Telecom cables and telegraph poles

I was contacted earlier this week by residents in the West Street/Hesleden Road area of Blackhall Colliery concerned that a broadband company was considering the use of poles to install cables - rather than connecting them underground.

There have been similar concerns in other parts of the country, and also in several parts of County Durham recently so I contacted the council to ask what - if anything - could be done to encourage this company to underground their cables rather than ruin the street scene with additional and unwanted poles.

I received the following response, which confirms that the use of poles by telecoms companies is considered ‘permitted development’ meaning they can erect poles pretty much where they choose without having to seek planning consent from the local authority:

A number of poles have and are to be installed in and around Durham by Netomnia who are delivering ultra-fast broadband to the area, the poles will inevitably have cables spanning from them.

Poles are defined as electronic communication apparatus and as such can be installed, kept and maintained on publicly maintainable highway by a person to whom the Telecom Powers is applied, in this particular case this would be Netomnia.

The installation of poles are constituted as permitted development under Schedule 2 Part 16 Class A of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended), and under Schedule 3a of the Communications Act 2003, therefore no planning permission or prior approval from the local planning authority is required prior to their installation.

With poles deemed as permitted development DCC as the highway authority can therefore only facilitate their installation, however DCC are reviewing their locations to ensure that they aren’t blocking visibility at junctions, restricting access to properties, etc.  Unfortunately DCC cannot stop a pole from been placed outside of a residents property.

Netomnia are recommended to place a site notice in as close proximity as possible to the proposed apparatus indicating to the nearby residents the intention to install a pole, and the proposed location.  No formal consultation or prior notification would be delivered to individual residents.

There have been meetings between Netomnia and residents in other areas and their business decision was made where if the network were already overhead, they would go overhead, where it was underground they would go underground.  In areas that they had planned to connect the homes by overhead poles, and the area did not already have poles, they had placed the build on hold until they were able to return with an alternative build method. However, where there were already poles, they would use the existing poles and erect more if it was required to connect the premises in the area.

DCC can only suggest if there are any issues that residents contact Netomnia directly concerning the pole positioning, https://www.netomnia.com/ or email: buildqueries@netomnia.com

I will contact the company with a request that they halt their plans to erect poles at this location and consider concealing their cables underground instead. I’ll update on progress in due course.

Remembrance Sunday at Blackhall Welfare Park

There was a strong turnout yesterday for the Remembrance Sunday commemoration service held at Blackhall Welfare Park.

The service, organised by Monk Hesleden Parish Council and officiated by council chairman Gaynor Crute and local minster Peter Laidler, drew another fantastic attendance from a community committed to paying their respects to those from Blackhall who fought, and those who gave their lives during two world wars, and also to the civilians who lost their lives during the 1939-45 conflict.

As ever, the 1932 Blackhall Squadron RAFAC was on parade - and as usual they did themselves proud and proved themselves a credit to our village and the service they represent.

The post-service buffet reception at Blackhall Cricket Club, funded by both local county councillors and offering the chance to meet up with old friends, visitors and representatives from the Royal British Legion, was also well attended.

My thanks go to the clerk, members and staff of the parish council for organising the event, the staff and committee of Blackhall Cricket Club, the cadets from the 1932 Blackhall Squadron RAFAC, Peter Laidler, Ian Harrison for the Last Post and Reveille, representatives from the RBL, staff and pupils from Wellfield School and both of our local primary schools and of course the Blackhall community who came together to honour those who fought and died in our defence.

B1281 Speed Visor at Castle Eden

For some time we’ve been working alongside the clerk and members of Castle Eden Parish Council to have a speed visor installed on the B1281 between Hesleden and Castle Eden (please see post dated Wednesday 5 May 2021 for background details). 

This followed a series of complaints and concerns expressed by motorists and residents alike about the high incidence of reported speeding vehicles on the B1281, especially near the Z-bend at Hallow Hill.

Earlier this year the speed visor was installed at a location agreed by residents, the police traffic management office and members of the parish council. For some reason however, the visor was never properly connected to the electricity supply, so following many weeks of phone calls and emails between the responsible authorities, I'm pleased to report that I’ve finally received confirmation that the connection is scheduled to be completed within the next few days and weeks - depending on the availability of engineers from Northern Power Grid.

Please see confirmation details below, received last week from the highways office:

Just a quick note to confirm that street lighting colleagues have programmed to completion the duct and cabling for the sign next week.

Unfortunately, as this is a new connection, we are governed by NPG carrying out the connection and currently they have advised the delay could be up to 35 days however we will endeavour to push for an early resolution.

