Ward Surgeries resume at Blackhall Library

It was great to get our monthly ward surgeries back on track this morning, with the first session taking place at Blackhall Library since social restrictions were introduced to limit the transmission of Covid-19.

Carol and Rob at Blackhall Library

We've always valued our local ward surgeries as one of the main ways for us to maintain direct, face-to-face links with our residents, so it was particularly disappointing to have to suspend them during lockdown. Although many people these days contact us by telephone, email and social media there are still quite a few who prefer to meet us in person to tell us about their issues - so we know they've missed our surgeries too.

In between visitors coming in and out of the library all morning I took the opportunity to talk through a few ideas with our wonderful library manager Carol Close. As ever Carol was full of exciting ideas for our library and the community as a whole, so we'll be meeting up at the library again soon with officers from the East Durham Area Action Partnership to look at these plans in more detail and then get them off the ground - so watch this space for updates!

In the meantime if there are any issues you would like us to know about - and you can't get along to one of our surgeries - you can get in touch with us direct at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk or stacey.deinali@durham.gov.uk

A busier than usual Monday morning

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Monday mornings are often the busiest times of the week given the events of the previous weekend. For some reason though this Monday morning has been busier than usual, with reports ranging from general littering incidents to missing bins and even an upturned bench.

Rather than plaster Facebook with a series of incidents I’ve decided to list this morning’s report in one post:

The litter bin outside the library at the bottom of Hesleden Road has been reported for replacement (FS 3642 65216) 

Paint spilt across the road at the top of Fifth Street has been re-reported to the council for removal. This incident was first reported some time ago, just after the paint appeared in July, but the attempt at removal has been unsuccessful (FS 3642 65450) 

The regular littering along Middle Street, both front and back, has been reported for clearance (FS 3642 64572) and the box filled with rubbish and abandoned at the pit wheel has also been reported for removal (FS 3642 64845)

Fly-tipping and abandoned bins at the top of First Street, directly behind Airlie House have been reported for removal (FS 3642 65956)

As reported on social media last night the upturned bench on the Black Path has been reported to the parish council to be repositioned 

Finally, unsightly and potentially dangerous guttering and the generally untidy appearance of the empty property on Fourth Street has been reported again to the authorities with a request that the owner/landlord is contacted again with a request to carry out repairs. This has been reported in the past but the landlord appears reluctant to repair the property

Traders at Blackhall Rocks and Crimdon

I was contacted yesterday by the owner of an ice cream van currently sited at Blackhall Rocks who has concerns about the pressure he's facing from Durham County Council to move his business from the site. 

I've been in touch with the owner and I’ve assured him I’ll raise his concerns with the relevant departments at DCC next week and also that Stacey and I will do everything we can to find out more about why Durham County Council is removing businesses from local visitor sites and why it seems to be done in such a heavy-handed way.

From the comments I’ve seen so far on social media, and from the messages I've received directly, it looks as though this current issue is related to a recent decision made by DCC to remove businesses from Crimdon - something that was done without consultation and without even informing me and Stacey as the local county councillors. As regular followers of this blogsite will know I contacted DCC a few weeks ago to raise my concerns about what’s been going on in this area, where popular and well-respected businesses are being displaced and effectively closed down. It’s having a dreadful impact on the business owners themselves but it’s also taking away visitor attractions from places where they’re needed most. Please see the article on this site dated Friday 30 July 2021 for background details: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2021/07/campaign-to-keep-traders-at-crimdon.html

I’ll update on progress with this latest incident as soon as I have a response from the authorities but in the meantime if you'd like to let us know what you like or dislike about the existing facilites at Crimdon please get in touch with us at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk or: stacey.deinali@durham.gov.uk

Littering and dog fouling initiatives

I was contacted earlier this week by residents complaining about another incident of littering on the B1281 between Blackhall Colliery and Hesleden. Once again this incident stood out from the usual littering offence because it comprised in part of used nappies, with the rubbish apparently thrown from a passing vehicle.

