Hesleden Pit Heap: Additional issues raised with planning officers

A couple of weeks ago Stacey and I, along with the parish clerk and residents from Hesleden, met in county hall with officers from the council’s planning and legal teams. The purpose of the meeting was to clarify a few issues around the current status of the planning process relating to the former pit heap site in Hesleden. At the meeting we were given an assurance that officers would supply a written summary of the issues discussed and we received that summary last week (please see below).

Shortly after our meeting in county hall the parish council covered this issue at their monthly meeting and resolved to do whatever it is able to address residents’ concerns about delays to the planning appeals process (which is currently being dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate, a national office which is entirely independent of the local planning authority). Consequently I met last week with the parish clerk to look at how we can make progress in the campaign to bring this ongoing planning issue to a satisfactory conclusion on behalf of residents directly affected by ongoing works on site.

The first issue covered was to determine a way forward that would meet the aims of the parish council’s intervention. To this end it was suggested that a parallel approach would be the most effective way of making progress. This approach would include on the one hand urging residents to continue reporting potential breaches of planning conditions (ie, vehicle timings and frequencies) to the council’s planning and environmental health departments, while at the same time focusing on the opportunity presented by the planning appeals process to address residents’ concerns about the wider health impact of ongoing development at the site.

With this in mind it was agreed that the parish clerk would seek further clarification on one or two issues arising from the council’s update from the meeting held recently in county hall. In adopting this approach it is intended to make progress with delays in the planning appeals system, whilst at the same time building up an evidence base of planning condition breaches by the company - something that would be helpful when the appeal eventually comes to a hearing under the Planning Inspectorate.

I’ve published below the transcript of the planning department’s account of our meeting held in county earlier this month. The parish clerk has requested clarity on a few issues arising from the officer’s account, particularly relating to dust monitoring, and an update will be given in due course.

Morning Rob,

As promised at the conclusion of our meeting in County Hall a couple of weeks ago please see below a note on this site. I hope it covers the issues I promised to get back to you, Stacey and Lynda on at the meeting and pick up on the points below.

Site Monitoring

Under the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) Regulations 2012, planning authorities can charge for a maximum of 8 site visits for monitoring site operations within any 12 month period where the site is operational, or one visit in other circumstances.   Additional site visits may be undertaken but they cannot be charged.

The site has been monitored for compliance with planning conditions on a quarterly basis since September 2017 by the Council’s Monitoring Officer and reports produced following those visits.  In addition, there have been additional visits as and when required and in response to planning enforcement complaints from residents.  In total there have been 42 visits to the site, a number significantly higher than I would expect for a site of this size.

There have been a number of enforcement complaints which have been investigated and where there have been issues, they are raised with the site operator.   A number of complaints when investigated found that there had not been a breach of planning control, and these are recorded.

When investigating noise and dust complaints monitoring information is requested from the site operator who employs a specialist independent company to undertake that task which is normal practice.  The results are then considered by Council Officers.  Noise and dust monitoring is taking place as required and the results have been acceptable and as such have not necessitated the Council undertaking its own monitoring.  Notwithstanding this, it should be noted that Council Officers have undertaken their own noise monitoring on three occasions in 2018/2020 and 2022.  On each occasion the site was compliant with the noise levels set out in the relevant planning condition.  On one occasion there was an issue with a bearing on a piece of machinery and although the noise levels were compliant the noise of the bearing could be heard.  Further monitoring is intended to be undertaken within the next few weeks.

Residents consider a dust monitor should be provided at Gray Avenue and this was also raised last year.  At that time Council Officers met with the site operator on site to discuss this possibility.  Due to concerns raised by the operator regarding a suitable location and potential mishandling of the equipment, it was agreed that an extra dust monitor halfway along the access track would be installed.  Officers agreed that this seemed to be the most practical solution as it allows an extra dust monitoring location to be provided between the site and Gray Avenue.  Readings provided by this monitor have not shown high dust levels.

