The Post Office is still set to close on Dec 30th. From January 13th, a mobile service looks set to operate at the front of the Community Centre but it will only be there for a few hours each Friday. Clearly half a day a week is not what anyone wants to see. We need a full time post office in Framwellgate Moor. As local Lib Dem councillors we will continue to try and find a solution but it is not looking good.
POST OFFICE CLOSURE IN FRAMWELLGATE MOOR – We are fighting to keep a local service
Many of you may be aware that the postmaster is resigning at the Premier Store and the post office is closing at the end of the month.
As your local Lib Dem councillors we are pushing hard to find an alternative location for the post office. We have already publicised this in the press which can be seen on the Northern Echo here.
We are also approaching local businesses to see if any are willing to take on the service.
Please contact the post office to voice your concerns by writing to FREEPOST YOUR COMMENTS (Nothing else needed on the address). Or you can email: comments@postoffice.co.uk
The more people write in to voice their concerns and demand action, the more chance we can keep the service in the village.
Echo story:
AN APPEAL has been made for a business to come forward to take over the running of a post office in a Durham community.
Lib Dem councillors have made the call to ensure the future of post office services in Framwellgate Moor.
The post office, which was moved into a Nisa store on the Front Street about a year ago is to due to close on December 30 after the postmaster unexpectedly resigned.
Cllr Mark Wilkes said: “We challenged the closure of the stand-alone post office over concerns about the future of services a year or so ago.
“When the post office was moved into the Nisa store we thought great, the service is protected.
“Now that’s out the window. It is simply not acceptable for such a vibrant area with so much demand for postal services to not have a post office.”
Local Lib Dem councillors are approaching local businesses to see if any are willing to take on the service and will be speaking with Post Office Limited about what can be done.
In a letter to councillors, Post Office network operations advisor Angela Bettison said: “I would like to assure you that we are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a post office service to the local community.
“In exploring this it is important that any future service is sustainable for the person operating the service and for Post Office Limited.”
A concerned Cllr Amanda Hopgood said: “We need to protect the diversity of our shopping areas.
“So many people of all ages in Framwellgate Moor use postal services.
“The city centre post office was downgraded and we cannot afford to see the service in Framwellgate Moor disappear.”
Fellow Lib Dem councillor Mamie Simmons said she was particularly concerned about elderly and disabled residents who rely on the post office to collect pensions and benefits.
Councillors have already had calls from concerned residents.
She said: “We must find a solution, there are too many people who have no alternative.
“One lady has told us she doesn’t have a bank account and struggles to get into Durham.
“These kinds of people are going to be seriously impacted by the loss of these services.”
Residents can comment on the closure by email to comments@postoffice.co.uk or by post to “FREEPOST Your Comments”. They can also comment on the closure by email to comments@postoffice.co.uk or by post to “FREEPOST Your Comments”.
Christmas Tree back in Newton Hall for another year and Framwellgate Moor gets new lights
Working with All Saint’s Church we have secured another year of Christmas decorations for Newton Hall. A bigger Christmas tree has been provided and the lights we bought last year will be up again. In Framwellgate Moor we have provided funding to the Parish Council towards the cost of new lights for the tree on Front Street.
Framwellgate Moor Parking restrictions installed
The new yellow lines and no waiting no loading markings we secured have now been installed on Framwellgate Moor Front St. This should help to reduce the dangerous parking which has been blocking the pavement.
New posts with signs are also being installed and enforcement of the restrictions will be starting. Hopefully this will make it safer for pedestrians and other road users.
Local Lib Dems challenge government ban on local authority bus companies
The government is currently trying to change legislation so that local authorities would be banned from starting up bus companies.
The Lib Dem group will call for cross party support on Wednesday against these proposals. We will ask the Council to publicly challenge the plans and to write to the relevant government ministers in protest at these plans.
Any council at some point in the future could find that it has to set up services should there be no local private companies willing or able to run services. The remove this ability is clearly a political move by the Tory Government, and it is unacceptable. Indeed many rural areas of the Country could be aversely hit – ironically many of which are normally Conservative leaning in their views.
Private companies frequently find it difficult to set up bus services in rural areas, and if we remove the ability of a local council to do this then we in effect shut down localism – precisely the opposite of what this government professes to support.
