We have organised a series of pool activities for children and young people aged 18 and under living in County Durham.

The aim is to encourage young people to be more active and enjoy themselves, with a choice of free ‘fun with inflatables’ and general swimming sessions on offer.

Running from Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October, the sessions are open to children and young people who live in County Durham. It follows the success of a similar scheme that ran throughout the summer holidays, which saw more than 9,000 youngsters enjoy more than 28,000 swims.

It’s wonderful that so many children and young people took part in our free summer holiday swimming sessions. Not only is swimming a great way to stay fit and healthy, but it is also good fun too.

We know it can be tricky to keep youngsters entertained when they are off school and so we are delighted to offer these free sessions again over the half-term holidays.”

Adults who qualify for a concessional rate can also swim for free if their child is unable to swim and needs some support in the pool.

To find out about the sessions on offer, visit: www.durham.gov.uk/swimming

Residents are encouraged to sign up for a free Thrive card in advance, which will allow children access to sessions. Sign up is only needed once, and children who already have a Thrive card do not need to apply for a new one. Parents and carers can get a Thrive card by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/thrivecard

Our conversation on how our leisure centre can be improved starts today. We have already started making the centre Carbon Neutral, and the new outdoor play area is currently being installed following previous consultation.

Now for the big questions. Are you happy with proposals to redesign the inside of the centre?

This would include

• A new cafe
• A redesigned fitness suite with the weights area incorporated into it.
• A wellbeing suite which will provide specialist equipment to help people will provide a range of specialist equipment aimed at people who are older, suffering from a long term health condition or who are new to or returning to exercise. This space will be in addition to the gym, and will be a space for people to improve their health – physically, mentally and socially .
• A repurposing of the main hall, which would see this area converted to have a soft play area (with party rooms), a climbing zone and a new interactive adventure zone (TAG)

We also need to hear from those who use the main hall for sports on their views on these changes as well as to discuss alternative options for some sports. We are consulting as well on retaining sauna and steam facilities to ensure that we have the backing of users and the wider public to install these facilities and the knowledge that they will be well used.

The council is currently working with the Martial Arts group regarding use of one of the proposed repurposed rooms or with relocation to the neighbouring leisure centre should the consultation come back that residents are in support.

We are also talking with other venues about the possibility of badminton use remaining in the area should the proposals for the main hall move forwards.

Please attend the consultation days at Abbey Leisure Centre on Monday 1 November (2.00pm to 6.00pm) or Tuesday 9 November (9.00am to 1.00pm).

I will be attending the Tuesday 9th event 9am-10am and Mon 1st event from 4pm-6pm.

If you can’t attend the events, please use the online consultation and also let us know by email if you have specific views or simply call us. You can find all the details at this link:

https://durham.gov.uk/article/26403/Consultation-on-Abbey-Leisure-Centre-s-facilities

And the layout proposals at:

https://durham.gov.uk/media/36511/Abbey-Leisure-Centre-proposed-floor-plan/pdf/AbbeyLeisureCentreTransformationPlan.pdf?m=637703220467670000

Despite only submitting our bid a few months ago after everyone else, we’ve been shortlisted for the city of culture 2025. This remarkable achievement for the Lib Dem-led joint administration and will see the entire county form part of our bid – a first of its kind.

The Weight Shop and Fram Ferment want any spare apples you have in your garden! And in return you can get some free Cider. See the leaflet! They are on Fram Front Street

Cpuncil press release:

A free bike loan scheme supporting workers to save money and travel healthier is being rolled out across County Durham. 

Following the success of a pilot in Shildon last year, our Borrow a Bike scheme has now launched at Abbey Sports Centre in Pity Me, Durham, as part of Cycle September.

Travel actively and sustainably

Open to anyone who lives or works in Framwellgate Moor, Pity Me, Newton Hall and Brasside, it aims to support people returning to their workplace to travel actively and sustainably and improve their health and wellbeing.

The scheme offers residents a complimentary bike loan for three months alongside equipment, training and support for those wishing to improve their skills and confidence.

It is the first of four more sites set to open in the coming months, with the roll-out being funded as part of our action plan to tackle the Climate Emergency.

Borrow a Bike will also be further developed to include a wider range of bikes and more facilities at the collection and storage points.

‘A great way to improve physical health and mental wellbeing’

Physical activity officer, Stephen Clough, sustainable travel officer Victoria Lloyd-Gent and Cllr Mark Wilkes at the roll-out of the Borrow a Bike scheme

Cllr Mark Wilkes, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “It is fantastic that more residents across County Durham are able to take part in the Borrow a Bike scheme. As part of our commitment to protecting the environment, we are determined to offer more sustainable travel options. Proven carbon savings were made in the pilot scheme in Shildon so I would strongly encourage residents to take up the offer and commute sustainably more widely across the county.”

