We have already written to the county council setting out our objections to the their proposals and the parish council is about to do the same but as we reported last week, from our past experience of similar campaigns in other areas, we feel it is essential that as many people as possible make their views known to the council. To this end parish members have prepared a flyer for distribution, urging residents to write to the relevant section at county hall to express their opinion on this matter (please see below, in blue).
Although it is acknowledged that any street lighting removal at these locations would have most impact on the residents and businesses of Castle Eden, we think that there are potentially serious implications for people in other parts of our ward who use the roads linking the A19 at Castle Eden with Blackhall Colliery, Blackhall Rocks, the Hesledens, Crimdon and beyond. Please take a few moments to submit your objections to the address shown below.
PROPOSED REMOVAL OF STREET LIGHTING IN CASTLE EDEN
The Parish Council have received notification of
proposed changes to the Street Lighting within Castle Eden. Durham County
Council are requesting a period of public consultation on the proposals. Please contact the parish clerk for full details.
In summary:
Street Lighting would be removed from the junction
between Stockton Road and the B1281 to The Village, (although a couple a lights
may be maintained around the area of the Old School House and Hudworth
Cottages), and along the Stockton Road from the War Memorial South (past Castle
Eden Inn) to the junction with the A19.
If these proposals go ahead this would mean that the roads between the
main parts of Castle Eden would not be lit.
The Parish Council have reviewed the proposed changes
and have the following objections:
1.
Pavements are narrow and in some areas in poor condition.
Visibility for dog walkers, people moving between areas of the village would be
badly affected, leading to increased risk of personal injury from falls.
2. Visibility of pedestrians from moving traffic would be
poor, particularly around bends, increasing the risk of collisions/accidents
between vehicles and pedestrians.
3.
Bus Stops on the B1281 would be in darkness, creating
a fear of crime around these areas.
4. The above concerns are of particular concern during
the winter months when hours of darkness are increased and the number of
pedestrians, including the elderly and people with pushchairs using the
pavements, increases.
5.
Fear of crime would be increased.
6.
Social impact – people would be less likely to move
between areas within Castle Eden (for example to and from the Village Hall or
Businesses), reducing footfall in community facilities, and impacting
negatively on social isolation.
The Parish Council will be submitting its objections
to the proposals, and strongly urge you to also submit personal objections, to
add further weight.
If
you would like to object, including some or all of the objections above, please
contact Yvonne Edwards, Senior Programme
Manager on telephone number 03000 265 280 or by email at yvonne.edwards@durham.gov.uk
. You can also write to Yvonne at : Construction Programme and Project
Management Unit, Technical Services, Neighbourhood Services,
Durham County Council, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UQ. Quote “SLERP63” in any
communication.
Objections should be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than Monday 8 August 2016.
