Visit www.journallive.co.uk/bedlington to take a look at the improved pages, including a new layout, more useful local information, an events calendar, news from the wider county and an interactive map.
These pages are no longer being updated.
Visit www.journallive.co.uk/bedlington to take a look at the improved pages, including a new layout, more useful local information, an events calendar, news from the wider county and an interactive map.
These pages are no longer being updated.
You can join the Flickr group to share your own local photos, or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk.
Bright yellow balloons were released into the sky today in memory of tragic transplant teenager Leanne Nicholson.
The bubbly 19-year-old, of Choppington, in Northumberland, died a year ago today after her body rejected a second donor heart.
Leanne became one of only five youngsters in more than 20 years to have two heart swaps at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, first in 2002 and again in 2008.
]]> Her parents, Rob and Helen, both 42, and brothers Scott, 18, and Ryan, 12, marked Leanne's first anniversary privately together and released balloons in her favourite colour, yellow.And one year on, Leanne's heartbroken mum Helen has appealed once again for more organ donors to come forward and paid tribute to the two families who twice gave their daughter fresh hope.
Helen said: "It's been a very emotional and difficult year. Without those two donor families we would have lost Leanne in 2002. I would urge anyone who is thinking of becoming an organ donor to just do it. We would just like to say thank you again to the two families who gave us extra time with Leanne and all of the staff at the Freeman Hospital for endlessly helping Leanne through the last seven years of her life."
Leanne was born healthy, but at the age of 12 she contracted a virus which attacked her heart. In 2002 her heart failed due to a condition known as cardiomyopathy, and Rob and Helen, both 42, and brothers Scott, 18, and Ryan, 12, were told to say their final goodbyes.
An emergency transplant gave the family hope, but Leanne's body rejected the new organ in June 2003.
From there she was under the expert care of medics at the Freeman Hospital, who helped her survive using ECMO - a type of mechanical support which kept her body functioning and gave her donor heart a rest.
The first spell of rejection had weakened Leanne's donor heart and she underwent a second lifesaving heart transplant in February 2008.
Shortly after the following Christmas, she started to reject her second heart and had to return to the Freeman Hospital. Leanne survived, but was left with a condition called sinus tachicardia - a fast heartbeat - and on July 15 last year she asked Rob and Helen to take her back to hospital.
Helen added: "We took her to Wansbeck General with classic signs of rejection again and she was admitted. We got Leanne changed into her nightwear and sat with her until 2.50am, gave her our love, and told her we would see her later.
"We had no idea that moment was going to be our goodbye. We all loved her and miss her immensely."
Leanne's friend Gary Gray, 23, also paid tribute to the popular teenager, saying: "Leanne was the best friend anyone could ever want. Within seconds of entering a room, she lit it up. I am privileged to have known her. Around Leanne it was just impossible to be sad."
Leanne Nicholson with mum Helen and brother Scott
]]>Up to 1,000 posts in the county council's 7,000-strong workforce are potentially at risk - on top of around 1,300 which have been shed over the last two years.
A two-week trawl for further voluntary redundancy applications was launched yesterday, after employees were briefed by their department heads about the latest budget cuts facing the unitary authority.
]]> The Liberal Democrat-led council said it will have to save about ã10m in what remains of the 2010/11 financial year and a further ã30m next year - in addition to the ã21m in cuts agreed in February.Major doubts were raised over whether the latest savings package - prompted by the coalition Government's cost-cutting plans - can be achieved without compulsory redundancies and damaging service cuts.
Last night public sector unions pledged to work with the council to avoid compulsory redundancies, but one official claimed Northumberland is facing its most difficult period in 15 years.
Mark Wilson, the GMB's Northumberland regional officer, said: "We are deeply concerned about the cuts which the Government is asking people to endure, and I can't see how jobs and services won't be badly affected by this.
"We have already had significant voluntary redundancies just 12 months ago and we will have to wait and see what happens at the end of this two-week period. We just can't understand where these extra cuts will come from because there has been a management review and a lot of people left in March.