I have been working for several months since taking over the portfolio for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change to put in place improvements to our River banks. I’m delighted that works are now starting.

Here’s the Council pressed release detailing the work to be done:

Areas along Durham City’s riverbanks will be cleared of debris as works begin this week to improve the area for visitors.

Maintenance work begins around the River Wear

We will be working with Durham Cathedral to carry out a series of works to improve the safety and appearance of the public pathways along the River Wear.

Path maintenance

The work includes cutting back trees and vegetation that is overhanging areas of the footpaths, and clearing the paths of mud, leaves and debris. Fences along the river walk will also be scrubbed and repainted.

To prevent water pooling along the paths, our find and fix team will also be digging out channels to alleviate excess water and clearing out any holes in the brickwork for water to run into the river.

River debris

In addition to this, we will be working under the guidance of the Environment Agency to clear the River Wear of debris that has built-up across its weirs, particularly the lower weir at Milburn Gate.

This includes a small-scale hand clearance of debris and ensuring the fish pass is clear. However some areas of the river, such as the upper weir near Floss Mill, will be left intact as it is known to be home to otters.

Protecting species

Otters have been returning to the River Wear after the natural population declined in County Durham between the 1950s and 1980s, and it is hoped that the population of the species will continue to increase.

To protect the otters, we will be carrying out ecological assessments to ensure that any works carried out do not disturb the animals or the area where the otter’s holt resides.

Attractive city

Cllr Mark Wilkes, our Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “We want to ensure that our city is a clean, tidy and attractive place for both residents and visitors.

“We have a beautiful walk along our river which so many enjoy, so we want to ensure it remains safe to use while preserving the iconic views of the river, the city, and historic landmarks which can be seen from these paths.

“We will be carrying out significant ecology reports to ensure that the population of otters in the River Wear will not be affected by the works to the weirs, and we are working with all partners such as Durham Cathedral and the Environment Agency to bring forward this plan to improve the area for visitors.”

Along with my Cabinet colleagues we will report back next week on a review of all options for the new building.

The report can be found along with other papers for Cabinet at

https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=154&MId=13152

If you wish to attend the meeting, contact democraticservices@durham.gov.uk immediately as there will be limited space. Alternatively using the link above on the day you should be able to watch the meeting live via Youtube.

The meeting starts at 9.30am and is being held in the Council Chamber at County Hall. Masks are expected to be worn when you are stood up but can be removed once seated and chairs are spread out to meet Covid safety guidelines.

At this meeting we will also approve the next steps towards reopening of the DLI building, as well as confirming a significant investment in to Abbey Leisure Centre to make it fit for the future.

Consultation is set to follow on the leisure strategy however we are also working hard to get work done on the ground quickly as residents have already waited many years under the previous administration for this work to start.

We are proposing to upgrade the current grass and mud path running from Old Pit Lane/Finchale Road to Litchfield Road.

This will be with a windstone grit surface the same as the path around the nature reserve in Pity Me. It will be three metres wide.

Please email us your support for this proposal.

We will be using funding from s106 money (development money), Area Action Partnership funding and some of our local neighbourhood budget.

Picture of the proposals below.

Back in April/May under the previous administration there were problems with weed spraying on our roads and pavements and around obstacles. This meant that large areas were untreated.

Since the election it has become apparent that this is a problem in our area and a number of other areas.

We are now directing resources to address this issue which has seen many streets full of weeds, particularly at the kerbsides and between flag stones on paths.

If there is an issue on your street or a particular location please let us know, however we are working around the area and your local Lib Dem councillors are personally checking every street.

We are determined to make sure that our area is looked after to the highest standards and certainly to a better standard than under the previous Labour administration.

Many residents may have received a leaflet from Co. Durham Land LLP in the last few days about a consultation on proposals for the development plans on the “Sniperley” area which were approved in the County Plan.

This development is subject to a requirement for a full master plan to have been drawn up and approved before planning applications are submitted.

As with Bellway, who are developing the remaining part of this site, Co. Durham Land LLP has jumped the gun.

With no master plan in place, no transport evaluation, nothing in effect available yet to view, I find it unacceptable for the developer to have commenced consultation. Indeed on their consultation site they are presupposing a whole raft of things.

I would urge residents to visit their website at www.sniperleyparkcommunity.com and make it very clear that it is unacceptable to be jumping the gun like this. At the same time I feel it is worth making clear that this development must be a carbon neutral development with a full sustainable transport plan in place, something which they make no mention of in their leaflet.