Officers have not undertaken dust monitoring and for this to take place a statutory nuisance complaint would need to be made to the Environmental Health arm of the Council.  Details of how to make a complaint are available to view on the Council’s website at https://www.durham.gov.uk/pollution  In order to assist our Environmental Health colleagues we have fully briefed them on the issues and sent them copies of the complaints received by the planning team. I have copied in Mark Anslow, who heads up this part of the Environmental Health Team and Mark would be happy to discuss further with residents and/or yourself.

Council Officers will continue to monitor the site on a regular basis and review the noise and dust results provided by the site operator.  In addition, we will undertake our own noise monitoring periodically.

Enforcement Notice

Officers are reviewing the restoration and will be going back to the site operator with comments.  Once the scheme is acceptable to the Council has been submitted a new Enforcement Notice will be issued. This work is receiving priority attention in our Minerals and Waste Team.

Vehicle numbers

Comments were made regarding the vehicle movements and routes, and it was queried why there were no limits on vehicle numbers and size.  This is a matter that was considered at the time of the application and through Condition 10 of Planning Permission No. DM/19/02315/VOCMW there is a restriction on the number of heavy goods vehicles.   This being:

The total number of heavy goods vehicles entering and leaving the site shall not exceed 44 (22 in and 22 out) per operational day Monday to Friday and 22 (11 in and 11 out) on Saturdays. A record of all heavy goods vehicles leaving the site shall be maintained by the operator and a certified copy of this record shall be afforded to the Mineral Planning Authority within 2 working days of such a request.  

Enforcement Notice Update

The Council is in receipt of the proposed restoration scheme and will be going back to the developer with comments within the next week.  This will require an updated scheme to be produced.  You will appreciate that we need to be satisfied with the scheme before a new Enforcement Notice is served.

Appeal

If an appeal is made against the new Enforcement Notice, comments will need to be sent to the Planning Inspectorate.  If residents want to resubmit the same representations, that is their decision.  They can contact the Planning Inspectorate directly should they have any queries regarding making representations.  Details of how to contact the Planning Inspectorate can be found at Planning Inspectorate - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . Once the Planning Inspectorate validate the appeal against the refusal of planning permission we will send them all the representations that residents made in relation to the planning application.

It was queried if the Council could ask the Planning Inspectorate to speed up the appeal process, unfortunately the Council has no influence on the Inspectorates timescales. However I will write to the Inspectorate to appraise them of the background to the matter and to request any appeal is dealt with swiftly.

Operator

The person referred to in the press article is the site operator.  Officers have undertaken regular monitoring of the site and have not reported any concerns or suspicions that waste is or has been deposited.

Hesleden Pit Heap: Planning Inspectorate receives appeal notification

Stacey and I received confirmation last night that Durham County Council has been notified by the Planning Inspectorate that the owner/operator of the former pit heap site in Hesleden has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the Council's decision last year to refuse planning permission for works to continue**

Full details are reproduced below:

29th May 2024 

Dear Sir/Madam 

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended) SECTION 78 – NOTIFICATION OF PLANNING APPEAL 

Application reference: DM/22/00010/MIN 

Appeal reference: APP/X1355/W/24/3340343 

Name of appellant: Mr Robert Surtees 

Site: Former Colliery Spoil Heap Hesleden TS27 4PN 

Proposed development: Continued restoration of colliery spoil heap, including extraction, processing and export of combustible material, limestone and sand for a period of 10 years 

Appeal Start Date: 24 May 2024 

The Local Planning Authority has received notification that the above named appellant has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the Local Planning Authority’s decision to refuse planning permission. The appellant has requested that the appeal be dealt with by the hearing procedure. I will write to you again to confirm the date, time and location of the hearing. 

Any representations previously made to the Local Planning Authority prior to the planning application being decided, will be sent to the Inspectorate. These representations will be considered by the Inspector when determining the appeal unless, within 28 days of the starting date, the authority or person who made the representations asks the Inspector to disregard them. 