In response to the requests of a number of residents I've asked the neighbourhood wardens and the police to intervene on this occasion, partly because of the frequency of these incidents but also because of the appalling nature of the content and the inclusion this time of potential identifying material. Drivers, businesses and residents alike have had enough of their streets being used as open litter bins by people who evidently have no respect for our community.

I also received complaints about one or two isolated incidents of dog fouling in separate locations in two of the villages in our ward. I've asked the neighbourhood wardens to increase the level of coverage at these locations, and I'll update on progress in due course.

In the meantime, in response to a comment that the authorities never seem to respond to residents' concerns about environmental issues, I've referred below to a number of initiatives local councillors and individual services have been involved with over the past two years alone. A trawl through the articles published on these pages over the years will reveal many more:

Two separate public consultations took place last year on the work of the community safety team and also the proposed extension of a Public Spaces Protection Order in Blackhall Colliery (please see posts dated Sunday 9 February 2020 and Wednesday 10 June 2020). 

Last year the council's Community Action Team focused its attention on an eleven week scheme to tackle a range of environmental issues (please see posts dated Tuesday 14 July 2020 and Tuesday 21 July 2020). 

And late last year and earlier this year I published articles about two environmental improvement initiatives (please see posts dated Tuesday 4 August 2020 and Monday 22 March 2021).

If you have any concerns about littering, dog fouling or other environmental issues in your neighbourhood please get in touch with me at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk or Stacey at: stacey.deinali@durham.gov.uk

If you prefer you can report any issues or incidents direct to the council at: https://doitonline.durham.gov.uk/

Speed Visor installed at Blackhall Rocks

When I was approached last year by residents expressing concerns about drivers exceeding the speed limit in some residential locations I approached Durham police and the council’s highways section to ask their advice on the most appropriate solution (please see articles dated Wednesday 5 May 2021 and Saturday 14 November 2020 https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/11/speed-visor-programme-for-blackhall.html for background details).

Following a speed survey carried out by Durham police to assess the extent of the problem a successful neighbourhood budget funding package was put together by both local county councillors to install speed visors at suitable locations at Blackhall Rocks, Blackhall Colliery and on the B1281 between Hesleden and Castle Eden. 

The council has now completed the latest phase of our road safety (speed visors) scheme by installing a speed visor on the approach to Blackhall Rocks at Broad Road/Coast Road:

A speed visor has recently been installed alongside the B1281 between Hesleden and Castle Eden and will be activated soon by connection to the mains electricity supply. 

An additional visor is also scheduled to be installed soon on the A1086 at the approach to Blackhall Colliery from Horden. I’ll update on progress with these schemes as soon as the highways section confirms installation works are due to be carried out.

A speed visor of the type installed this week at Blackhall Rocks 

Peterlee police update on off-road bike issues at Hesleden

HESLEDEN: Update from Peterlee police (please go to article dated Monday 9 August 2021 for background information https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2021/08/tackling-bike-and-off-road-vehicle.html)

Following on from complaints received by residents, officers attended Hesleden Dene last night at around 9pm. There have been a number of complaints from both residents and Durham Wildlife Trust around anti-social behaviour and damage caused to habitat and fencing in the Dene area. 

On officer arrival it was clear that there were a number of off-road vehicles in the main body of the Dene, similar to those that have caused previous criminal damage and destruction of habitat. Officers confronted these riders, who dropped their off-road bikes and made off into the dark of the Dene. They left behind 2 road bikes and a small pit bike, which were seized and will be destroyed. Enquiries will be made around the registered keepers of these vehicles.

Police are aware of the misery and frustration that off-road vehicles can cause, in rural areas as well as residential areas and encourage members of the public to pass on any information which may lead to further seizures or other penalties.

Amendments to Sheraton Solar Farm planning application

I received a notification recently from the planning office at county hall regarding amendments to a planning application at Sheraton. Please see full details below:

Amendments have been received for the following application in your Ward. Further details including the link to the application are contained in the attached document.

Application No:  DM/20/03722/FPA

Proposal:  Installation and operation of a Solar Farm together with all associated works, equipment and necessary infrastructure.

