Update on Royal Mail delivery delays

Over the past few weeks I've been inundated with calls and queries from residents asking if there was any information about delays to Royal Mail deliveries, mainly in Blackhall Rocks and Blackhall Colliery but in a few other locations too.

In response to my initial enquiry I was told that delays had been caused by unavoidable staff sickness, and I was advised that deliveries should soon resume as normal. However, since then the delays have continued, alongside the amount of contact I've had with residents who are understandably concerned about missed hospital appointments and other vital correspondence.

I've also raised this issue with Grahame Morris's office staff who confirm they've been told the same, but I'm advised that because of the unusual length of delays the issue has been forwarded to OFCOM for their attention.

**As a postscript I've seen one or two Royal Mail vans out and about today, so hopefully normal service will resume soon.

Update on pothole repairs at Glenholme Terrace

Over the past few years I've submitted several requests for pothole repairs to be carried out in the back lane behind Glenholme Terrace, and on each occasion I've been told that the council isn't able to carry out any works because they don't own or maintain that particular stretch of road.

However, following a number of requests for clarification last year, I was told that the road did actually belong to DCC as part of its ownership of the Glenholme allotments on the other side of the lane. Consequently I issued another request last year for repairs and was told in September that because of the severity of the defects works would be carried out within 14 days. Full background details can be found in this link: Highway repair works to begin at Glenholme Terrace within the next 14 days

Unfortunately 4 months later it's become obvious from the images in this post that repairs were never carried out at this location so I've contacted the council again to request pothole repairs as a matter of urgency.

I'll update on progress with this query as soon as I have more information from the service, but in the meantime please take extra care when in the area.

Off-road bikes and quads in Hesleden

I've been in touch with Durham police again today to report another incident of off-road bikes trespassing on open public land in Hesleden. This follows several reports over the past few weeks and months as concerns grow about an increased risk of accidents.

I've also reported this latest incident to Durham County Council for the attention of the neighbourhood wardens and I intend to raise the overall problem of off-road bikes and quads in our ward as a priority for the police at their next PACT (Police & Communities Together) meeting later this month.

When I've reported similar incidents in the past, whether in Hesleden, Blackhall or Crimdon, the police tell me that the problem remains under-reported - which means that it won't be flagged as an issue on the police reporting system. Obviously if the police are unaware of problems at a specific time and a particular location they won't be able to deal with them.

So if you know of any recurring problems with quads and off-road bikes in your neighbourhood please report them immediately to the police on their non-emergency line 101 or online at: Contact us | Durham Constabulary. 

If together we can raise the profile of these repeated incidents the police are much more likely to respond more quickly and effectively to residents' concerns.

PACT meeting dates for 2026

Durham police have released the dates for their scheduled Police & Communities Together (PACT) meetings for 2026:

• Wednesday 28th January
• Wednesday 25th March
• Wednesday 20th May
• Wednesday 29th July
• Wednesday 23rd September
• Wednesday 18th November

Although the PACT meetings are organised and run by Durham police I attend as your local county councillor to pick up any comments, complaints or queries that relate to the county council.

All meetings are held in the Parish Council Offices (formerly the Resource Centre) on Middle Street in Blackhall Colliery and start at 6pm.

Durham County Council consultation on changes to tenancy agreements

Durham County Council is proposing changes to their allotment tenancy agreements, and they're inviting future and current tenants to give their views and comments as part of an online consultation.

You can find the link to the consultation exercise here:

Consultation link: https://letstalkcountydurham.co.uk/en-GB/

The consultation is open until 1^st February 2026.

Snow and ice clearance locations in the Blackhall and Hesleden area

As is to be expected during times of relatively heavy snowfall I've been inundated with calls over the past few days for roads and footpaths to be cleared. In response to every contact made I've issued requests for footpath clearances at key locations such as the Aged Miners' Homes, the Blackhall & Peterlee Health Centre on Hesleden Road, sheltered accommodation units, care homes and other residential areas in Blackhall Colliery, Blackhall Rocks and Hesleden. I've also asked for estate streets to be cleared as soon as possible.

Naturally there's considerable frustration that some areas have been cleared straight away while others haven't yet been reached. I understand those frustrations and I've relayed them to the relevant sections at the county council. However, when there's high demand for ice and snow clearances the council has a priority route for pre-salting and gritting roads and another for footpath clearances. I've posted links below to the council's policies for each:

Snow clearance - Durham County Council

Winter gritting routes - Durham County Council

Today's gritting plans - Durham County Council

I'd like to pass on my thanks to all of our residents who have contacted me with requests for road and footpath clearances. I know it's frustrating when there are delays due to high demand, but hopefully the services will get round soon to clearing all the locations I've reported in line with their policy and then follow up with the rest. In the meantime please let me know if you're having any problems with snow and ice and I'll continue to do everything I can to get things sorted as soon as possible: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk

Durham County Council services over the Christmas and New Year period

Durham County Council's customer access points and most council buildings will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period. However emergency duty teams will be open to contact. Full details can be found in the links below.

