Following the submission of a 5000 name petition from the group working to keep Sherburn Leisure Centre open, there will be a fifteen minute debate on the issue at Full Council on Wed 22nd June in the Council Chamber at County Hall. This is open to the public and I am sure that issues that matter to all the leisure centres under threat will be raised.

If there are any residents with long standing housing repairs in Brasside, Bearpark, Witton Gilbert, Framwellgate Moor and Pity Me, please contact me.

I recently dealt with one issue that had been going on for a long time and discovered other problems not reported before, but Durham City Homes has carried out all of the repairs to the property very quickly following my discussions with them.

Following on from a number of  years of issues for businesses and residents on Beech Road in Framwellgate Moor,  I  have now been successful in getting the council to consult on bringing in a 3 hr waiting for the area.

I have asked that a larger area than normal is consulted (going into part of Lilac Avenue) as there could be some impact there. One of the key questions whether this needs to be in place on Saturdays or just Mon to Friday. To comment by email please email the officer in charge of this at sarah.stoker@durham.gov.uk

I am confident that for businesses and shoppers here, this would be a big improvement as shoppers will find it easier to park.

I have uploaded the consultation letter and the map of the proposals can be accessed by clicking here Consultation Plan – Unclassified Beech Road, Framwellgate Moor, so if there is anyone from the wider area who wishes to make comments they can see how to.

The County Council put out a press release on Friday regarding the leisure centres they are consulting on. (Printed below).

They are unwilling to release at this stage how many bids have been received for Abbey, though I know it is at least two, probably more.

I have been working with a steering group made up of users and members of the local community, as well as Cllr Hopgood (Newton Hall) and this group has submitted a bid.

A futher bid has been submitted from a group called Slam, based in Willington who already run a centre there. There may be at least one more third sector (charity/voluntary) group submission, as well as possibly some private sector proposals.

Having seen the quality of the community bid, I could not accept a private sector bid without proof that any community/voluntary bid was unustainable.

This is because it is essential that the centre is run for the local community, not for shareholders. By running the centre in this way, the improvements to the centre that I have been pushing the council on for two years can be achieved.

An improvement in facilities for young people is non negotiable in this equation. Indeed it may well be that by the centre not being controlled by the Council, but with their support that this can now be acheived.

PRESS RELASE FROM COUNCIL:

Next step in leisure centre consultation

Proposals submitted by community groups and businesses bidding to run six leisure centres in County Durham will now be considered in detail by Durham County Council.

The deadline for submissions passed at noon today and each will now be considered in depth before any decisions regarding the future of the centres is taken.

Earlier this year the council embarked on a three month consultation process seeking alternatives to closure for council-run leisure facilities at:

Abbey Leisure Centre

Coxhoe Leisure Centre

Deerness Leisure Centre

Ferryhill Leisure Centre

Glenholme Leisure Centre – Crook

Sherburn Leisure Centre

The consultation was launched as part of the authority’s requirement to make savings of £123.5m over the next four years due to large reductions in Government grant. During the 12 weeks 1,915 consultation questionnaires were filled out and there were 21 initial expressions of interest.

Terry Collins is the council’s corporate director of neighbourhood services:”I am extremely pleased with the level of interest shown by groups and businesses wanting to take over the centres and can confirm the following.

“We have received 19 bids from ten organisations. These bids relate to interest in all six centres. We will now have to ensure that the proposals are financially robust going forward, meet compliance arrangements as well as our legal requirements regarding the transfer of staff. They will clearly also need to offer the right mix of experience and capabilities for the future.”

Notes to editors:

A report to Cabinet in March outlined the need for the authority to address the number of under used facilities and to meet the challenge of a 25 per cent reduction in the sport and leisure budget, following major reductions in Government grant.

For the council’s leisure services this equates to a saving of £3.5m over the next four years with nearly £1.5m of that within the next financial year (2011/12).

Durham County Council currently has 19 indoor facilities.

An application to increase the number of houses being built on the old Council Depot on Finchale Road/Old Pit has been submitted. The developer is looking to increase the number of houses on the site from 199 to 205, by changing some of the house types. The application is 11/00328/FPA.

I have requested that the Council seeks additional funding for the local community through a s106 agreement or alternatively the provision of additional social housing as part of this  application. This could see an additional social rented property or £6k of funding for local play facilities. Given that the original application was based on fewer properties this only seems fair.

The link to view the application when it is uploaded visit:

http://publicaccess.durhamcity.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_searchform.aspx

and enter 11/00338/FPA . (NOT ACTIVE TODAY)

The user group set up to save Abbey Leisure Centre is set to put in its proposals this week to take over the centre. A lot of hard work has been put in to create a proposal and it’s hoped the steering group proposals will be able to move the next stage.

It is clear that a majority of residents and users want the centre run for the community and by the community and I will continue to support the group along with Cllr Hopgood from Newton Hall, whereever we can.

