A1086 landslip roadworks progress report

Since our recent post on this site last week we have received a further update from the highways design section at DCC regarding the ongoing road works on the A1086 between Blackhall and Horden. We have reproduced this below in full:

Further to the update sent on 25^th March regarding the land slip adjacent to the Coast Road to the north of Blackhall I can report the following progress:

Our consultants have continued to progress the design work as per their proposal with an indicative provisional start date on site of early summer 2014 subject to negotiation with Public Utility companies.

The design is expected to be submitted for approval during early May.

We will continue to update with progress reports as and when they are received.

Objections to the removal of Hesleden pit heap

Together with the clerk to Monk Hesleden Parish Council we met yesterday afternoon with the county council's planning case officer Chris Shields to talk through the main implications of the recent planning application submitted by Hargreaves Surface Mining to remove the pit heap at Hesleden (please see posts dated 2 & 9 April 2014 for background details). 

From a DCC members' perspective we told him that we would object to the proposals, mainly on the grounds of residents’ loss of amenity. We feel that the physical impact of 4 HGV's each hour, 6 days a week for 2 years, along with the potential health risks, noise and nuisance this would bring, especially to residents in Gray Avenue and the surrounding area, would be impossible to justify. 

We also said that we will object on grounds of increased traffic generation and road safety. We told Chris that there were existing and long-term problems with traffic on the B1281 road between Hesleden and Castle Eden and that these problems would be hugely increased by the type and amount of vehicles using the road during the proposed extraction period. 

We also drew Chris's attention to the council’s emerging street lighting policy which is likely to result in lighting columns being removed from the western junction at Hesleden, and also from the B1281 from there to Castle Eden. That junction is already particularly risky and, in our opinion, this could have catastrophic consequences for road users and pedestrians travelling between the coast and the A19.

We are aware from meeting with residents in both Hesleden and Castle Eden that a considerable majority of them are steadfastly opposed to this development going ahead. They have given many reasons for this and we are keen to ensure that all relevant points should be raised with the planning office by as many groups and residents as possible. To this end, the case officer has assured us that representations will be received until the day before the planning committee date, which is expected sometime in late summer, although this may be subject to delay. 

We would urge everyone with an interest in this matter to contact the planning case officer to make their voice heard. The case officer can be contacted at: chris.shields@durham.gov.uk or, if you prefer to put your comments in writing, you could leave your letter at the Blackhall Resource Centre and we will ensure it gets to county hall.

As ever, when a planning application is submitted to Durham County Council, our immediate reaction is always to assess any potential benefits for the people and the community. Unfortunately we cannot identify any such benefits in relation to this application, which in our opinion appears to be motivated by nothing more than generating a handsome profit for Hargreaves’ shareholders at the expense of two years of danger, filth and misery for our constituents.

Latest news on the A1086 landslip works between Blackhall and Horden

Over the last week or so we have received a number of queries from residents about slight changes to the traffic management arrangements on the A1086 between Blackhall and Horden, in place as a result of a recent landslip in the dene nearby (see posts dated 3 December 2013, 17 December 2013, 10 January 2014, 18 February 2014 & 26 March 2014 for background information).

Earlier this week we made enquiries through the highways department at Durham County Council and received the following explanation:

Further to your email to Paul Newman regarding the traffic management on the A1086 between Blackhall and Horden I can advise that Openreach have had cables stolen and we have altered the traffic management to allow them to rectify this.

In addition there may be a need to alter the traffic management again on Tuesday and Wednesday next week to allow a survey of the existing drainage to be carried out as part of the design process currently being undertaken by our Consultants. 

Whilst we acknowledge that the safety of pedestrians, workers and road users is of paramount importance we will continue to press for works to be completed as soon as possible. 

In the meantime we will update on progress as and when we receive reports from the highways department at county hall.

Fool's Gold - Free event at Blackhall Library

Fool’s Gold is an acoustic duo based in the North-East of the UK. We play mostly our own songs, but also include a few well known – and less well known – covers. Our songs are mostly ‘in the tradition’, being story songs with strong hooks and choruses and often intricate instrumentation.

Fool’s Gold is: 

Carol Robson – Vocals, Tenor Guitars, Flute, Whistles

Steve Robson – Vocals, 6 &12 String Guitars, Mandolin​​

Coming to Blackhall Library on May 23^rd at 10.30am

This event is free but places are limited so get your tickets now!!!

Tickets available at the Library

Local concern grows about the impact of Hesleden pit heap removal

Over recent days we have had the opportunity to meet and talk to quite a number of residents in both Hesleden and Castle Eden about plans to remove the former pit heap at Hesleden (see post dated Wednesday 2 April 2014 for background details).

