STATE OF REAR OF FRONT ST FRAM

Had to call out officers today to look at the continuing problems with littering and flytipping and general mess at the rear of some of the shops on the Front Street.

Environmental officers came out very quickly and are demanding action of landowners particularly at the rear of South Terrace and Tindle Avenue.

If there are any other areas with a build up of litter/flytipping etc please get in touch.

CLIMATE CHANGE MARKET IN DURHAM

Press release below from the county council relating to a climate change market. This strikes me as an excellent idea and I would urge any residents who can get down for this on Saturday to do so.  I have asked the Council if they would consider having someone on hand to give specific details of ways to save money on energy bills at the same event and on the new recycling regime.

County Durham residents are being invited to attend a street market with a difference, as part of a national campaign to raise awareness on the issue of climate change.

As part of Durham County Council’s continuing efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the county and to mark national ‘Climate Week’, the public will be offered free advice on how they can make micro renewable technologies work for them. The event will be held in Durham Market Place on Saturday March 17, between 9.30am and 4.00pm. (more…)

REGENERATION OF 300M OF PITY ME FRONT STREET

Over the last few years I have been working to get improvements to Pity Me Front St. As I am sure many residents will be aware the road surface, footpaths, kerbs and parking areas are in a poor condition and in need of work.

I can now confirm that working with officers in highways and regeneration departments at Durham County Council I have been successful in bringing together a substantial amount of funding to carry out significant improvements. This funding includes money from the neighbourhood budget I am allocated as a councillor.

It is proposed to carry out the following works in the coming months, some of which is being done separately to the main scheme.

1. Patching work is about to be carried out on the carriageway to improve the surface and reduce the vibrations caused by traffic, which many residents have complained about. This is due to start in the next week or so and the areas being repaired can be seen by the white markings on the road.

In addition a large stretch of the road will be completely recoated to further improve the condition. The extent of this area is also marked with white paint at either end. This work is likely to be carried out in June or July.

2. The main part of the proposed scheme however is to rebuild all the parking bays and footpaths from the entrance to The Avenue, down Front Street for over 300 yards as far as the entrance with Acorn Croft. To make sure that a proper long lasting job is done, this will require digging out and resurfacing the parking area and replacing all the old kerbstones and where necessary the drainage system. (more…)

COUNCILS SLAMMED BY OMBUDSMAN

Sent to councillors today – also been in the newspapers.

Council acts on Ombudsman’s recommendations

Durham County Council is acting swiftly in response to the findings of a report by the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO). The report arose as a result an initial planning decision and complaints to environmental health officers at the former Teesdale District Council. It also relates to the subsequent handling of the case following the establishment of the unitary Durham County Council in April 2009. (See notes to editors) (more…)

LIBRARY LINK RESTORED -SIGN THE PETITION – SEND LABOUR A MESSAGE

Having kicked up a fuss about the disappearance of the link for the library consultation I can confirm that it has now been readded to the council homepage.

Please join in the consultation. there is no need to cut opening hours, but plenty of scope to cut waste and various other budgets to protect frontline services.

This is no longer just about libraries, it is about democracy and protecting frontline services,  so whether you use your local library or not, please join in and send a message to the council. They must protect services, root out waste, cut director numbers, cut councillor costs, cut publicity rags etc.

www.durham.gov.uk

Petitions: www.durham.gov.uk/petitions

NORTHERN ECHO HIGHLIGHTS OUR ARGUMENT OVER BUS SERVICES

At yesterdays Cabinet I raised serious concerns about the spending on bus services in County Durham. I think the Echo article is worth a read:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/council/durhamcountycouncil/9575906.Durham_council_under_fire_over_bus_contracts/

Labour is stopping its elected members including its own councillors from scrutinising important issues. Further proof of how undemocratic DCC is.

LABOUR HIDES LIBRARY CONSULTATION?

On the day that the Northern Echo reported on our campaigns to stop the slashing of Library opening hours, the Council Website removed the link to the library consultation on its front page – and replaced it would you believe with a report on how accessible the website is! You really could not make this up! They also added information on archeology and an article on country dancing. Now whilst all of these are clearly important to those interested in them, to remove any mention of the library strategy which is affecting nearly every community in the County on the day our petitions are launched strikes me as a bit too much of a coincidence……

To sign the Newton Hall library petition visit www.durham.gov.uk/petitions

To comment on the consultation visit: http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.aspx?ServiceId=7639

NEWTON HALL LIBRARY PETITION

Our petition to stop the opening hours being slashed at Newton Hall library has gone online. It can be signed at www.durham.gov.uk/petitions

We the undersigned petition the Council to not cut opening hours at Newton Hall Library.

Durham County Council is currently consulting on cutting the opening hours of Newton Hall Library from 43 to 20 hours. Libraries are a community asset which should be protected. Alternative means of funding have been identified by councillors to keep libraries open for longer and we believe that the Council should protect this well used facility and has the money with which to do this.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT: We provided numerous ways to fund keeping libraries open for longer including cutting teh cost of councillors, reducing te number of directors, cutting the council publicity rag county news, merging together the numerous communications teams in county hall, cutting other waste, purchasing more effectively and efficiently. All were rejected by Labour despite being confirmed as possible by officers. So these really are Durham Labour Party cuts.