Any new representations that you would like to make in relation to this appeal should be made online via https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ or in writing, quoting the appeal reference above, and forwarded directly to the Planning Inspectorate at the address given. 

Representations should be received by the Inspectorate within 5 weeks of the ‘Appeal Start Date’ given above. If responding in writing it is important that 3 copies of your representations are sent to the Inspectorate. Any representations received after the deadline will not normally be seen by the Inspector and will be returned. The Planning Inspectorate will not acknowledge representations but will ensure that letters received by the deadline are passed to the Inspector dealing with the appeal. 

The Planning Inspectorate 3/01B Temple Quay House 2 The Square Temple Quay Bristol BS1 6PN 

The appeal documents are available for viewing online at: http://publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online-applications/

For further advice on taking part in the appeal process please go to: Taking part in a planning, listed building or enforcement appeal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The decision will be published on https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/

**Background details to how and why the council refused the planning application last September can be found in this link: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/09/hesleden-community-stands-together-as.html

Update on road safety measures on the B1281 in Blackhall Colliery

Following contact from residents over the past two years I raised additional concerns recently with the council's highways department about motorists deliberately driving on the wrong side of the road when passing through the new roundabout on the B1281 in Blackhall Colliery. 

I've also forwarded residents' reports of vehicles exceeding the speed limit when passing through the roundabout to the police for their attention, with one report suggesting that drivers are attempting to negotiate the roundabout at speeds of at least 60mph.

In response the council has provided an update on works carried out recently by the developer:

Further to [previous correspondence] I have now had some feedback from other officers and the developer themselves.

Issues relating to traffic speed, inter alia, have been address previously and, rather than reiterate, I have attached my previous comments** 

I am advised that the lighting works should be finished imminently, perhaps as early as today, and that some associated landscaping work should be completed shortly thereafter.

One of the issues raised in the Road Safety Audit was relating to the signage approaching the roundabouts, including its size and conspicuousness, again this is referenced in the [previous comments].

Following clarification by our Traffic Assets officers the developer has been asked to increase the size of the signage and relocate to accord with DfT guidelines.

I am pleased to advise that they have agreed to this and will action at the earliest opportunity.

Hopefully, this will conclude matters, not only in terms of construction but also in alerting motorists to the presence of the roundabout, although I should add that the driving behaviour of some motorists is something that cannot be mitigated against however hard we try.

I hope the above answers your enquiries, however, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need further clarification/advice.

**These comments were included in a previous article published on these pages on Thursday 16 November 2023: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/11/highways-inspectors-update-on-concerns.html

Update from the latest Blackhall PACT meeting - and a proposed PACT meeting for Hesleden

There was a busy agenda and a great turnout by residents last Wednesday evening at the latest Blackhall PACT (Police & Communities Together) meeting held at the Parish Offices in Middle Street.

The main issue reported on the night related to an ongoing incident of anti-social behaviour in Blackhall Rocks. The police and neighbourhood wardens in attendance gave updates on progress with measures already taken and proposed to deal with this issue.

In addition it was reported by residents that issues of waste dumped on the road and fields at Deneholme in Blackhall Colliery had now been addressed after wardens and police had intervened.

In addition, an update on plans to install safety bollards along Middle Street had already been reported to a meeting of the parish Environment Committee meeting held in the Parish Offices immediately before the PACT meeting. The bollards are intended to prevent vehicles driving into the public footpath when parking outside the shops. Full details can be found here: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/05/safe-parking-scheme-for-middle-street.html?m=1

Following the PACT meeting I asked the police and PCSO if it would be possible to hold a separate PACT meeting in Hesleden at some point in the near future - something that had been raised at a meeting of the Hesledens Residents’ Association (HRA) committee I’d attended the night before the Blackhall PACT meeting. 

