Earlier this week the latest in our series of regular community street walkabouts took place, this time in Station Town. Please see background details here: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/03/street-walkabout-confirmed-for-station_24.html
As the name suggests, street walkabouts are all about bringing community-based officers from a range of organisation into our communities so they can see first-hand some of the issues affecting us. It's also a great opportunity for us to meet up with residents and have a bit craic about some of the issues affecting their neighbourhood.
Although our walkabouts tend to be focused primarily on litter, fly-tipping and other environmental matters, we also took the opportunity in Station Town to look closer at a number of issues relating to derelict properties - most of them privately-owned and rented, and which have a huge impact on our communities when abandoned or left empty for long periods of time.
During Tuesday's session in Station Town we reported a few street-scene issues for repair, mainly things like potholes and damaged pavements. However, I’ve also been in touch with the council's empty homes team to ask officers to trace and contact the landlords and/or owners of a number of abandoned properties in Station Town. I've asked for an outline of what the council can realistically do in addressing local concerns about private-sector properties, and I'll publish an update as soon as I have more information from the team.**
Out of respect for neighbours and other residents I won't name any of the properties or streets, but if you need more information about any derelict or untidy property in your neighbourhood please get in touch.
Finally there was an abandoned property in the village that had been served with a PDPA (Prevention of Damage by Pests Act) notice. This mechanism gives the property owner an opportunity to tidy up the garden within a specified timeframe, and it also allows the council to step in and do the work themselves if the timescale isn't met. The PDPA notice on this particular property expires next week so the garden should be cleared shortly afterwards. A charge will then be put on the property, meaning that the council can recoup the money spent on it when the property is eventually sold.
If you have any issues you would like me or Stacey to know about in relation to this report please get in touch at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk or stacey.deinali@durham.gov.uk
Our next scheduled street walkabout is due to take place in Blackhall Colliery next month, so if you have any issues you would like to raise in advance please get in touch using the contact details shown above.
**Although local authorities can ask the owners of derelict private buildings to carry out repairs, their powers to force them to do so are limited. However, there are quite a few private owners who are prepared to take responsibility for the condition of their property - all it takes is a gentle nudge from the council. Hopefully the owners of these properties fall into the latter category.