Other groups are also expected to put forward proposals and ultimately whatever the outcome, I hope the centre is run for the community and will continue to push for this.

Of key importance is that the centre remains open and that it improves facilities for young people in our area.

PLEASE VISIT THE LINK AND MAKE COMMENTS ON THE COUNCILS PROPOSALS

A RELAUNCHED economic masterplan which could see more than 7,000 new homes built in and around Durham has failed to win over its opponents.

Durham County Council chiefs unveiled the latest draft of their multi-million pound County Durham Plan, which they hope will transform the county into an economic powerhouse with 29,000 new homes and 16,000 new jobs by 2030, late last week.

They claimed the updated plan had a greater focus on the county, rather than just Durham City.

But objectors say any changes have not gone nearly far enough.

Durham is still earmarked for 7,300 new homes, including 4,750 in the city, and two new bypasses; and Aykley Heads is still seen as a potential cutting-edge business hub.

Douglas Pocock, honorary secretary of the City of Durham Trust conservation group, said the plan still focused ‘overwhelmingly’ on the city and still had three-quarters of its new housing on green belt land.

A Green Belt campaign has been launched to save the city’s protected open spaces.

Meanwhile, Framwellgate Moor county councillor Mark Wilkes called on residents to read and respond to the latest draft.

He said: “It is very clear to me that once the strategy is in place, it becomes almost impossible to change it and that the new bypasses and houses would have to be built on greenbelt, primarily around Pity Me, Brasside and Framwellgate Moor.

“Those residents who do not want to see this happen or have specific comments must comment on the need for so many houses in Durham City and the council’s strategy before July 8.”

No decisions have yet been made on where new homes would be built, but council officials prefer three sites in Durham City: at Sniperley, near the Arnison Centre and south of Sherburn Road.

Stuart Timmiss, the council’s head of planning, has said the Plan can both protect Durham and its environment and encourage economic growth; and there had been a ‘mixed response’ to the council’s vision for the city.

The latest consultation ends on Friday, July 8. For more information and to take part, visit durham.gov.uk/consultation

Neighbourhood warden update for 1st May to 1st June

FRAMWELLGATE MOOR /PITY ME

• Litter pick carried out by the warden with members of the council Pride team, Cllr Mark Wilkes, teaching staff and pupils from framwellgate primary school.
• Fly tipping removed from the Bishops way area.
• Patrols carried out for Problems with dog fouling along Framwellgate Peth and the road leading to the DLI museum
• Community litter pick carried out with the Pride team, Cllr Wilkes and members of the community along the footpath behind Hudspeth Crescent that leads to the College.
• Dog fouling event held by the council’s countryside ranger’s team attended by Neighbourhood wardens. This took place at the nature reserve to the rear of Bishops Way and was aimed at educating dog walkers about picking up after there dogs.

NEWTON HALL

• Richmond Road, Bek Road playing fields monitored for dog fouling and litter.
• Litchfeild road field patrolled for dog fouling. Dog walkers in area spoken to regarding recent dog fouling issues and giving council number to contact if they witness people letting their dogs foul.
• Speed boat has been moved of the grassed area in Farnham close due to complaints from residents.

BRASSIDE

• Several litter picks have been made on the road that leads from Frankland prison to Finchale Abbey. Litter patrols in this area are ongoing including the occasional evening patrol to try and target cars parked up in the lay by’s.
• Rowan Drive monitored for dog fouling and litter from vehicles due to reports of problems in the area.

WITTON GILBERT

• Dog fouling/litter patrols carried out throughout the village around Oak Lea area, Norburn Park and Coach Lane.
• Residents throughout village spoken to and warned regarding leaving rubbish and other items that have a detrimental effect on the area in their front gardens.
• Due to reports of stray dogs in the Rose Lea area it has been requested that the council environmental wardens pay some attention around this particular part of the village to try and catch the dogs.

Bearpark

• Complaint of waste in rear of a property at North View. The landlord confirms this is a constant problem and he will make arrangements to have a fence erected to stop access to his property.
• Colliery Road regularly patrolled to deter or remove fly tipping.
• ASB issues rose regarding Mullen Close and Boddiners shop. Graffiti team have cleared abusive graffiti and now it is up to Mr Boddiner to clear the rest.

Unfortunately I have had to ask again that litter bins on these streets are emptied everyday. Whilst we still have a littering problem at lunchtimes here, school pupils frequently find bins overflowing. I have been told that the council is working hard to make sure that the bins are emptied every day during the week, but there have been lapses. If anyone notices overflowing bins here or anywhere else, please let me know by text to 07500125325 or email mark.wilkes@durham.gov.uk

I visited Framwellgate Moor Primary School today with officers from the County Council pride team and neighbourhood services for an education session on litter and other associated issues.

This included a litter pick around the school grounds where pupils enthusiastically collected three large bags of litter using litter picking devises. it was certainly impressive how much pupils are aware of issues surrounding litter, flytipping, recycling and other environmental concerns.