Clearance works on land behind the Esso service station in Blackhall

I've been contacted this afternoon by residents wondering why the land behind the Esso service station on the Coast Road in Blackhall was being cleared. Rumours had been circulating that the land was being prepared for development works, but when I've checked with the head of the planning section this evening they've confirmed that they have no record of any planning approval for development works at this location. I'm told that the head of planning has asked the enforcement team to carry out an investigation into this development to determine what's going on. I'll update on any significant developments on this case as soon as I have more information from the planning team.

On a more positive note however, the vacant land between the side of the service station and Coronation Avenue has now been cleared. I'd raised concerns on behalf of residents last year after a wall along the curtilage of the site had fallen into the roadway - presumably forced into collapse by the overgrown trees and bushes pressing against it. For full background details please follow this link: Progress on repairing a collapsed wall at Coronation Avenue

Reform UK supports Tory-led Coalition to hike Council Tax

Yesterday in county hall a full meeting of the county council was held for the authority to agree its budget and set council tax levels for the coming year. Despite every Labour member voting against the budget the Tory-led coalition, with the full support of Reform UK members, voted through a 4.99% increase in council tax alongside a budget that continues to funnel funding into Durham City centre at the expense of our pit communities in East Durham and other towns and villages across the county. 

I spoke on behalf of Management Board members who had closely scrutinised the coalition cabinet’s budget proposals at every stage of development since they were first published last year. Members welcomed the additional £48m in central government funding this year - by far the most positive and promising local government finance settlement in over a decade following 14 long, hard years of damaging Tory government austerity that had snatched away £270m in funding for our local communities and public services.

The coalition cabinet’s own budget papers show a funding increase of over £68m this year alone (this figure includes an additional £48m in government grant plus revenue from the coalition’s council tax increase)

Despite that significantly improved funding settlement members had raised concerns about the ever-rising cost of extra borrowing by the coalition that will burden the people of County Durham with debt totalling over £1bn over the next 40 years. 

Concerns were also expressed about the rate at which council reserves had been eroded to a level below what is considered prudent by CIPFA, which sets a guideline limit of above 5% to 7.5% to be held in reserves as a proportion of the council’s net revenue budget. 

In addition members raised concerns about the risks involved in the coalition borrowing an extra £55m this year to take over a failed private sector development at Milburngate in Durham City centre. Whilst it was recognised that the project could eventually succeed members felt that the risk to the tax-payers of County Durham remained unacceptably high.

The meeting concluded when the Tory-led coalition, supported by their allies in Reform UK, agreed the budget despite the risks involved. To top it all off they also agreed to raise council tax levels by the maximum permitted 4.99% for the coming year. 

In a series of passionate speeches Labour members made it clear that they could not support a budget that continues to squander public money on vanity projects in Durham City centre at the expense of villages like Blackhall and Hesleden and the rest of County Durham - and then demands that our residents stump up an extra 5% in Council Tax for the privilege.

Company launches 3 week public consultation on Benridge Solar Farm plans

Over the past few weeks I've been circulating information on proposals for a solar farm at Benridge, just off Fillpoke Lane between Crimdon and High Hesleden. 

The company involved held a public exhibition in High Hesleden last night which kick-started a three-week consultation exercise to gauge public opinion on their plans. They've said they intend to use the information gathered from the public consultation exercise to guide them in deciding whether they should submit a full planning application to the local planning authority to get consent for their solar farm.

It is vital at this early stage in the process that as many people as possible take part in the consultation to get their views across, so I've posted a link below which will take you to the company's website where you'll find more details about the solar farm proposals along with a 'Contact Us' option for you to make your voice heard. 

Please make every effort to respond: Consultation — Benridge Farm

For more background information on the solar farm proposals, and additional details about how important it is to make your voice heard please go to this link: Proposed Solar Farm at Fillpoke Lane - Lessons from Sheraton

Safer Parking in Blackhall Colliery

Over the past few weeks residents will have noticed that double-yellow lines have been installed or reinstated at a number locations throughout Blackhall Colliery. This includes outside Airlie House and on the junction of Hesleden Road and Middle Street, and follows calls from several residents for something to be done to address their concerns about obstructive parking that causes bottle-necks and restricts the view of drivers when pulling out of side streets and onto the main road.

