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