Believe Housing update on heating system repairs at Primrose Court

Earlier this week I was contacted by the relative of a resident at Primrose Court in Blackhall Colliery reporting another heating system failure in the building. This follows a series of similar problems over the past few years.

Occasional breakdowns are almost inevitable, especially in older boiler systems like the one in Primrose Court, but repeated failures on this scale are completely unacceptable and residents are rightly annoyed at the frequency of heating failures over the past few years.

I contacted Believe Housing immediately and was told by officers that following a breakdown in the system at the weekend the boiler had been reset a second time and that the system was operating normally by Monday. I also asked engineers for an update on plans to replace the boiler in Primrose Court and what is being done to keep the heating system in full working order in the meantime. Background details of Believe Housing's plans to upgrade the system can be found in a post I published on this site earlier this year: Believe Housing plans for a new heating system at Bluebell and Daffodil Close

In response the gas heating manager has provided the following update on Believe Housing plans to improve the heating system at Primrose Court, Bluebell Close and Daffodil Close. I've reproduced the update in full below: 

Our contractor attended site on Sunday 8 November 2026 and reset the boiler plant, which restored heating and hot water services. Unfortunately, the system remained operational for only approximately one hour before the fault reoccurred.

The contractor returned on Monday 9 November 2026 and again reset the boiler. Following this attendance, the system has been operating normally. The initial diagnosis indicates an intermittent fault, and we are undertaking further investigations to identify the root cause and prevent any recurrence.

I would like to reassure residents that it is Believe Housing's procedure to treat all reports of loss of heating and hot water as a priority. On this occasion, the repair was raised under a 24-hour response category, and our contractor attended within the required target timescale. Whilst the attendance met our contractual response requirements, our operational aim is always to attend as soon as practicable wherever resources allow, particularly where communal heating systems are affected. We will review the circumstances surrounding this incident with the relevant teams to ensure that future reports are categorised appropriately and receive the most suitable response.

In relation to the wider heating scheme, all district heating connections from the Primrose Court Housing Plus Unit serving properties within Bluebell Close and Daffodil Close were successfully decommissioned during July, August and September. This has been a significant programme of work involving the phased removal of properties from the existing communal heating network.

As part of the next phase of the project, we are looking to decommission the ageing boiler plant. In the meantime, the HPU continues to have a fully functional boiler which remains operational and is being maintained in accordance with our servicing and maintenance requirements, despite the age of the system.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused to residents during this recent interruption and will continue to monitor the system closely while investigations into the intermittent fault are completed.

The Blackhall community comes together to pay their respects on Remembrance Sunday

As in years gone by there was another fantastic turnout from our residents and local organisations at the 2026 Service of Remembrance held at the memorial in Blackhall Colliery Welfare Park on Sunday 8 November.

The service, organised by Monk Hesleden Parish Council and led by parish council chair Gaynor Crute and local minister John Kidd, attracted another magnificent attendance from a community committed to paying their respects to those from Blackhall who fought in both World Wars and other conflicts over the years.

At the commemoration service wreaths were laid at the memorial on behalf of Monk Hesleden Parish Council, Durham County Council, Blackhall ATC, St Andrew's church, Blackhall Primary School, St Joseph's Primary School, Wellfield School and Durham Constabulary. At the end of the wreath laying ceremony there was an opportunity for members of the public and other local organisations to pay their personal respects.

As in past years the buffet reception held in Blackhall Cricket Club immediately after the service was very well attended by residents taking the opportunity to meet up with family members, old friends and visitors to our village.

I would like to thank the chair, clerk, members and staff of the parish council for organising the event, the staff and committee of Blackhall Cricket Club who made everyone welcome, Ian Harris for performing the Last Post and Reveille, representatives from the Royal British Legion, Blackhall Women’s Institute, the staff and pupils from Wellfield school, both of our local primary schools, Brian Drummond who again gave so much of his own time preparing the village ahead of the service and of course the Blackhall community who once again came together to honour those who fought and those who died in the defence of our country and community against fascism, tyranny and oppression. 