"We will be fighting as hard as we can to keep as many people employed as possible, and avoid cuts in services. However, the worry is that these latest cuts, on top of massive savings already made, mean the room for manoeuvre has been reduced greatly.
"This is going to be probably the most difficult period Northumberland has faced in 10 to 15 years."
Unison regional officer, Tony Martin, said: "The headline figure we have been given is up to 1,000 jobs to go. We have given a commitment to work with the council to try to mitigate any compulsory redundancies and damage to front line services. However, I don't believe they will be able to achieve these savings purely through volunteers, and we need to sit down with them and have some high-level discussions."
Andrew Tebbutt, executive member for corporate resources, said recent Government decisions meant significant savings would be required by all councils and public sector organisations.
"We're operating in a hugely challenging financial environment and this means we have to look at new ways of working and delivering services at a lower cost. Inevitably, these savings will have an impact on jobs but we are already talking to staff and managing this as sensitively as possible. We need to spend time assessing the impact on services but at the moment we can't fully quantify this because we're still at the early stages of analysis."
Conservative group leader Peter Jackson said the absence of detail about how the savings would be made showed up a lack of direction and leadership by the Lib Dems. "Residents need to know that their essential services are going to be protected, and that the council will cut in non-essential areas," he added.
Proposed cuts to the library service, tourist information centres, roads maintenance, home care for the elderly and disabled, and the closure of Ashington leisure centre were among the proposals dropped by the administration to get this year's budget through.
Coun Jackson claims there is scope for significant savings on issues such as the ã200,000 county council magazine and the ã400,000 cost of community forums.
Now open to organisations including voluntary and community organisations, schools, town and parish councils, and statutory health authorities. Grants of between ã300 and ã10,000 are available.
There is up to ã2 million available across the UK and organisations can submit applications before the three deadlines of 21July, 22 September and the 24 November 2010.
For further details and to get an application form visit our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/communitywildlife, or call our helpline on:
0845 367 0610.
For more ideas for projects visit www.bbc.co.uk/wild
Tears were shed at the Wansbeck Country Club's last ever fundraising evening at Bedlington Community Centre, as they prepared to move out to a new home because of continuing uncertainty over the building's future.
The club is relocating to nearby Bomarsund Colliery Welfare where it will continue with its long-running monthly musical evenings held to raise cash for medical and other charities.
]]> The decision has been forced by fears the community centre will be closed if no-one comes forward to take over its running from the county council.The Journal revealed the imminent closure threat two months ago, although it has now been given a stay of execution until the end of July or August while negotiations continue on a possible community asset transfer.
Local town councillor Allan Douglas, who helps organise the Wansbeck Country Club evenings, said: "We held our last event there last Friday and will now be departing for Bomarsund Welfare, who have made us extremely welcome.
"What we can't understand is that we had a full house. We are having to turn people away from our country and western nights and yet the county council can't promise to keep the community centre open.
"We can't afford to run it and we had to make the decision to move so that we can plan future evenings and book bands. "There were a few tears shed last Friday after 17 years, but it looks inevitable that the centre will close."
Fellow club official Dave Armstrong, 70, said: "My belief is that the centre will close in August. The last event was a very good one, but also very sorrowful."
In March staff at the centre were told it would close on July 1, but it has been given a temporary reprieve.
Lynn Turner, head of culture, leisure and tourism at the county council, said: "We are currently reassessing the budgets for the centre."
An appeal has gone out for more parents and carers to join the organisation and come up with ideas and suggestions to move its work forward.
The Northumberland Parent, Carer and Professional Forum aims to help families across the county which have youngsters with special needs.
]]> It also includes key professionals from statutory and voluntary services.The group meets on a regular basis to share information and discuss issues affecting members, and now wants to attract even more to build on its work.
Coun Lesley Rickerby, county council executive member for children and young people, said: "We really value the work carried out by this important forum because it gives us all an insight to the real issues faced by families who have children with special needs."
