County Durham should celebrate the sacrifices made by our mining and armed forces communities

Durham County Council's public consultation on its Council Plan review comes to an end next week, so this is your last opportunity to let the council know what you think about the services it provides, how it links with its service plans and the priorities it has set out to improve the county.

By way of background the latest draft of the revised Council Plan was put before the authority's Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Management Board earlier this month to give members of the board an opportunity to comment on the council's current priorities.

In one section of the committee report I noticed that the authority is focused on how it will prioritise the armed forces community. On the assumption that this would include armed forces veterans I agreed that the council owes a debt of gratitude to those who have served our country and who might now struggle with some of the crises they might now face - whether that be through Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or difficulties in finding appropriate housing once they return home So it's only right that we recognise their contribution and prioritise their needs. 

In addition I reminded members of the board that we all represent the people and communities of County Durham and that many of the towns and villages across our county were established and sustained by generations of miners and their families, often in the face of dreadful working conditions, substandard housing and the illnesses and injuries they now suffer caused by years of toiling underground.

It's impossible to tell the story of County Durham without coal being at the heart of its legacy, so if we want to preserve our culture and heritage and recognise the contribution miners and their families have made to the county's development, and also acknowledge the miners' contribution to powering the nation through two world wars, we must also prioritise the wellbeing and welfare of the miners, their families and the communities they built and held together for generations.

County Durham can be proud of the men and women who served and continue to serve in the defence of our country against the threats we face today. Equally we can celebrate the contribution the miners and their families have made over the generations to build and sustain many of its towns and villages. The county wouldn't be the place we are all proud of today if it hadn't been for the collective sacrifices made by the men and women of Durham in generations past and those who keep our communities alive and thriving today. 

There's room to acknowledge the roles played by all of our many working communities in the past, regardless of occupation, and prioritise their needs for the years ahead. After all it's that diversity and the spirit of standing together in the face of adversity that's made our county the wonderful place it is today.

If you would like to comment on the council's consultation please follow the link below, but be quick. The exercise comes to an end next week:

Help shape the Council Plan 2027-2031 | Durham County Council