Clean up at Hesleden Pond

A couple of weeks ago, following a request from a resident, we contacted the parks and countryside team to ask them to inspect the pond on the walkway at Hesleden and arrange a clean up where required.

Earlier this week we received the following response to our query:

Chris passed on the information you provided from the residents at Hesleden regarding the pond adjacent to the Hart to Haswell Railway Path a few weeks ago. Sorry it has taken so long to get around to this, but the Ranger for that particular line is off at the moment. 

I have been out today and inspected the area, and found it not to be in too much of a mess. There were no issues with the small platform there, however there was some litter actually in and around the pond. Therefore, I got the wellies on and collected a couple of bags of litter from that pond and the one further back up the line just past the next crossing. 

Hopefully this resolves the concerns, but if you have any further queries or information to pass on, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Update on proposed Hazel Drive traffic calming scheme

Earlier this year, following calls from residents to have traffic calming measures installed at Hazel Drive, we secured significant funding to enable the scheme to go ahead subject to consultation with residents (please see post dated Friday 27 January 2017 for full background details).

Because the initial project was first suggested some time ago we have asked officers in the county highways section for an update on progress and we've received the following reply:

The current position is that we are progressing the scheme and the response has been positive. All consultation periods have ended and there is a 92% response in favour of the scheme.

I have written to the objectors addressing their issues and asking that they inform me whether they are willing to remove their objection. I have given them until the end of the month to respond.

In order to save time I have prepared the necessary reports to do the legal work which are being progressed before the above deadline. I do not expect any further objections to the legal notice once this has been advertised – the legal notice is advertised for 21 days.

Assuming the objectors remove their objections, we will be able to order the works within a few days of the end of the legal notice. 

If however, the objectors continue, then we will have to prepare reports and place the scheme before Highways Committee.

Clearly the preferred route would be to proceed with the scheme with the full support of all residents. However if the outstanding issues cannot be overcome by agreement the matter will be referred to the highways committee at county hall for a decision.

Unfortunately if the scheme cannot go ahead the funding set aside will be lost.

Reach for the Beach at Crimdon and East Durham

The council has published details of a series of public events to be held across County Durham this summer.

Through the East Durham Area Action Partnership we both helped to fund the Reach for the Beach outdoor festival running in Crimdon and at other coastal locations from Saturday 27 May to Sunday 4 June. Full details are included in the programme.

Please follow the link for more information: http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/11382/Whats-on

Monk Hesleden Parish Council responds to request for Chicken's Green pathway works

A couple of months ago we received requests at a monthly ward surgery in Blackhall Library for the pathway across the top of Chicken's Green to be resurfaced (please see post dated Wednesday 22 March 2017 for details).

The pathway has been narrowed gradually over a number of years, caused largely by verges growing into the path and localised flooding which had eroded the surface at one location.

When we approached the parish clerk with a request for the pathway to be considered for resurfacing she assured us that it would be included in the Spring work programme. It was great to see earlier this week that work has begun on site to fully widen and reinstate the entire pathway from the top of Dene Road across to Corry Close.

Our thanks go to the clerk and the members of Monk Hesleden Parish Council for their quick response to this request.

Information on dog poisoning reports proving elusive

A few days ago we wrote about a reported incident of dog poisoning at a location near to the Hackworth Road Industrial Estate in Blackhall Colliery (please see post date Sunday 30 April 2017 for background details).

Despite making several enquiries since then with relevant agencies we have not been able to unearth any real meaningful information which would identify the cause of death of the dogs involved. Perhaps this is understandable given that it appears there has been only one report received by the police and that any investigation into the cause of death is a private matter between the owner and the veterinary surgeon.

However, dog owners are understandably concerned about this incident and need more detailed information about what happened to cause the deaths of the dogs at this location and also to put their minds at rest about the safety of their pets. 

We will continue to press for more information about this incident. In the meantime we have received the following email from the head of countryside services at the council which sets out the current position:

Good afternoon Cllrs

As far as I can make out after lengthy discussion with internal colleagues and the Police, it is difficult to comment further until accurate information is received either from the Police (who have interviewed the original complainant), or other detail is received. 

It seems to me that the existing information is rather sketchy, nothing has been found on site, and we have no hard information relating to what, if at all, the problem is.  The Police have received only one complaint, relating to one dog belonging to a local gentleman.

We will update when more information comes to light.

Kind regards

Durham County Council Election Results

As you may be aware the local elections to Durham County Council were held on Thursday 4 May. 

The count took place at Spennymoor Leisure Centre yesterday and we have posted below the result for the Blackhalls Ward:

Name of Candidate	Description (if any)	Number of votes*
CRUTE, Rob	Labour Party	1115 Elected
EATON, Tom	The Conservative Party Candidate	412
FRANKLIN, Steve	The North East Party	259
POUNDER, Lynn	Labour Party	1041 Elected
ROBINSON, Jamie Michael Stuart	The North East Party	240

The results for the remaining seats in the county can be found at:

http://www.durham.gov.uk/electionresults

We would like to thank everyone who supported us throughout our election campaign and who voted for us on Thursday. We have been truly humbled by the kind comments and the unswerving support of our residents.

Our campaign for the 2021 elections starts now!

Drain cover thefts in Blackhall Colliery

Residents may already be aware of a series of drain cover thefts in Blackhall Colliery recently. 

There have been five drain covers stolen in as many weeks, four of them in close proximity to Blackhall Colliery Primary School and the fifth outside Blackhall library. On each occasion we have asked for the open drain to be made safe against accidents and in each case the council has responded immediately.

Although this type of theft cannot be justified under any circumstances, the specific location of the stolen drain covers has given us particular cause for concern. 

After listening to concerned residents over the past few days we have contacted the head of direct services at county hall today to ask if the council would consider removing all existing drain covers and replace them with those of little or no value to opportunist thieves.

We have reproduced our correspondence below in full:

Over the past few weeks there has been a spate of drain cover thefts in Blackhall Colliery. 

At the latest count there have been five covers stolen in as many weeks, four of them on walk-to-school routes and in close proximity to Blackhall Colliery Primary School, and the fifth directly opposite the Blackhall branch library on Hesleden Road.

Clearly this poses a significant risk to children and older people using these facilities and we are concerned that it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured as a direct result of these mindless thefts.

In the absence of any obvious solution to this problem we would ask the council to consider removing all grates and drain covers, recouping the value and replacing them with the type of drain cover which is of little or no value to thieves.

We will monitor progress with our request and keep residents up to date with developments but in the meantime please take extra care when out and about, especially after dark.