The police have agreed to make arrangements for a PACT meeting to be held in Hesleden WMC when duty rosters are aligned, perhaps immediately before a forthcoming meeting of the HRA. It’s proposed that this would be an initial session which could be developed into a series of regular PACT meetings if residents fell it would be helpful. I’ll update on progress on this item as soon as arrangemnets have been made. 

In the meantime, if you have any issues you would like Stacey and I to know about please continue to get in touch with us at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk or stacey.deinali@durham.gov.uk

Planning proposal to erect two dwellings on Front Street in Hesleden

I've received advance notification this afternoon of a planning application submitted to the council seeking permission to demolish the Methodist chapel in Front Street in Hesleden and replace it with two dwellings.

The application will soon be published in full on the council's planning portal where residents and other interested parties will be able to submit their comments as part of a statutory period of consultation.

In the meantime I've published details below of the notification received from the council:

The following application has been received in your Electoral Division. Further details including the link to the application are contained in the attached documents.

Application No:  DM/24/00902/FPA

Proposal:  Demolition of existing vacant building and erection of 2no. dwellings

Address:  Methodist Church Front Street Hesleden Hartlepool TS27 4PH

If you would like to make any comments on this application please go to the council’s planning portal and copy the application number DM/24/00902/FPA into the search engine at the bottom of the page. Simple Search (durham.gov.uk)

Request for investigation into use of the Hesleden pit heap site

I’ve written to the head of the planning department this morning to ask for an update on the council’s intention to issue an additional enforcement notice against the company currently operating on the site of the former pit heap in Hesleden. This is of pressing urgency to the community given that works are ongoing on site, despite the council’s planning committee refusing consent last year for works to continue.

In addition on behalf both county council members I’ve raised our concerns about the owner of the company working on the site who has received a significant fine at Durham Crown Court after he was found guilty of disposing of waste illegally. Although proof could not be provided to the court our concern is that the site in Hesleden may have been used illegally as a tipping site for waste collected elsewhere.

Stacey and I have asked the council if they would be prepared to carry out its own investigation into this matter to determine exactly what is happening on the site in Hesleden. If no one can be certain what is actually coming into and out of the site there’s no way to be sure that residents are kept safe from harm and environmental damage. 

From some of the contact we’ve had with residents in Hesleden over the years it would appear that emissions from the site are causing harm to the community - and it was for this reason that the planning committee refused consent last year for works to continue. The community deserves answers and an assurance that they’re safe from contamination.

This is the link to the article https://www.gov.uk/government/news/county-durham-man-fined-for-illegal-waste-transportation and I’ve reproduced my correspondence to the council’s planning department here:

Good morning, 

Given the council has been in receipt of the revised restoration scheme for the site of the former pit heap in Hesleden for some weeks now so could you give me an update please on the council's opinion of the scheme, and also on the council's stated intention to issue an enforcement notice on the company without unnecessary delay. 

Incidentally, there was an article on a government website recently reporting on a court case in which it was alleged that illegal waste disposal was carried out by the owner of B&S Recycling. The owner of the company received a significant fine for the activity.

It goes without saying that I have real concerns about any associated owner/company working on a site in a local village in my division. Although there's no proof currently that the Hesleden site was one of those where illegal tipping or removal took place there is no proof that it didn't. Either way, there's surely no denying that serious reputational damage has been caused to B&S Recycling and/or the company's owner Robert Surtees who is named in the article. 

I believe this reported illegal activity warrants further investigation by the local authority to determine the nature and type of material being removed (or deposited) by the company. It would also warrant much closer monitoring of the site and the vehicles removing materials from the site. Until those factors are determined beyond doubt we cannot possibly be sure that our communities are safe and protected from harm. 

Would it be possible to get an indication of the planning section's view of this activity please, and also the impact it might have in terms of the enforcement notice to be issued by the council. 

Regards, 

Rob. 

Cllr Rob Crute (Blackhall Division)

Deputy Leader of the Labour Group

Durham County Council

Monthly Round-up of local issues - April 2024

Once again last month was another busy one in and around the villages of the Blackhall area.