I'll continue to monitor progress and I'll update on developments as soon as I have more information from NPG.

In addition we’ve received a number of messages from residents reporting speeding vehicles on the stretch of road between the A19 Wellfield Interchange and the A181/B1281 junction at the Castle Eden memorial.

We’ve passed these concerns to Durham police and the traffic assets management team for their attention. I’ll report back on developments as soon as I have a complete response from both services, but in the meantime please continue to report any incidents of speeding to the police for their attention.

Details of this year's Remembrance Sunday Commemoration Services

Remembrance Sunday commemoration services will be held throughout the county on Sunday 14 November when we will honour the sacrifice made by many in defence of our country during two world wars and other conflicts over the years.

I will be laying a wreath at the memorial garden in Blackhall Colliery Welfare Park on behalf of the members of Durham County Council, and with the kind assistance of the clerk and admin staff of Monk Hesleden Parish Council Stacey and I have also arranged for a buffet to be made available at Blackhall Cricket Club immediately after the ceremony. Everyone will be made welcome, so please feel free to call into the club immediately after the service. 

My county council colleague Stacey Deinali has made similar arrangements for the Remembrance Sunday service to be held at the memorial in Hesleden, with a reception afterwards at Hesleden Workingmen's Club.

Footpath repairs at The Elms, High Hesleden

A couple of weeks ago I asked the county council’s highways department to re-inspect a section of footpath between the entrance to The Elms and the Black Path in High Hesleden. 

This latest request followed several others submitted over the past two years or so and came after the footpath surface had clearly deteriorated since it was last reported earlier this year (please see my article dated Tuesday 20 October 2020: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/10/footpath-work-programme-updates.html for background details).

I am pleased to report that whilst the service considers there are no particular safety issues associated with the footpath they have now accepted that the surface has deteriorated sufficiently for it to be included it in the forthcoming planned maintenance programme for repair work. Please note their comments below in full:

Thank you for your recent report about road or footpath at high hesleden, hartlepool, ts27 4qq, reference number FS-Case-372691017.

An investigation has been carried out and whilst the defect is not considered to be hazardous, dangerous or essential maintenance at the current time, it is acknowledged that maintenance is required and an order has been placed to undertake work as part of a programmed maintenance scheme.

The works programme is determined on a priority basis, although we would expect the work to be completed within the next financial year.

We will continue to monitor the condition of the Road or footpath as part of our regular inspections and should the condition deteriorate we will, of course, undertake any work that is deemed necessary. 

Footpaths, fences and trees at Castle Eden

I was contacted recently by residents concerned about the poor condition of the footpaths along the B1281 between Hesleden and Castle Eden. They also reported obstructions caused by overgrown trees and hedges encroaching onto the public paths and roads.

I raised residents' concerns with highways officers at county hall and I have now received confirmation that the vegetation is to be cut back, with the owners of adjacent land to be contacted with a request that they maintain the trees and hedges on their land where they are causing an obstruction to pedestrians. It has also been confirmed that any necessary fence repairs will be carried out soon.

Although an additional inspection revealed no immediately actionable defects the footpaths at this location will be added to the works programme and repairs will be carried out in line with the council's policy on footpath and highways. It was noted however, that all actionable safety defects had already been carried out earlier this year following a footpath inspection held on 24 March.

Good afternoon Cllr Crute,

I can confirm the Highway Inspector has arranged with the Councils Clean and Green Department to cut back the overgrown highway vegetation.

We will write to those landowners whose vegetation is encroaching onto the footpath asking them to trim it back and maintain in the future.

The fence will be repaired as necessary.

I'll monitor progress with these matters and report back on progress in due course.

Pavements and Streetlights at Dene Road, Blackhall Colliery

I was contacted last night (Wednesday) by residents from Dene Road reporting that the streetlights at the top of the street had been unlit for a couple of weeks. They also raised concerns about the poor condition of the footpath about halfway down the street.

I called down to Dene Road earlier today and noticed that while all the streetlights on Dene Road itself (129-131) were in full working order the streetlight (366) outside Emmerson Court, opposite Thornton Terrace and the Dene Road/Coast Road junction, was out.

I've reported the damaged pavement for inspection and repair (CRM Reference: FS 3743 40307) and I've also reported the streetlight at Emmerson Court for repair (CRM Reference: FS 3743 39774).

Station Town to Sedgefield Bus Services

I've received an update on a replacement bus service connecting Station Town to Sedgefield scheduled to take place from Monday 1 November.

Please see below for details:

Dear Councillor,

As you will be aware local bus service 239 that operates in the evening between Easington Colliery, Peterlee and Sedgefield has been suspended  between Station Town and Sedgefield in recent weeks due to anti-social behaviour including abuse of drivers and missiles being thrown at the bus.