Address:  Sheraton Hall Farm Sheraton Hartlepool TS27 4RD 

Kind Regards

Planning Support

Application Ref: DM/20/03722/FPA

Site Address: Sheraton Hall Farm Sheraton Hartlepool TS27 4RD

Proposal: Installation and operation of a Solar Farm together with all associated works, equipment and necessary infrastructure.

I refer to my recent notification regarding the above proposal. I have now received amendments and this information is available to view on the Council’s website by using the following link: http://publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online- applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=QLH3JWGDKZE00

Or go to the council’s planning portal at: http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/8276/View-and-comment-on-current-planning-applications

Should you wish to discuss the planning application, please do not hesitate to contact the case officer, who in this instance is Chris Shields, telephone number 03000 261394.

Funding for Community Centres

Please see below a press release issued by Durham County Council promoting a funding programme for community centres:

Community centres in County Durham, which are helping their local area to recover from Covid, are set to receive hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding.

Venues around the county, which offer vital activities and services, will be invited by us to apply for grants which will support them to open safely in the wake of the pandemic.

Hundreds of sites will be approached by our Partnerships and Community Engagement Team and encouraged to register for a one-off payment from the Covid Outbreak Management Fund.

A total of £734,000 will be available through the fund, which is part of the Government's wider Contain Outbreak Management Fund, to enable valued centres to open safely and provide essential services to support their local communities.

Following countywide consultation with our 14 Area Action Partnerships, a total of 190 community facilities have been identified as eligible to claim funding, including buildings for which the council is landlord and those which are community owned and managed. 

An additional 44 centres provided by social housing providers will also be invited to apply for grants, to support the costs of reopening communal rooms and encouraging the community to return to use them.

Faith centres which provide non-religious community activities will receive a £75,000 share of the funding and will be contacted directly by North East Churches Acting Together, which will process applications which meet the criteria.

Further information about the Covid Outbreak Management Fund is available at: Helping community centres to recover from Covid-19

Update on the Castle Eden Crematorium development

Following a query I submitted recently on behalf of local residents I have received an update from the county council's planning office on Dignity plc's plans to construct a crematorium on land adjacent to Castle Eden Golf Club (please see my article dated Wednesday 28 August 2019 for background information: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2019/08/controversial-castle-eden-crematorium.html)

I have published the response I received below in full and I'll continue to update on developments with this matter as soon as I have additional information:

[Dignity plc] have explained that since the commencement of the development with the access the proposals have been paused for 2 main reasons – i) awaiting the results of an ongoing national market investigation into the funeral services sector by the Govt Competition and Markets Authority ii) pressures as a result of Covid which has meant that Dignity have focused all their attention on operating sites rather than new proposals.

They have stated that their intentions remain to develop the site and have stated that they are currently re-engaging with contractors in regard to a re-start of the scheme.  Dignity haven’t put a precise timescale on this but stated that they do hope to be back on site as soon as possible.

Completion date delayed for the new Coastal Hub at Crimdon

I've received an update from the Durham Heritage Coast officer this morning advising of a revised completion date for the new Coastal Hub at Crimdon:

Good morning Councillors.

I am getting in touch with the latest on the delivery programme.

I last told you that the building would be complete at the beginning of August. This isn’t the case with a new completion date of 24^th September.

Most of this delay is Covid related following this summer’s third wave and the related isolation requirements and the knock on effects, particularly relating to connecting to the grid preventing the completion of various related aspects.

I only found out this late last week and haven’t shared it until formally confirmed.

I have a meeting with the operator DCC’s B&FM at the end of the month and likely to issue a Press Release then if I am confident on completion and opening

I'll update on progress as soon as I have more information from the Durham Heritage Coast team.

Tackling bike and off-road vehicle nuisance

Earlier this year I published a number of articles on this site about the noise and nuisance created by motorbikes and off-road vehicles in many of our communities and open spaces (please see post dated Thursday 25 February 2021 for background details: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2021/02/reporting-bikes-and-off-road-vehicles.html). Again last night there were further reports on social media of off-road bikes and quads causing a disturbance in and around Hesleden.

