In December and January of 2006 we created a lot of media interest about the on-going decline of Whitley Bay through the production of a calendar which we called Whitley Decay. Interest was so great that we had response from around the world and despite the fact that we were not set up to produce the calendar commercially, we managed to sell just under 400.

At the same time that I was being interviewed by BBC Radio Newcastle, BBC Radio 5 Live, Metro Radio, BBC Radio 4, The News Guardian, The Newcastle Evening Chronicle, The Newcastle Journal and one or two others, so too was North Tyneside's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Mr Jim Allen who, reading from his well prepared script, reassured us that everything was going to be fantastic. In January 2006, The Coundil's very own Andrew Hickie put his hands up, apologised and told us that The Council had got it wrong with regard to these eyesores and action under section 215 of The Town & Country Planning Act forcing property owners to clean up their buildings was in hand and in a matter of weeks things would start to move.

The best practice guide issued by The Deputy Prime Minister's Office states that Section 215 procedures requiring owners of neglected properties to clean their properties up should take three months, otherwise The Council can undertake to complete the work themselves and then seek repayment through the courts. Either way there should be no excuses.

As we, and many members of the public who were also interviewed said at the time of the media interest, "WE'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE" and guess what, we were right because nothing has happened, zilch, doodly squat, nowt, nada, sweet f*** all infact.

So, here we are again three years later, as predicted.

To reserve your calendar please go here and we will be in touch with details soon.

Thanks for your support.