Northumberland communities - Bedlington

Police raid Bedlington robbery suspects

2009-11-10T14:34:02Z

Hands manacled behind him, a suspect is led away today - one of several arrested in dawn raids.

More than 100 police officers staged a series of raids on suspected members of an organised crime gang believed to be behind ram raids on ATM hole in the wall cash machines.

One of the robberies they are suspected of having committed was at a Spar store in Bedlington in June.

They are also to be questioned about a theft of a tractor worth several thousands of pounds from Prudhoe.

The joint operation by officers from Northumbria and Durham Forces centred on addresses in Durham.

They included three houses in Witton Park, one in Escomb, one in West Auckland and one in Tindale Crescent, all Bishop Auckland.

Deputy Chief Constable Mike Barton of the Durham Force described the gang members as "the carrion crows of society feeding off the scraps of decent people".

At a house in Saxon Green, Escomb officers used battering rams to smash down the doors of other properties while sniffer dogs were used to search for drugs.

The gang's method was to steal JCBs and to use them to smash into ATM machines.

At Bedlington in June thieves made off with more than £24,000 in cash and cigarettes after breaking into the Spar shop on Station Road.

Caught on camera they searched for cash and tobacco before eventually escaping with their haul.

Insp Martin Peace of Bishop Auckland Police said five men between 27 and 32 had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.

The man, 29, arrested at the house in Escomb has also been arrested on suspicion of the theft of a tractor from Prudhoe.

He described the dawn raids as a success adding: "There are two more men we are seeking but we are confident we will track them down."

Insp Peace said the raids followed months of intelligence gathering by detectives from both the Northumbria and Durham Forces.

Deputy Chief Constable Barton said: "This is an organised crime gang and we are determined to stamp out organised crime in the North East.

"Front line officers as well as detectives are targeting these criminals.

"If they so much as illegal park in a disabled parking bay we will have them."

Bedlington firm's focus on electrical waste

2009-11-10T14:30:51Z

New jobs and a new focus on electrical waste are being created by Northumberland-based WREL (WEEE Recycling Electronics Limited).

The company was launched this summer on the Barrington Industrial Estate in Bedlington to offer a complete recycling package for all electrical and electronic waste, however large or small.

The tough WEEE (Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment) regulations mean that business users, manufacturers and retailers are responsible for making sure their electrical goods and batteries do not end up in landfill or at unauthorised facilities.

The consequences for firms or individuals who do not comply are serious - they can be fined, imprisoned or have products banned.

Mick Dyson and Guy Evans decided to set up WREL to provide a high quality, professional solution for both trade and residential electrical waste that answered the needs of customers.

Mick is an experienced engineer and Guy was formerly a national contract manager with Sita UK.

Mick Dyson said: "WREL is licensed as an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility, which gives us the stamp of quality and credibility for WEEE recycling. We provide a national quality service at competitive rates which answers a pent-up need from commercial and domestic customers."

WREL is fully licensed to assess, collect, provide containers and process all electrical waste including hazardous goods such as fridges, TVs and batteries from both business and domestic users.

Mick added: " WEEE regulations have to be complied with, and companies are finding that it makes commercial sense to have a dedicated company such as WREL deal with electrical waste efficiently and provide the back-up documentation and audit trail needed to satisfy strict legislation."

Guy Evans said: "We are already processing 20 tons of electrical equipment a week, even though we only opened our doors in September.

"We have started recruiting locally to help with the dismantling and recycling process, and aim to expand over the next six months, offering up to five more employment opportunities.

"It is good news for the North East that we have been able to launch a new business at a difficult time, and that our plans for expansion are already coming into reality because there is a need for WEEE recycling which we are able to meet."

The government target for electrical waste recycling is 15 kilograms per person per year. Currently the UK is achieving only 4 kilograms, leaving a yawning gap to fill.

Get in touch with Mick or Guy by ringing: Office (01670) 536220: Mobile 07531 667751 or email: enquiries@WEEERecycleElectronics.com

Share your Northumbrian dialect words

2009-11-10T11:15:54Z

Deek at these kenspeckle words and see if you can save 'the venerable grandmother' of the English language.

What some people call the 'purest form' of English, the Northumbrian dialect, has been eroded over time and no-one knows how much Northumbrians and Geordies still have their own way of speaking.

Words like yari, jugal and skumfish used to be heard regularly but the Northumbrian Language Society is desperate to get a snapshot of the state of the region's dialect and see which Northumbrian words are still in use.

The call comes after Collins English Dictionary asked people to look at three Northumbrian words and let them know, via Twitter, if they are used. If not, they will write the obituary for the dead words.