In particular, residents in Gray Avenue, Hesleden, are rightly concerned about the impact that 20 months of HGV's roaring up and down their street will have in terms of noise, nuisance and damage. We note in the planning documents that the applicant estimates that 4 HGV's per hour, for up to 14 hours per day for 6 days a week will travel this route! 

Residents throughout Castle Eden are equally concerned about the impact of the same vehicles travelling both ways to and from the A19, some carrying heavy loads of combustible material. As we all know there are significant traffic issues in this area and this proposal has the potential to cause a huge amount of inconvenience and, at worst, have serious consequences in terms of road safety.

It is important to note that while the communities of Hesleden and Castle Eden will be most affected, these traffic movements will have a direct impact on people from Blackhall Colliery, Blackhall Rocks and other parts of our ward too.

Apart from encouraging residents to continue recording their concerns with Durham County Council (the planning authority), our immediate priorities include meeting with the planning case officer to impress on him the growing tide of opposition of our residents to this proposal.

We will also draw up a list of material planning considerations (valid reasons for opposing a planning application) to put to the planning office. At the moment these include noise and nuisance, traffic generation and health and safety issues. There are more, but these will do for now and we will see which way the residents in both Hesleden and Castle Eden react to the public consultation before we plan our next steps.

If you know of anyone who is concerned about this planning application please ask them to register their objections with the county council. From personal experience of the planning process we know that it is absolutely essential that we have as much community support as possible if we are to successfully oppose these plans.

Highways committee to consider traffic calming measures at High Hesleden

Following a number of complaints last year about vehicles speeding through High Hesleden highways engineers have now finished costing the proposed scheme(s) to install traffic calming measures in the area. 

As part of the public consultation exercise carried out in the village last year separate schemes were put forward for consideration. One suggested traffic calming measures at the eastern approach to the village, at The Bungalows, and a second scheme offered traffic calming measures throughout the entire village.

Perhaps understandably there were conflicting views among residents about which scheme to opt for. Some preferred the first option, some the second, some wanted a mix of both and others insisted that no measures be carried out at all.

To ensure that the funding is not lost in the next financial year, and to ensure fairness in the decision-making process, we have asked that the programme be formally submitted to the county council. We have been advised that the proposals will now be put before members of the Highways Committee at county hall for their consideration and decision.

Planning application to remove Hesleden pit heap

Durham County Council has received a planning application on behalf of Hargreaves Surface Mining Limited to remove the pit heap at Hesleden (see post dated 12 December 2013 for background details).

We feel that the proposals within the application are likely to have a significant impact on our area, especially in Hesleden and Castle Eden, and we need to know how residents feel about this development.

Although most potentially affected residents should have been contacted in writing as part of the public consultation part of the planning process, we strongly urge anyone who has any views or comments in relation to this matter to make their views known to the planning office using the link below.

All relevant details about the application are available to view online at:

http://publicaccess.durham.gov.uk 

please use the reference code: DM/14/00519/FPA.

Castle Eden crematorium plans rejected

We are delighted to report that the planning application to build a crematorium on land to the north of the former brewery site at Castle Eden has been rejected by the county planning committee this afternoon.

You will be aware from previous posts on this site that planning officers at Durham County Council had recommended that planning committee members approve the plans (see posts dated 12 December 2013, 3 January 2014 & 7 March 2014).

However, working closely alongside residents, Castle Eden parish council, local businesses and representatives from Castle Eden golf club, we identified a number of flaws and inconsistencies in the proposals put forward by the applicant, and also within the planning officer's report.

Along with Barry Turnbull from CEPC and Phil Barclay from the residents' group we addressed the planning committee today, highlighting our concerns about a number of issues including the risk of golf balls straying onto the proposed site and the potential return of anti-social behaviour at the access road to the site should the Traffic Prohibition Order be lifted to allow the development to proceed. 

We also emphasised the point that, as local members, we had received not one letter or telephone call in support of the application, whilst 125 letters of objection and 2 petitions against the plans had been submitted as part of the public consultation exercise.

Planning committee members agreed with us that there were material planning reasons to oppose the application and they subsequently rejected the proposals on planning policy grounds, among others.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank the clerk and members of Castle Eden parish council, Phil Barclay who organised the campaign on behalf of residents and also business representatives from the Castle Eden golf club and The Old Brewery for their tireless work and unstinting support throughout. 

The welcome outcome of today's meeting demonstrates just what can be achieved when elected members, residents and businesses work closely together for the benefit of the whole community.