Shirley Hayman, one of the parents involved in the forum, was impressed by the first meeting she attended. "I thought it was really positive and was very pleasantly surprised at how open discussion was," she added.
Anyone interested in becoming a member is invited to come along to the next meetings of the forum at 6:30pm on Thursday at Priory School in Hexham; 10am on Tuesday June 29 at Wansbeck Young People's Centre in South View, Ashington and at 10.30am on Wednesday July 14 at the Swan Centre, Northumberland Road, Berwick.
For more information visit the forum website at www.in-pact.org.uk, contact 01670 857816 or email susan.cullingworth@actionforchildren.org.uk
The community-minded pupils from Bedlington High School have been transforming redundant flower beds in Bedlington Station with 500 new plants.
They have done it thanks to support from local charity Stakeford Nurseries.
Deputy head at the high school Ron Hinshaw said: "This is an exciting new partnership which provides a diverse and rich learning experience for our students."
Neil Hedley from Stakeford Nurseries added: "It's great to be able to support local projects and when young people get stuck in the whole community benefits."
]]>The restructuring of post offices, the work of local community forums and the accessibility of the county council are the three areas up for discussion at the meeting in Morpeth Town Hall at 6.30pm on Monday.
The council's Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee will hear from the Post Office network manager for the North of England about the progress made in reorganising counter services since January.
]]> Committee members also want to hear from residents and parish councillors about how they feel the new network of community forums is working in their areas, as part of the Northumberland localisation agenda.And they want to know from people how easy it is to make contact, communicate with or make complaints about the county council - so that problems can be identified and improvements made.
Chairman Coun Glen Sanderson said: "Local knowledge and feedback is really important to us.''
]]>Anger erupted earlier this year when county council budget cuts threatened to bring the axe down on concessionary taxi travel for people physically unable to use other forms of public transport.
The council said it was planning to scrap four taxi schemes - which operated in Blyth Valley, Tynedale, Castle Morpeth and Wansbeck - to save ã70,000 a year. Now it has had a change of heart and plans to launch a new, county-wide scheme on July 1 which involves people paying ã10 for ã50 worth of taxi tokens.
]]> It is estimated that about 2,000 elderly and disabled people will be eligible, although only around half that number are expected to take up the scheme.Under the four existing schemes, users are issued with vouchers, tokens or passes to pay for taxi trips to the shops, GP and hospital appointments, or to visit relatives and friends.
Wheelchair-user and stroke victim Vicky Hindhaugh, 74, who also has heart problems and asthma, is one of the hundreds who currently use taxi tokens.
Yesterday Mrs Hindhaugh, who lives in Blyth, said: "I am delighted that taxi tokens are going to continue because they are very important to people like me. I can't drive, get on and off buses or even go out on my own, so even just to go to the shops I need to go by taxi."
Dick Simmons, who chairs the Blyth Valley Disabled Forum and is a wheelchair user himself, said: "For people with severe mobility problems, such as myself, this is a very important scheme because they rely on taxis for most of the places they go.
"It was essential that a taxi travel scheme was retained, and anything that will allow disabled people to make essential journeys will help at a time when council finances are so tight."
The county-wide scheme is expected to be approved by the council's Liberal Democrat executive on Monday.
Only people who are unable to use buses, don't have access to a car and get means-tested benefits such as pension credits will be eligible for the tokens.
A report to the meeting says: "The group of people who this scheme is targeted on are at particular risk of social exclusion and isolation."
The scheme will be reviewed later this year so that decisions can be made on its future, and any changes which are considered necessary for 2011/12.
Those who successfully complete a training programme are guaranteed an interview with a local taxi firm and vacancies are currently available in the Blyth, Cramlington, Morpeth and Ashington areas.
First piloted in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, in 2006, the scheme was later rolled out in Teesside, Sunderland and Durham, and has seen more than 70 people find employment.
]]> The Taxi Driver Route Way programme will be launched in Northumberland this month and provides a BTEC qualification, a test in area-specific general knowledge and help with documentation such as criminal records checks.Northumberland College provides the training, the North East Employer Coalition coordinates the project and Jobcentre Plus puts forward suitable candidates.
