It has come to my attention today that an application for a tower at Potterhouse Substation (Actually on Pity Me Front St) will be submitted today by Northern Powergrid.

I am told that the tower is required because the modernisation of the telecoms network by BT is changing the way that data is communicated. Communication between substations  is required to ensure safety in the event of a need to shut down the electricity grid, with similar proposals at other sites around the County. The proposed tower would be 22m high in the middle of the site, so higher than the existing buildings but significantly lower than the existing tower. It will clearly will be visible from some of the properties around the site, though trees may hide the view in some directions.

I will post the planning details when available. I have made it clear to planners and to the applicant that I would expect consultation with the community by way of a drop in event to discuss concerns. I have also raised the fact that the site overall is currently an eyesore I need of serious improvement and that renovation is long overdue.

I have asked that if this application was granted a contribution towards the improvement of the local area should be considered if at all possible.

I have also said that in the event that there are objections, then it may be necessary to ask for the application to be referred to the planning committee rather than being determined by officers.

If anyone wishes to discuss it further please feel free to get in touch.

I have been promised that the path will be cut on Thursday…………We wait to see the result.

Been a few weeks since my last post, partly due to spending a lot of time dealing complaints about failed refuse and recycling collections and the appalling lack of grass cutting in some areas and issues with council housing and the council failure to answer the phone.

For the fourth year running of this unitary authority the path between Hudspeth Crescent and Front St in Pity Me and the path running across to Finchale/Old Pit have not been cut back despite repeated requests from residents and councillors to the council. This has now been raised with head of service and I have asked today for the third year in a row to see the cutting schedule for the area, which I have asked for each year and never been given, leading me to believe that there isn’t one and that actually the new council is simply responding when the number of complaints hits a certain level or not at all in this case so far.

It is strange that a department with so many tiers of management can’t deal with simple things like scheduling a path for cutting back. Once again I expect that there will be excuses like the weather, or agency staff shortages. What they can’t blame this on is cuts in their budget because they have already told me in the last few months that this is simply not the case.

Yes there used to be some problems with the old City Council but things did get done when you asked, and pretty quickly too. It is also clear that this is a TWO TIER COUNCIL. Up in Chester-le-Street or over in Langley Park, the grass is being cut properly, so why can’t we have the same service in Durham?

So much of Labour’s promise of raising service levels to the highest in the County with the new authority.

It is also clear that this isn’t just the council ganging up on Pity Me residents, the grass cutting in Witton Gilbert this year has been even worse and there are problems across Newton Hall too.

Time for a chat with the Director I think.

OK rant over, but on a different note if anyone is still having any issues with bin collections please do let me know as there have been a lot of changes of late and a lot of complaints about failed collections.

Finally, if anyone has  housing or council tax benefit issues let me know. In the last few weeks there have been days and even a full week according to one resident where it has simply been impossible to get through to the council. I checked this and it was true, simply a message saying “We are too busy and are going to hang up on you now” or words to that effect. So I called four other North East councils and got through to all of their benefits departments in less than a minute – so any excuses from our Labour-run Council are unacceptable.

Looks like DCC is failing again. Noone can get through to the Housing Benefit department, just a message saying they are really busy.

No problem getting through to other councils, so clearly Labour run DCC is failing to do its job properly. This must be down to the Labour-run Council Cabinet as this has been an ongoing problem  for months and seems to be getting worse rather than better – when other councils are managing fine.

Sort it out before someone loses their home.

I have been asking for repairs at Durham Moor for some time, and can confirm that Durham Moor Roundabout is to see various patching work and additional patching on Dryburn Road which is in a bad state due to subsidence in the road surface. Let me know if there are any other areas requiring work.

For anyone wondering how long it is going to take to finish in Pity Me, all is still going to plan, though I had to raise issues about cars being blocked in yesterday.

Once all the work has been done, the final top layer of surface will be added. Should see work completed in the next 6 weeks, but if anyone has any concerns please let me know.

There will be a Jubilee celebration in Witton Gilbert on Saturday 26th May from 2pm to 6pm. I have contributed from local member funds towards the cost of running the event, along with my fellow county councillor.

Details below, look forward to seeing you there.

The Queen’s Jubilee Gala

To be held at

Witton Gilbert Community Centre (Cooper Hall)

Saturday 26^th May  2012          2pm – 6pm

The committee of Witton Gilbert Community centre would like to invite you to their Queens Jubilee Gala, to be held at the village Hall.

Admission By Ticket only

(subsidised courtesey of funding received for this special event)

Children £2,  Adults £3,  Family Pass £8  Over 60’s FREE*

Includes buffet, tea, coffee and juice,  BYOB if required.

Entertainment that will be laid on will include Dancing Display, Craft Stalls, A donated goods sale in aid of St Cuthberts Hospice, Witton Gilbert WI Display and home made cake sale, Handmade Jewllery, Bags, Wood Turning, Wooden Plaques,  Sale of Craft supplies,  Cards, Knitting etc.  Face Painting, Hook a Duck, Bouncy Castle, Supervised Todlers Play Area,  Games with lots of Prizes, Football Tournament, Fancy Dress and childrens craft area.

All children will be presented with a comemorative medal,

please try and wear red, white and blue colours.

Prize for Best Dressed.

*Over 60’s from the Village of Witton Gilbert Only. Please See over.

Over 60’s Ticket Application

Application must be received by May 20^th. Forms can be returned to Witton Gilbert Post office,  A box in the foyer at Cooper Hall  or to any committee member.

Call Arnie Simpson on 0191371 2161 for a form for over 60’s.

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.