I attended a meeting of the Hesleden Restoration Community Liaison Committee earlier this week. The committee includes representatives from DRS Land Regeneration (the company operating the site), the local PCSO, officers from the planning department, the council’s countryside team, the health and safety department, an elected member from each of the two affected parish councils, a member of the Hesledens Residents’ Association and both Stacey and me as the local county councillors.
As its title suggests the committee was established to receive reports about developments on site, raise any local concerns direct with the developer and also to monitor the restoration fund which is operated for the benefit of the community using contributions from the developer.
When I raised the matter of timing at the meeting on Wednesday an update was given on a potential date for the current planning application to be put before the county council’s strategic planning committee for a decision. At the moment it looks as though May will be the earliest date for the application to be heard, although the planning officer emphasized that nothing could be confirmed at this point.
The planning officer was made aware of local frustrations about persistent delays in the application being placed before the committee for consideration. In response the officer reiterated the information he’d provided in replies to recent queries which advised that delays had been caused in the main by the complexity of the application coupled with the stringent statutory requirements of the planning process itself. However, the officer then confirmed that all the relevant material relating to the application had now been collated and the committee report was being compiled. Once completed the report would then be put before the planning committee at the earliest available slot in the committee diary.
In addition the developers confirmed that netting was due to be erected where it was most necessary to reduce the impact of any dust emissions from the site during the warmer and drier weather conditions this coming summer. This follows complaints raised by residents in several locations throughout the village about dust from the development site deposited on their homes, gardens and vehicles. It was also reported that dust and noise reports continue to be filed with the local authority’s health and safety officer, and that all readings were currently within agreed limits.
Questions were also raised about the number of wagon movements into and from the development site, and in response the planning officer confirmed that these too were within the limits agreed as conditions for the development. It was clarified on request that the total number of wagon movements taking place each day is a key planning condition, however the actual content of each vehicle’s load is not.
The council’s countryside officer responded to continuing local concerns about the amount of damage caused to footpaths, bridleways and public areas by off-road bikes and quads. Specifically it was reported that considerable damage has been caused to the Haswell to Hart Walkway. I also referred to the impact of off-roads and quads on highways and grassed areas throughout our ward, but specifically on land to the rear of East Terrace, Church Street, Eden Cottages and Hillcrest Place in Hesleden as noted on a street walkabout in the village last month: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/02/street-walkabout-in-hesleden.html Solutions to these problems are currently under consideration by the countryside wardens, the police and the Coastal ASB Forum.
I’ll update on progress as and when there are any significant developments to report. In the meantime if you have any issues you would like me to know about in relation to the pit heap development please email me at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk and I’ll raise your concerns with the appropriate authorities for their attention.
UPDATE Wednesday 29 March: The clerk to Monk Hesleden Parish Council has confirmed that the minutes of the Hesleden Restoration CLC meetings will be published on the council's website from next week. Hard copies will also be available at the Parish Office for inspection.
UPDATE Friday 31 March: The planning case officer has responded to a query I raised earlier this week on behalf of a resident concerning changes in company ownership and any potential impact this might have on the planning application:
I note the questions raised in respect of ownership and operation of the Hesleden site. It is correct that Hargreaves were the original applicant for the restoration but, as with any development, the planning permission goes with the land and not the applicant. In this case [RS] has been the land owner and operator for the duration of the development. The name of the company is not relevant to the operation of the site.