The police have been involved throughout but operator Go North East feel they have not received sufficient reassurance from that engagement to ask the Unite union to recommend to its members they return to the route.

Furthermore, Go North East’s contract with the Council to operate the service expires on 31^st October and they indicated they did not wish to extend the contract for a further 12 months, as is being done with other contracts, and the consequential retendering exercise produced no bids for the service in its current form.

In the light of this we have been exploring what other options are available and I am pleased to be able to confirm we have been able to find a local minibus operator – John Crake of Trimdon – who will be providing an hourly service in the evening. Unfortunately due to prior commitments he is unable to start until Monday 1^st November.

The service has been revised to operate in two sections, with John Crake operating between Sedgefield and Wingate, connecting at Station Town Newhouse Estate bus stop with a revised Go North East service that will operate Station Town – Peterlee. Through fares will be available between the two sections, with all fares at a simple flat rate of £1. (This reflects the current offer on all GNE evening services.) Arriva and Go North East season tickets and return fares will be accepted.

John Crake will be using a 16 seater minibus. That does mean boarding and alighting will include a step, so will be less convenient for some passengers and it will not be able to carry passengers using wheelchair, but I’m afraid that we have had no other option at present.

The Go North East part of the service will no longer operate between Easington Village and Peterlee via Easington Colliery and Horden as this is duplicated by Go North East’s relatively new service 62 though we have arranged for an additional journey on the 62 to run north from Peterlee at 2116 to provide a service slightly later than present. The full timetable for the 62 can be found here https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/services/GNE/62?date=2021-10-30&direction=outbound 

Roadworks on the B1281 at Blackhall Colliery

Roadworks have begun on the B1281 to enable the construction of a roundabout at the entrance to the housing development currently taking place on land adjacent to the 'new' Hesleden Road. I have received additional detail about the extent and duration of the works and I've published it below for information:

B1281 off Coast Road, Blackhall Colliery 

Temporary Speed Restriction Order 

I refer to the application dated 21 August 2021 relating to the above. The closure will be effected by an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The Order has been authorised by the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change to commence from Monday 18 October 2021 for an anticipated period of 10 weeks. 

It will be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Procedure Regulations 1992 which require that:- 

(i) A notice be displayed in a prominent position at each end of the length of the road to which the Order relates and at the points at which it will be necessary to diverge from the road, stating the effect of the Order and, where applicable, the alternative route or routes available for vehicular traffic. 

(ii) Each such notice shall be displayed throughout the period during which the Order is in force and all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the notices remain in a legible condition and continue to be so displayed for so long as the Order remains in force, and are promptly replaced as often as occasion requires during that period. 

Notices for use in complying with the aforementioned Regulations are enclosed. In addition you must provide and maintain at each end of the length of road the subject of closure, and at suitable points along the diversionary route for vehicular traffic, appropriate closure and diversion signs which accord with Chapter 8 of the Department of Transport Traffic Signs Manual. The provision of the signs and their maintenance should be undertaken by a reputable traffic management company. 

For information it is County Council practice to recover the advertising costs incurred in the making of the Order. Your Purchase Order Number WC002 refers. You must ensure that prior notification of the closure / prohibition is given to those residents and premises directly affected by the restrictions. 

Find attached confirmation of the approved temporary 40 mph speed restriction for B1281, Blackhall Colliery from 18/10/21 for new roundabout construction works for approx 10 weeks:

Additional info can be found at https://one.network/?tmi=GB21272767

	03000 267 095
	temporaryroadclosures@durham.gov.uk
	http://www.durham.gov.uk/
	County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UQ

Full details of the planning application can be found at: http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/8276/Find-a-planning-application using the planning code DM/19/01230/FPA

Private-sector property in Fourth Street

Following complaints some time ago from residents about the poor condition of a private property in Fourth Street I asked the Neighbourhood Wardens and the private-sector office at county hall to contact the landlord with a request that the property be brought back to a decent standard.

Earlier this month I received an update confirming that the property owner was proving reluctant to engage with the council in its attempts to hold him accountable for the condition of his property, despite the guttering hanging dangerously low towards the street as shown in the image above. 

As regular readers of these pages will know this is a common reaction from absent landlords who know only too well that the council has only strictly limited powers to compel them to take responsibility for the condition of their properties (please see posts dated Thursday 25 June 2020 https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/06/housing-issues-in-blackhall-colliery.html, Monday 15 June 2020 https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/06/community-action-team-and-private.html and Friday 17 May 2019 https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2019/05/selective-licensing-scheme-update.html for more details about private sector housing issues).

