Update on the council's proposal to restrict access at Park Avenue

This morning at our monthly ward surgery in Blackhall library I met with two residents’ representatives to hear about their concerns about the lockable bollards scheduled to be installed at the top and bottom of Park Avenue in Blackhall Colliery. Please see post dated Tuesday 26 April 2022 and additional links for full details: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2022/04/council-commits-to-completing-works-at.html

We spoke for quite a while about the two separate viewpoints on this development - with some residents and their families against the proposal and other residents who are very much in favour. It appears that those against the scheme oppose it because they have concerns about parking along the back lanes on either side of Park Avenue (I've raised residents' concerns about parking at this location with the council this morning). Those residents in favour of the scheme however are keen to see bollards installed because they've expressed concerns for some time about the potential risks associated with traffic using the pathway. Although there have been a few near-misses thankfully there have been no accidents or injuries to date. However I think most of us would agree with the principle that the council shouldn’t ‘wait until someone is killed’ before they do something - surely a phrase we’re all familiar with.

Whatever the divergent opinions on the current position it falls to the council to address residents' concerns about the risk of an accident. The council as the landowner has a legal duty to respond to those concerns by taking whichever measures it feels are necessary to mitigate the risk, because if it failed to do so - having been alerted to the potential dangers - they could be held liable in the event of an accident. It’s safe to say that regardless of opinion on this matter no one wants that outcome.

The pressing matter now for the council is to ensure that it’s reacting to residents' concerns proportionately by installing lockable/removable bollards in a way that doesn’t create any additional restrictions for access for emergency vehicles and other utility and maintenance vehicles.

To address this particular aspect I've asked the relevant department at county hall to provide any associated documentation - including notifications, correspondence and responses to any consultation process undertaken before the decision was made to install bollards. I’ve asked specifically for confirmation that the emergency services have been consulted on the council’s proposals and that they have no objections.

As set out above the council is the final arbiter. As the owner of the pathway they have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of everyone using it. However, it's only fair that they do so in a way that doesn't cause any unnecessary inconvenience or disruption for residents and their visitors. With that in mind it’s the responsibility of the council to take whichever measures it considers necessary - in this case installing lockable bollards to prevent illegal access - but to do so in a way that is fair and in proportion to the potential risks but also recognises the needs of all residents in Park Avenue.

Residents will soon be receiving letters from the council setting out its intentions for Park Avenue. I would urge every resident to respond to the letter, regardless of individual opinion. 

Any additional queries should be directed to the officer dealing with this matter: andrew.blanckley@durham.gov.uk

Council commits to completing works at Park Avenue

Regular followers of these pages will be aware that I've been in almost constant contact with the council's highways assets department over the past year or so pressing them to follow up on residents' requests to have bollards installed at Park Avenue to restrict access to vehicles. Please see post dated Saturday 15 January 2022 for the latest details: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2022/01/latest-update-on-reported-issues.html

Following further contact with the council last week I’ve now received confirmation from the highways office that works are scheduled to be carried out soon. Please see below for full details.

Dear Councillor Crute

Please accept my sincere apologies for the delays in responding back. Colleagues in the Traffic team are on leave and they would normally coordinate the works

The scheme at Park Avenue is currently being communicated to all residents on the estate. This week I am writing again to all residents informing that we intend installing bollards at the top and bottom of Park Avenue to deter illegal access to properties

The legal challenge from one of the neighbours was not received and this means we are progressing with this scheme and it is being scheduled for a fortnight. Once I have the actual date for the works I will let you know

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

From the response above it looks as though this programme should be brought to a conclusion sooner rather than later. However, I'll continue to press the council to respond to residents’ concerns and I'll up date on progress in due course.

Targeted Delivery Plan for Blackhall Colliery

Over the past year or so I’ve published a series of articles on these pages about a range of environmental issues in our area. In some of those articles I referred to the council’s Towns & Villages Plan - and specifically to a proposed Targeted Delivery Plan (TDP) for Blackhall Colliery which aims to target services to improve housing and the environment in a specific area. 

I’ve provided links below to the most relevant articles as a reminder:

Wednesday 10 February 2021: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2021/02/towns-and-villages-programme.html

Friday 11 February 2022: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2022/02/update-on-environmental-issues-at.html

In preparation for the TDP going ahead the council is carrying out an online survey giving residents the opportunity to shape the TDP as it progresses. I’ve published below a direct link to the consultation survey so please take a minute or two to let the council know how you would like to see the plan progress:

The consultation document can be found here: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26714/Housing-and-environmental-issues-consultation-on-working-together-to-improve-your-local-area

Household Waste Recycling Centres switch to Summertime hours

Household Waste Recycling Centres (skip sites) in County Durham have extended their opening times for the upcoming summer months. Please see full details below:

Those who are planning to use a site can check the council’s online interactive map, which is updated every hour and gives details on whether a site is open and its estimated waiting times.