But if they are still in common use, the words will be reinstated into the Collins Corpus database and could even be included in future dictionaries.

The Northumbrian Language Society chose the three words for Collins to take to the public but they have many other words and want to take the opportunity to learn more about the health of Northumberland's dialect.

Kim Bibby-Wilson from the Northumbrian Language Society said: "It matters. If we all spoke hybrid American English, it would be a very boring world.

"As far as the Collins project is concerned, it's good - it's going to get a high profile and remind people of these words. When you speak about dialect people are fascinated.

"But the more life goes on, the less people hear the speech patterns. It's whether they are speaking these words or not. From anecdotal evidence we're losing words because they're not relevant anymore."

Unlike Scottish dialect, Northumbrian words do not get full recognition, meaning there is no European funding for researching and promoting the dialect, as well as projects to record people still speaking in the tongue.

Northumbrian only holds observer status under the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages.

Kim said: "We would love to have the funding. We should be looking at how the Scots dictionary is constructed.

"Northumbrian dialect is the venerable grandmother of English, not a poor cousin. It has always been isolated, by the North Sea, the Pennines, Cheviots and moors, and it is a purer form of English. It has been reserved here for longer because the Vikings and Normans didn't have a great deal of interplay with the locals.

"It's very important, because the language that's spoken in a particular area tells you so much, just like castles do and cathedrals and football teams. You wouldn't knock down Bamburgh Castle because it's no longer used for defence."

Many of the words used in Northumberland are from the Angles, while certain areas also picked up gypsy words because of nearby camps.

For instance, 'gadgy', now used to mean a man, was originally used to refer to non-gypsies, while charver, now a derogatory term, used to mean friend.

Which of the words below do you still use? Do you know of any other current Northumbrian dialect words?

Click on the link on the right to share them

SPREADING THE WORD

THE THREE WORDS COLLINS ARE RESEARCHING ARE

Shawm - to warm yourself

Hippletyclinch - walk with a limp

Bari - beautiful/handsome

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM NORTHUMBERLAND

Deek - to look at

Yari - egg

Jugal - dog

Mort - wife

Netty - toilet

Oxter - armpit

Kenspeckle - distinctive

Skumfish - tired

Spelk - splinter

Gully - sharp knife for meat/general purpose

Puzzly-os - noughts and crosses

Lowp - to jump

Kist - strong box

WELL-KNOWN REGIONAL TERMS

Gadgy - non-gypsy man

Charver - friend

Gan - go

Lang - long

Canny - good

Hoy - throw

Ahad/ahaad - caught fire

Stotty - round bread

NEW ONES

Windy-pick - pneumatic drill

Starry head - Phillips screwdriver

Wansbeck businesses team up for success

2009-11-10T09:15:51Z

Two small businesses have been recognised as showing the true 'spirit of enterprise' after teaming up to help their respective interests grow.

Lisa Walker and Gary Smith with Smurf and Wansbeck Enterprise Coaches in background

Lisa Walker, from Cambois, who provides children's pony rides with 19-year-old Shetland pony Smurf, and Gary Smith, from Bedlington, who runs Inflatable Solutions and hires bouncy castles under the name Mr Booncy, jointly took the title at the Wansbeck Business Awards.

The pair decided to pool their resources after realising they had a lot in common and they are now working together to expand their businesses.

Ms Walker said: "We've really thought outside of the box to help each other's businesses.

"It's a strange sight seeing 6 feet 3 inch Gary with Smurf who is just 3 feet tall but the kids love the combination and it's been really good for our business."

Blood donor sessions in Bedlington

2009-11-10T00:00:36Z

Blood donor sessions take place at St Bede's Church Hall, Catholic Row, NE22 6HS, on the following dates:

Wednesday 30 Dec 2009, 13:45 to 15:30 and 16:15 to 18:45
Wednesday 17 Feb 2010, 13:45 to 15:30 and 16:15 to 18:45

For more information on sessions nearby or to book an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk.

Bowey grabs a goal for Terriers in return to action

2009-11-09T09:37:20Z

Steve Bowey celebrated his return to Northern League action following a lengthy lay-off, scoring Bedlington Terriers' opening goal against Esh Winning, who restored parity courtesy of Jamie Dawson. Late in the game Tony Chapman won the points for Terriers.

Elsewhere, Whitley Bay's inexplicable loss of form continued at Filtrona Park on Saturday where rejuvenated South Shields secured a deserved victory, Morpeth Town are third from bottom but they picked up a useful point at Consett, and Ashington consolidated third place when an only goal by Scott Blandford was sufficient at West Allotment Celtic.

