Security measures at Chicken's Green and East Street

A few weeks ago when the council's Community Action Team was in Blackhall Colliery I published two separate articles setting out proposals to install 'target hardening' measures to prevent illegal access by off-road vehicles at Chicken's Green and the open grassed area at East Street (please see posts dated Saturday 19 September 2020 and Saturday 7 November 2020 for background details).

I'm pleased to report that I received confirmation late last week that funding to install security measures at Chicken's Green and East Street has now been secured. This means that works can begin as soon as the materials have arrived and the scheme is fitted into the council's clean and green team's works programme.

I'll update on progress as soon as the service team confirms a date for the works to go ahead.

A19 Roadworks from Monday

I've received notification from the highways section at county hall that the A19 Northbound from Sheraton to Wellfield will be closed overnight for four nights from 8pm Monday 30 November 2020 to allow for carriageway resurfacing works. 

Full details below:

Road No.	Location	Description	Traffic Management	Start Date	End Date	Responsibility
A19	Sheraton to Wellfield	Carriageway resurfacing	Northbound road closure (8:00pm - 6:00am)	30 November	3 December	Autolink

Street Walkabout and Environmental Issues

As the latest Community Action Team programme drew to a close earlier this year we made arrangements to hold additional regular walkabout sessions in Blackhall Colliery to help ensure that the positive changes made in the village during the scheme would be sustained over the longer term (please see posts dated Tuesday 4 August and Saturday 29 August 2020 for background details about the Community Action Team).

The latest walkabout session took place yesterday morning and consisted of neighbourhood wardens, environmental health and housing officers, the parish clerk, the local PCSO and the community safety officer making up two separate groups to allow for social distancing measures. One group started at First Street and the other at Eleventh Street, with the intention of meeting somewhere in the middle.

The immediately obvious issue were the recent incidents of graffiti mainly around Ninth and Tenth Streets. These were reported earlier in the week for removal and work was scheduled to begin yesterday afternoon with completion expected by today. 

As the walkabout progressed it was noticeable that most of the rear yards of empty properties that were cleared of rubbish and debris recently had remained cleared - especially in the bottom half of the village. There were a few additional incidents of fly-tipping in other yards in and around Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Streets however, and these have now been reported for clearance. In addition there were a few incidents of white goods and furniture left in the street and these have now been reported for clearance too (although it wasn’t clear whether some of these items had been abandoned in the street or whether they had been put out for collection).

Being out and about regularly is one of the most effective ways of keeping in touch with developing issues in our community, and it also offers the perfect opportunity to stop and chat with residents and others going about their daily business. Yesterday was no exception and alongside reporting the issues we came across we also got to hear first hand from residents about the things that affect them most, and what their expectations are for the future.

Our next scheduled walkabout has been arranged to take place next month. In the meantime however if there are any environmental issues you want me to know about, either in these streets or elsewhere in the villages of the Blackhall ward, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and I’ll do whatever I can to help out.

Crimdon and the Durham Coast

Regular readers of these pages will be aware that the redevelopment of Crimdon and the maintenance of the Durham Heritage Coast are among my main priorities and that I see them both as essential components of plans to attract more visitors to our area and give our businesses and the local economy a much needed boost. From the correspondence I receive on a regular basis I know that the people I represent from the Blackhall area and the rest of East Durham share that aim.

Members of the Environment & Sustainable Communities committee at Durham County Council also share that ambition and continue to follow recent developments with interest. Consequently they asked recently for an update report on a few of the latest issues affecting Crimdon and the Durham coast. I’ve published the report in full below:

Background 

The Durham coast has seen a doubling in coastal path users this year (110% year on year from counter output) as a direct result of Covid-19 restrictions. This is reflected in car park use and destination experience. 

Local businesses report a 30% reduction in turnover at the end of the summer with a consequent reduction in seasonal jobs. 

Nationally the coastal visitor economy has been severely impacted with a £10.3bn loss in tourism spend reported by the National Coastal Tourism Academy, resulting in 7% of businesses permanently closed, those surviving operating at 60% of capacity. Rural coastline has been the top choice for visitors with day visitors up by 60%; reflecting local experience. 

Clean and Green have maintained standards across the whole coast and have dealt with the impacts of this remarkable influx of day visitors with no drop-in service.

Natural Environment 

The natural environment on the Durham coast has the highest statutory protection available reflecting its importance nationally and locally. We are required by law to protect and enhance these habitats and their species whilst our communities’ benefit from its use as a recreational, educational and community asset. The rapid increase in visitor numbers and the associated levels of disturbance and adverse impacts will require management; particularly access routes and user behaviour. 

The Heritage Coast team is working with Durham County Council Ecology on a programme of investment of developers’ funds to minimise and mitigate the disturbance from users. We are working with Durham Constabulary and with partners to improve our Coast Watch initiative. Coast Watch is effectively Neighbourhood Watch for the coast addressing anti-social behaviour and environmental crime.

