Round-Up of Latest Issues

In case you missed them at the time I’ve rounded up a selection of just a few of the issues I’ve been dealing with over the past week or so. As ever, if there are any issues you would like me to know about please get in touch at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk 

1. Coalition wants your views on Home to School Transport arrangements:

Durham County Council’s ruling coalition cabinet is consulting on proposed changes to the council’s home to school transport arrangements.

Although framed as an opportunity to make the service ‘more efficient’ and ‘provide additional choices’ the impact of some of the proposed changes could be quite onerous for families struggling through the current cost of living crisis, and especially those families with SEND (Special Educational Needs) children. The proposals also raise concerns about the potential risk of children having to make their own way to school on foot, using travel routes that are currently deemed ‘unsafe’.

It’s vital that as many residents as possible let the coalition cabinet know what they think of their proposals, so please take a look through the detail in the consultation document and submit your response by 12 April 2023. The coalition cabinet will make a final decision later this year.

Full details here: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/03/dcc-cabinet-consultation-on-home-to.html

2. Coalition urged to come clean about the DLI museum arrangements:

Desperate for a good-news story following last weeks council meeting where they raised council tax by a record 5% the Tory-led coalition in control of Durham County Council has been reduced to issuing misleading statements about ‘reopening’ the DLI museum as a permanent home for the military collection and archives. This simply is not true.

As coalition members themselves have already admitted, the entire DLI collection and archive will be installed together in one place at the new Durham History Centre at Mount Oswald - a project commissioned by the previous Labour administration for exactly this purpose. 

Meanwhile the building where the DLI museum used to be is currently being repurposed as a high-end restaurant and art gallery at a capital cost the taxpayer of £15m and additional running costs of £600k every year.

Full details - and the facts - can be found here: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/03/tory-led-coalition-urged-to-come-clean.html

3. Coalition to raise council tax by 5%: 

On Wednesday 22 February Durham County Council members met to discuss the Tory-led Coalitions budget proposals and its plans to raise council tax by 5%.

I spoke on behalf of the Labour group in opposing the record tax hike in times of desperate financial hardship for many households across the county. Full details can be found in the article here: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/02/tory-led-coalition-hits-residents-with.html

4. Parking issues on the A1086 Coast Road: 

A resident contacted me over the weekend concerned about parked vehicles obstructing sight-lines for drivers pulling out on to the A1086 Coast Road from the side streets.

I've contacted the relevant authorities with a request that all options are considered in reducing the risk for drivers leaving the side streets to access the Coast Road: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/02/parking-on-a1086-coast-road-at.html

5. Proposed housing development at Station Town: 

Some time ago the council received a planning application from a developer seeking to build 88 new dwellings on land near to Rodridge Cottage Farm in Station Town. 

I've submitted a statement to the planning department setting out a number of issues I would like the director and chair of the planning committee to take into consideration when they make a decision on the application: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/02/update-on-local-issues-in-station-town.html

6. Footpath at Station Road, Blackhall Rocks: 

A couple of years ago, following complaints from visitors to the picnic area at Blackhall Rocks, I asked the clean and green team to cut back an overgrown pathway at the bottom of Station Road. 

A resident contacted me last week reporting that the footpath was uneven and asking if it could be resurfaced. I submitted a request to the highways department for an inspection of the path to be carried out. I've been advised since that in the opinion of the inspector the footpath isn't currently in need of repairs but will be reviewed for inclusion in a future work programme. 

Given the poor condition of the footpath I don't accept the inspector's conclusion so I'll be make arrangements for a second assessment. I'll update on progress as soon as I have a second opinion.