Bedlington boss calls for patience from fans

2009-11-06T13:00:20Z

Joint manager Tony Lowery craves for a return of the halcyon days at Bedlington Terriers - but has asked supporters to be patient.

Lowery and Keith Perry were in charge when the Terriers won the Skilltrainingltd Northern League championship in five successive seasons between 1998 and 2002 and is aware expectations remain high at Welfare Park.

Lowery said: "It is just a little more than two years since Keith and I returned and it takes time to rebuild a squad.

"These things do not happen overnight. Our first job was to steady the ship.

"We weathered the storm and last season showed quite a bit of improvement. Ahead of tomorrow's game with Esh Winning we are in 10th and our aim is a top-six finish."

A big problem for the management duo has been the inability to field a settled side.

Lowery added: "We have a decent squad but quite honestly I don't know which is our best team because week in, week out we have had to chop and change.

"In particular, it has been a huge blow losing Steve Bowey and Richard Flynn .

"They are two class players, but Steve has been out for six weeks with an ankle problem and Richard has missed two months with a broken wrist.

"There is just a chance they will be in the squad for tomorrow's match and I cannot wait for them to be back."

Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy to stand down

2009-11-05T11:05:54Z

A Northumberland MP has announced he is to stand down at the next General Election.

Denis Murphy, Labour MP for Wansbeck, whose constituency covers the Lynemouth area, announced his plans in a letter to constituents.

Mr Murphy, who has just turned 61, said there was "no one reason" for his decision but it is one he has thought "long and hard about for the last year".

The MP, who was elected for the first time in 1997, admitted the expenses row was a factor.

The Journal's sister paper the Sunday Sun reported in June how Mr Murphy claimed thousands of pounds to redecorate his flat twice in three years. We also reported how he claimed £750 for a new television and how he employs his daughter as a part time office assistant.

The MP said: "It's not the expenses scandal itself, but some of the things that have come out as a result.

"It is the sort of press attack on decent Members of Parliament who have done nothing wrong, who only followed the rules the employer set out.

"Some of my colleagues have done things that have been very silly and that should never have happened, but the majority haven't done that.

"I don't want to say my decision is down to the expenses issue because it is not. It is a combination of very many things, of which the expenses issue is only one."

In his letter to constituents, Mr Murphy wrote: 'This is a decision I have fought long and hard about for the last year.

'There is not one main reason directing my decision, rather a number of issues'.

Council will help Hartford Hall residents

2009-11-05T10:45:27Z

Families living on an unfinished upmarket estate have been promised council help after their housing developers were placed into administration.

Residents who bought expensive homes on the Hartford Hall Estate near Bedlington, Northumberland, say they have been left with rutted roads, unsightly open spaces and inadequate street lighting.

Directors of development company Hartford Hall Estate Ltd Ho Sanderson and his wife Margaret were being prosecuted over alleged breaches of planning conditions.

But the company became insolvent and was placed in administration earlier this year. The court case was dropped by Northumberland County Council in September in the wake of the firm's collapse.

That came after Mr Sanderson suffered severe injuries to his face and neck in a shooting accident near his home in March

With the company unable to finance the work, the residents on the estate face the prospect of having to pay for the completion of unfinished work.

Owners of the 71 properties are contemplating splitting equally between them the cost of finishing the estate's roads, landscaping and street lighting. They approached the county council for quotes for the work, with a view to the authority's in-house team possibly doing the job.

The council has already been given clearance to access the land to carry out the necessary work, by the company's administrators Newcastle based Grant Thornton.

And at a meeting of the council's executive, members agreed to provide the quotes, and to do the job if asked.

They backed an officer's view that providing a quote would "provide much-needed assistance to the residents of Hartford Hall".

Speaking afterwards, Christine Purdon, secretary of the Hartford Hall residents' association, said: "We are very pleased that the council is looking at it for us because that is going to be very helpful. When we look at the possibility of carrying out the works hopefully we will be able to do so."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "Our legal team have spoken to the administrators and they are happy for us to do the work if that is what residents want."

Hartford Hall Estate has been a troubled project since the residents first moved in four years ago, amid claims of problems and delays with work on their new homes.

There have been sewage pollution incidents in the nearby River Blyth and protests by residents against plans by the developers to build more houses to fund the completion of the estate.

Northumberland day care centres axed

2009-11-05T10:31:22Z

Controversial plans to axe seven cherished day centres in Northumberland were rubber-stamped last night.

Northumberland County Council voted to close the facilities used as meeting places by elderly and disabled people at Amble, Blyth, Bedlington, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Ponteland and Prudhoe.