Most council sites are now running on the extended hours, however opening times at individual sites may vary. From this week until the end of September, centres will be open during the following hours:

Monday to Sunday – 9am to 6pm

• Annfield Plain
• Heighington Lane, Newton Aycliffe
• Middleton-in-Teesdale
• Potterhouse Lane, Pity Me
• Romanway, Bishop Auckland
• Seaham
• Stainton Grove, Barnard Castle

• Tudhoe
• Hett Hills, Chester-le-Street

Monday to Thursday – 10am to 4pm & Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays – 9am to 6pm

• Coxhoe
• Horden
• Thornley 

For larger items, such as furniture or white goods, residents are reminded to book a collection for bulky waste. This can be done at www.durham.gov.uk/bulkywaste or by calling customer services on 03000 260 000.

Information about each site, opening times, and the interactive map can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/hwrc

Missing manhole covers on the coast at Blackhall Rocks

A resident contacted me recently to let me know that a couple of drain covers had gone missing on land near the pit pond at Blackhall Rocks.

Yesterday morning I got in touch with the county council’s countryside team who located the exposed holes, made them safe and then passed this query to the Wildlife Trust as the agency responsible for the land.

I’ve reproduced countryside team’s update below in full. Until everything is made fully safe please take extra care when at this location - or even better, avoid it altogether:

Just to give you an update on the manhole cover situation at Blackhall. After you sent the map, the Assistant Ranger on site found one of the holes and covered it with orange mesh and pins for the time being. He did inform me however that it is a considerable way down the steep bank side into Blue House Gill, so shouldn’t pose much risk to the public. 

The site ranger was going to have a look over today to see if he could locate the other one. We will have to pass this onto the Wildlife Trust, as DCC only manage to the top of the Gill and beyond that it is their land/lease. It’ll probably need passing to NWL as well, as these must be something to do with the station at the top which they monitor, so we will either do that or ask DWT to do it to try and resolve the situation asap.

The Community Action Team's update on Blackhall Colliery

About 18 months ago I published a series of articles on these pages about the council's Community Action Team and the work they intended carrying out during their latest presence in Blackhall Colliery in the summer of 2020.

I’ve reposted each of those articles in chronological order below for ease of access:

June 2020: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/06/community-action-team-and-private.html

June 2020: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/06/community-action-team-returns-to.html

July 2020: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/07/community-action-team-in-blackhall.html

August 2020: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/08/environmental-improvement-works.html

August 2020: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/08/community-action-team-environmental.html

Last week I received an update of their work carried out in Blackhall Colliery during that period and I’ve reproduced it in summary below:

The Community Action Team has recently reviewed the project we carried out in Blackhall Colliery in 2020. We carried out low-key walkabouts of the original focus areas and are collating updates about the exit strategy. Thanks to everyone for your updates so far.

Here’s a short summary of our findings and action taken:

Blackhall Colliery review walkabouts:

14 February – 9 March 2022

Original CAT areas covered

From the low-key walkabouts in Blackhall Colliery we identified 88 pieces of casework which included rubbish accumulations, fly tipping, dog fouling, drainage complaints and open to access properties.  These have now being actioned by ourselves and partners.  See breakdown below:

Total Cases logged – 88

-          61 cases recorded for CAT –  45 noxious rubbish/dog fouling accumulations in rear yards, 8 drainage issue, 7 open to access, 1 public health other

-          25 cases referred to the Wardens – inert accumulations, fly tipped bin bags, dog fouling

-          1 case referred to Clean and Green

-          1 case referred to Planning

Action:

• Contact was made with all those responsible following our walkabouts.
• We have seen improvements in the area following our actions, which is great news.
• During the walkabouts we worked with partners to ensure a caravan in the rear lane was removed
• Worked with a neighbouring team on an occupied property in poor condition
• We linked in with the Parish Council about complaints which had been raised with them.
• There was a low level of compliance with our initial letters, which led to a large number of legal notices being served.
• 86 legal notices were served on 29 issues/properties
• 41 required ‘work in default’ (on 13 issues/properties)
• One property owner was responsible for 6 of the 29 (21%) issues on which we served legal notice and he failed to comply with all of these.

Exit Strategy:

The majority of actions have been completed or are continuing as ongoing work in the area. Of note so far:

• Blackhall Colliery is a Targeted Delivery Plan area, so additional work is being proposed for the area to engage with empty homes owners. 
• 138 letters were sent out to empty home owners on 18 February by the Empty Homes team. As of last week, there had been 67 responses either by way of returned empty property questionnaire or owners calling the office directly.
• Officers are looking to start monthly/bi-monthly walkabouts back up again with Councillors soon. Hopefully joining up work officers are looking at for the area too.
• A week of action took place at the start of February, which included waste carrier checks.
• Planned works to ‘Chicken’s Green and the trees in the den area were carried out.
• Selective Licensing goes live on 1 April 2020. The application process was open for landlords to apply prior to the start date. 1200 applications have already been received across County Durham.
• The private initiatives team have and ongoing log of landlords who are of concern. Selective Licensing are actively using this log.