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I don't suppose I am alone in thinking that nothing ever gets done in Bedlington. Yes we have a new Market Square, but have you seen any sign of the much advertised expanded Tesco's. I went up there this morning and was disgusted by the state of the pavement outside the store. It is littered with all sorts of rubbish. We have so many empty shops in Bedlington, it is becoming a ghost town. What are our council doing about attracting new business? I know for a fact that there was a buyer for the old shoe shop, but like most thing here it took so long for something to happen the buyer gave up. We always see pictures of our councilors doing good work, but never in Bedlington. I remember them all standing outside the garage opposite Tesco's saying that it was to re-developed. What happened to that? Instead of wasting money on useless papers, and magazines on the area, use it to improve Bedlington. Give it back it's heart. Give it life. Make the residents proud, to live here. Spend money here instead of Blyth, Ashington, Newbiggin etc.,

Coincidently, in The Guardian G2 section yesterday there was an article about the new Library of Birmingham and the implications for such a place in the 21st Century. Once you cut-through the 'big city' stuff much of what's left is relevant to the small town library ... might be worth a read at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/mar/07/future-british-libraries-margaret-hodge Thankfully my own local village library is now a vibrant place and the 'secret weapon' in changing the former moribund place into something of value is an energetic librarian; I suppose it's her imagination and hard work that's made the difference. Extended hours (early & late), weekends (all day Sat & Sun), Mother & Toddler sessions, book groups and readings, visiting authors & poets, up-to-date stock (something also mentioned in the G2 article), kids competitions, book sales, refreshments. Yep, it's got all the other stuff you'd expect, DVDs, CDs, LPs, internet caf, etc. All this gets the punters in and so allows the chiselling local Councillors photo oportunities and therefore snares them into continued support (not their natural condition as they are scum-sucking Tories ... pause to clear the Symptom's throat for a big hockle!) I don't know if the Bedder's boss librarian is cut from similar cloth to my local one but in my humble view that's the type of person needed to lead the struggle to re-vitalise the place.

that's why we set up the save bedlington page on facebook. It's on here too! I am awaiting a reply from Tesco re: the expansion. And I'm waiting for MP's to get back to me! we are all sick of Bedlington being the "poor relation". We have said we have a great community, a safe place to live and our M.P's, councillors, council etc.. are letting Bedlington go to the dogs! We deserve decent facilities to meet our needs and the people of Bedlington have had enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have fond memories of Barnton we lived in Alexander Row I went to the school until it was decided to close it (Mrs Topping was the headmistress if my memory serves me correctly) and we were all sent to the far reaches of Bedlingtonshire to continue our education I among others was sent to the Station School. I remember the co-op and and I also remember a little shop which only sold sweets and pop it was just like a wooden shed I forget the name of the street it was on but it stood at a right angle to Alexander Row and you had to go through a cut to get to it, there might have been two streets at one time but one was getting demolished because the footballers used one of the dissused houses as their changing room. I remember the rag n bone man coming round and a french bloke selling onions mind you he had an Ashington twang about his dialect lol. I remember not so fondly the oot side netties and believe me they were cald in winter my mam used to cook all our meals on the fire using the old black ranges we bathed in a tin bath in front of the fire on a first come first served basis the kettle was constantly on topping the bath up as the water cooled. On a winters morning I remember Ice on the inside of my bedroom window. The front door was normaly locked as it was rarely used but the back door was always open even if we went out, thieving from a neighbour was very rare. However I do remember a spate of thefts from a few houses in the street and no one could figure it out until someone worked out that as the houses were in a row and there was an empty house in the middle unlike today in the loft space you could go virtually the full length of the street undetected if you were quiet and these buggers were dropping down through the loft hatches stealing things and going back up this went on for about 2 weeks... I remember the day they were caught after they were sorted out vigilante style by very angry pitmen and their wives the police were called I know these 2 fellows never ventured near Barnton ever again mind you it was a punishment to behold.... at times I think it should be done now.... .Happy days as they say lol