Current position - Overview

Crimdon Coastal Hub: 

Following the redesign and final approval from Cabinet in early October construction work on site started on 19 October 2020 and is programmed for completion in June 2021. This is a £1.6m investment supported by the Coastal Communities Fund and Durham County Council. It comprises a 40-seat café, public toilets with full Changing Places provision and an inside space for volunteers and community group use. 

Work continues to secure finance for on site interpretation and waymarking as well as working with local schools and community groups so that they can participate in the production process. 

This is a key gateway investment on the coast that will reduce the impacts of visitors on our natural environment and provide a location for schools and community groups to learn more about our wildlife, its value and how to prevent damage. It will also provide a location for volunteer groups involved in the management and maintenance of the Heritage Coast. 

The process of appointing an operator is running parallel to the construction of the building. 

Tyne to Tees Shores and Seas – SeaScapes Partnership: 

National Lottery Heritage Fund finance for this ambitious programme lead by Durham County Council was approved in early March. Subsequently Covid-19 restrictions and the longer-term impacts meant that an interim start for this exciting and long-anticipated £5 million North East coastal and marine project was agreed that allowed immediate and urgent work to progress as restrictions permitted. 

TheSeaScapes Delivery Manager is now in post and recruitment of the delivery team has started. 2021 will see the programme emerge with a significant regional and national profile; starting its four-year programme in earnest. The scheme will benefit communities in Durham, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Hartlepool by delivering 23 projects – both on-shore and beneath the sea - from South Shields to Teesmouth. 

Horden Station 

Horden rail station opened 29 June 2020. As a key transport location we are working with local members to develop and source funding for on station information, interpretation and waymarking. 

England Coast Path 

The England Coast Path is set to become the world’s longest managed coastal trail with work completing in 2021. Locally, the England Coast path was created in 2016 and has extended northwards and southwards. This is a National Trail in the same family as the Pennine Way. Locally the Heritage Coast provides the secretariat for the managing partnership. The National Trail website is now https//www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB 

We have seen the importance of this National Trail as a wonderful local and national asset emerge through 2020. 

County Durham Plan 

The adoption of the County Durham Plan in October is also a significant step for the coast, as this brings extended statutory protection to our landscape in addition to our designated wildlife sites. 

Next Steps 

The Heritage Coast Partnership will continue to protect and enhance our natural environment, particularly our protected sites and focussing on how progress on how we manage access to and along the coast. 

Once the Crimdon Coastal Hub is complete it is expected that an opening ceremony will be required. 

The tourism offer along the coast away from Seaham is still in an embryonic phase. Current investments will change the way that we access the coast, including in our inshore waters. New products and services will develop, and management will adapt and change to reflect this as each opportunity will be expected to contribute to the protection and enhancement of our natural assets

Conclusions 

Current investment and initiatives will assist in local recovery from the impacts of Covid-19 and legacy issues for our local communities’ wellbeing and mental health, environmentally and economically. 

The Heritage Coast Partnership’s Management Plan will continue to guide the work of the partnership with the Business Plan providing direction for project development, resourcing and delivery.

Welfare Crescent garage site scheduled for demolition next week

Last month I published an article updating on believe housing’s plans to demolish the disused and derelict garages at the Welfare Crescent garage site (please see post dated Tuesday 27 October 2020 for full background details).

I‘ve received notification this morning that the planning application seeking consent to demolish the two detached garage blocks has been approved and confirmation that demolition work is scheduled to commence next week. I’ve published full details below:

RE: Demolition of Domestic Garage Blocks at 2no. Detached Garage Blocks, Welfare Crescent, Blackhall Colliery, TS27 4LU

In accordance with Section 81 of The Building Act 1984, I must notify you that demolition works at the above property has been approved and the contact for the demolition is listed below:

Durham County Council

Asbestos Management St Johns Road

Meadowfield

Durham

DH7 8XQ

Tel: 03000 261237

The expected day of commencement is 23rd November 2020.

New Covid-19 business grants available

Last week I published details of grants available to businesses affected by the current Covid-19 lockdown arrangements (please see post dated Sunday 8 November 2020 for background details).

The council has now issued a press release promoting details of the latest round of government grants available to eligible businesses:

New grants for businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions

 

Eligible businesses affected by local and national coronavirus restrictions are being encouraged to apply for the latest round of Government grants

 

Following the recent publication of a number of new Government grants, Durham County Council is contacting businesses that may be eligible for funding across the county to highlight the support available. A page has also been created on the council’s website – www.durham.gov.uk/covid19businessgrants - where business owners can find out about the funding and the eligibility criteria, as well as applying for one or more grants online.

