Monday, 30 January 2012
Friday, 27 January 2012
Wynyard Decision Delayed
Wynyard Hospital Decision Delayed - Hartlepool Mail
How many different funding avenues are the Trust prepared to go down before they realise that nobody wants to put money into a hospital that nobody wants?
Since the Momentum programme was first floated there have been so many twists and turns that the original terms of reference are distorted beyond recognition and must surely now be invalid.
It is time now for the Trust to hang on to what dignity they have left. Call it a day, accept defeat and return all services to Hartlepool hospital!
How many different funding avenues are the Trust prepared to go down before they realise that nobody wants to put money into a hospital that nobody wants?
Since the Momentum programme was first floated there have been so many twists and turns that the original terms of reference are distorted beyond recognition and must surely now be invalid.
It is time now for the Trust to hang on to what dignity they have left. Call it a day, accept defeat and return all services to Hartlepool hospital!
No More Wind Farms
A planning application has been received at Durham County Council from EDF-ER for a 5-turbine wind farm near the A19 at Sheraton in my ward.
I have contacted a number of local organisations over the past few days to get an early indication of the potential opposition to this development and I have yet to hear of any firm support in the community for this application.
Personally I am inclined to oppose almost any planning application which fails to demonstrate clear and sustainable economic, social or environmental benefits to the community, and this proposed development is no exception.
My main concerns are related to the cumulative impact of successive wind farm developments in this area and also to the adverse visual impact on villages such as Hesleden, Castle Eden and Hutton Henry. I have seen computer generated images of these 115m turbines looming over East Terrace and Eden Cottages in Hesleden and it is not an attractive prospect!
I also have concerns about the impact that these turbines may have on wildlife in the area, especially the Little Terns and Sandpipers on the Durham Heritage Coast. There is documentary evidence available which shows that turbines on the flight path of birds can cause many deaths through accidental collision. I am sure that this proposal will also encounter further community opposition on grounds of noise, shadow flicker, residential amenity and highway access/safety. I am also aware that there are outstanding and unresolved aviation issues with regard to Durham Tees Valley airport which may yet present a further challenge.
The application is expected to be decided by the planning committee some time in May 2012. In the meantime I am organising a meeting of community groups in the area to assess the level of local opposition so if you have any comments or concerns in relation to this matter please let me know.
I have contacted a number of local organisations over the past few days to get an early indication of the potential opposition to this development and I have yet to hear of any firm support in the community for this application.
Personally I am inclined to oppose almost any planning application which fails to demonstrate clear and sustainable economic, social or environmental benefits to the community, and this proposed development is no exception.
My main concerns are related to the cumulative impact of successive wind farm developments in this area and also to the adverse visual impact on villages such as Hesleden, Castle Eden and Hutton Henry. I have seen computer generated images of these 115m turbines looming over East Terrace and Eden Cottages in Hesleden and it is not an attractive prospect!
I also have concerns about the impact that these turbines may have on wildlife in the area, especially the Little Terns and Sandpipers on the Durham Heritage Coast. There is documentary evidence available which shows that turbines on the flight path of birds can cause many deaths through accidental collision. I am sure that this proposal will also encounter further community opposition on grounds of noise, shadow flicker, residential amenity and highway access/safety. I am also aware that there are outstanding and unresolved aviation issues with regard to Durham Tees Valley airport which may yet present a further challenge.
The application is expected to be decided by the planning committee some time in May 2012. In the meantime I am organising a meeting of community groups in the area to assess the level of local opposition so if you have any comments or concerns in relation to this matter please let me know.
Monday, 23 January 2012
East Durham Rail Station
Funding has been made available in the Durham County Council's capital programme for a new rail station in East Durham.
Whilst I remain firmly in favour of a station at Blackhall we must consider this in the context of previous discussions at county hall which resulted in the council's current position of supporting a station at nearby Horden.
In October 2010 members from East Durham tabled separate proposals for a station in East Durham. I put forward a strong case for a station at Blackhall on economic and environmental grounds. This was based on the existing infrastructure at the former rail halt site near to the Navy Club on East Street. A bridge remains in place connecting the north and south bound lines and there is the obvious advantage of direct access to the Durham Heritage Coast. I also emphasised the importance of integrated public transport opportunities given the close proximity of connecting bus and road links to neighbouring towns and villages.
It was accepted that a new station at Blackhall supported a strong catchment area for potential passenger numbers and also offered a clear opportunity for people in the village and surrounding settlements to access public transport on employment and leisure grounds. The benefits to the retail sector in the village were equally obvious.
However the council recommended that if a station was to be sited in East Durham Horden should be the preferred site for similar reasons. It seems the clinching argument for this recommendation was the immediate availability of land near to the proposed site at Horden which held out the opportunity for development and expansion for further infrastructure works, including public car parking and bus links.
Since this development I have contacted Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority to support the inclusion of a rail station in East Durham and again I drew attention to the opportunities offered by rail facilities at Blackhall on regeneration grounds as set out above.