Repairs to the public footpath on the B1281 between Blackhall Colliery and Hesleden, a planning appeal update at Hesleden Pit Heap, reporting flood and drainage issues across our patch after exceptionally heavy rainfall and a council consultation on parking charges at Crimdon.

These are just a few of the local issues I've been dealing with over the past few weeks. Please follow the individual links below for full details and current updates:

Resolving drainage issues at Crimdon: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/03/latest-update-on-land-drainage-issue-at.html

B1281 footpath repairs completed: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/footpath-repairs-on-b1281-between.html

Heavy rainfall and flooding: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/prolonged-heavy-rainfall-causes-several.html

Report from the Blackhall PACT meeting: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/update-from-blackhall-pact-meeting-for.html

Hesleden planning appeal update: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/hesleden-pit-heap-planning-enforcement.html

Priority signage on High Hesleden chicanes: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/priority-signs-on-high-hesleden-chicanes.html

Hesleden Pit Heap appeal - latest update: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/latest-developments-on-hesleden-pit.html

Company to address flooding incidents on B1281: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/company-preparing-to-address-water.html

Mayoral candidate Kim supports our Hesleden Pit Heap campaign: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/kim-mcguinness-pledges-support-for-our.html

Coalition urged to come clean on Crimdon parking charges: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/05/council-to-open-formal-public.html?m=1

Fence and barrier repair delays: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/update-on-delayed-fence-and-barrier.html

Safe parking scheme for Middle Street, Blackhall Colliery

I've received confirmation today that bollards are scheduled to be installed along Middle Street soon to prevent vehicles pulling into the public footpath when parking. The scheme will be subject to consultation with businesses and shop owners in the affected area. Background details can be found in an article published on this site in October last year: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2023/10/revised-safe-parking-scheme-for.html

From the article shown in the link above you'll see it's taken quite a long time to get to this point, with some pitfalls along the way. Unavoidably the original plans were put on hold during the lockdown period a couple of years ago. The funding stream for the scheme was then abandoned after the Towns & Villages (T&V) programme was suspended shortly after the coalition took control of the council. Finally, once the T&V programme was reinstated a revised scheme, intended to prevent parking altogether outside the shops on Middle Street, was scrapped after some shop owners expressed concerns that the scheme might have an adverse impact on their businesses. 

So you can see that what started originally as a problem of parked cars restricting access to the shops soon developed into a wider safety concern where drivers were pulling onto the public footpath when trying to straighten their vehicles whilst parking. Clearly this posed a risk to pedestrians and other road users, and there have been several reports of near-misses caused by this dangerous practice. With that in mind a 'safety-first' scheme aimed at preventing vehicles trespassing onto the public footpath became the overriding priority, rather than simply addressing concerns about illegally parked cars. 

In addition to the bollards increased patrols by the parking enforcement team will be an integral part of the new scheme and drivers who don't qualify for parking in restricted areas will be directed to on-street parking in nearby streets or to the public parking area at Blackhall Community Centre.

Although the original intention was to install an aesthetically pleasing scheme which would limit parking outside the shops the ultimate aim of the final scheme will be to prevent dangerous driving practices, and thereby protect pedestrians from cars driving into and along the public footpath.

I'll update on progress as soon as the scheme has been endorsed or otherwise by businesses and shop owners on Middle Street. In the meantime please make every effort to park with consideration for pedestrians and other road users if you need to park at this location.  

Roadworks on the B1281 in Blackhall Colliery scheduled for next week

The Durham County Council website has indicated that traffic lights will be in operation next week on the B1281 in Blackhall Colliery to allow for roadworks associated with the new development. 

I'll post additional information about the timing of the works as soon as I receive it, but in the meantime I've published below all known details:

B1281, Hesleden Road Junction to A1086 Coast Road Junction, Blackhall Colliery

Monday 13 May - Friday 17 May 2024

Works associated to new development using multi-way traffic signals

Blackhall Banner Group Fundraiser

I think it’s fair to say that everyone who came along to Blackhall Navy Club on Saturday had a great time helping the Blackhall Banner Group raise funds for a brass band to accompany the banner into Durham at this year’s Miners' Gala.