These measures have been welcomed, but a few residents have been in touch to tell me about their concerns about the way some of the lines have been applied. This relates mainly to the road at the Hesleden Road junction and also at the side of Airlie House at the top of First Street where the lines appear to have been hastily applied or missed altogether.

I’ve raised those concerns with the highways department with a request that the lines at the side of Airlie House are reinstated properly and that those at the bottom of Hesleden Road are edged-off to make them look neater.

Following additional issues raised by residents about problem parking at some locations I’ve also asked the parking enforcement team to increase patrols in the area to make sure that drivers are parking responsibly and in places where they are not causing an obstruction.

Proposed Solar Farm at Fillpoke Lane - Lessons from Sheraton

Over the past couple of weeks I've been circulating information throughout the community about a company's proposal to install a solar farm on land to the south of Fillpoke Lane between Crimdon and High Hesleden.

To outline its plans the company will hold a public exhibition at the Ship Inn at High Hesleden this coming Tuesday, 18 February between 2 and 8pm. This event will mark the beginning of a three week public engagement exercise, which the company says will give it a view on whether or not to submit a full planning application to the county council. I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation to let the company know what their feelings are about a solar farm in open countryside between our villages. Please see full background details in this link: Company seeks public opinion on Solar Farm proposal at Fillpoke Lane

Since I began publicising the company's proposals it appears there's a handful of residents who believe there's no point in engaging with the company because this is already a done deal, or even that it doesn't matter what we say. While people are entitled to their own opinion, I profoundly disagree with any suggestion that it doesn't matter what we have to say. Quite the opposite is true, and there's evidence to prove that engaging and organising in our communities can reap rewards if we stand together behind a common cause.

A few years ago a company announced plans to construct a solar farm at nearby Sheraton, which at the moment is still in the Blackhall ward. The community as a whole didn't want it so we worked with residents to organise a campaign to fight the proposal. Although it was a long drawn-out struggle the community prevailed in the end when the planning committee refused planning consent for the solar farm. Members of the planning committee were persuaded by our campaign and its main message - this was the wrong type of the development in the wrong place.

Although the company subsequently appealed the council's decision to refuse consent we should never be put off by what might happen next. The community campaign in Sheraton showed what we can achieve when we organise, agree a united campaign and then work alongside one another to make a stand.

The late trade union leader Bob Crow once said that 'if you fight back you won't always win. But if you don't fight back you will always lose'. I for one will never concede without a fight - and I know from experience that our communities share the same tenacity when the time comes to stand together.

We have plans in place to hold our own public meeting for residents of Hesleden, Crimdon and Blackhall where we'll have the opportunity to voice our opinion on this latest solar farm proposal, with full details to be announced soon. In the meantime I would encourage every resident and business to engage in the pubic consultation exercise over the next few weeks. That will set the scene for what comes next.

Please follow the link below for full details of the Sheraton solar farm campaign: Committee rejects Sheraton Solar Farm proposal

Road works at St Joseph's RC Primary School

Last month I published details of ongoing road marking works to prohibit parking at certain locations in Blackhall Colliery where residents had raised their concerns about obstructive parking practices. This included highway patching works in the lane outside St Joseph's RC Primary School to enable the highways authority to reinstate faded road markings at the main entrance to the school. Full background details can be found in this link: Road repairs and markings for St Joseph's RC Primary School

I have now received formal notification from the council's highways maintenance section confirming that works will be carried out during the school holidays to minimise disruption to the staff and children. This means the road directly outside the school will be temporarily closed between 7.30am and 3.30pm each day from Monday 24 February until Friday 28 February.

I've asked the council for an assurance that disruption for residents in the Aged Miners' Home opposite the school will be kept at an absolute minimum and I've been told that all potentially affected residents will be notified in advance of the works taking place. I've also been given an assurance that there will be access for emergency service vehicles at all times.

