I published a article on this site recently setting out details of a planning application seeking an extension to the time allowed to extract spoil from the pit heap in Hesleden. Details of the planning application and a personal report from the public meeting set up by residents and held last Sunday in Hesleden WMC can be found in this link: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2022/02/hesleden-pit-heap-planning-application.html
Since the public meeting there have been enquiries from some residents about the purpose of the Community Liaison Committee (CLC) set up by the company to maintain links with local authorities, local councillors and residents themselves throughout the duration of the works.
In order to clarify the background to the CLC I’ve published below a brief outline received from the company consultant about how and why the group was established.
I intend to publish the minutes from the six meetings of the CLC held since it was established, but in the meantime please note below a brief overview of the CLC as supplied by the company consultant:
The Community Liaison Committee was established for the following reasons and the Constitution is attached below for information.
CLC was established as a best practice in order to ensure that the local community has an understanding of the working practices of the site and that the operator is made aware of any issues or concerns that the local community may have. CLC provides a forum for communication between the operator and the local community. Such a forum shall seek to address any matters relating to the carrying out of the development which may occur at an early stage and to allow the operator to update the local community in relation to site progress.
Since the establishment of the Committee the following members have attended, as detailed on the attached minutes, and I have copied in the Committee members to this email.
Robert Surtees (RS) - B&S Recycling Ltd
Paul Davies (PD) – MD2 Consulting Ltd for B&S Recycling Ltd
Chris Shields (CS) (Planning Officer) - DCC Planning Department
Mike Tweddle(MT) – DCC Safety/Compliance Officer
Neil Thompson – (NT) Parish Councillor
Lynda Wardle (LW) – Monk Hesleden Parish Council – Chairperson (CLC)
Claire Brown(CB) – Hesleden Residents Association
John Olley (JO)– DCC Countryside
Paula Metcalfe (PM) – Hesleden Primary School
Barry Turnbull (BT) – Castle Eden Parish Council
Cllr Rob Crute (RC) – County Councillor
Owen Shaw (OS) - DCC Public Rights of Way Officer
Darryl Cox (DC) - DCC Parks and Countryside
Cllr Lynn Pounder (LP) - County Councillor
Ian Goodwin (IG) - Durham PCSO
Dawn Dunn (DD) - (Headmistress – Hesleden Primary School)
Ross Carrick (RC) - DCC Countryside Ranger
Joanne Collins (JC) – Castle Eden Parish Council
John Olley (JO) – DCC Countryside Ranger
Paula Metcalfe (PM) – Hesleden Primary School
Cllr Mary Wilmer (MW) – Chair of Castle Eden Parish Council
Rev. Susan Richardson (SR) – Hesleden Methodist Church
The Committee has had 6 meetings since the commencement of the project which have been minuted.
During COVID and the imposed restrictions the meetings did not take place however as COVID restrictions have just been lifted the meetings will recommence.
During COVID we had a continuous dialogue with Cllr Rob Crute who passed on any information from the community and we are in constant dialogue with Durham County Council. Mike Tweddle (DCC Safety/Compliance Officer) undertakes regular site visits and also produces quarterly monitoring reports.
