on!!!!! CAN SOMEONE POST A NUMBER/CONTACT ON THIS SITE FOR WHO SHOULD BE CONTACTED TO GET THESE THINGS AND MANY OTHERS FIXED SO THAT BEDLINGTON CAN TRY AND START TO BE PROUD OF ITSELF? WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN REPORTING SUCH 'MINOR' DAMAGES BUT WILL DO WONDERS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL AND WILL GET THE COUNCIL MOVING AS THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT SUCH MATTERS UNLESS THEY ARE PUSHED!! Keep Bedlington Tidy Campaign.......

I think its a good idea if I will help where I can you can count me in

Fantastic! what a great opportunity to get involved and get others to participate, there are lots out there that can help they just need a nudge! look to the youth, groups and schools. The Picnic was a good example of what can be achieved, I suggest you come up with a theme! Our Town had it's 40th anniversary this year, they invited ex pats, had entertainment, sports and politicians! (I can remember the Attlee Park BS sorry speeches)

Just wanted to tell everybody about a program called Freecycle, it is a service were you can give away old items instead of just binning them, once you have donated a few items you can ask for items you need and its free! The nearest group is in Morpeth, and there are 4000 members, so theres a big community. Link Here Note: remember to not click the option to get all the message sent to you inbox, or you will be flooded with messages.

As someone who is self employed and an owner of said white van I find your remarks quite offensive! As said van, tools and eqipment cost about three times as much as your average family car where the hell do you expect people like me to park their vehicles? Down plessey woods car park? I think not! It will be parked outside my house so said younger generation can not help themselves to my van,gear and livelyhood.Get your head out of where the sun don't shine,if it wasn't for the likes of us your estate would probably be half boarded up houses and a haven for hoolaganism,and if this is your snobbish attitude to hard working decent people then I am not surprised you are having bother,in fact I'm surprised you are still living where you are and haven't moved in with the Queen

With all respect Chamone, i totally agree with mercuryg's view on the matter! These kids are aged 12-16 with most instances being caused to me personally by the older ones(ie 15-16). At that age, they know right from wrong as far as i'm concerned. Either the parents influence on their upbringing has failed or the school(as a learning establishment) as failed to educate them enough to join a civilised society...or....as it's my guess....they have just made their own minds up and decided to join their mates in making other people's lives a misery !!! Very unlikely they'll grow up to be a benefit to us all if they carry on like this. My family are suffering, while these scumbags have their laughs. I wouldn't wish it on anybody else and i'm sure knowbody in their right mind would continue to put up with the present situation while thinking "ah, if only they had something else to do" I'm sure that the parents don't know what their kids are up to (i'd like to think so anyway) but if my kid was out on a weekend night with their "mates" and there was umpteen articles in the local press with regards to disorder in the town, then i'd be checking them out for sure. In the meantime, i'm looking into some discreet cctv to see if it helps, but we'll see. I'm not on here to give the view of me being a martyr against the crime around here or anything like that....just a married guy with a very young family who is getting frustrated by the idiots around here out to cause us grief. I came onto the forum to get a few things off my chest and i'm pleased to see there has been some replies to my posting. Maybe it's a form of therapy for me! Thanks all!

buy a shotgun or a few rotties or if they knocking on your door wire the knocker to the mains! zap the little bar-stewards

Sorry to disappoint you Neil but these charges are to apply to every supermarket in the country!

Hello! To introduce myself too... I'm Rob, the Station Manager for South Northumberland Radio Group, and I've been involved in Media for what feels like an eternity already. I am currently working with transplanUK - providing broadcast systems engineering for projects such as 'Synergy' throughout the UK, have worked in radio stations in Alnwick and Warrington and have decided to 'go back' into education too - so I'm doing my final year in Media Production (TV and Radio) at Sunderland University.... and so here we are, basically one day I thought why not get a community radio station for our area? A couple of weeks later we had the team together for it's first meeting, and we have a fantastic management team at the helm. It comprises of Colin Heathcote our Chairman, myself, Neal Younger our Secretary and Acting Financial Controller and of course you've already met John right here on the forum. It would be excellent to hear what you would like from a Station for South East Northumberland, and I'll gladly take these on board as we review our current Business Plan. Also - if you would like to get involved - I would suggest keeping an eye on www.snrgroup.co.uk (It's down this evening for server maintainence) - and we'll announce opportunities soon. Rob