There was a fantastic turnout from the Blackhall and Hesleden communities, along with many others from neighbouring towns and villages who came along to give their support. It was great to see that so many groups and individuals still treasure the shared culture, history and heritage of our pit villages.

The brilliant local talent Jonny and Joanie provided the entertainment in two sets in between the raffle and quiz, alongside a buffet.

We raised a fantastic total on the day of £935 of which every penny goes towards funding for the band and to provide subsidised transport to the Big Meeting. The funding raised breaks down like this:

£301 Raffle

£100 Football card

£300 Just Giving page

£174 Ticket sales

£60 Donations on the day

We are touched that so many people took part in our event, and we are truly grateful for the generous donations on Just Giving by those people who couldn’t come along on the day. You can still donate if you so wish by going to the link in comments.

Our thanks for contributing raffle prizes go to the Hardwicke Hall Manor Hotel, Sarah Bell, Simply Beautiful by Beth, Monk Hesleden Parish Council, Star Bakes, Rob Bowes, Kat's Avon Sales, Karen Jenson and individual members of the Blackhall Banner Group committee. Your support and generosity is so much appreciated!

Hesleden planning appeal update (DRAFT)

I published an article on these pages recently giving an update on developments with the Hesleden pit heap planning appeal process, and highlighting a few issues arising from a meeting Stacey and I held with planning officers a couple of weeks ago. 

As I mentioned in the article we arranged a follow up meeting to include representatives from the Hesledens Residents' Association and from the parish council with the intention of clarifying a few outstanding issues and raising any additional concerns on behalf of the community. That meeting took place in county hall earlier today and I’ve highlighted below the main points raised with the head of planning and an officer from the council's legal department. 

Given some remaining confusion in the community about the role the council, as the local planning authority, would play throughout the appeal process I asked the officers present to clarify the position they have adopted since the planning application seeking permission to continue extraction works on site was refused by the planning committee last September. In response the head of planning confirmed that the council was fully behind the decision made by the planning committee to do whatever it was able to bring extraction works on site to an end. This position is fully aligned with the wishes of planning committee members, the residents of Hesleden and both Stacey and I as the two local county councillors.

An update was then given on the current status of the planning appeal process and the council's enforcement notice issued to the company last year. Following legal negotiations the council has withdrawn the original notice and the company has agreed to produce a workable site restoration scheme which will be used to restore the site to an acceptable condition when works come to an end. Once the enforcement notice is issued however the company would still hold the right to appeal to the national Planning Inspectorate (PINS) against the notice within a 28-day period. Although this isn't want we want to see happen it is a legal right for the company, and is something beyond the control of the council.

We also asked officers for clarification on the routes that wagons are meant to use when coming into and going out of the village. The council has agreed to check on this point and take the necessary action if the company doesn’t comply with the agreed routes.

In addition we raised concerns about the impact on the community of ongoing extraction works, and we referred specifically to unacceptable dust and limestone emissions which continue to have a damaging effect on public health - something that planning committee members referred to last September when they refused consent for works to continue. We were told in response that the council carries out regular site inspections to gauge the level of noise and dust emissions and that this information is logged and acted upon if certain safety levels appear to be breached. In response to our request to install dust monitors closer to the site the council agreed to contact the relevant officers to see if this could be done. 

Clearly it's important that if the council is to provide robust evidence to the inspector about the effect of extraction works on public health it needs to ensure much more accurate detection rates closer to the site, especially in Gray Avenue where residents have reported that fish have been poisoned by limestone emissions. In building up that evidence base the council’s offer to follow up on our request for additional monitoring equipment was welcomed by us as local members and the residents in attendance.

