We promised to push for work to be done fixing the road surface on Folly Terrace, and  this will now start during the summer. One side of the road is desintegrating and will be rebuilt.

And we are still pushing to get flag stone paths replaced in various locations around the area. Let us know if you think there is a footpath or road surface which is in need of work.

Councillor Wilkes added “Since electing your local Lib Dem councillors, the number of road and footpath repairs has increased dramatically across our area, meeting the promises we made to improve our villages.”

Last year we made Mere Drive in Pity Me a priority for resurfacing, and just in time – the winter  left the road in an even worse state.

The road has been resurfaced this year after we committed additional funding from local budgets. We also asked for the work to be redone after somoe of the new surface started to break up.

Another road improved following your Lib Dem councillors’ intervention.

The failure of the labour run council to get to grips with waste disposal is costing the council a fortune.

This year it will cost the council £48 for every tonne of waste which goes to landfill – just in Landfill Tax. This will rise to £72 by 2013. As a country we send half a tonne of waste per person to landfill. In County Durham it is likely to cost around £7m this year in landfill tax. We must cut landfill if we are to keep council tax down and help the environment. Please recycle more, reduce food waste or get a discounted compost bin by calling 0845 130 6090 or visit www.durham.getcomposting.com

Cllr Wilkes says “After getting 700 more homes on the garden waste scheme we are still pushing the Council to get more homes added. This will help to reduce the amount of biodegradeable waste going to landfill and make it much easier for many residents to dispose of garden waste.”

Local residents are praising the Citizens Advice outreach service we brought to our area.
Cllr Rev Crooks commented “Once again we have committed funding from our Neighbourhood budgets to this fantastic service to keep it going for another year.”
The three Parish Councils of Bearpark, Framwellgate Moor (Includes Pity Me & Brasside) and Witton Gilbert  have also contributed this year after our requests to help keep the scheme going with independent, Labour and Lib Dem parish councillors all supporting the service.
The CAB can help with housing, debt, legal,   employment, benefits and family issues – and pretty much any other advice you may need as well. No appointment is needed – just pop in for a chat.
We have now secured funding until May 2011
Future dates can be found here: http://markwilkes.mycouncillor.org.uk/cab-outreach/

A large number of trees were wiped out at the A167 entrance to Pity Me leaving a scene reminiscent of  rain forest slash and burn. Calls to the County Council – which many feel should have responded sooner were not dealt with quickly enough.
Now, after pressure from local councillors, it looks like replanting of the area will get the go ahead.
County Councillor Mark Wilkes said “I have called for an improvement in response time by the County Council for any future incidents and if all goes to plan we should see this area replanted.”
“I am also asking for many trees across our area to have Tree Preservation Orders placed on them to make it far more difficult for developers to wipe them out in future.
If there is a mature tree near you which you feel should have more protection, please get in touch.”

Your local Lib Dem councillors have guaranteed that a parish plan gets the go ahead after the new Area Action Partnership set up by the Unitary Council turned down a funding request.

The Parish Council will now have the funding to start full consultation with local residents on every issue affecting Brasside, Pity Me and Framwellgate Moor.

Councillor Rev Crooks commented “By using some of the County Councillors Neighbourhood budget we can have a lasting plan for developing our area, working to improve the lives of everyone living here.”

The Parish Council has also committed funds and work will hopefully start soon.

Councillor mark Wilkes has put a motion to the ful council of the county council calling for government to scrap the Barnett formula and replace it with a more equitable funding process.

The formula currently provides residents in Scotland with hundreds of pounds more investment than those in the North East.

Mark commented “The barnett Formula is wrong and it can’t be justified by any rational human being.”

Labour and Conservative councillors voted down the motion, despite it having the potential to bring in much needed funding to the North East.

Mark commented afterwards “It is clear that Labour with Tory conivance in County Durham are just not interested in getting the fiar share that County Durham residents deserve.

There will be a police and communities pact meeting at Framwellgate Moor Community Centre at 11am on 28th March. All residents welcome, to put across their views to police and council wardens about the priorities for the area.

Councillor Mark Wilkes is seeking support from residents for a 6 car parking bay on Findon Avuene in Witton Gilbert.

“We are aware of the serious parking problems on this road, and the risks to safety for pedestrians and car users alike. I hope that once i am sure no residents have any issue with this scheme we can press amead with it.”

If anyone has comments, email mark at mark.wilkes@durham.gov.uk

Lib Dem county councillors  Mark Wilkes and Rev Crooks have applauded passing of planning permission for 21 new council houses in Bearpark. The homes, part of government funding for the first council houses to be built for many years are to be built on land which was formerly part of the Bearpark Colliery site. They will be built by DVRC and then transferred to Durham City Homes.

Councillor Wilkes commented : 

“We have held long negotiations with council officers for many months now to ensure that as many of the proposed new homes as possible are built in Bearpark. Originally we were only going to get eight houses in the division and even that wasn’t secure. I am delighted at the outcome.  These will be high quality, efficient, two and three bedroom family homes with gardens – just what we need.”

“We have long waiting lists in Bearpark for housing and we are pushing for a local lettings policy to ensure Bearpark residents are offered these homes.”

Fellow Councillor Rev Crooks added “ Mark and I have put a lot of work in to ensure that these homes are built in Bearpark.  Bearpark residents have been crying out for homes and I am always being contacted about waiting lists.  

“We are really impressed that negotiations with the council have resulted in a new playing field being added as a condition to the planning application. We are also working on a play area for toddlers. After decades of neglect, I am proud that my village is finally being improved.“

The council house building program was kick started late last year by the government with County Durham receiving funding for 28 council houses and is the first time that true council housing will be built in the County for many decades.  The scheme will provide 13 two bed and 8 three bedroom homes which will be built to the high level 4 efficiency criteria. This will include solar panels, cutting fuel bills for residents. 

Mr Wilkes went on to say “ I have been really impressed by the hard work and dedication of all officers in the housing and planning departments at County Hall who have worked flat out to get this new housing arranged so quickly. The additional improvements to the site with extra trees and landscaping and protection for neighbouring homes all adds up to a great development.

“I only wish it hadn’t taken 13 years and a potential general election defeat for Labour to realise that this is such an important priority. The changes to regulations so that councils can build new council homes is a policy which the Lib Dems have been pushing for many years now.

“It is clear to me that successive Labour and Conservative governments have failed to recognise the importance of providing affordable council and social homes.”

Work will start immediately in two phases with the first phase of 11 homes expected to be complete by the end of the summer.

Councillor Crooks added “In the last two years we have secured the building of council and social housing in Framwellgate Moor, Witton Gilbert and Bearpark, proving that hard work really does pay off.  We will continue to work hard to bring down housing waiting lists in our area.“