 

The new grants are:

 

• The Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open): This is for businesses affected by restrictions on socialising between 18 September and 4 November. Businesses that remained open but were severely impacted by the Tier 2 restrictions introduced in the North East on 18 September may be eligible for a grant of up to £3,675 for the period up to the start of the national lockdown on 5 November. The support is specifically aimed at the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors, including hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, sports and leisure centres, local community buildings and charity shops. It also covers the supply chain to these businesses, such as food suppliers to restaurants and hotels. It does not cover businesses associated with personal care, such as hairdressers or tattooists, general retail businesses and garden centres, and businesses that operate from home, with the exception of registered bed and breakfasts

• The Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed): This is for businesses impacted by the national lockdown between 5 November and 2 December. Businesses that are required to close their main services in accordance with Government requirements during this period are eligible for a grant of up to £3,000. Businesses may also be eligible if the main part of their operation is closed but they are offering new services, such as ‘click and collect’ or takeaways. Suppliers to these businesses may also be eligible. This scheme is not open to businesses that can remain open but have chosen to close or those that operate from home, with the exception of registered bed and breakfasts. AirBnBs are also not eligible.

• The Local Restriction Support Grant (Sector): This is for businesses that have not been allowed to re-open since 23 March, such as nightclubs. Grants of up to £3,000 are available for four-week periods starting on 1 November 2020. It is not possible for these payments to be back dated.

Earlier this year, the council was among the fastest local authorities in the country to administer the first round of Government grants, with more than £104 million paid to more than 9,500 businesses across the county. A number of businesses praised the council for working with them to establish a simple claims process, which the local authority has sought to replicate this time, as well as continuing to provide quick, efficient support. Having only received clarification on a number of matters on Monday evening this week the council has again sought to make these schemes available as quickly as possible.

As well as the latest national grants, the council and other North East organisations are offering a range of support programmes for businesses. To find out more, visit www.businessdurham.co.uk/covid-19-recovery/covid-recovery-for-businesses Advice and information about support for tourism businesses is available at www.visitcountydurham.org/covid-19  

Speed visor installations recommended for Blackhall Colliery and Blackhall Rocks

Earlier this year I published an article on this site about residents reporting incidents of vehicles exceeding the speed limit when coming into built-up residential areas along the A1086 at both Blackhall Rocks and Blackhall Colliery (please see post dated Wednesday 5 August 2020 for background details). 

The results from speed surveys carried out at Blackhall Rocks earlier in the year by Durham police proved inconclusive, so in seeking to address the concerns of residents I met on site with the parish clerk and the senior traffic asset officer from county hall to consider installing speed visors at both approach points to the village along the A1086 Coast Road.

Following last week’s site meeting a recommendation has been made to install a speed visor near to the mid-point on the western side of Broad Road, Blackhall Rocks and also to install a second speed visor next to the Methodist chapel on Middle Street in Blackhall Colliery. Located at these places speed visors would comply with regulatory guidelines on positioning and would also be immediately visible to vehicles at both the northern and southern approaches to the village. However this is simply a recommendation at this stage and will be subject to funding arrangements and the support of residents at both recommended locations.

In addition, for some time I’ve been working alongside the parish clerk and parish council members from Castle Eden who are seeking to install a speed visor on the B1281 between the Memorial junction and The Village at Castle Eden. Funding for this scheme has been secured by the parish council and both county councillors and a site meeting will take place with highways officers next week to agree a suitable location for the visor. 

Finally, following concerns expressed by residents at Crimdon I am continuing to liaise with highways officers to find a suitable way to deal with reported incidents of speeding vehicles on the A1086 Coast Road. Again, initial conclusions from a vehicle monitoring exercise carried out by the council and Durham police proved inconclusive and I’m told by the police traffic management officer and highways traffic asset engineers that physical speed restrictions or speed limit reductions are deemed unsuitable for a stretch of road of this nature. I will publish further details in due course.

I’ll update on progress with the speed visor schemes as soon as there are further developments.

Highway works at High Hesleden

I've received notification from the network management section at county hall that highway resurfacing works are scheduled to take place on Saturday 28 November to a 755m stretch of Mickle Hill Road at the western approach to High Hesleden. I've published full details below:

C81 Mickle Hill Road, Hesleden Temporary Road Closure Order 

An Order is being made under the provisions of Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which will be to close to vehicular traffic from 7.00 am on Saturday 28 November 2020 a 755 metre length of C81 Mickle Hill Road between its junctions with Weyms Farm and the Unc 28.18 road leading to Monk Hesleden, High Hesleden. 

 
The closure is necessary to enable carriageway patching repair works to be undertaken which will probably take some 1 day to complete to be carried out to that length of road.
 