The Link 2 service operated by the Council in County Durham offers a prime example of a service which has been set up to fill a gap in services. I would hate to think that in other areas, should a council wish to, services could not be set up, or become far more difficult to set up, leaving the vulnerable, disabled or the elderly stranded.
We hope all councillors will support our motion, which Cllr Richard Ormerod is proposing.
Arnison Crossing installed
I’m please to be able to report that following our complaint about the new crossing near to Frankie and Bennies not having being completed, that the site owners moved very quickly and installed the raised crossing.
We remain concerned that many drivers haven’t got used to the new layout and ask pedestrians and particularly drivers to take extra care. I personally observed a driver go straight over the crossing without slowing down, with pedestrians waiting to cross.
New parking restrictions in Framwellgate Moor – A step closer
There were no formal objections to our plans to put Double Yellow lines and no loading no waiting on the pavement/road opposite the shops in Framwellgate Moor.
As Lib Dem councillors we have listened to residents and acted to stop the pavement parking – there is no excuse for this as there are plenty of car parks and parking bays in the area now.
The single width pavement from near the doctors surgery down towards the bus gate will now get the new markings installed. New signs are being ordered and we hope this will all be in place very soon. We are chasing the Council to get this done asap.
Once in place it will reduce the amount of pavement parking and also allow for far better enforcement against offenders. Of course we will also be pushing for very regular enforcement once the new restrictions are in place.
For anyone doubting the parking provision, you can currently park:
In the club carpark, the business centre car park behind Sainsbury’s, King George’s Carpark (next to the play area), in the car park behind the Community Centre, in the parking bays running the entire length of Front St and in Coop (Salutation) car park – and of course you can always walk to the shops or take the bus too.
Framwellgate Moor Takeaways
We are continuing to report the unacceptable practices of certain takeaways in Framwellgate Moor. Over the last few months not a week has gone by without overflowing bins or cardboard boxes lying around. We have now reported over a dozen times this problem and will continue to do so. The Council is now finally taking it seriously and some legal orders have been issued. If you notice any overflowing business waste bins or dumped commercial waste anywhere in the area please report it to us immediately.
St Cuthberts Hospice – Fireworks Display at Framwellgate School – Supported by your local councillors – Saturday 5th November – Display at 8pm, gates open at 6pm
Have you got your tickets yet for the fireworks display?
It’s in the grounds of Framwellgate School Durham on Saturday 5th November – Display at 8pm, gates open at 6pm.
As your local councillors we have provided funding towards the cost of running the event so that it can go ahead in our area and so that ticket prices can be kept reasonable and some money raised for the hospice.
You can get tickets by calling the hospice on 0191 386 1170 Extension 5 or visit eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/st-cuthberts-hospice-family-fireworks-night-tickets-26919866044
Full details:
St Cuthbert’s Hospice Family Fireworks Night
5th November 2016
The skies of Durham will be brought to life with an explosion of colour as St Cuthbert’s Hospice celebrate Guy Fawkes Night on Saturday, 5th November 2016 with our second fireworks extravaganza. There will also be fairground rides and catering vans to ensure fun for all the family.
Event Timings:
6:00pm Gates and fun fair open
8.00pm Firework display
Ticket prices:
Adults (Aged 16 and over) £5
15 & Under £3
Family (2 Adults, 2 Children aged 3 to 15) £14.
*Please note children aged 2 years and under are free.
This event is sponsored by Ramside Hall Hotel Golf & Spa and kindly supported by County Councillors; Amanda Hopgood, Mamie Simmons and Mark Wilkes.
Do you walk your dog in Pity Me – Help tackle fouling – PLUS Help us get stronger enforcement
If you are one of the majority who go for a walk each day with your dog and pick up after it, you can help us. There are a small number of dog owners letting everyone else down. If you spot anyone letting their dog foul and then leaving it, please let us know the name of the person or culprit, the time, location and type of dog. We are trying to find those who are spoiling it for everyone else in the area.
We have recently targeted Newton Hall and now are trying to do the same in Pity Me. Indeed if you spot anyone anywhere leaving dog waste let us know the details.
We have asked for large signs to go up as a deterrent. Ultimately, people can face a large fine.
The Council has agreed with us that stronger measures are needed. They have a consultation running until 5th December aimed at having stronger powers of enforcement. Please respond to it by visiting this link: