Planning Application at High Hesleden

I have written today to the planning case officer to outline my concerns about the planning application at High Hesleden for 5 stables (PL/2012/0303), which is due to be considered by the DCC planning committee in the next few weeks.

Please let me know by Friday 31 August if you have any issues or concerns you would like me to consider when I address the planning committee. My letter is reproduced below for information:

Dear Henry,

I have the following comments to make regarding the planning application at High Hesleden for 5 stables (and associated works):

I share the concerns of some residents in the village that the area appears to be attracting an unusual amount of planning applications, particularly for stables. In accepting that each application ought to be considered on its own individual merits I do have concerns about the potential for further planning applications (and subsequent over-development) in this area which I believe would adversely affect the nature and integrity of nearby settlements.

Further, I have concerns over the potential increase in traffic (including horses and horse-related vehicles) in this area and the impact this may have on existing traffic and the otherwise peaceful nature of the villages nearby. I note the comments made by the highways section regarding the upkeep of hedges at the junction in High Hesleden. Whilst not technically a planning concern I feel that enforcing upkeep of the hedges in this area may present a future problem in terms of public safety and cost to the council.

Consequently I feel unable to support this application for the reasons identified above unless I have an absolute assurance that my concerns can be satisfactorily addressed by stringent conditions to the consent.

Regards,

Rob.

Councillor Rob Crute

Blackhall Division

Durham County Council

Phone: 07827 232 289

Blog: robcruteforblackhall.blogspot.com

Suggestions sought for Skate Park site

Previous posts on this site have referred to a public petition for a skate park in our area (see posts dated 3 May 2012 & 11 June 2012 for further details). 

The petition was initially discussed at a meeting of the Blackhall Community Youth Project steering group where I asked that it be referred to the Blackhall Regeneration Partnership to identify the implications associated with a scheme of this nature. Some of the early issues discussed included possible sources of finance and the potential site for a skate park in the event that funding can be secured. 

Potential funding sources are currently being explored and I will be meeting next week with the petitioners, along with representatives from Groundwork and the parish council, to identify possible sites which do not present land ownership problems or which will not have a negative impact on nearby residents or facilities.

I would like the partnership to consider as many potential sites as possible (even those which may appear at first to be problematic) so if you have any ideas or suggestions please let me know or contact the parish clerk at the Resource Centre on 0191 518 4900.

Station Town Matters

I received a complaint late last week about the general condition of parts of Station Town.

One issue related to broken fencing in the middle of the Newholme estate and I have asked East Durham Homes and the council to investigate. They have confirmed this morning that the racecourse fencing is to be repaired where damaged and replaced where missing.

Other complaints related to horses tethered on open grass on the same estate and also at Dormand Court. These have been reported by East Durham Homes estate wardens to the relevant department at the council.

I have also received confirmation recently that grass is to be cut in those areas I raised last month as a concern and, in the case of Rodridge Lane, the grassed area has been cut back and has been included on the council's rota for regular attention in future.

Please let me know if there are any similar issues of concern in your area and I will make the necessary arrangements.

County Durham Plan Consultation

Durham County Council is about to begin a consultation exercise offering residents the opportunity to have a say on the County Durham Plan which will set out the council's plans for residential, retail and employment development across the county over the next 15 to 20 years.

Full details are given in the press release below:            

Have a say on the County Durham Plan

                                                                     

Residents in County Durham are being invited to comment on proposals that will help to shape development in the county over the next 15 to 20 years.

The County Durham Plan preferred options set out key proposals including the future housing, employment and retail development needed across County Durham to ensure a sustainable future and economic growth.

Durham County Council is holding a series of consultation events, in addition to discussing the Plan with all 14 of its Area Action Partnerships.

The following public events will take place:

11 September – 4pm to 8pm – Bishop Auckland Town Hall;

14 September – 4pm to 8pm – Stanley Lamplight Centre;

18 September – 4pm to 8pm – Durham City Town Hall;·        

19 September – 6pm to 9pm -  Wood View Community Centre, Langley Park;

21 September – 4pm to 8pm – Meadowfield Leisure Centre;

25 September – 10am to 2pm – Newton Aycliffe Town Centre; (mobile trailer)

27 September – 2pm to 6pm – East Lea Community Centre, Seaham;

28 September – 4pm to 8pm – Fulforth Community Centre, Sacriston;

   1 October – 4pm to 8pm – East Durham College, Peterlee;

   2 October – 4pm to 8pm – UTASS, Middleton-in-Teesdale;

   3 October – 4pm to 8pm – Glebe Centre, Murton;

   4 October – 4pm to 8pm – Coxhoe Leisure Centre;

   5 October – 4pm to 8pm – The Hub, Barnard Castle;

   8 October – 4pm to 8pm – Bearpark Community Centre;

   9 October – 9am to 1pm – St Catherine’s Community Centre, Crook;       

10 October – 4pm to 8pm – St Thomas Church Hall, Stanhope;

11 October – 4pm to 8pm – Spennymoor Town Hall;

15 October – 4pm to 8pm – Laurel Avenue Community Centre, Sherburn

16 October – 4pm to 8pm – Ceddesfeld Hall, Sedgefield;

17 October – 4pm to 8pm – St Patrick’s Church Hall, Consett;

18 October – 4pm to 8pm – Wolsingham Town Hall;·        

18 October – 4pm to 8pm – Shildon Civic Hall;

22 October – 4pm to 8pm – Easington Social Welfare Centre;

23 October – 4pm to 8pm – Ferryhill Literary Institute;

27 October – 10am to 1pm – Chester-le-Street Methodist Church

Stuart Timmiss, head of planning and assets at Durham County Council said:

 "Over the next 20 years County Durham will see major change so this is a once on a generation opportunity to ensure that the it meets its aspirations in providing places where people want to live, work and shop.

“Public feedback has been hugely important in helping us get to this point and will continue to help us shape our county’s future. I would encourage as many people as possible to get involved.”

In addition to the sessions above the Plan will be available at local libraries, Durham County Council buildings and online at www.durham.gov.uk/cdp

The consultation period runs from 10 September until 2 November.

People can also comment in the following ways:

Via the interactive website: http://durhamcc-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/

Email: CDPconsultation@durham.gov.uk

Write: FREEPOST Spatial Policy 

Telephone: 03000 026 000

Bank Holiday Bin Collections

There will be no changes to rubbish and recycling collections in County Durham over the August bank holiday.

Collections will take place on the usual day during week commencing the 27 August.  

Residents are reminded to check their calendar to find out whether to put out their rubbish bin or recycling bin and box for collection.

Garden waste collections will take place as usual.

Bins should be put out for collection by 7am on the allocated day. 

Residents can also find out their collection details by entering their postcode into My Durham on the Durham County Council website: www.durham.gov.uk

Blackhall Rocks Beach Watch & Litter Pick

I have received notification from the council's Countryside Service and Natural England of a Beach Watch and litter picking event at Blackhall Rocks on Saturday 15 September. Details are set out below:

We’re holding a Beach Watch survey and litter pick at Blackhall Rocks on Saturday 15 September.  We’re trying to encourage people to come along and I wondered if you would like to come along, share this information with anyone you think might be interested or print out the poster and display it?

The event is led by the Council’s Countryside Service and Natural England and is part of the national BeachWatch Big Weekend campaign, led by the Marine Conservation Society.  Beach Watch events are being held across the country during this weekend. 

Our results will be fed into this national campaign as a way of building up a picture of the type and amount of rubbish found on our beaches and in our sea. 

Last year 2049 pieces of rubbish were surveyed and recorded on a stretch of Blackhall beach, and 63 bags of litter were collected and disposed of by volunteers.  We want to beat that this year.

We already have volunteers from the Council’s Countryside Service and Natural England’s Dene Team (a group of 10-16 year olds).  We’d like others to join in as well.

People will work in pairs or small groups to record the types and quantities of litter and help to bag it up.  We’ll also have some litter pickers so if anyone would rather just go off and collect rubbish which isn’t in the survey area, they can do that too.

Anyone can come along and give us a hand.  Drop in for 5 minutes or the full two hours.

If you would like further information please get in touch with me in the usual way or contact:

Maria Murphy

Countryside Development Officer

Durham County Council

Tel 0191 372 9100

www.durham.gov.uk/countryside

Environmental Improvements in Hesleden

Earlier this year I was contacted by residents in Hesleden regarding their concerns about the safety of the former garage site at Harold Wilson Drive and Hillcrest Place.

At the time I suggested that once funding had been secured and options had been fully costed I would organise a consultation event in the village to allow for residents to decide which option they preferred.

I will be meeting in the first week of September with officers from the East Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP) to finalise arrangements for the consultation event which will take the form of a drop-in session in Hesleden where residents can see for themselves the options available.

I will ensure that the event is advertised adequately closer to the time but please let me know in the meantime if you have any comments or questions in relation to this matter.

Fly-tipping at Blackhall Colliery

One of the issues raised at this months Community Forum (formerly the PACT meeting) concerned fly-tipping in the rear yards of a number of empty private sector rented properties in Blackhall Colliery. 

The main complaint on this occasion related to 29 Middle Street where carpets and furniture have been dumped in the back yard (see image below). This is a recurring problem at this location where the council removed a similarly large quantity of rubbish last year. It appears however that fly-tippers have taken the opportunity to use the yard as a tipping point knowing that the landlord or council will be forced to arrange removal.

The council has today confirmed that they have issued a 28 -day notice to the landlord to remove the rubbish. It is expected however that the landlord will revert to form and ignore the notice as he did last year. This will mean that the council will remove the furniture after the 28-day notice is expired and then recharge the landlord.

As a follow up I have asked if the council can force the landlord to make the yard secure to prevent future incidents of fly-tipping (the gate to the back yard has been removed allowing fly-tippers access to the property). I am told however that the council has no powers to force the landlord to make his yard secure so I am now exploring other methods of prevention.

Please contact me if you know of any similar problems elsewhere in our area and I will take whichever steps are legally available to the council to arrange removal.

Hesleden to Castle Eden Footpaths

The raised footpath between Hesleden and Castle Eden has now been strimmed and made tidy after undergrowth had encroached onto the path preventing safe access for pedestrians,

The grass verges on the same stretch of road are maintained by a sub-contractor on behalf of the county council and I have asked that these be cut back too to allow for pedestrians to pass safely. The county council has contacted the contractor today and they have confirmed that this work will be completed by early next month in line with the contractors established cutting schedule.

Please let me know if you are aware of similar problems elsewhere in our area and I will make the necessary arrangements to make safe and tidy.

Glendale House - Progress

Following weeks of uncertainty over site ownership, along with almost constant phone calls and emails between myself, the council's grounds maintenance section and the estates section at county hall the grass around the former Glendale care home has at last been cut. I have an assurance too that the complex has been placed on the grass-cutting rota for the near future to ensure that the area is kept up to an acceptable standard.

My remaining concern now is to ensure that the building itself is maintained to a decent standard and is kept safe and secure. Readers will note from previous blogs on this site that intruders in the recent past have caused damage to the window boards and panels whilst gaining access and this has had a detrimental impact on the appearance of the site.

For the longer term the future of Glendale House is a little less certain. I reported recently that the estates section at DCC had said that a deal to sell the site was imminent. That potential sale has dragged on for some considerable time and I have now managed to obtain an assurance from the estates section that the matter will be settled, one way or the other, within the next week. Ownership of the site (along with responsibility for its maintenance of course) should be clearer by then.

For further background to this story please see blogs dated 29 June & 8 August 2012.

Press Release - Blackhall Rocks Clean-up Event

This is a press release issued by East Durham Homes regarding the community clean-up event at Blackhall Rocks yesterday (see also post dated 9 August 2012 for further details):

           

Young ones cleaning up the Rocks!

East Durham Homes hosted an event on Thursday 9 August encouraging young people to ‘clean-up’ their Estate area and engage with their community.

Young people, aged 5 - 13, from the Blackhall Rocks area carried out litter-picking and helped their neighbours by taking rubbish away prior to their summer fayre event to be held  on Saturday 11 August.  Two skips, provided by EDH partners Morrison and Wates were also available for members of the community to get rid of any unwanted household items. 

Special thanks to Morrison, Wates, Durham Constabulary, Durham County Council and Blackhall Rocks Residents Association, who supported the event,

Rolling up his sleeves and leading by example Cllr Rob Crute said: “This morning’s litter pick activity proved to be an excellent opportunity for the young people on the estates of Blackhall Rocks to work together with older residents to make their streets cleaner and safer. It would be good to see this established as a routine exercise to be carried out in the future”.

Due to popular demand of youth drop in nights at Kasko House, 10 young people and the committee of the residents group raised approx £150 from  sponsorship with the event so that they can continue to provide activities and a safe place to go for young people living on their estates. Due to the good work and aspirations of the Residents group funding has also been pledged from local councillors Alan Cox and Rob Crute to refurbish and to sustain Kasko House.

-ENDS-

For further information contact Debbie Lunn, Communications and Marketing Officer on (0191) 518 5359 or email debbie.lunn@eastdurhamhomes.co.uk

Photo:  Young people of Blackhall Rocks with residents, staff from EDH, Morrison, Wates, Durham Constabulary and Durham County Councillors.

Above: Sleeves up, ready for work (well most of us anyway)!

Planning Applications in East Durham

Below is a list of current planning applications in our part of East Durham. The list is not intended to be exhaustive and details of other applications can be found elsewhere on this site.

This document provides a summary of the major case work presently being considered by the Development Management Service of the Authority.

The document provides key contact details, together with key comments. 

Please note that the attached list it not intended to provide a comprehensive record of all applications or proposals being considered.

SIGNIFICANT SITES IN EAST DURHAM:

1. Tweddle Farm, Blackhall

New Car Park, Entrance and Gift Shop

Barry Gavillet

03000 261958

October 2012

http://planning.easington.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=119256

2. Dormand Villa, Station Town

22 Dwellings

Barry Gavillet

03000 261958

October 2012

http://planning.easington.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=119498

3. The Castle, Castle Eden

Change of use from residential to Hotel

Barry Gavillet

03000 261958

September 2012

http://planning.easington.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=119502

COUNTY-WIDE STRATEGIC SITE:

1. Sheraton Hill, South of Castle Eden

CMA/5/51

5 No wind turbines

Grant Folley

03000 261392

Cross boundary application with Hartlepool BC date not set

http://gis.durham.gov.uk/website/dcs/DetailMain.asp?appid=2517&AppRef=&Category=All&Status=All&Appeal=All&District=Easington&Month=All&Year=All

If you wish to register comments on any of these applications please contact the relevant case officer or go to the planning portal on the DCC website by clicking on the link in each section.

Litter-picking at Blackhall Rocks

I spent a great morning at Blackhall Rocks picking up litter with young people on the estate as part of a community clean-up event organised by Lynn Murphy, Wendy Byatt and others from the Residents Association.

While we were doing the rounds with staff from Morrison's and East Durham Homes we had the opportunity to spot other environmental issues on the estate and report them to the relevant agencies for attention.

I would like to see events like this become a regular fixture because they instil a sense of belonging and community pride in young people and older residents alike. Working together to make the streets safer and cleaner also bridges any generational divide whilst benefiting the environment.

Although we had to be up and about quite early we were handsomely rewarded for our efforts by the fleeting appearance of Councillor Cox who, long before the work began, honoured us with his presence and posed for photographs in a flash suit and tie before sloping off on some other (unidentified) worthy venture. Priceless!