This is the latest response received from private sector officers at Durham County Council regarding the property on Fourth Street:

Good evening Cllr Crute,

Unfortunately there has been no engagement with our team from the owner, following my initial letter.

Any immediate concerns such as flytipping/waste, open to access and dangerous/falling elements, will be referred to the relevant department.  Either from my review visits or whenever new reports come in.

I will be writing to the owner again, giving them a final 14 days to respond.   The case will remain open as a high priority and further actions reviewed should there continue to be a lack of engagement complaints.

I’ve contacted the private-sector office again this morning for an update on this particular property in Fourth Street and I’ll report on progress as soon as I have more information. `

There are a few similar private sector housing cases in the system at the moment and I’m continuing to press the council to use whichever powers it has at its disposal to contact landlords/owners to address local concerns and bring these complaints to a satisfactory conclusion.

Covid-19 Vaccination Details - Peterlee

I've been notified of Covid-19 vaccination walk-in clinics scheduled to take place in Peterlee over the next few days. Please see full details below:

Wednesday 20^th October, Peterlee, Peterlee Community Hospital Hub, SR8 5UQ

1pm – 6pm

First & second doses of Pfizer & boosters for over 50s

Thursday 21^st October, Peterlee, Peterlee Community Hospital Hub, SR8 5UQ

10am – 4pm

First & second doses of Pfizer & boosters for over 50s

Friday 22^nd October, Peterlee, Peterlee Community Hospital Hub, SR8 5UQ

10am – 3pm

First & second doses of Pfizer & boosters for over 50s

NEW* Wednesday 27^th October, Peterlee, Peterlee Community Hospital Hub, SR8 5UQ

9am – 6pm

First & second jabs for age 16+

Boosters available for

• Age 50 & over

• Frontline health & social care workers

• Age 16 to 49 years in at-risk group for COVID

• Adult carers

• Adult household contacts of at-risk groups

• Must be min 6 months (182 days) since second dose

No appointment needed

NEW* Thursday 28^th October, Peterlee, Peterlee Community Hospital Hub, SR8 5UQ

10am – 6pm

First & second jabs for age 16+

Boosters available for

• Age 50 & over

• Frontline health & social care workers

• Age 16 to 49 years in at-risk group for COVID

• Adult carers

• Adult household contacts of at-risk groups

• Must be min 6 months (182 days) since second dose

No appointment needed

Damaged streetlights at Hesleden

I received a report from a resident last night that a series of streetlights between the Myra Avenue junction in Hesleden and the B1281 are damaged and out of order.

I’ve visited the site this morning and the streetlight number 784 appears to have been struck causing the pole to lean slightly. It has also damaged the remaining lights leading to the B1281 junction.

All streetlights have now been reported for inspection and repair. The CRM reference number is: FS 3722 27094.

Access to appointments at Blackhall Medical Centre

There has been considerable coverage lately in both the national and local media about access to appointments at GPs' surgeries, with many members of the public understandably concerned that there is a diminishing prospect of seeing their local doctor when they want to.

I was contacted recently by concerned residents in the Blackhall area asking about the current position at the Blackhall Community Health Centre - and specifically with regard to the availablility of patient appointments at the GP practice on Hesleden Road in Blackhall Colliery.

I raised residents' concerns with the Director of Commissioning (Primary Care) at the County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) last week and in response I received this explanation of the current position:

I have met with the Practice Manager today from Blackhall. She has given me a very detailed position on the practice access and resources. 

She agrees that demand is greater than their capacity so they are working extra to keep up and putting on locum cover to give additional capacity. But she believes that is true of the whole country at the moment and likely to worsen.

Today they had four GPs and one Nurse practitioner all day . That is the staffing I would expect in a practice of this size. In addition as they are a teaching practice they have two GP registrars which also helps with workload.

They operate a telephone triage model but for any patient that clinically requires they offer face to face also

As a partnership they are reviewing the position, monitoring demand and reviewing whether the current model of access is broadly meeting patient demand.

The duty doctor is dealing with 70 patients per day which is significantly excessive. Most of the associated paperwork that follows patient care is being done on an evening or weekends to maximise time for patient contact.

As suggested in the response above, it would appear that this is a nation-wide issue with a complex range of factors involved - not least the ongoing prevalence of Covid-19 and the risk of infection in enclosed public spaces like waiting rooms in doctors' surgeries where members of the public are expected to gather in close proximity. 

In addition it appears unlikely that this position will be resolved any time soon so I'll maintain contact with the CCG and update on progress in due course.