Building and Service details: News-Christmas and New Year closures - Durham County Council

Changes to Household Bin Collections: News-Changes to County Durham bin collections at Christmas - Durham County Council

Household Waste Recycling Centres (skips): Recycling centres (tips) - Durham County Council

General Environmental Issues: Environmental issues - Durham County Council

Durham County Council Website: Home - Durham County Council

Monthly Update for November 2025

Over the course of the past month I’ve raised over 80 queries with the authorities on behalf of residents and businesses across the Blackhalls & Hesledens ward. I've also been in direct contact with more than 65 individual residents. Almost all of these queries are personal and/or confidential so for obvious reasons details cannot be disclosed to the public.

In addition, I’ve dealt with a number of general queries raised with me by members of the public. These include issues raised at my twice-monthly ward surgeries, during street walkabouts, at PACT meetings and through other methods including direct contact with me via telephone, email and my social media platforms.

The main issues covered over the past few weeks include parking and access concerns at Crimdon, an update on rumours about the Yohden Care Complex in Blackhall Colliery, works to the Haswell to Hart Walkway at Hesleden, litter-picking sessions with groups of children from St Joseph's RC primary school and speed hump upgrades at Station Road in Blackhall Rocks.

I’ve selected just a few of the articles about these issues for re-posting, just in case you missed them first time around.

Please follow the individual links below for full details, and as ever if you have any comments or queries regarding any local issues please get in touch with me direct and I'll see what I can do to help.

Parking and Access at Crimdon: Access problems caused by DCC-imposed parking charges at Crimdon

Remembrance Sunday in Blackhall: A proud Blackhall community pays its respects at the 2025 Service of Remembrance

Update on Yohden Care Complex rumours: Care home manager clarifies rumours about Yohden Care Complex in Blackhall Colliery

Upgrade works on the Haswell to Hart Walkway: Upgrade works to the Haswell to Hart walkway at Hesleden

Speed hump upgrades at Station Road, Blackhall Rocks: Speed humps to be reinstated at Station Road, Blackhall Rocks next month

NWL pipeworks at Hesleden Dene: Northumbrian Water to host residents' information evening to discuss sewer pipe replacement works

Litter picking in Blackhall Colliery: Litter picking with the children of St Joseph's RC primary school

Blackhall Christmas Tree: Christmas tree celebrations in Blackhall

Hesleden Christmas Tree: Christmas gets underway in Hesleden

Christmas gets underway in Hesleden

After the Christmas tree lights were switched on in Blackhall last night it was Hesleden's turn this evening to light up their own tree on the village green, and as usual the people of Hesleden did the village proud with another fantastic turnout.

To get things underway the parish council chair, Cllr Gaynor Crute, welcomed residents who despite the chilly December weather turned out in their numbers to get the festive season of to a great start.

A choir of children and young people from Stars Community CIC led the gathering in singing a selection of Christmas carols which was followed immediately afterwards by the traditional countdown to the tree lighting.

As ever, thanks go to the clerk, ground staff and members of Monk Hesleden Parish Council for organising the Christmas tree lighting ceremony and making sure everything was in order.

However a special thank you is reserved for the residents and children of Hesleden who came along this evening to get the festive season underway in great style!

Christmas tree celebrations in Blackhall

Christmas officially got underway in Blackhall this evening as the parish council along with residents and children of the village came together to light up their Christmas tree on Chicken's Green.

Despite the damp weather there was a fantastic turnout by residents who came along to play their part in what has become the traditional start to the festive season in the village.

Parish council chair, Cllr Gaynor Crute, got the ceremony started by welcoming the children and staff of Blackhall Colliery and St Joseph's primary schools who sang a selection of festive favourites. Fr Kyle then blessed the tree before leading the children in a countdown to the big moment as the lights were switched on.

As ever, thanks go to the clerk, staff and members of Monk Hesleden Parish Council, who made sure everything was in place for the event, and thanks also go to Fr Kyle for his seasonal message and blessing for the tree. 

And of course a special acknowledgement goes to the main attraction of the night which was the children from both Blackhall Colliery's primary schools who come along with their teachers each year to get the Christmas period off to a fantastic start.