We have had reports again about congestion at the Arnison Centre getting worse.

To update, for many months now we have been liaising with the site owners and businesses, and can confirm that proposals to improve access are being drawn up.

This would potentially see an additional exit lane provided. We are regularly asking for updates. Years ago we said that if the site was expanded, there would be gridlock and we have been proven right. The council should not have allowed the expansion of the site without addressing the onsite congestion, however we are hopeful that working with the owners and council we can get a long term solution.

In the meantime, McDonalds have confirmed they will have staff outside to move people on during busy times and the site owners have asked for additional security staff to assist during December too.

We have asked NWL if site staff can use their car parks again this year, and are also working to get signs up at the Leisure Centre so that people know it can be used as an overflow when the centre is not operating.

We have also asked the Council’s transport teams to add their pressure on and bus companies are also raising concerns.

From October 1st the Household Waste sites in the County will be closing at 3.30pm. Given the continued queues and the risk of a significant increase in fly tipping and other problems, it seems mad to be operating with regular opening times. Sunset is currently 18:41. To close at 3.30pm makes no sense, even allowing for the management to do the necessary things after closing.

Indeed for most sites, especially given that new LED lighting need not cause wider light pollution issues, we should be in the 20th Century with sufficient site lighting to operate later.

With the Covid queuing, its likely the site queues will close well before 3.30, so the real closing time will be even earlier.

The extra cost of dealing with all the knock on effects of these sites operating at reduced capacity, including clearing up fly tipping and dealing with other problems could to an extent be reduced by simply extending household waste opening times.

I’ve tried behind the scenes to get some movement on this, today I copied in all councillors to my suggestions, hopefully some commen sense will prevail.

As your local councillors we are regularly reporting blocked gullies and drains across our area to make sure that we don’t see severe flooding which is currently happening in so many places.

Its never possible to protect against flooding everywhere. (Although not building a headquarters on a flood plain would help – Take note Labour!)

Last week I had to deal with a blocked drain in Newton Hall after a resident complained that repeated requests for action to the Council had failed, since well before lockdown.

The site on Canterbury Road is prone to flooding so this was critical. All credit to the Tech Services team at DCC who responded very quickly and are also checking why this fell thorugh the cracks.

If you spot anywhere where drains are blocked please report them straight away to the council on help@durham.gov.uk .

Last nights flooding on Abbey Road has also been reported. We have asked for details of when the gullies are cleaned out across our area. The council reduced clearing out for most drains to every 24 months, which we feel is way too long, especially for areas with trees and flood risks, so we are reviewing our area to make sure that flood prone areas get gullies cleaned more frequently.

The ones in the dip of Canterbury Road for example are only done once every two years, at the moment to the best of our knowledge leaves fall off most trees each year, not every other year!

Cutting back cleaning to every two years ends up costing the council more money in the long term as compacted blocked gullies take far far longer to clean out and flooding costs the Council, Fire brigade and householders an enormous amount.

The new Cycle Path from Pity Me Front Street to New College is looking fantastic. (Photo from Gary Tidbury)

We are working hard to improve other paths in the area and to get new ones as well.

Big thank you to council officers for getting this done despite all the restrictions.

Just a reminder that the Library in Newton Hall is open and available to order and pick up books. If you know anyone who uses the library but doesn’t have online access, they can phone up to order some books or even call in on the day, although calling first is best.

Phone number is 03000 269 503

Current opening hours are:

Monday – 10.00am to 4.00pm
Thursday – 10.00am to 4.00pm
Saturday – 9.30am to 12.30pm

Please do use the library, and let others know too. Make sure you take a mask with you when visiting.

To book online for a collection click here

I had a few complaints about the traffic lights being on and no work being done. Having discussed this with technical services at the Council they have agreed to remove the lights when work is finished each day and at the weekends, and to redouble their efforts to get the work completed quickly.

Thank you to everyone who raised this issue.

When the centre reopened last week, we raised concerns about the opening hours. I’m pleased to say that we have managed to get longer opening hours for the Centre, after suggesting the council bring more staff off furlough.

The Centre will now be open until 8.30pm Mon to Friday and until 2.30pm on Saturday allowing a full additional session for people to book in for. In effect increasing by 50% the number of evening sessions for people only able to access in the evening.

So the first sessions you can book are 8.30am and the last 7.30pm Mon to Friday.

On Saturday the first session is 9.30am and the last session 1.30pm

Each session is for 50 minutes to allow time for the equipment to be cleaned for the next session.

There are also an increasing number of classes.

More information at www.durham.gov.uk/leisurecentres

The changes to our area to improve cycling have started to be implemented.

You can view the plans at www.durham.gov.uk/active travel

Please let us know what you think as they are introduced.

It’s taken a few weeks to get action but I’m delighted to report that the cycle path from Rotary Way to Abbey Rd looks more like a path again.

We are working on a proposal with Durham AAP, Durham County Council and Framwellgate Moor Parish Council for The Carrs Nature Reserve in Pity Me. The site is 20 acres of ponds, meadow and countryside with a lot of wildlife.

The project involves putting in a new / renewed path around the outside of part of the site from Bishops Way round to the NWL entrance and then round to the wagonway and Meadows development – 650 metres in total. 

It will make it far easier for disabled people, those in wheelchairs etc and the elderly to access the site and include a couple of viewing points and seating.

We would also be scraping off two of the pond areas which have filled in / dried out and carrying out some undergrowth cutting where trees have seeded in the wrong places and are drying out the site, changing the habitat. 

This will provide ecology improvements and allow people to see more wildlife from the path.

We are working to tight timescales as we are keen to give people an alternative place to go for a walk, view wildlife, see family and friends after being stuck inside during lockdown.

Please email me at mark.wilkes@durham.gov.uk with your support and any comments, which will help in securing funding and getting the message out.

Particularly keen to hear from anyone who struggles at the moment to access the site for mobility reasons or knows someone who will benefit from the proposals.