Hesleden pit heap - planning process update

As detailed recently on this site, along with the parish clerk we met last month with the planning case officer from DCC when we put to him our main objections to Hargreaves' proposals to remove the pit heap at Hesleden (see post dated 29 April 2014). 

These objections are primarily about road safety, traffic generation, infrastructure damage and residents’ loss of amenity. The case officer listened carefully to the issues we raised but gave the impression that, in his opinion, some or all of those matters were either not “material” or that they could be mitigated under condition measures. We do not accept this and we told the case officer so.

However, as always, the case officer will consider the representations presented to him by the applicant, by statutory consultees and by members of the public (including us, of course). He will then make a recommendation as part of his report to the planning committee and we will have our opportunity to put our side of the argument when the matter is submitted to committee, some time in late summer we are told.

Although it is always helpful when an officer makes recommendations that reflect your own perspective it is not the end of the game if he or she doesn’t. For example, planning officers recommended that plans be approved when the application to build a crematorium at Castle Eden was submitted last year to DCC. However we helped to organise a community campaign to oppose that recommendation and the members of the planning committee agreed with us when it was put before them, resulting in the proposals being refused (see post dated 1 April 2014 for full details).

Incidentally we met again last week with residents at Castle Eden and we have submitted a further 26 letters of objection to the Hargreaves' proposal to the planning office on their behalf. Although they carry little weight in purely planning terms, petitions and public objections are quite a useful back up when we are addressing the planning committee. As such we think it is absolutely vital that residents and businesses make their views known to the council.

This week Monk Hesleden Parish Council objected in writing to the planning office and our own formal objection letter will be submitted in the next week or so, as soon as we have had the opportunity to trawl through all of the representations available.

We will continue to monitor progress in relation to this issue, and update on this site on any significant developments. In the meantime, if you have any comments to make regarding this planning application please contact the case officer Chris Shields on:

chris.shields@durham.gov.uk

New security measures at the former pit site, Blackhall

Following illegal access last year onto land adjacent to the Hackworth Road industrial estate in Blackhall, along with many associated complaints from residents, we have worked closely with the estates section at county hall, the parish council, local businesses and other interested parties in the area to ensure that the access route from the industrial estate is made secure against future trespass (see posts dated July & August 2013 for background details).

The land in question, formerly the site of Blackhal pit, is deemed unsuitable for public use for a number of reasons and these justify the measures taken:

• parts of the land are considered to be contaminated following many years of industrial use and storage of waste. There are concerns that this poses a threat to public health and safety
• those parts that are not contaminated are being tended by the council's countryside team to return them to natural use. The East Durham coastline is unique and the flora and fauna there should be protected from harm
• the land is bordered to the west by the East Durham coast rail line and is open to trespass in many locations. Clearly the threat to the general public and rail-users posed by children or animals wandering onto the rail line is a serious concern
• businesses have reported increases in incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour. Some are even suggesting that if trespass onto this site is not stopped they will consider relocating to an alternative industrial estate. Given that the council's first priority is business growth and sustainability, this is a serious concern

The people of Blackhall have demanded that measures be taken to prevent illegal intrusion onto this site in future so, to ensure that the site is made secure against trespass, new reinforced gates have been installed in addition to a strengthened perimeter fence, a four-feet high mounded area to the south of the gates and bollards to the north. 

The images below show the access gates in 2013 and again in 2014. The works carried out in the intervening months will be sufficient to prevent trespass unless significant damage is caused to the fence, gates and bollards.

2013

2014

Path repairs at Sixth Street, Blackhall

We have recently reported the path at Sixth Street Blackhall Colliery, adjacent to the Barber Shop.

We have been in touch with Neil Beckinsall from DCC and requested for repairs to be carried out due to the poor state of repair.

We have received confirmation that the works to the path will commence within the next 3 weeks.

If you have any complaints or queries regarding paths please don't hesitate to contact us.

Prohibition of Vehicles Order for Deneholme, Blackhall

We have received the following notification from the legal services department at county hall relating to proposals to close-off Deneholme to vehicles. 

This has come about following frequent complaints from the public about fly-tipping on the road between the allotments and the beach (please see posts dated 3 April 2013, 18 April 2013, 23 April 2013, 7 November 2013, 17 November 2013, 12 February 2014 & 10 March 2014 for further details).

