The proposed residents only parking scheme for Dryburn/Durham Moor area of Framwellgate Moor was given the go ahead a few weeks ago and will be implemented by the end of the Summer/start of Autumn. A scheme for North End is now being drawn up.
This will be a major improvement for so many people who have been struggling for many years with the parking problems on their streets.
The County Council has announced a new Development Plan. It is suggests that over 2000 new homes could be built on the greenbelt surrounding Framwellgate Moor, Pity Me and Brasside.
It also recommends the building of a Western bypass around Neville’s Cross and a Brasside to Belmont Northern Bypass.
5000 new homes are proposed across Durham City and the potential to create thousands of new jobs with Aykley Heads area being fully redeveloped.
Councillor Mark Wilkes says
“There wasn’t going to be a consultation day in our area even though it is most affected. Your Lib Dem councillors have now arranged this with the Council and it will be at Abbey Sports Centre on Wed 21st July from 2pm to 7pm. Local councillors will also attend.”
County Councillor Redvers Crooks added “This is the most important development in our area for the next 30 years and will profoundly impact upon Pity Me, Framwellgate Moor and Brasside. Please go along and ask questions, look at plans and make comments.”
It will also impact on Witton Gilbert and Bearpark, with Bearpark seeing potentially new road links with the Western Bypass, and additional housing in Crossgate Moor impacting on Bearpark.
The flower displays paid for out of the local neghbourhood budget your County Councillors receive are making a real difference in parts of the area. Flower displays in the tubs we bought last year are also looking great and we have some displays on bus shelters as well. We are also providing funding to Witton Gilbert and Bearpark Parish Councils to make improvements here too.
Last year Councillor Mark Wilkes challenged why some highways contracts were not being tendered out for the best price.
This year after continued Lib Dem pressure the Council did this and will now save over £500,000 a year. Proof savings can be made and proof that frontline services can be protected.
Yet your Labour County Council leader thinks these savings are “tiny”. Indeed he seems to knock every positive suggestion made to help sort out the mess the Labour party has got the council into.
Cllr Wilkes commented “Put bluntly, the Council is not being run properly by the Labour Party. Glossy publicity magazines which Labour refuses to cut back on further add to the disgraceful waste of taxpayers money.
“A failure to get to grips with the move to a single authority has resulted in huge executive pay rises and a failure to save the money promised. Investment in making buildings more efficient has stalled or is being ignored.”
Recent increases in anti-social behaviour across our villages must be stopped. Local Lib Dem councillors have launched a Report It! Campaign.
County Councillor Mark Wilkes and Parish Councillor Mark den Hollander are calling on residents to report every single incident to the police.
“Anti-social behaviour is increasing in Brasside, Framwellgate Moor & Pity Me,” says Mark Den Hollander. “We need every single incident reporting by residents if we are to ensure that the police put in the resources necessary to crackdown hard.”
County Councillor Mark Wilkes is urging as many residents as possible to attend police and community (PACT) meetings to voice their concerns and build up a concerted campaign stop the problem in its tracks.
He commented “Anyone can report anti-social behaviour, you don’t even have to leave your name. The police will accept anonymous reports – just call free on 0345 60 60 365.
“Whether it’s violence, littering, yobbish behaviour, street drinking, graffiti – any anti-social crime, please make sure it is reported. Together we can stop it. If you don’t want to talk to the police about it, please at least contact local Councillors.”
Your Lib Dem councillors are also supporting calls to crack down on street drinking across the area and want to hear about any problems in Witton Gilbert and Bearpark too.
The next Police and Community Together meeting is the 5th August – Come along if you have a particular issue in your area which you want to be looked at. The last meeting is resulting in some real progress working with the police.
There are lots of activities at Abbey Leisure Centre for young people and parents this summer (see below).
There is also a special offer at Durham County Leisure Centres this summer with a five week membership costing just £25 visit here to find out more: http://content.durham.gov.uk/PDFRepository/World_cup_fitness_flyer.pdf
Activities for young people at Abbey Leisure Centre:
– Ice skating, all summer, £4 junior, £5 adult, £1 skate hire.
– Bouncy Castle/Soft Play, Mon & Tue 1.30-3pm, age 0-5, £1.40
– Tots Gym every Thur 1-2pm and 2-3pm, age 3-5, £1.95
– Street Dance (All levels), every Fri, 4-5pm, age 5-9 and 6-7pm age 10-14, £1.95
– Multi-sports £1, play for one hour, age 8+ ask at reception.
– Youth Gym Session, wkdays 4-5pm, wkend 12.30-2pm, age 13+, £1.95
– Bike Ride (All levels – bring your own or borrow a bike for free) – Thur 12 Aug, Tue 17th Aug, 12.30-2pm, age 10+, £2.95
– £1 Chill Out (Games, Music, Wii), Every Mon, 2.30-3.30pm, age 11+
– Table Tennis Taster (All levels), Mon 16th, 23rd Aug, 2pm-3.30pm, £2.95, age 8+
– Dance Camp (All levels), Fri 30th July, Street, Contemporary, Freestyle, then a performance. 9.30am-2pm, age 8+, £7.80
We promised to push for work to be done fixing the road surface on Folly Terrace, and this will now start during the summer. One side of the road is desintegrating and will be rebuilt.
And we are still pushing to get flag stone paths replaced in various locations around the area. Let us know if you think there is a footpath or road surface which is in need of work.
Councillor Wilkes added “Since electing your local Lib Dem councillors, the number of road and footpath repairs has increased dramatically across our area, meeting the promises we made to improve our villages.”
Last year we made Mere Drive in Pity Me a priority for resurfacing, and just in time – the winter left the road in an even worse state.
The road has been resurfaced this year after we committed additional funding from local budgets. We also asked for the work to be redone after somoe of the new surface started to break up.
Another road improved following your Lib Dem councillors’ intervention.
The failure of the labour run council to get to grips with waste disposal is costing the council a fortune.
This year it will cost the council £48 for every tonne of waste which goes to landfill – just in Landfill Tax. This will rise to £72 by 2013. As a country we send half a tonne of waste per person to landfill. In County Durham it is likely to cost around £7m this year in landfill tax. We must cut landfill if we are to keep council tax down and help the environment. Please recycle more, reduce food waste or get a discounted compost bin by calling 0845 130 6090 or visit www.durham.getcomposting.com
Cllr Wilkes says “After getting 700 more homes on the garden waste scheme we are still pushing the Council to get more homes added. This will help to reduce the amount of biodegradeable waste going to landfill and make it much easier for many residents to dispose of garden waste.”
Local residents are praising the Citizens Advice outreach service we brought to our area.
Cllr Rev Crooks commented “Once again we have committed funding from our Neighbourhood budgets to this fantastic service to keep it going for another year.”
The three Parish Councils of Bearpark, Framwellgate Moor (Includes Pity Me & Brasside) and Witton Gilbert have also contributed this year after our requests to help keep the scheme going with independent, Labour and Lib Dem parish councillors all supporting the service.
The CAB can help with housing, debt, legal, employment, benefits and family issues – and pretty much any other advice you may need as well. No appointment is needed – just pop in for a chat.
We have now secured funding until May 2011
Future dates can be found here: http://markwilkes.mycouncillor.org.uk/cab-outreach/