Baffling appeal decision gives Castle Eden Crematorium the green light

In what must surely rank as one of the most bewildering planning decisions of the past few years, the government’s planning inspector has upheld the planning appeal lodged by Dignity plc, meaning that the crematorium at Castle Eden can now go ahead, subject to certain conditions (please see post dated Tuesday 26 July 2016 for background information on the appeal process).

As if to rub salt in the wound, the planning inspector's office saw fit to use the Christmas holiday period as a good time to bury bad news. The outcome of the appeal hearing was published on the inspectorate's online portal yesterday without any formal notification sent to us as local members or to the businesses and residents of Castle Eden who have fought so hard for three years to fend off Dignity's plans to construct an unneeded crematorium in a location that is so clearly unsuited to any development of this nature. We see this discourtesy as an insult and a snub to the people of Castle Eden.

Naturally we are desperately disappointed that the planning inspector chose to disregard just about every argument put forward by objectors at the latest appeal hearing, preferring instead to come down firmly on the side of a company that has no concern at all for the well-being of the businesses or the safety of the residents of Castle Eden. Our true feelings cannot be reflected accurately on a public blog accessible to innocent young eyes so we feel it better to leave our comments at that for the time being.

However we cannot allow this development to go ahead without a fight. We will arrange to meet residents' representatives next week to plan a way forward in the struggle to keep Castle Eden untainted by this unwanted, unneeded and unsafe development.

For full details of the planning inspector's decision go to www.planninginspectorate.gov.uk using the case reference number 3146228 in the search bar.

Full details of our involvement to date in the campaign against Dignity's crematorium proposals can be tracked by typing Castle Eden Crematorium in the search bar on this blog site.

Council Services during the Festive Season

We have received information about council services over the Christmas and New Year period.

Please see below for details:

Bin collections will stay the same so people are asked to put their bins out on their usual collection day.

Real Christmas tree collections can be booked online free of charge between 19 December 2016 and 8 January 2017 at www.durham.gov.uk. Alternatively call 03000 261 000 during normal office hours.

Most of our public-facing council buildings and contact centres will be closed over the Christmas and New Year holidays but service information and online services will still be available via www.durham.gov.uk.

Council buildings will be open as normal on Friday 23 December 2016 (normal opening hours) and will re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017 following the festive closure.  

Customer Access Points will close at 4.30pm on Friday 23 December and will reopen at 8.30am on Tuesday 3 January.

Library opening times may vary, so it’s best to call into your local library (or look on the website) before Christmas to check opening times.

Leisure centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Bank Holiday Tuesday 27 December, New Year’s Day and Bank Holiday Monday 2 January and will close early at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

One Point Hubs/Children’s Centres will close or have restricted opening times over the Christmas period.  It’s best to call into your local hub/centre before Christmas to see whether or not they’ll be open.

Day centres for adults will remain open, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and the bank holidays.

Register offices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and the bank holidays and will close at 12.45pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Please note, the following offices will be open between Christmas and New Year but will operate on an appointments basis only – phone 03000 266 000:

Bishop Auckland

Aykley Heads, Durham

Barnard Castle

Chester-le-Street

Do it online services via the www.durham.gov.uk website will be available over the festive period, but request forms will not be processed until council offices re-open on 3 January.  Any emergencies should be reported using the emergency out of hours number 03000 260 000 and not via the do it online request forms.

Visit www.durham.gov.uk/festive for more information and updates on our services.

Useful numbers:

Emergency Out of Hours number 03000 260 000

24/7 automated payments line 0300 456 2771 (debit/credit card)

You can keep up-to-date with winter service information on the council’s twitter and Facebook sites.

Hesleden Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

After the Christmas tree lights were switched on at Blackhall Colliery on Monday evening it was Hesleden's turn last night to light up their tree, and once more the people of Hesleden did the village proud with a magnificent turnout.

The chairman of the parish council, Cllr Gaynor Crute, welcomed everyone to the event by introducing the staff and pupils from Hesleden Primary School who, despite the bitter cold, came along once again in their numbers to entertain residents gathered around the tree.

Following a selection of seasonal favourites, performed with their usual enthusiasm by the pupils of Hesleden Primary School, the Rev Susan Richardson led the countdown to the switching on of the tree lights.

As ever, thanks go to the clerk, staff and members of Monk Hesleden Parish Council for organising the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, and also to the Rev Susan Richardson who can be guaranteed to bring along plenty of enthusiasm and cheer to any community event.

However a very special thank you goes to the staff and pupils of Hesleden Primary School for their magnificent carol singing which once again got the festive season well and truly under way in some style!

Blackhall Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

The residents of Blackhall and Blackhall Rocks braved the cold this evening to come along to the annual ceremony to light the parish council Christmas tree at Chicken's Green in Blackhall Colliery.

Cllr Gaynor Crute, parish council chair, started off this ever popular festive event by introducing the children of Blackhall Colliery primary school and St Joseph's RCVA primary school who then sang a selection of Christmas carols with their usual enthusiasm. Fr Jackson then offered the customary blessing before leading the children in a countdown to the lighting up of the tree.

Many thanks go to the clerk, chairman, staff and members of Monk Hesleden Parish Council for their efforts in pulling the event together, and particular thanks go to the pupils and staff from both Blackhall Colliery and St Joseph's primary schools for adding something special to a ceremony which continues to grow each year in popularity.

Changes to bus timetables in the Peterlee area from next week

Go North East has announced changes to its bus timetable for the Peterlee area, including some for the villages in our patch.

Please follow the link below for more details:

http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/changes-to-services-in-the-peterlee-area-from-4-december-198087