In a named poll at its meeting at Morpeth's County Hall, the council voted 46 to 11 in favour of proposals to close its centres, which are used by around 300 people every week.

The authority says the facilities are under-used and it is closing them to cut costs and is instead to offer users and the many others who need assistance personalised budgets to spend on their preferred method of care.

It says anyone who wants to continue receiving traditional, building-based day care will be able to do so via other providers - voluntary and independent agencies.

The council has came up with a range of alternative provision in each of the affected areas. Hundreds of people had signed petitions calling for the seven centres to be saved, claiming they offer elderly users a vital chance to meet friends and give relatives an important break from looking after them.

The meeting was attended by a band of centre users, carers and union leaders who vented their anger at councillors after the vote was taken. Thomas Mosey, 80, of Newcastle Road, Newsham, Blyth, has used the town's Lyndon House site for around five years, having previously been moved out of its Tynedale House by the council.

He branded the decision "disgusting", "absolute shameless" and "shocking". The council had been due to take a decision on the centres at its meeting in September, but opted to defer after Conservative and Labour opposition councillors joined forces in a bid to drum up interest from potential providers in running the sites in Amble, Bedlington and Blyth.

But last night, the Labour group hit out at the Tories for now backing the closures and for tabling an amendment with the Lib Dems which it claimed showed little change to the proposals put forward in September.

Labour members asked why the council could not offer a mix of centres and alternative care. They also accused the Lib Dems of using the personalised budgets as "a smokescreen" which allows them to axe day centres.

Coun Deirdre Campbell said: "The public are not silly. Personalised budgets weren't an excuse to close the homes.

"I just can not believe you are back in here today and you are still intent on taking away a brilliant service that is used by the elderly.

"I would say to people - do not get old the Lib Dems will crucify you.

"I think you have declared war on the elderly. The one thing you have not got to do in Northumberland is get old."

The Lib Dems had called on the council to make the decision to end uncertainty for centre users.

Coun Simon Reed said: "We have to modernise and transform our service. We have to give people more choice."

His party also stated that no centres will be closed until alternate provision has been arranged for users.

Extra-time strike sees Bedlington Terriers through

2009-11-05T09:18:34Z

Anthony Chapman claimed an extra-time winner for Bedlington Terriers after a five-goal thriller against Marske United at Welfare Park in the Durham Challenge Cup.

Stephen Gamble fired the visitors ahead in the eighth minute before David Southern levelled on the hour firing home from the edge of the area.

Home skipper Peter Snowdon headed the Terriers in front on 75 minutes before Gamble notched his second of the game to take the game into extra-time.

Chapman's effort in the 109th minute settled the tie when he cut inside from the left, beat a defender and lashed home from 14 yards.

Bedlington mum's baby joy after heartbreak

2009-11-02T15:39:11Z

MELISSA Swinney knows all too well about the dangers of premature birth.

In September last year Melissa, 26, and partner Bradley Gaughan, of Bedlington in Northumberland, were left heartbroken when their son Elijah was born four months early and died after just three hours.

But now the couple are celebrating the birth of their daughter Francesca, who they say is Elijah's gift to them.

Francesca too was premature by nine weeks. But she weighed 12oz more than Elijah and her survival is all the more precious after his loss.

Francesca, was born weighing just 3lb 10oz, on October 20, at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, before being transferred to the special care baby unit at Wansbeck Hospital, in Ashington.

Melissa, who is also mother to four-year-old Callum, has been by her side every day. "It has probably been the worst year that we have both experienced but we are very happy that we have had Francesca.

"It was very frightening for all of us the way through my pregnancy, but she is doing brilliantly.

"It will always be hard not having Elijah here with us but we just have to look to the future and try to get on with things.

"Callum suffered really badly. We involved him the whole way through Elijah's pregnancy but he didn't have a brother at the end of it and he was very confused.

"He just didn't understand what had happened and where Elijah had gone and he saw me when I was very poorly.

"But he has helped us so much and he has been a little star. We are very lucky to have him, and now Francesca as well. We say she is our little gift from Elijah."

Elijah, who was born weighing just 2lb 14oz, lost his battle for life despite doctors' desperate attempts to save him.

Melissa vowed to help other children in memory of her son and started a campaign to raise money to help others who find themselves in similar tragic circumstances.

She set up the Elijah's Gift fundraising organisation which aims to generate cash for special care baby units in the region.

The family hope that the money raised can go towards paying for staff and equipment, a special room for families or even clothes for premature babies.

