Don’t forget to go along to Framwellgate School for the Carnival on Sunday.

The parade will leave Sainsbury’s, at the Arnison Centre, in Pity Me, Durham, between 10.45am to 11.30am.

Those leading the parade are expected to reach Framwellgate School at around 11.40am.

There will be events at the school from noon to 4pm, including a mega slide, bungee run, ball pool, target football and a clown.

The carnival will raise money for the Rainbow Trust children’s charity and Help for Heroes, the armed force’s charity.

Last year, the event raised £6,000, which was split between Help for Heroes and the Durham City and Framwellgate Moor branch of the Royal British Legion.

Entry to Sunday’s event is free.

All four of your local county councillors (Rev and I in Fram, Amanda and Mamie in Newton Hall) have contributed funds from the local budget to help with the running costs.

Over 1000 people have now signed the petition we started to stop Labour slashing the opening hours at Newton Hall Library. Over 100,000 books were taken out last year. We must protect this service. Please sign the petition at www.durham.gov.uk/petitions

Labour wants to cut the opening hours to just 20 a week. They refused to cut the cost of councillors, directors or publicity rags to protect this and other services.

Over 300 of you responded to our survey on the County Plan. The link below details all the responses (minus a couple which were, shall we say unprintable).

I will leave some copies at Newton Hall library this week if anyone wants to read a paper copy.

CountyPlanSurveyResults

I have asked today for councillors to get a report back on the new Council Gas Contracts which affect 760 buildings across the county. Changes to the contract mean that there are many community centres which could be facing a swinging increase in standing charges compared to if they went elsewhere for the supply.

For one centre I have already been able to find a deal over £1000 cheaper. It seems the contract the council has arranged may not be suitable for smaller properties but I am waiting for responses from officers. Once think is sure, with so many costs for community centres going up, this kind difference between what the council is getting charged and what I can find elsewhere is massive and if all councils and public sector organisations are on the same contracts across the North East – well could this be the next big Utility rip off?

After my numerous requests, the Council has today cleared out the channels along Fram Front St between the parking bays and on the pavement.

Hopefuly they have fixed the blocked one outside the Cash Machine on the pavement. They really need to do this more often to avoid it getting so bad and need to clear the cig butts and other rubbish which builds up in the parking bays regularly, not only when I ask them to.  Hopefully no wet feet for residents now.

The Council missed many garden waste collections in Framwellgate Moor on Friday. I haven’t been able to get to the bottom of why, although it may be that as the first collection and being much later starting this year, that the wagons got full more quickly.

Anyway I have been promised that those areas missed will be dealt with today. If anyone still hasn’t had their collection from last week by the end of today please let me know.

RECEIVED THIS EARLIER:

Flooding round up in County Durham

Issued on behalf of Durham County Council, Police and Fire and Rescue Services

The council and emergency services are continuing to respond to an increasing number of reports of and requests for help as a result of, localised flooding across the county.

The current flooding situation in County Durham is:

• Council and emergency services are working together to monitor flooding and to respond to requests for assistance
• Council’s Highways Action Line is receiving high volumes of calls
• The majority of calls are from residents in the Bishop Auckland area; however there are calls coming in from Winston (Teesdale) and Shotton Colliery (East Durham)
  • The CCU has arranged for sandbags to be delivered to Locomotion (museum Shildon) due to imminent flooding risk

The council’s neighbourhood services department:

• Has several crews out in Sedgefield, the former Wear Valley and Teesdale areas delivering sand bags as a result of requests from residents and businesses
• There are several roads flooded in the Wear Valley and Teesdale area and some houses in both areas are also now flooded
• Some rivers have burst their banks

Road closures include:

• Road through Ramshaw village – closed
• B688 West Auckland Bypass between Sainsbury  and Lloyds  – closed
• A6072 West Auckland to Shildon – passable with extreme care – may need to be closed
• Wades Road Littletown – closed
• Underpass Renny’s Lane – closed
• A6072 Tindale to Shildon – flooded
• A67 County Bridge at Barnard Castle – flooded
• Unclassified road between Piittington and Littletown – flooded
• Many minor roads affected by flooding

Continues… i

• In Durham the A690’s westbound slip-road to the Belmont Industrial Estate, is flooded and closed to traffic.
• The A68, in particular, is affected by localised flooding in the West Auckland and Wolsingham areas and Staindrop is also affected.