Arrangements for the 2026 Remembrance Sunday Service in Blackhall Colliery

Remembrance Sunday commemoration services will be held throughout the county on Sunday 8 November when we come together to remember the fallen and honour the sacrifice made by many in defence of our country during two world wars and other conflicts over the years.

As usuaI I will lay a wreath at the memorial garden in Blackhall Colliery Welfare Park on behalf of Durham County Council.

As in past years, and again with the kind assistance of the clerk, members and staff at Monk Hesleden Parish Council, I have arranged for a buffet reception to be held in Blackhall Cricket Club immediately after the ceremony.

Everyone will be made welcome, so please feel free to call into the club immediately after the service.

Our communities have always stood together in the face of adversity so let's continue that tradition on Sunday with another strong turn out for this year's Remembrance Sunday commemoration service.

Harsh reality hits home as council faces difficult choices on council tax and service cuts

Last month I published details on these pages of a public consultation exercise launched by Durham County Council to gauge public opinion on its Cabinet's budget proposals: Durham County Council launches Budget & Council Tax consultation

The consultation is due to end on 15 November so time is running out if you want to have your say on how the council can balance the books for this year and beyond.

Last week I attended a meeting of the council's Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Management Board (COSMB) where finance officers gave an update on the Cabinet's proposals to make savings (cuts), introduce council tax rises or a combination of both. The options facing the Cabinet are quite stark and pose a significant headache for an administration that pledged during last year's election campaign to deploy their 'DOGE' apparatus to magic up millions of £s in waste, slash the pay of senior officers and produce a wealth of savings to pass on to residents and their communities. However, the reality of how local government finance actually works is now hitting home, leaving them in the unenviable position of delivering the election promises they knew they couldn't keep.

The headline figures set out at the meeting last Friday morning were included in an earlier report to Cabinet, and this made it clear that the council is facing a budget shortfall of a total £83.6m over the next 4 years, which is the period covered by its Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). It was reported that £21.5m of savings have already been identified, leaving a residual deficit of around £62m. The options open to the Cabinet to balance the books were also set out in the report.

Some of the potential 'savings' detailed in the Cabinet report are rather hard-hitting, and if introduced will cut deep into some of our most vital public-facing services. They include:

• A review of Household Waste Recycling Centres (skip sites), including potential closure
• Drastic reductions in the frequency of gully and drain clearing operations
• Reviews into pest control, waste collection, grounds maintenance and street cleaning operations
• A review of leisure services across the county, including potential closures of leisure centres
• A 'fundamental' review into library provision, with the potential closure of some branch libraries

Source: Cabinet Report 16.09.26 - Appendix 2 - MTFP17.pdf

The report in front of members at last week's COSMB meeting also highlighted the impact that Council Tax (CT) increases could have on reducing the deficit. If the Cabinet chose to increase CT by 2% the residual deficit would be reduced to £36m, a CT increase of 3% would see the deficit reduced to £23m and a maximum CT increase would eliminate the deficit and even produce a small surplus.

For my part I suggested at the meeting that the time was fast approaching when the council leadership would have to level with residents and come clean about the balance between council tax and service cuts. Promises to permanently reduce council tax levels are easy to make during a local election campaign, but anyone with even the most basic understanding of how local government finance works will know that the reality is not so simple. Even when central government hands out relatively generous finance settlements, as they did last year for the first time in decades (link below), they are predicated on maximum increases in council tax. 

Despite what the current administration will try to tell you it's always been like that, and whether we like it or not it's an integral part of the deal. However, it doesn't mean that council tax must rise by the maximum amount. The government doesn't set council tax - that is a decision to be made by the council itself based on its own options. This is the harsh reality. Something the administration either doesn't understand or they choose to ignore.

The council's consultation is live until 15 November 2026 and can be found in the link at the top of this article. Please make every effort to take a closer look at the Cabinet's options and proposals and let the council know how you feel about them.