If you have any comments to make relating to this matter please note the contact details in the notification below. Please also note that responses must be received no later than 11 June 2014.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF DURHAM
(UNCLASSIFIED DENEHOLME, BLACKHALL)
(PROHIBITION OF MOTOR VEHICLES) ORDER 2014
The Council intend to make the following Order under the provisions of the Road
Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended, to introduce a Prohibition of Motor Vehicles
on Unclassified Deneholme, Blackhall from a point 25m north of the junction with the
vehicular access to the allotment site, proceeding northerly for 380m. A copy of the
draft Order and supporting documents may all be inspected at County Hall, Durham
Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; via the Council website and at Blackhall Library during normal
opening hours. Any person who wishes to object to the proposals should send their
grounds of objection, in writing, to L. Holding, Legal Assistant, County Hall, Durham
or email to highways.orders@durham.gov.uk (ref: 92755) by no later than 11/6/14.
Dated: 21st May 2014
Colette Longbottom
Head of Legal & Democratic Services
County Hall, Durham DH1 5UL

No changes to bin collections this Bank Holiday

Please see the note below from Durham County Council reminding residents that there will be no change to bin collection dates and times this coming Bank Holiday Monday (26 May):

May bank holiday bin collections

Published May 21, 2014

County Durham residents are reminded there will be no changes to bin collections during the May bank holiday...

Bins will be emptied as normal week starting Monday, 26 May. Bins should be presented at the kerbside for collection by 7am on your usual collection day.

To check your collection day, enter your house number and postcode into the ‘My Durham’ feature on our website.

For general bin information visit: www.durham.gov.uk/bins. To find out what items go in which bin to ‘Bin it right’ visit www.durham.gov.uk/whatgoeswhere

May half-term events programme at Blackhall Community Centre

As members of the management committee at Blackhall Community Centre we are always keen to promote events at the venue.

Please see below details of our events programme for this May half-term holiday period:

Booking is Essential

May Half Term

Monday 26 May

 Closed

Tuesday 27 May

 Hi lights Disco Age 12 and under 4pm-5.30pm

50p per person

Wednesday 28 May

10am-12pm Multi Sports Age 5-13 years £2.50

Limited Spaces

1pm-2pm FREE Arts and Crafts Age 0-8 years

Parent Helpers Required

Thursday 29 May

11am – 1pm FROZEN PRINCESS PARTY – SOLD OUT

5.45pm-6.45pm Salsa Fusion (similar to Zumba) £3.00

5.45pm-6.45pm Fun Club for Kids £1.50

Friday 30 May

9.30am-11am Funky Feet (Mums and Tots) - £1.50 per child

4pm-5pm Karate Age 6-11 years

Sunday 1 June

10am-4pm Classic Car Rally and Table Top Sale

For further details please contact:

0191 586 7396

Landslip roadworks on the A1086 between Blackhall and Horden

Over recent months we have made repeated assurances that we would maintain pressure on the council and the public utility companies to carry out repair works to make the A1086 between Blackhall Colliery and Horden safe for public use following a landslip in the area last year. 

We also made a commitment to publish all relevant information on this blog, on a monthly basis at least (please see posts dated 30 April 2014, 25 April 2014, 26 March 2014, 18 February 2014, 10 January 2014, 17 December 2013 & 3 December 2013 for further information).

We contacted the council's highways section yesterday for a further update and although there isn't a great deal to report on developments we thought it best to publish whatever information we have received.

Below is a verbatim copy of the council's emailed response:

I can advise I received the  design from our Consultants on Friday, for approval.  I have reviewed this today and have a number of comments that need addressing prior to formal DCC approval of the finalised design.  I will update you asap on the timescale for re-submission of the finalised design.

For your information the design should not impact on existing PU apparatus and I will just need to inform the relevant companies of our proposals.

If you require any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me.

While we acknowledge that public safety must always come first we will continue to press for works to be carried out as soon as they can and we will publish all relevant information received.

Defibrillators for our villages

We have been meeting residents and parish council members across our ward recently to assess the need for defibrillators in public areas.

Defibrillators (or automated external defibrillators to use their technical term) are portable electronic devices which can diagnose and correct heart arrhythmia in the event of a heart attack. They come in a number of forms, often in vandal-proof casings for outdoor public use, and are regarded as highly effective by emergency responders in treating victims of a heart attack. They can be sited either inside public buildings or fixed to external walls for public use outside of normal business hours.

We met recently with a representative of the North-East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to talk through our plans in greater detail and also to seek advice on locating defibrillators and arranging public training for their use. We have also met with residents and other organisations, including our parish councils, to ask them if they would like to have defibrillators in their particular area and, if so, where they would like to see them located.

Our next steps are to assess requirements on our patch and then get back in touch with the NEAS to finalise our plans before we approach the East Durham Area Action Partnership to draw up an application for funding.

We will report on progress on this blog site in due course. In the meantime if you have a location in mind for a defibrillator please let us know in the usual way.