Environment Agency Update:

• Flood alert issued for the Gaunless (showing slow drop)
• Hummer Beck and Toad Pool, West Auckland are experiencing problems
• River Tees and Barnard Castle rivers are rising, possibly peaking at 4pm

• CCU continue to monitor situation  Upper River Tees – dropping
• Lower River Tees still rising slightly (downstream effect but not expected to flood)
• Flood alert for wear at Sunderland Bridge still in force but remainder of river is ok

Council resources

Sand bags:

1,000 filled sandbags

3,000 empty

1,800 filled to be delivered tomorrow

20 T sand in stock

20 T sand order delivery today

20 T sand to be delivered tomorrow

10 staff filling bags

Aqua – sacs: –

1, 000 at Meadowfield depot

1,000 at Morrison Busty depot

500 x Wellfield depot

500 Hackworth depot

500 x Chilton depot

Access to further 10,000 Aqua-sacs

To report flooding of your home, please contact Highways Action Line (HAL) on 0191 370 6000. This line is staffed Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm, Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.  If you ring after hours you will be given the option to either leave a message or to be transferred to the out of hours Emergency Team.

Walkergate

At 2.30pm the river was more than 600mm below road level.

Highways inspector will monitor.

Housing solutions:

Anyone in need of advice on temporary re-housing due to flooding in their homes can call Housing Solutions out of hours on 01388 722 538.

Terry Collins, corporate director of neighbourhood services at Durham County Council said: “The council is working alongside the emergency services and relevant agencies to respond to requests for help and to issue information to residents as quickly as is possible.

“Teams of staff will be on duty around the clock to respond to emergency calls.

Continues…

“If anyone requires urgent assistance due to the floods they can contact us on the Highways Action Line, 0191 370 3000.

“Many of the county’s roads are affected by flooding and excess water on the carriageway. Please take extra care if you are travelling and check the council’s website for updated information.”

Durham Constabulary:

As heavy rain continues to fall motorists are being urged to drive with caution as roads across County Durham and Darlington are widely affected by surface water.

Chief Inspector Stu Exley, head of Durham Constabulary’s communications branch, said: “Surface water creates hazardous conditions for motorists and they should take this into account and drive accordingly.

“They should slow down and allow sufficient breaking distance between their vehicle and the one in front. Drivers may find themselves unexpectedly hitting areas where flooding has occurred and should drive with caution.”

Advice from Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue service:

Protecting your home against flooding:

• make sure you know how to turn off your gas, water or electricity – if you are not sure, ask your supplier for advice
• keep a kit of essential items like copies of your insurance documents, a battery powered torch and radio and a first aid kit handy

In the event of a flood:

• remember, your (and your family’s) safety is most important, so move them and your pets upstairs, with a means of escape
• turn off your electricity and gas supply – if it is safe to do so – but do not touch sources of electricity when standing in flood water
• move valuable items upstairs or to a high point in your property
• if you do not have non-return valves fitted, you should plug water inlet pipes with towels or cloths
• disconnect any equipment that uses water, like, washing machines and dishwashers

Ends

Press release from Council: – let me know if you get such a call.

Fraudsters claiming to be able to cut household energy bills are targeting homes in County Durham.

Durham County Council’s Fair Trading Team is warning people about a telephone scam by a business offering to supply a device which can save 40 per cent on energy costs.

A caller, claiming to be using a secure phone line, asks for credit card or bank details so the product can be sent out by post. (more…)

Your local Lib Dems are demanding that the council withdraws a proposal to close Toll House Road as part of plans for a new western relief road.

More than 160 residents attended yesterdays drop in session at Bearpark community Centre, which I have been calling for for many months.

Nearly everyone I spoke to said they were not happy with proposals to close the road and I am pushing to stop this proposal in its tracks.

New recycling bin deliveries are starting today in Framwellgate Moor, Pity Me and Brasside.

Email below sent to councillors with details of where to find more information:

As you will be aware, the way we collect recycling and rubbish from residents is changing.  Between April and June a system where household rubbish is collected one week, and recycling the next is being introduced throughout the county.

I wanted to let you know that from 18 April we will be delivering new recycling bins to residents in your ward.  Distribution crews working for the bin supplier ESE, guided by Durham County Council staff will be working to ensure that every householder receives their new wheeled bin with a blue lid for recycling.

Residents will get a sticker on the bin telling them to use it straight away for storing their recycling, and to put it out on their normal recycling collection day.  The sticker also tells them their collection day under the new arrangements, and the date that starts.  The leaflet through the door reminds them which items to put in their recycling bin and which to put in their box.  It is also a collection calendar showing the pattern of collections over the coming year.  Collections in your area will start in June

‘Roving recyclers’ will shadow the progress of the bin distribution teams.  These troubleshooters will be on hand to answer residents’ queries about the new scheme, solve any initial problems, or escalate household specific issues for resolution by waste managers.

Should your residents have any queries about the changes, or need any further information, please refer them to the introductory leaflet that was delivered inside the council’s Guide to Services publication at the end of January, or towww.durham.gov.uk/bins .  They can also enter their postcode into My Durham, available on every webpage, to find out exactly what their collection arrangements are.  Alternatively they can call customer services on 03000 26 1000.