To add context, and by way of background to the consultation, I've posted here a couple of links to articles relating to last year's local government finance settlement and the decisions made at the budget and council tax setting meeting held earlier this year:

Government hands Durham County Council a huge funding boost

Reform UK's broken promises on council tax, cuts and debt

Roadworks later this month at the A19 Wellfield Interchange

I've received notification from Durham County Council that a temporary road closure notice has been issued to allow for bridge jointing works to be carried out at the A19 Wellfield Interchange. 

The notice will be effective from 8.00 pm on Monday 26 October 2026 for a maximum period of 5 nights.

I've posted full details below, including diversion routes during the period of works. 

And apologies for the loud Cap's Lock text! I've copied and pasted the information direct from the DCC notification.

COUNTY COUNCIL OF DURHAM ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE A181, WELLFIELD INTERCHANGE 

WHEREAS THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF DURHAM BEING THE HIGHWAY AUTHORITY FOR THE WELLFIELD AND CASTLE EDEN AREA IS SATISFIED THAT SUCH RESTRICTION IS NECESSARY TO PERMIT BRIDGE JOINTING WORKS TO BE CARRIED OUT ON THE SAID LENGTH OF ROAD, THE COUNCIL IN EXERCISE OF ITS POWERS UNDER SECTION 14(2) OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984, HEREBY GIVES NOTICE OF THE TEMPORARY PROHIBITION TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, AT WELLFIELD INTERCHANGE, FROM THE FOLLOWING 

1. TRAVELLING EASTBOUND ON A 178 METRE LENGTH OF A181 FROM OPPOSITE SHOTTON BANK, PRIOR TO THE A19 NORTHBOUND ON-SLIP ROAD, AND THE EASTERN NOSE OF THE A19 SOUTHBOUND OFF-SLIP ROAD 

2. TRAVELLING WESTBOUND ON A 156 METRE LENGTH OF A179 FROM 20 METRES EAST OF THE EASTERN NOSE OF THE A19 SOUTHBOUND ON-SLIP ROAD AND THE WESTERN NOSE OF THE A19 NORTHBOUND OFF-SLIP ROAD. 

THE MAXIMUM DURATION OF THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE UNDER THIS NOTICE IS 5 DAYS COMMENCING FROM 8.00 PM ON MONDAY 26 OCTOBER 2026. THE ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF CLOSURE IS 4 NIGHTS, BETWEEN 8.00 PM AND AROUND 6.00 AM EACH FOLLOWING MORNING. THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IS FROM THE 

1. WESTERN SIDE OF THE CLOSURE FROM A181 EASTBOUND, NORTH ONTO A19 TO AND AROUND THE B1320 BURNHOPE WAY INTERCHANGE, PETERLEE AND RETURNING SOUTH ONTO A19 TO THE A181/B1281 OFF-SLIP TOWARD CASTLE EDEN AND BLACKHALL, OR CONTINUING SOUTH ON A19 

2. WESTERN SIDE OF THE CLOSURE FROM A19 NORTHBOUND OFF-SLIP ROAD, WESTERLY ON A181 TURNING TOWARD WINGATE VIA THE OFF-SLIP ROAD THEN NORTH ON B1280 AND TURNING BACK ONTO THE A181 TOWARD WELLFIELD TO THE A19 TO THE A19 NORTHBOUND ON-SLIP ONTO THE DIVERSION ROUTE IN 1 ABOVE. 

3. EASTERN SIDE OF THE CLOSURE FROM A181 WESTBOUND, SOUTH ONTO A19 TO AND AROUND THE A179 SHERATON INTERCHANGE AND RETURNING NORTH ONTO A19 TO THE A181 OFF-SLIP TOWARD STATION TOWN / WINGATE, OR CONTINUING NORTH ON A19 

4. EASTERN SIDE OF THE CLOSURE FROM A19 SOUTHBOUND OFF-SLIP, EASTERLY ON B1281 TO AND AROUND THE BRADLEY LOWERY ROUNDABOUT AT BLACKHALL COLLIERY, RETURNING WESTERLY ON B1281 ONTO DIVERSION 3 ABOVE

Annual Thomas Hepburn Memorial Service

Gaynor and I were honoured to represent the Blackhall Banner Group at the annual Thomas Hepburn Memorial Service in Heworth at the weekend.