At the moment a new station in East Durham remains an aspiration for Network Rail and the county council and whilst I recognise the obvious benefits regardless of its position I still feel strongly that a new rail station at Blackhall can and should be supported.
Whilst I remain firmly in favour of a station at Blackhall we must consider this in the context of previous discussions at county hall which resulted in the council's current position of supporting a station at nearby Horden.
In October 2010 members from East Durham tabled separate proposals for a station in East Durham. I put forward a strong case for a station at Blackhall on economic and environmental grounds. This was based on the existing infrastructure at the former rail halt site near to the Navy Club on East Street. A bridge remains in place connecting the north and south bound lines and there is the obvious advantage of direct access to the Durham Heritage Coast. I also emphasised the importance of integrated public transport opportunities given the close proximity of connecting bus and road links to neighbouring towns and villages.
It was accepted that a new station at Blackhall supported a strong catchment area for potential passenger numbers and also offered a clear opportunity for people in the village and surrounding settlements to access public transport on employment and leisure grounds. The benefits to the retail sector in the village were equally obvious.
However the council recommended that if a station was to be sited in East Durham Horden should be the preferred site for similar reasons. It seems the clinching argument for this recommendation was the immediate availability of land near to the proposed site at Horden which held out the opportunity for development and expansion for further infrastructure works, including public car parking and bus links.
Since this development I have contacted Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority to support the inclusion of a rail station in East Durham and again I drew attention to the opportunities offered by rail facilities at Blackhall on regeneration grounds as set out above.
At the moment a new station in East Durham remains an aspiration for Network Rail and the county council and whilst I recognise the obvious benefits regardless of its position I still feel strongly that a new rail station at Blackhall can and should be supported.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
No Gerrymandering!
The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is currently reviewing all parliamentary boundaries in England. Its initial recommendation is that the Easington constituency boundary remains largely unaltered. So far, so good.
However, the three main political parties have all made submissions to the BCE recommending that the Blackhall county division is transferred into the Hartlepool constituency. In my opinion this represents a clear threat to the identity, heritage and culture of the villages and settlements within the Blackhall county division (including Blackhall Colliery, Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon, the Hesledens, Station Town, Hutton Henry, Sheraton, Nesbitt and Hulam).
I wrote to the BCE in December 2011 to make them aware of my position on these proposals. I pointed out that there were clear historical ties and community links between the villages within the Blackhall area and also that the dene at Crimdon represented a clear physical boundary between the collieries on one side and the town of Hartlepool on the other.
Later this year the BCE will publish all the submissions it has received as part of its ongoing public consultation exercise. This will be our opportunity to contact them and let them know of our contempt for the proposal submitted by the regional Labour Party and the ConDems and to insist that the villages of the Blackhall division remain in the Easington constituency.
In the meantime we must make it a priority to raise the profile of this shadowy political scheme to manipulate the boundaries (and the people) of Blackhall for cheap electoral gain.
However, the three main political parties have all made submissions to the BCE recommending that the Blackhall county division is transferred into the Hartlepool constituency. In my opinion this represents a clear threat to the identity, heritage and culture of the villages and settlements within the Blackhall county division (including Blackhall Colliery, Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon, the Hesledens, Station Town, Hutton Henry, Sheraton, Nesbitt and Hulam).
I wrote to the BCE in December 2011 to make them aware of my position on these proposals. I pointed out that there were clear historical ties and community links between the villages within the Blackhall area and also that the dene at Crimdon represented a clear physical boundary between the collieries on one side and the town of Hartlepool on the other.
Later this year the BCE will publish all the submissions it has received as part of its ongoing public consultation exercise. This will be our opportunity to contact them and let them know of our contempt for the proposal submitted by the regional Labour Party and the ConDems and to insist that the villages of the Blackhall division remain in the Easington constituency.
In the meantime we must make it a priority to raise the profile of this shadowy political scheme to manipulate the boundaries (and the people) of Blackhall for cheap electoral gain.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Parking in Middle Street, Blackhall
I have received a lot of positive comments from the public this week following measures adopted recently to reduce the problem of illegal parking in Middle Street, Blackhall Colliery.
I was contacted a few weeks before Christmas by members of the public concerned at the amount of illegal parking outside of the shops. Many were worried that an accident seemed almost inevitable as drivers mounted the kerb and onto the busy pavement to park their vehicles. They also recognised the impact this had on the ability of blue badge holders to park near to the shops.
I immediately contacted the civil parking enforcement section at county hall asking them to increase patrols in the area to initially warn motorists that parking restrictions were in place and could now be enforced (you might remember there were a number of issues around the legality of the yellow lines on Middle Street as a result of poor reinstatement work a few years ago).
Patrols by the civil enforcement officers (once more sensibly known as traffic wardens, but now operated by a private company called NSL) were focused on the affected area outside of the shops and the result appears to have been something of a success - at least at this early stage.
I have also asked that motorists be directed to the parking bays at the pit wheel and also to the car park at the community centre which can be used by the general public as well as centre users. Traffic direction signs have also been put up at the junction of Hesleden Road and Middle Street to help with this.
