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tesco closed 6 stores in that block and opened one inadequate tesco store.I'm sick of this town playing second fiddle to other towns. Newbiggin got a beach Ashington get a superstore, sports centre. Blyth get parks and play areas. Morpeth get MILLIONS spent on a shopping precinct. We get 2 million spent on some paving slabs. Although very pretty in does not detract from the fact that the surrounding buildings are crumbling as is our community. The population of Bedlington is huge and continues to grow, yet the council refuse to add to the amenities. Prefering to gloss over the cracks and hope we wont notice. Buildings are left derelict for years.While OUR council tax is spent elsewhere.

I'm going to float the idea that live chat should be re-enabled over the holiday period.

I feel strongly that people should be objecting on principle to losing resources such as community centres and libraries. As someone has pointed out maybe the CC is not the best run and if this was improved it would be much more of a hub for community activities. One thing I would specifically like to mention is the parent and toddler group on Tuesdays. The Catholic church are apparently closing their Monday group down as well. As a relative newcomer to the north east, going to groups like this really helped me meet other parents and feel part of a community for the first time since moving to Bedlington! I feel sad that these groups are dwindling. On a cynical note, I bet the council could have easily funded the running of the community centre / library for a year or two with the money they secured from Tesco for the precious York stone (or whatever it is) for the market place.

ah! so they are! have you been applying?

We had a strong class there on a wednesday once over, an hour for under 13's then an hour and a half for 13-adult, then due to a change of instructor, the numbers fell. the origional instructor came back to a class of 6, barely enough to pay for the hall for an hour, never mind the late class. As a class builder, he asked if he could have the room for half price for 6 weeks for the hour and a half (since we'd been there for over 2 years that i knew of!) so we could cut the price, have "bring a friend for free", still be able to include the youths for the first half hour etc to build it back up again. "sorry, company policy, no can do. its full price or leave." We left 3 weeks later for a new venue, and built the class back up within weeks. The room at the CC was not used on a wednesday night again, as far as i'm aware, and i believe they now close that day?? (i may be wrong about opening times) its attitudes like this that stop organisations using the place. No help at all!

so does he!