Born in Pelton in 1795 Hepburn was a Durham miner and Primitive Methodist lay preacher and became leader of the Colliers’ United Association of Durham & Northumberland in the 19th Century. He was also an active Chartist and a champion of working class education. He died in 1864 and is buried at St Mary's in Heworth where the memorial service is held every year.

Tommy Hepburn’s lifelong commitment to public service, our mining communities and the labour and trade union movement stand to this day as an example to us all.

‘The time will come when the golden chain which binds the tyrants together will be snapped. When men will be properly organised. When coal owners will only be like ordinary men and will have to sigh for the days gone by.’

Peterlee police confirm Blackhall PACT meeting dates

Peterlee police have released the dates for the Blackhall PACT meetings over the next few months. 

All meetings will be held at 6pm in the Parish Council Offices at 68 Middle Street, Blackhall Colliery, TS27 4EA.

18 November 2026

6 January 2027

24 February 2027

14 April 2027

2 June 2027

Agencies coordinate joint response to recent break-in

From the emails and phone calls I've received over the past few days I know that people all across our villages and beyond share my disgust at the break-in reported over the weekend in which a resident was robbed and beaten in her own home.

I've also been told there are quite a few comments about this matter on social media, some of them sharing their alarm, but some speculating about what was behind this cowardly attack. For my part I've decided not to comment on social media at this stage, preferring instead to deal with the issue direct through the police and other agencies involved.

Since the weekend I've contacted the police and the safer communities team to express my concerns about this incident, and to ensure that a coordinated response is put in place. I've also asked which practical measures will be taken to reassure residents nearby and what the relevant agencies propose to do to reduce the likelihood of a repeat incident, particularly in the immediate area. 

In response I'm told that the police are visiting residents nearby to assure them that everything is being done to apprehend the people responsible for the attack and also to offer help in securing their homes against any future incidents, however unlikely that might be. The main housing provider has also been contacted to help with any joint response. In particular I've been told that efforts are being made to install home safety equipment in the hope that this will both reassure residents in the immediate vicinity and also make residents' homes more secure.

My thanks go to the residents who took the time to contact me direct about this matter and to the people who have stepped up to help in the immediate aftermath. I'll make sure that your concerns are heard. I'll also continue to liaise with the agencies and organisations involved to make sure that our residents can once again feel safe in their own homes.

B1281 roadworks scheduled to begin today

I've received notification from Durham County Council that the Gas Transportation Co Ltd will be carrying out gas works scheduled to begin today on the B1281 from Castle Eden to the C81 Hesleden Road junction.

According to the notice there will be two-way traffic signals in operation from 28 September 2026 until 16 October 2026.

Full details can be found in this link: https://one.causeway.com/applications/network/public

Residents disappointed by police no-show at Blackhall PACT meeting for September

There was a disappointing turn out for the Blackhall PACT meeting scheduled to be held last night (Wednesday) in the Parish Offices on Middle Street.

The residents were there as usual. I was there as usual. But unfortunately for some reason the police didn't attend. Given the whole purpose of the PACT (Police and Communities Together) which is to bring the community and the police together (obviously) the absence of the police last night was particularly annoying for residents.

However, although residents were disappointed, it's probably fair to acknowledge there might have been an emergency call-out last night which would have taken officers elsewhere. So to give them the benefit of the doubt I've contacted Peterlee Police this morning to ask for a reason why the PACT meeting was cancelled without notice, and also to ask for a commitment that they improve communications with our communities in promoting the Blackhall PACT meetings better and also let me and residents know as soon as possible if there's any reason for them to cancel meetings in future.

I'll update on the outcome as soon as I have a response from the police, but in the meantime details of the scheduled PACT meetings for this year can be found in the post I published on this site back in January: Blackhalls & Hesledens: PACT meeting dates for 2026