Throughout the period of closure an alternative route will be available to vehicular traffic from the western side of the closure from the C82 / Unc 28.16 junction, north onto B1281 then easterly to Blackhall Colliery then south easterly on A1086 then westerly on C81 Mickle Hill Road High Hesleden and the junction with Unc 29.3 Fillpoke Lane to the eastern side of the closure, and vice versa

Bridleway and beach access issues at Crimdon

I was contacted over the weekend by someone reporting that access to a bridleway at Crimdon had been blocked by barriers. I contacted the county council’s public rights of way officer first thing this morning to ask for this report to be followed up. Later the same morning the officer got back to me to confirm that the barriers had been removed and that there was now unrestricted access to the bridleway.

Last week I published an article about reported problems with access to the beach at Crimdon (please see post dated Monday 2 November 2020 for background details). 

I raised concerns with officers from the heritage coast and the coast and countryside sections and asked for options to be considered in improving access at two separate points. Their initial response pointed to a couple of land ownership and maintenance responsibility matters:

The issues lie with the boundary between different DCC departments in terms of responsibility, particularly on the Northern access point off the car park nearer the caravan park. We will however assess what needs doing, and progress this asap either with our own contractors or our Clean and Green colleagues.

I have now received confirmation that a scheme to improve access has been costed. I’m told that works are scheduled to be carried out at the earliest opportunity and I’ll update on progress as soon as I have additional information from the countryside ranger team.

Support for businesses and residents in County Durham during lockdown

Please note below details of help available for people and businesses during the current Covid-19 lockdown arrangements:

Support for County Durham residents and businesses

 

Help and support remains available for people and businesses in County Durham during the current lockdown period.

 

Durham County Council is seeking to reassure people that support is at hand for those who are impacted by the lockdown, particularly those who need support to access essential supplies, or need support about money, housing, health or employment due to coronavirus or those in need of business support.

 

People are advised to seek help from friends, family and neighbours where possible, but anyone in need of extra support can find a list of local support groups on the council’s website at www.durhamlocate.org.uk

 

If anyone is unable to find the support needed from these sources, please complete an enquiry form at www.durham.gov.uk/covid19help. These enquiries will be directed to County Durham Together, the virtual community hub. The hub can support people to access food supplies such as online shopping, or put people in touch with local organisations that can help. For anyone feeling lonely or isolated the hub can also support people to access groups or the Chat Together service. Alternatively, residents can contact the hub directly by emailing help@durham.gov.uk or calling 03000 260 260.

 

People may also be interested in helping to share key messages in their communities – if so they could become a Covid 19 community champion – those interested should email covidcommunitychampions@durham.gov.uk

 

Help is also at hand for those who have been told to self-isolate after contracting coronavirus through the test and trace payment scheme. Anyone who has been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate, on or after 28 September 2020 either because they have tested positive for coronavirus or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, and meets the eligibility criteria, may be entitled to a £500 support payment. To find out more and to apply for a payment, go to https://www.durham.gov.uk/testandtracepayment

Businesses in County Durham which have had to close due to the new restrictions will also be able to access financial support through the Local Restrictions Support Grant Scheme, which Durham County Council will launch next week. There are separate grants available for businesses that were affected by socialising restrictions during the Tier 2 local restrictions (between 18 September and 4 November) and for businesses that have been required to close as a result of the national lockdown (between 5 November and 2 December).

 

Further assistance available from the government includes the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme; the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, which enables smaller businesses to access finance more quickly during the coronavirus outbreak; and the Future Fund, which provides government loans to UK-based companies, application deadlines have now been extended to January 31 2021.

 

The government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - also known as the Furlough scheme - will now remain open until the end of March 2021, with employees receiving 80 per cent of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500. Businesses will be able to bring furloughed employees back to work on a part time basis or furlough them full-time and will be asked to cover National Insurance and employer pension contributions.

 

Business Durham has produced a brochure outlining the support available. Find it at www.businessdurham.co.uk/covid-19-recovery/covid-recovery-for-businesses/business-support-brochure/ 

 

Other support includes:

 

• County Durham Jobs Fuse helps employers and jobseekers by promoting vacancies and providing tailored support to businesses. Individuals can also call the National Careers Service freephone number for advice on 0800 100 900 or access resources at www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk Employers can ring 0808 1963596 or email to get tailored support at  JobsFuse@educationdevelopmenttrust.com

 

• The government has introduced a Kickstart Scheme which provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment. Durham County Council is a Kickstart gateway with the potential for the creation of 200 to 260 new jobs as part of the scheme. For more information go to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme

 

• DurhamWorks is supporting unemployed young people aged 16 to 24 to secure employment by providing small businesses with a salary grant of up to £2,500. More details are at www.durhamworks.info/

 

• Employability Durham supports County Durham residents who are unemployed and over 25, to move into employment and training. For further information see www.durham.gov.uk/employability

 

• The Durham Savers Project, also run by the council, supports the financial well-being of people who live and work in County Durham. More details are available at www.durham.gov.uk/DurhamSavers