Rod Russell, from Northumberland College, said: "Since the coalition partnership started running this programme a few years ago it has continued to be successful and we are delighted to be able to roll it out in Northumberland.
"We know from our research there are vacant positions for taxi drivers in the North East and this programme allows us to help meet the needs of employers as well as the unemployed.''
More than 30 pupils aged five to eight from Ringway First School in Guidepost will be vying to win a trip to the Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth to see seals having their teeth brushed. All they need to do is take their brush to school and try to brush for the recommended two minutes without using a stopwatch.
The day is organised by Guidepost Dental Practice to encourage better brushing.
]]>Thieves broke into the garage at the property in Osier Court, Stakeford, Bedlington, some time between 3pm on Friday, June 4 and 8.30am on Sunday, June 6.
They stole the two Harley Davidsons and a helmet.
]]> The first of the bikes is a white 1450 model - registration NK06EJO. The second is a silver 83cc Sportster - registration V744HAB.Thieves also took the black full-faced motorbike helmet with two red stripes running from front to back.
Police are appealing for anyone with any information on the thefts or the whereabouts of the bikes to contact them on 0345 604 3043 ext 69191 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
]]>Senior officers at County Hall in Morpeth have come up with the figure after making fresh budget calculations based on comments made by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration at Westminster.
The estimated additional efficiency savings for 2010/11 would come on top of budget reductions of ã21m agreed in February, and are likely to be followed by another ã20m worth of savings in 2011/12.
]]> Lib Dem leaders at County Hall have asked officers to draw up a package of potential new "in-year" savings so that decisions can be made following the emergency budget on June 22.Proposed cuts to Northumberland's library service, tourist information centres, roads maintenance, home care for the elderly and disabled, and the closure of Ashington leisure centre were among the proposals dropped by the minority administration to get this year's budget through. Yesterday council leader, Jeff Reid, said finance officers had estimated a potential ã10m in additional savings on the basis of the Government's predictions on public spending cuts.
He said: "Whatever the figure is, it is going to be tough, but we have been left in this situation by the previous Government. It is going to be a political Hobson's Choice and more difficult decisions will have to be made. As long as the pain is distributed fairly we will have to do our bit to get public spending down.
"If what is being predicted happens, then our share could be about ã10m, and bear in mind that would have to be found with almost a quarter of the year already gone."
Conservative group leader, Peter Jackson, said he still believed there was potential for significant further savings in administration and "non-essential" services such as the ã200,000 county council magazine and the ã400,000 cost of community forums.
"We are absolutely opposed to cutting back on essential front-line services such as care of the elderly, education and highways and transport, and I believe that can be achieved if there is the will to do it."
Labour leader, Grant Davey, said: "This is no more than I expected from a Conservative-Liberal alliance in government, because it is nothing more than a Thatcherite organisation which will hammer local government into the ground."
County council officials are carrying out a survey to build up a picture of the provision of childcare in different areas.
The results will be used to help shape the future of the service and meet the needs of working parents and carers. Childcare providers are also being asked to take part in the survey.
]]> Local authorities are required to secure, where it is reasonable and practical, sufficient childcare to meet the requirements of parents in their area.Yesterday Rosemary Hendry, the county's early years organisation manager, said: "We're asking parents and carers to support this survey in order to gain an accurate picture of the type of childcare that is needed.
"This is so important when assessing the sufficiency of childcare provision, which benefits so many families."
Parents will find a copy of the survey in their children's schools, at childcare providers and in children's centres. Some will be able to share their views through focus groups.
The results will be published online early next year when the childcare sufficiency assessment is completed.
Survey forms must be returned by July 23, either via freepost envelopes provided or through schools.
People can also complete it online from June 7 on the website www.northumberland.gov.uk/childcare2010.
Those who take part will be entered into a draw for ã100 worth of shopping vouchers.
]]>