Blackhall Labour Party Resolution on Hartlepool Hospital

On Friday 22 June 2012 the Easington Constituency Labour Party (CLP) unanimously endorsed a resolution I submitted on behalf of the Blackhall Labour Party in relation to the retention of all services at the University Hospital of Hartlepool (UHH).

Blackhall Labour Party had noted the continual removal of services from the Holdforth Road site despite the policy of the CLP to retain and return all services to UHH. It was agreed to draft a resolution (copied in full below) to reaffirm the policy of the CLP in opposing the moves of the North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust to close the hospital under the sham Momentum programme which had been imposed despite massive public opposition in Hartlepool and East Durham.

This latest development follows my letter to the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman earlier this month to request that the Trust be investigated over its failure to consult the people I represent on its closure programme (full details are available in a separate post dated 18 June).

UHH Resolution: Blackhall Labour Party

The Easington Constituency Labour Party (CLP) condemns the continuing actions of the North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust in removing ever more services from the Holdforth Road site at the University Hospital of Hartlepool (UHH) without a clear mandate and against the wishes of the people of East Durham.

Further this CLP condemns the Trust for its persistent failure to consult or engage with the residents of East Durham and reiterates its policy regarding UHH that all services must remain at the Holdforth Road site and that those already removed must be reinstated to ensure a safe and effective health service for the people of East Durham.

Rob Crute, Secretary:

Barry Chambers, Chairman:

19 June 2012

Hesleden Pit Heap

I received a report yesterday from PCSO Ian Goodwin of a breach of the old workings at the former pit heap site at Hesleden. Whilst I am assured that there is no danger my immediate concern of course is to ensure public safety by making the site safe and secure to prevent unauthorised access.

I have contacted planning officers at Durham County Council to ensure that they are aware of this matter and to ask that they maintain contact with the owners of the site to mitigate the effects of the breach.

I have also contacted the Coal Authority to ask them to confirm their involvement with the landowners in making the workings safe and to ensure public safety by securing the site against unauthorised access.

I will keep you updated with developments in ensuring public safety at the site but in the meantime please avoid the area and make sure that your children are aware and that they stay away too.


UPDATE: 11am THURSDAY 21 JUNE:


It is reported that the problem with the breach relates to an outflow pipe near to the bridge at Hesleden Dene. It is also confirmed that the Coal Authority is on site and is dealing with the problem.

£20k youth boost

£20k youth boost - Community - Hartlepool Mail

Click on the link above for details of a successful funding bid by the parish council to continue youth projects in Blackhall.

Proposals for new facilities at Crimdon

I have asked for a meeting with officers from the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership and the East Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP) to discuss proposals for a new cafeteria and toilet block at Crimdon.

I believe it is vital that every effort is made to re-develop Crimdon to its full potential to act as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area and also to encourage tourism. The proposed new facilities will also link to the ongoing coastal pathways project and create new job and apprenticeship opportunities.

You may be aware from posts elsewhere on this site that I have campaigned persistently for a rail halt or station in our area and I will continue to pursue this option as part of a wider regeneration plan for.

The next step will be to identify funding for the toilet and cafeteria plans and I will keep you informed of developments as they arise but please let me know if you have any suggestions you would like to make in the meantime.

Hartlepool Hospital: Letter to the Health Service Ombudsman

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write to you regarding the continuing removal of healthcare services from the University Hospital of Hartlepool (UHH) by the North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust (the Trust). I believe this to be done without meaningful and inclusive consultation with service users and against the wishes of the people of East Durham.

I am aware that you have been contacted recently by a colleague from Hartlepool (Keith Fisher) and that you have made judgement on his complaint as it relates to the population of Hartlepool. I would like you now to consider investigating the actions of the Trust in removing services at UHH without consultation with the residents of East Durham.

I have raised this point of complaint with Trust representatives on a number of occasions in the past and they have insisted that residents in East Durham were consulted by Trust representatives reporting progress on the Momentum Pathways to Healthcare programme to the Health Scrutiny Committee at Durham County Council. I believe there is no definition by which this could accurately be described as consultation.

Despite being offered several opportunities to demonstrate that they have consulted in a realistically defined manner the Trust has failed consistently to provide evidence. In effect this means that the residents of East Durham face the continued loss of local healthcare services simply because they are not deemed worthy of consideration or consultation, perhaps because they constitute a small part of a much larger local authority and have thereby dipped beneath the Trust’s radar.

I would be grateful therefore if you would consider investigating the actions of the Trust and the consequent plight of the people of East Durham in losing an essential service against their wishes, against natural justice and without the benefit of due process.

Regards,

Cllr Rob Crute

Blackhall Division

Durham County Council

Phone: 07827 232 289

Blog: robcruteforblackhall.blogspot.com

Policy on Wind Turbines

Due to the huge increase in wind turbine applications throughout county Durham, and specifically in our area in East Durham, I have written to the planning section at Durham County Council to advise them of my intention to seek to implement a policy of “presumption against” wind farm planning applications. 

In effect this would mean that any company wishing to submit a planning application for a wind farm in county Durham would be made aware that the default position of the council would be to oppose such applications. 

We introduced a similar policy at the former Easington District Council in relation to telecommunications masts and this proved very effective in acting as a deterrent to prospective planning applications.

Digital Durham - Broadband Update

Durham County Council is seeking support from residents, businesses and communities for a roll-out across the county of its superfast broadband programme.

The council has already secured £7m in matched funding from central government but as a condition for the funding it must now demonstrate community demand for the service in order to take the scheme to the next level.

If the council is unable to prove that residents support the programme for high speed broadband then up to 60% of the county could miss out on coverage in future.

If you are online you can access further details (including current broadband download speeds) and register your support at:

www.durham.gov.uk and by entering Digital Durham in the search bar.

Alternatively you can contact the Digital Durham team on:

03000 261 160 or by email on digital.durham@durham.gov.uk.

High Hesleden Planning Application

The council has received a planning application for the erection of a 15 bay stable block, detached barn, associated hard standing and access for a field next to the road which links High Hesleden with Monk Hesleden. The site is immediately north of the Haswell to Hart walkway, on the same side of the road as the poultry sheds.

I have contacted the case officer in the planning department at the council to seek clarification on the purpose of the application as it remains unclear whether it relates either to residential or business use. The case officer is due to meet the applicant in the near future but in the meantime I want to ensure that as many residents as possible are aware of the application in order to gauge their views.

At the moment the application is due to be decided under delegated authority (by the case officer) but if my enquiries suggest that it may be contentious I will request that it is submitted to the planning committee to ensure my direct involvement and to enable residents to express their concerns and views.

I will keep you up to date with developments as they arise but in the meantime please let me know if you have any comments to make - either in favour or against.

Blackhall Rocks Picnic area

Have your say on beach plan - Peterlee Star

Please click on the link above for the latest on the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership's plans for environmental improvements at the picnic area at Blackhall Rocks.

I want to ensure that the funding remains in our village but I also want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to have a say on the proposals - some of which may be contentious. That's why I've asked the Partnership to consult the public.

If you have any comments to make please let me know and I'll make sure that they are passed on to the DHC Partnership.

Skatepark Plans

Skatepark plan for village - Hartlepool Mail

Please click on the link above for an update on the skatepark petition as reported in the Hartlepool Mail recently