New Homes for Station Town

Click on the link below for more details of the planning application received by Durham County Council for 22 homes on the site of the former Dormand Villa care home in Station Town.

Homes plan for arson site - Peterlee Star

Campaign for Hartlepool Hospital - Update

A few weeks ago I contacted the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman (P&HSO) regarding my concerns about the lack of consultation by the North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust with the residents of East Durham on its proposals to close Hartlepool hospital as part of the Momentum programme (see blog dated 18 June 2012).

I received a reply from the P&HSO advising that I should contact the Trust directly to offer them the opportunity to respond formally to my complaint. This then enables the ombudsman's office to pursue my complaint within its defined procedure.

I have now written to the Chief Executive of the Trust, Alan Foster, to ask him to set out in specific terms both  the level and the format of any consultation carried out with residents and service users in East Durham as part of the Trust's promotion of its Momentum proposals. For clarity I have asked for details of times, dates and venues of any public meetings held in East Durham for this purpose, along with the general outcome of these meetings in terms of public feeling on the closure of Hartlepool hospital.

I have also challenged him to compare the extent and format of public engagement in East Durham with the consultation exercises carried out in Hartlepool and Stockton. I have stated that I have no recollection of any formal Trust consultation in East Durham and nor do any of the people I represent within the villages of the Blackhall ward of Durham County Council. 

I will report back on any response I receive from either the ombudsman or the Trust but in the meantime please get in touch if you have any related issues you would like to discuss.

Glendale House, Blackhall Colliery

I have received further reports of problems at the site of the former Glendale House residential care home (see post dated 29 June 2012 for background details).

It is reported that boards have been prised from windows by someone trespassing in the area. Further, the grass and weeds are growing as though out of control and debris is accumulating which tends to bring down the general tone of the surrounding area. The potential for anti-social behaviour and arson is obvious. 

This is entirely unacceptable for the residents of the housing estates nearby and I have contacted the estates section at county hall to urge that they take immediate action to address this problem. I have been assisted in this by PCSO Ian Goodwin and by Andy Denholm from the neighbourhood wardens team.

I have been told by officers in the estates section that ownership of the property and surrounding site is uncertain due to the council's ongoing negotiations with a potential purchaser. This is offered in explanation for the run down condition of the site.

My position however is clear: if the property is currently owned by the council then its condition and upkeep is their responsibility. On the other hand, if contracts have been exchanged then the new owner is responsible. Either way, residents nearby are entitled to a decent living environment.

I am assured that emergency orders have now been raised to ensure the security of the building and  I will ensure that the remaining area is returned to an acceptable standard as soon as the legal details above are clarified.

Planning Application at High Hesleden

Durham County Council has received a planning application for 5 stables, tack room, hay store and access at a site between High Hesleden and Monk Hesleden.

This is effectively a resubmission of a previous planning application, details of which can be found elsewhere on this site (see blogs dated 12 June & 2 July 2012).

As ever, I see public involvement as central to the planning process and I would encourage anyone who has an interest in this application to take a look in further detail at the DCC planning portal:

planning.easington.gov.uk

Follow the "application search" link and enter the reference number PL/5/2012/0303

If you have any comments on this application please register them with the planning section using the same facility.

I believe that every planning application should be decided on its own merits and it is essential that as many people as possible have a say to ensure that we get the right developments in the right place at the right time. 

I will follow progress closely on this application so please let me know if you have any comments or concerns.

Library Consultation

The Hartlepool Mail published an article earlier this year to confirm that Blackhall library, along with all others in county Durham, would remain open following my resolution to the county council's Labour Group (see article on this site dated 12 April 2012 for further details).

The council is to begin a consultation exercise on Monday to gauge public opinion on proposed opening hours and further details are given below:

Have your say on library changes

People will have the chance to decide on new opening hours for their local library from next week.

A consultation on changes to opening times at libraries across County Durham begins on Monday, 6 August and will run until Friday, 28 September.

People who use the mobile library service, which stops in 37 communities, will also be invited to give their views on where it should stop in the future.

