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Completely unacceptable behaviour yet again in in Bedlington Market Place last night. This incident occurred at 3.00 am this morning. Given the current financial constraints it is clearly unrealistic to expect a 24/7 police presence in the town. It is also right to point out that Bedlington is fortunate to be served by an outstanding Police team who have our full support. As County Councillor for Bedlington Central I wrote to the Chief Superintendent earlier this week to request that Northumbria Police reverse their recent decision to discontinue the presence of Police Officers in the town centre after 10.00 pm in the evening, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. I have written again to the Chief Superintendent to ask for an urgent review of both the current situation and measures that can be put in place to prevent this level of wanton, mindless vandalism becoming even more common. Having spoken to shop owners this morning, they are determined not to give in to this form of behaviour. I will be talking to other shop owners next week to gather their views. We need to give them all the support we can. View on Councillor Wallace's Blog

So what age were they to be out at 3 a.m.!

and allegedly now released them without charge due to age.

I just missed the incident but did see the police responding, (8pm here) yes more cameras would help identify these louts! We have the technology!

Just by chance I was watching the webcam I didn't see the incident but was watching the kerfuffle just afterwards and the three police cars arriving, pitty this camera wasn't being recorded!

If the "nightlife" is the cause of the vandalism then it would be good to see it curbed! Noise is not acceptable when it disturbs others, its disrespectful, vandalism isn't acceptable, ask all of those volunteers who beautify Bedlington! I hope the town centre is not relying on drunken louts for its viability.

If this is 'purpose built' (and built to modern standards), I doubt if the residents will hear anything at all. The idea behind having residential homes close to amenities isn't so strange. It makes it easier to keep the residents an active part of the community they live in. If it's just 50 yards to a shop, cafe or post office then many will get there under their own steam. If they need a carer with them there's more likely to be time for a 15 minute outing to buy, let's say an ice-cream, than there would be for an hour's outing from the outskirts of town. It's not such a daft idea, when you think about it.

We were told at the Bedlington Forum meeting on Monday night that due to "cuts" the CSOs shift pattern had been changed. Instead of patrols by them continuing until 1am they now cease at 10pm........ just what the burglar ordered!

Rich, I'm not sure what your suggesting, sounds like you think the restaurants, pubs etc are responsible for those doing the vandalism and that the vandalism is preferred to the new residents! I dont know who these new residents are or what the use of the Manor is, yes it will be interesting to see what negative effect that will have on the front street especially the economy.

The police still patrol - I've seen them a couple of times. I imagine that this kind of vandalism will subside as soon as the residents of Baedling Manor start settling in. The residents will start lobbying to shut what little restaurants, pubs and bars remain on Front Street due to the noise and put the final nail in the coffin for the street - until at least the new planned development goes ahead. This kind of tactic is seen throughout small towns and cities up and down the country. How Baedling Manor on Front Street was seen as a great idea is beyond me. Such a wonderful building could have been used to boost and modernise local trade, instead they've placed a health and care home slap bang in the middle of the high street. It'll be interesting to see how this turns out..

Yes. I live on the Main Street and most weekends after kicking out time there's at least a few idiots shouting, fighting and trashing the place. It used to be there would be a couple of police cars patrolling the street at this time, does this not still happen? I don't recall seeing any.

It happens just about every year, last year all the planters on the railings opposite the Northumberland Arms /outside St Cuthberts were all pulled off and scattered in the road and footpath, local residents and children replaced and replanted them. I also noticed planters and baskets put up by shops pulled down and destroyed. Bring back the CTV cameras we used to have on the street .

As a keen gardener, of the floral variety, I know just how much work goes into creating a floral decoration of that size and my heart goes out to the creator/s. Such a lot of hard work destroyed in exchange for the two minutes of pleasure gained by the person/s who wrecked it. Shame on you whoever/whatever you are!!

Saturday the 10th there were a couple of people in bus stops outside a couple of the pubs - the bus stop on the corner by the Northumberland Arms had a group of girls obviously drunk who were having a heated argument and kicking / punching the bus stop in a fury. This isn't an isolated case and of course, not everyone who gets drunk acts like an idiot and in this case it's a very small minority and no way are the pubs responsible for the behaviour of their clientele. Also, vandalism isn't specifically caused by drunks. The vandalism should be targeted directly - where's the CCTV? Where are the pictures of the perpetrators in local literature? John Fox has mentioned that the CSO shift patterns stop at 10pm - it's insane, especially with a police station a stone throw away. The point I was making is that putting a purpose build care home in the middle of a high street will certainly cull whatever nightlife Bedlington has left on the high street due to noise complaints etc. and night time vandalism shall certainly go down, just as the rest of the high street will. If more development like this is given the go ahead Bedlington will be nothing more than a remote retirement community void of local trade, local restaurants and pubs - a barren wasteland where the biggest concern for the residents is when the bins are supposed to go out, it's almost managed decline. It was good news to hear about the developments going on behind front street and I can't wait for that to be complete, I can only hope it will stop Bedlington becoming the largest retirement home in the world.