Naturally I don't want to see motorists fined for using the facilities in Blackhall but equally I think it only fair that people are able walk along Middle Street in relative safety - especially considering that it is a main route to the primary school.
I was contacted a few weeks before Christmas by members of the public concerned at the amount of illegal parking outside of the shops. Many were worried that an accident seemed almost inevitable as drivers mounted the kerb and onto the busy pavement to park their vehicles. They also recognised the impact this had on the ability of blue badge holders to park near to the shops.
I immediately contacted the civil parking enforcement section at county hall asking them to increase patrols in the area to initially warn motorists that parking restrictions were in place and could now be enforced (you might remember there were a number of issues around the legality of the yellow lines on Middle Street as a result of poor reinstatement work a few years ago).
Patrols by the civil enforcement officers (once more sensibly known as traffic wardens, but now operated by a private company called NSL) were focused on the affected area outside of the shops and the result appears to have been something of a success - at least at this early stage.
I have also asked that motorists be directed to the parking bays at the pit wheel and also to the car park at the community centre which can be used by the general public as well as centre users. Traffic direction signs have also been put up at the junction of Hesleden Road and Middle Street to help with this.
Naturally I don't want to see motorists fined for using the facilities in Blackhall but equally I think it only fair that people are able walk along Middle Street in relative safety - especially considering that it is a main route to the primary school.
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Blackhall Library to Stay Open
It has just been confirmed to me that all the libraries across the county are to remain open despite savage financial cuts imposed by central government.
Last year the county council announced that 11 libraries were to close as part of the council's enforced measures to save £146m over the next 5 years. Blackhall library was one of those threatened with closure so naturally that was my immediate concern.
After giving the issue some considerable thought it seemed to me that the best strategy for saving our library would be to submit a resolution to the Labour Group at county hall aimed at securing the future of all libraries across the county. The resolution I put to the group in January last year was supported by a clear majority of members and this, in effect, saved all the libraries in County Durham from closure.
Thanks must go to the people of Blackhall, Hesleden and the neighbouring villages for giving their continued support to our library. If this can be maintained we can all look forward to a secure future for this vital and much valued facility.
Last year the county council announced that 11 libraries were to close as part of the council's enforced measures to save £146m over the next 5 years. Blackhall library was one of those threatened with closure so naturally that was my immediate concern.
After giving the issue some considerable thought it seemed to me that the best strategy for saving our library would be to submit a resolution to the Labour Group at county hall aimed at securing the future of all libraries across the county. The resolution I put to the group in January last year was supported by a clear majority of members and this, in effect, saved all the libraries in County Durham from closure.
Thanks must go to the people of Blackhall, Hesleden and the neighbouring villages for giving their continued support to our library. If this can be maintained we can all look forward to a secure future for this vital and much valued facility.
Return A&E to Hartlepool Hospital
I was at a meeting yesterday (16 January) of the Health Scrutiny Committee at County Hall, Durham and took the opportunity to call on the Hartlepool and North Tees NHS (H&NT NHS) Trust to return all services, including the A&E department, to Hartlepool hospital.
(This follows the Labour Group at Durham last month unanimously supporting my resolution denouncing the Trust's failure to consult the people of East Durham on its closure proposals and calling for the return of the A&E department to Hartlepool).
During the past week the Trust has taken the unilateral decision to return a limited number of services to Hartlepool. Whilst this is to be cautiously welcomed I have concerns that this was done without any public consultation or involvement, and in effect means that the Momentum project (which the Trust itself insisted was about moving services out of hospitals) has become something of a farce and the subject of public ridicule.
Representatives of the Trust are on record as stating that they will no longer entertain any debate about the future of Hartlepool hospital until the issues around the proposed new hospital at Wynyard are resolved. Remember, this is an unelected and unaccountable quango laying down the terms of discourse and debate to elected members of a local authority! Surely this is a classic example of the tail wagging the dog.
As I have said throughout, the process used in closing A&E at Hartlepool was flawed and thereby it follows that the decision itself is flawed. The time is now right for the people to demand the complete return of their services to their hospital.
(This follows the Labour Group at Durham last month unanimously supporting my resolution denouncing the Trust's failure to consult the people of East Durham on its closure proposals and calling for the return of the A&E department to Hartlepool).
During the past week the Trust has taken the unilateral decision to return a limited number of services to Hartlepool. Whilst this is to be cautiously welcomed I have concerns that this was done without any public consultation or involvement, and in effect means that the Momentum project (which the Trust itself insisted was about moving services out of hospitals) has become something of a farce and the subject of public ridicule.
Representatives of the Trust are on record as stating that they will no longer entertain any debate about the future of Hartlepool hospital until the issues around the proposed new hospital at Wynyard are resolved. Remember, this is an unelected and unaccountable quango laying down the terms of discourse and debate to elected members of a local authority! Surely this is a classic example of the tail wagging the dog.
As I have said throughout, the process used in closing A&E at Hartlepool was flawed and thereby it follows that the decision itself is flawed. The time is now right for the people to demand the complete return of their services to their hospital.
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