Durham County Council is reducing opening hours and changing its mobile service in response to significant Government funding reductions, which mean it has to save approximately £180m between 2011 – 2017.

Cllr Maria Plews, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, said: “By making changes to our library service we will be able to keep all our libraries open despite the financial pressures we are currently operating under.

“It is important though that people who use the service are able to influence these changes so I would encourage residents to have their say during the consultation.”

Library-users can fill in a survey at their local library, giving their choice of preferred hours from a number of options. These options have been put together to reflect factors specific to each library, such as current busy times of day, market days and other issues. At those libraries where there will be only a small reduction in opening hours, one option will be similar to existing opening times.

People who use the mobile library service should have received a questionnaire about which settlements they would like the library to visit in the future. Questionnaires are also available from the mobile library.

The council has 27 community and 12 town centre libraries, including Clayport, in Durham, where opening hours have already been reduced. 

Dave Guy - Durham Area NUM President

Click on the Morning Star link below for Dave Hopper's tribute to Dave Guy who passed away recently.

As someone sacked during the 1984-85 Miners Strike I personally owe a lot to both Dave Guy and Dave Hopper for their constant and willing support during and after that historic struggle.

My thoughts are with Dave Guy's family at this difficult time.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/122118

Untidy Properties - Update

Earlier this week I published a post on this site about the derelict condition of some rear yards in Blackhall Colliery apparently attracting vermin (see 31 July 2012).

On Monday morning I visited and telephoned residents at Eleventh Street and Arnold Avenue which is where the original complaints had come from. I then contacted the neighbourhood wardens along with officers from the public health and environmental health departments at Durham County Council who have visited the area over the last two days.

Rubbish and debris has been allowed to accumulate in the rear yard at 27 Eleventh Street and the landlord of this property has been contacted and issued with a notice to clear the yard within 28 days which is the permitted legal period for such clearances.

The house at 5 Eleventh Street has a duvet dumped in the rear yard and the council is currently tracing the landlord to have this removed.

Having spoken to residents in the area about the reports of rats, officers are firmly of the opinion that the source of the vermin problem is the nearby allotments and not the accumulated debris in the rear yards at numbers 5 & 27. Specifically they note that the debris and rubbish consisted solely of building materials and non-food waste which is not the characteristic cause of vermin infestations.

I have asked the wardens to keep a close watch on this area over the next few days and weeks to monitor this problem and take whatever actions are required to clear the area. Contact is also being made with the Allotment Association to ensure that they are aware of the issues raised by residents.

Tweddle Animal Farm

Durham County Council has received a planning application for improvements at Tweddle Animal Farm.

I am generally in favour of businesses flourishing in our area but I also think it's important that residents have their say to ensure that we have the right developments in the right place.

If you would like to know more about these proposals please visit the county council's planning portal at:

planning.easington.gov.uk

If you have any comments to make on this application, or any other, please let me know or register your views with the planning department.

Digital Durham Broadband

Posts elsewhere on this site refer to Durham County Council's Digital Durham Broadband programme which is designed to establish superfast broadband across the county.

Below is an appeal from the council for volunteers to promote the scheme in their communities:

Champion the campaign for superfast broadband

Have you got what it takes to be a Local Broadband Champion?

Durham County Council is appealing for local people and community groups to promote and represent Digital Durham on a voluntary basis, locally within their area.

The Digital Durham programme aims to bring superfast broadband to the whole of the county and champions will spearhead the scheme locally within their own communities.

Local champions will be required to:

*  Help communicate information about Digital Durham to their local community

*  Gather feedback to ensure community views are understood

*  Co-ordinate local events to help people understand how more efficient broadband can

benefit them

Information on the role is available online by searching for broadband champion at Durham County Council’s website www.durham.gov.uk.

Application forms are available by sending an email to: digital.durham@durham.gov.uk or by telephoning the Digital Durham team on: 03000 26 11 60.

All residents, business owners and community group representatives are invited to send in their applications.