Melissa said: "We just want to say thank you to all of the staff in the special care baby units at both hospitals. They have just been fantastic. After we had Elijah they were always there for us.

"And the same doctors who cared for Elijah are now caring for Francesca. We didn't know that we would be needing their help and using their facilities again.

"On both occasions the staff have been amazing.We started fundraising because of the level of care they gave us and we know that there was nothing more they could have done for Elijah.

"They tried everything to save him and we just wanted to give something back to them."

Dunston overcome Bedlington Terriers' challenge

2009-11-02T13:40:54Z

A strong challenge from Bedlington Terriers was not enough to take any points from Dunston UTS at the weekend. Dunston stay fourth in the Northern League Division One after a brace of goals from Fergal Harkin saw them to victory.

Ashington continue to enjoy a purple patch and remain third after defeating Shildon at Woodhorn Lane courtesy of goals by Andrew Johnson and Keith Douglas (pen).

Defeat by Tow Law Town cost Whitley Bay pole position and Spennymoor Town returned to the top with a five-goal rout of neighbours West Auckland Town.

Unfinished work at Hartford Hall Estate is costing residents

2009-10-29T08:19:12Z

Frustrated families are facing the prospect of having to pay for the completion of unfinished work on their trouble-plagued housing estate following the collapse of its development company.

Residents who bought expensive homes on the upmarket Hartford Hall Estate near Bedlington, Northumberland, say they have been left with rutted roads, unsightly open spaces and inadequate street lighting.

Now they are preparing to pick up the bill to put things right after development company Hartford Hall Estate Ltd became insolvent and was placed in administration earlier this year.

Last month court proceedings against company directors Ho Sanderson and his wife Margaret - who were charged with breaching planning conditions imposed on the development - were dropped by the county council in the wake of the administration move.

But with no funds available to complete the estate's roads, landscaping and street lighting, the residents of the 71 properties face having to share the cost of the work between them.

Next week the county council's executive is expected to agree to provide them with estimates of the cost of the outstanding work. The council's in-house team could eventually be asked to carry out the work, if the Hartford Hall residents' association agrees to go ahead and pay for it.

Yesterday Christine Purdon, secretary of the residents' association, said: "We are trying to get some clarification from the county council on the best route forward for us.

"We have reconciled ourselves to having to pay for this unfinished work, because we realise there is no money available for it after the developer went into administration.

The estate roads, the landscaping and the street lighting are just unacceptable.

"The roads are starting to collapse because they have not got proper surfacing, and that could also affect the sewers."

Fellow Hartford Hall resident Eileen Ellis said: "The roads have not been surfaced and the under-surface is wearing away, and the meadow on the estate has had stuff dumped on it and is covered in rubble and weeds. We were sold down the river with promises, and we have paid for all this unfinished work already in the purchase price of our houses."

Hartford Hall Estate has been a troubled project since the residents first moved in four years ago, amid claims of problems and delays with work on their new homes.

There have been sewage pollution incidents in the nearby River Blyth and protests by residents against plans by the developers to build more houses to fund the completion of the estate.

The court proceedings against the Sandersons were launched by the former Wansbeck Council after Hartford Hall Estate Ltd allegedly failed to carry out required work on roads, footpaths, landscaping, street lighting and car parking.

A report to Monday's meeting of the county council executive says providing a quotation for the completion of the unfinished work would "provide much-needed assistance to the residents of Hartford Hall".

Cash for schools within reach

2009-10-29T08:15:33Z

Northumberland's attempts to finally get its hands on funding from a Government programme to rebuild dilapidated schools is set to take an important step forward.

The county has so far been denied any money from the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, which was launched in 2004 with the aim of rebuilding or renewing every secondary school in England.

Now the Liberal Democrat-led county council is being recommended to progress efforts to gain entry to the programme - with plans to improve under-performing schools in the Wansbeck area.

Schools in Ashington and Bedlington - where at least 51% of students failed to gain five A* to C grades at GCSE last year -- have been earmarked as the top priority for any future BSF funding.

The move is part of a new strategy aimed at tackling the link between poor educational achievement at the age of 16 and problems of child poverty and disadvantage.

Next week the county council's executive is expected to agree to go ahead with completing documentation stating that Northumberland is now "ready to deliver" BSF projects.

A report to councillors says that while progressing the documentation does not guarantee inclusion in the BSF programme, the work will significantly enhance the authority's chances of being included.

A recent review and prioritisation exercise by the Department for Children, Schools and Families ranked Northumberland 31st out of 70 projects from authorities which have not yet joined the BSF programme.

The report to the executive says progressing the bid will require spending of about £122,000 on external support.