If you have any comments or queries about these works please get in touch with me and I'll make sure you get the information you need: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk

Restoration works underway at the former Hesleden pit heap site

Following enquiries made on behalf of residents Stacey and I have received an update from the planning case officer on ongoing restoration works on the site of the former pit heap in Hesleden. The update also included details of the timescale for restoration works:

Regarding the presence of JTL Mr Dig Groundworks on the site. This was the first notification of their involvement, and immediate clarification was sought from the site operator. It was confirmed that JTL Mr Dig Groundworks Ltd has been contracted by Robert Surtees to undertake site restoration in accordance with the requirements of the Enforcement Notice.

As outlined in the Enforcement Notice, all stockpiled material must be removed by 12 May 2025, with full site restoration to be completed in accordance with the approved restoration scheme by 11 November 2025. The site has not been abandoned, and the compliance periods set out in the Enforcement Notice remain in effect.

For clarity, responsibility for site restoration rests with the landowner or occupant. Durham County Council has no responsibility for these works, and JTL Mr Dig Groundworks Ltd is neither affiliated with nor contracted by the Council.

We will continue to monitor progress on restoration of the site and update residents on any significant developments. In the meantime if you have any comments or queries please continue to contact us in the usual way: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk or stacey.deinali@durham.gov.uk

Company seeks public opinion on Solar Farm proposal at Fillpoke Lane

By now all residents in Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon, High Hesleden, Hesleden and Blackhall Colliery should have received a leaflet delivered direct to their door by two companies, Groupotec and REG Power Developments (REG) who are working on proposals to install a solar farm on land to the south of Fillpoke Lane between Crimdon and High Hesleden.

At this stage the companies are seeking the initial views of the community before they decide whether or not to submit a full planning application to Durham County Council as the local planning authority. As part of this process they are starting a 3-week consultation period with a public exhibition to be held in the Ship Inn in High Hesleden on Tuesday 18 February 2025 from 2pm until 8pm. The closing date for receipt of public comments is Tuesday 11 March 2025.

Please note that at this stage the companies promoting this project have not submitted a planning application. This is your opportunity to let them know what you think of their plans before they consider their next steps.

If you have any comments or queries you would like me to know about as your local councillor please get in touch direct at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk If the company eventually decides to go ahead with a full planning application I'll make sure your comments are reflected at the planning committee stage.

If you haven't received a leaflet from the company you can find more details of their proposal on their website at: Project Benridge Farm

Local Issues & Casework Update for January 2025

Since my most recent monthly local issues and casework update report I’ve raised queries with the authorities on behalf of 74 residents and businesses across the Blackhall ward. I've also made direct contact with more than 85 individual residents. Almost all of these queries are personal and/or confidential so for obvious reasons details cannot and will not be disclosed to the public.

In addition, I’ve dealt with a number of general queries raised by members of the public. These include issues raised at ward surgeries, during street walkabouts, at the monthly Blackhall PACT meeting and through other methods, including direct contact with me via telephone, email and my social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky).

The main issues covered this month include an ongoing initiative to tackle private sector housing issues, a safe parking scheme designed to prevent drivers pulling onto the public footpath on Middle Street and the Community Action Team project focusing on housing and environmental issues in the numbered streets in Blackhall Colliery. I’ve selected a few of the articles about these issues for re-posting, just in case you missed them first time around.

Please follow the links below for full details. If you have any queries or comments that require a response please get in touch with me direct at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk

Community Action Team project in Blackhall Colliery

Attempt to bring derelict buildings back into use

Durham County Council - Local Elections in May 2025

New safe parking scheme on Middle Street puts pedestrian safety first

Progress on repairing a collapsed wall at Coronation Avenue

Road repairs and markings for St Joseph's RC Primary School

Preparation works at the former Chimneys Hotel on East Street

Working together to improve private-sector housing conditions

Truth and Justice for the Miners

Working with residents and the Community Action Team to identify local priorities