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