Since I last wrote about this problem Stacey and I have been working alongside officers from Peterlee police to find a workable solution that would see the police enabled to prosecute offenders without physically apprehending the riders of bikes and off-road vehicles ‘in the act’. This involves the use of specialised cameras that are capable of taking long-range images of sufficient quality to potentially secure a realistic prospect of conviction in court.

Stacey and I have agreed to make a financial contribution from our neighbourhood budgets towards the cost of this scheme. The funding package agreed between the police and local members to purchase these cameras is almost complete and I will update on further details in due course. In the meantime please continue to follow police advice and report every incident by calling 101.

Highways works at West Street and Park Avenue

Last week I reported on social media that the back street behind West Street and Park Avenue had been fully resurfaced. 

Since the works were carried out at the end of last week I was contacted by one or two residents expressing concerns that the road surface appeared unfinished, some of the drains were still covered with micro-asphalt and that the road markings and traffic-calming measures were less effective than they were previously. 

I had a walk along the street and the road surface did look untidy in places so I raised residents’ concerns with the highways office at county hall and I received the following response yesterday:

Micro Asphalt is a 3 stage process, the first stage is to try and establish the correct profile of the carriageway, this is achieved by applying a regulation course. The second stage is to then to apply the running surface, at this stage the surface will look un-finished with the texture of the material appearing a little untidy. These are normal characteristic of the process and the appearance of the surface will improve considerably once the surface has had time to settle down, this is addressed by the passing of traffic which helps with the embedment of the aggregate and in addition to this the site will also be swept to help clear any excess aggregate. The third stage is the adjustment of the ironwork, this procedure is as follows: Before the site is surfaced all ironwork within the carriageway is masked with tape, on completion the tape is removed unless the cover is very low and would create a hazard if the tape was removed at this stage. Once the surfacing has had time to bed-in a separate crew returns to the site who then uncover and reset all the ironwork to the new carriageway level

I will arrange for DCC Traffic Section to assess regarding specification of the humps

For safety reasons the markings that have been applied are only temporary, permanent markings will be applied in due course

I’ll follow progress with the works identified until they are completed. In the meantime, if you have any highways issues to report please get in touch with me or Stacey at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk or stacey.deinali@durham.gov.uk

Parliamentary Boundary Review update

A few weeks ago I published details of the Boundary Commission for England’s (BCE) preliminary proposals for its parliamentary boundary review scheduled for implementation in 2023 (please see post dated Tuesday 8 June 2021 for details: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2021/06/2023-boundary-commission-review-of.html).

I have submitted my own personal views on the BCE initial proposals this morning and I’ve published them in full below for information:

Parliamentary Boundary Review: Response to the Boundary Commission for England (BCE) proposals for the Easington Constituency

 

For brevity I have summarised below my response to the BCE proposals as they relate to the current Easington Constituency: 

 

I do not support the proposal to extend the boundary of the current Easington Constituency northwards into Sunderland. As an alternative I support Labour’s Revised Area Plan to include the wards of Wingate (currently Sedgefield) and Sherburn (currently City of Durham) in the revised Easington Constituency. This proposal meets the BCE requirement to balance the numbers of electors in each constituency. 

 

I believe the revised constituency boundaries should remain within the current County Durham local authority area, with the revised Easington constituency based wherever possible on the boundary of the former Easington District local authority area. 

 

The two points above would retain historical, cultural and shared-identity links with the communities within both County Durham and East Durham. 

 

I strongly reject the BCE proposal to rename the revised constituency the Peterlee and Seaham constituency. In the interests of ensuring an inclusive identity encompassing all the communities in the constituency I would suggest the new name of the East Durham constituency. This would be consistent with the geographical identities of the current North Durham and North-West Durham constituencies, and would also be better recognised as a geographical location within and beyond the North-East region

 

Cllr Rob Crute

Blackhalls Division

Durham County Council

August 2021

 

Full details of the BCE’s proposals, including the next phases of consultation, can be found at the following link: https://www.bcereviews.org.uk/node/6486?postcode=TS274LN