Finally the council has assured us that there will be no time wasted in pursuing an acceptable outcome on behalf of the community. Given that this development has dragged on far longer than anyone expected, and with a much graver impact on the community than expected, we think it's vital that the council is ready to submit the enforcement notice as soon as the company's revised restoration plan is received and accepted by the council. We have been given an assurance today that the council fully understands the concerns of the community and that they will take timely action without unnecessary delay.

We will continue to monitor developments with the council's forthcoming enforcement notice and also progress as it progresses through the planning appeal process if the company opts to appeal against the notice.    

Coalition urged to come clean about its Crimdon parking charge fiasco

Last week I published an article on these pages promoting a consultation on the council's plans to introduce parking charges at Crimdon. A map was included in the post indicating where the council intended to introduce parking charges, and critically, where they were proposing to leave parking free to visitors.

The map circulated by the council last week clearly shows just a small section of parking bays recommended for charges, and the key attached confirms this as the only location where parking charges are proposed. Nowhere in the plan is there any indication of proposed parking charges elsewhere. 

However, I've found out today that the plan was incorrect and had been circulated in error.

By way of an update on latest developments I’ve had a conversation this afternoon with an officer who only now has told me that at this stage the proposals circulated are for consultation with transport and emergency service teams only, with the intention of holding a public consultation exercise afterwards. In that regard the proposals remain just that for the time being.

In addition, the council has admitted that the plan circulated last week was inaccurate and misleading in that it does not actually show where they were proposing to introduce parking charges. As you can see from the key in the attached image the plan indicates that the council was proposing parking charges at a small section at the northern edge only, and nowhere else.

Personally I find it astonishing that the council has circulated incorrect information on its proposals, and I know that our residents feel duped and let down after being led to believe that the Coalition running the council had dropped its damaging plans to introduce parking charges at Crimdon, something that as local members Stacey and I have campaigned against from the start.

There have been a lot of misleading and confusing communications recently, including proposed highway repairs at Castle Eden and the pit heap appeal process at Hesleden, so I think it’s vital that the Coalition comes clean with the public about what they really propose to do at Crimdon. 

As things stand I have real misgivings about the way that DCC, under Coalition control, communicates with the public and local members so I've urged them to be absolutely clear in any further communications on this matter. Only when members of the public are made fully aware of the council's real intentions can they properly raise their concerns or make their comments.

PLEASE NOTE: it is vital that as many people as possible respond to the consultation as soon as it’s announced. In the meantime there are contact details for the council shown in the article published on these pages on Friday 26 April.

Monthly roundup of local issues for April 2024

Once again last month was another busy one in and around the villages of the Blackhall area. 

Repairs to the public footpath on the B1281 between Blackhall Colliery and Hesleden, a planning appeal update at Hesleden Pit Heap, reporting flood and drainage issues across our patch after exceptionally heavy rainfall and a council consultation on parking charges at Crimdon.

These are just a few of the local issues I've been dealing with over the past few weeks. Please follow the individual links below for full details and current updates:

Resolving drainage issues at Crimdon: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/03/latest-update-on-land-drainage-issue-at.html

B1281 footpath repairs completed: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/footpath-repairs-on-b1281-between.html

Heavy rainfall and flooding: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/prolonged-heavy-rainfall-causes-several.html

Report from the Blackhall PACT meeting: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/update-from-blackhall-pact-meeting-for.html

Hesleden planning appeal update: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/hesleden-pit-heap-planning-enforcement.html

Priority signage on High Hesleden chicanes: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/priority-signs-on-high-hesleden-chicanes.html

Hesleden Pit Heap appeal - latest update: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/latest-developments-on-hesleden-pit.html

Company to address flooding incidents on B1281: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/company-preparing-to-address-water.html

Mayoral candidate Kim supports our Hesleden Pit Heap campaign: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/kim-mcguinness-pledges-support-for-our.html

Coalition urged to come clean on Crimdon parking charges: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/05/council-to-open-formal-public.html?m=1

Fence and barrier repair delays: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2024/04/update-on-delayed-fence-and-barrier.html