Two highly publicised Transit 15 schemes in Framwellgate Moor have been scrapped.

The proposals for a bus lane running up Dryburn Park Road to Sniperley roundabout were due to cost over £200,000, but after meetings with residents who raised concerns, along with highways officers it became clear that the cost benefit of the proposals simply didn’t add up.

A scheme to turn the bus gate at the Salutation Pub into a two directional access for buses has also been shelved. This scheme had a number of positive aspects including provison of a pedestrian island and I am working with officers to see if  this can be kept. A few residents had complained that proposals would have meant too many buses using Durham Road/High Carr Road.

I believe that the controversy surrounding the bus shelter mistake by DCC may have made them think again after the very clear challenge to the cost effectiveness of these schemes. I guess the question now is where will the £400,000+ now be spent.

One thing that is being looked at is promoting better use of the two lanes coming off Sniperley roundabout where rush our traffic blocks up going towards Neville’s Cross – something I recommended during discussions.

Durham County Council will resume collections of garden waste from Tuesday, 17 April.

Householders who are part of the collection scheme will receive a calendar during the coming weeks showing their specific collection dates.

Collections may not match rubbish or recycling collection days, so residents are asked to check the calendar carefully before leaving their garden waste out for collection.

The following items can all be placed in the garden waste bin:

• Small branches
• Flowers
• Leaves
• Grass cuttings
• Weeds
• Prunings
• Hedge clippings

For more information about Durham County Council’s garden waste collections call 03000 26 1000.

Bins should be left out by 7am on the specified collection day.

If the council doesn’t currently collect garden waste from your street, you can call and request the collection of upto 6 bags of garden waste for free.

The number of sides of A4 printed by the County Council for next weeks Full Council meeting for councillors. Plus additional copies at 434 sides per copy for staff and other attendees. Perhaps the council should consider finding a way to reduce this amount of paperwork and maybe save some money along the way. I understand that for those councillors who have their paperwork posted out this cost £3.98 per councillor.

County Council announcement:

A new service to help people with disabilities maintain their independence will be launched on Monday (19 March).

Durham County Council’s Equipment Advice Service will provide information on aids and adaptations to people of all ages who have difficulty managing everyday activities.

People will be able to call or email the service or visit its base at the Abbey Day Centre, Pity Me, from Monday to Thursday between 10am and 3pm. A small number of demonstration items will be available at the centre.

The service also has a website, where people can carry out an online self assessment of their needs in order to get recommendations on suitable equipment.

Cllr Morris Nicholls, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for adult services, said: “The service can provide information and support to people with a wide range of needs including, adults and children with a physical or learning disability, mental health problem or sensory support needs.

“As well as helping to identify appropriate products and suppliers over the phone, via email or in person, the service can also take people through the process of completing the web-based self assessment.

“Staff have worked very hard in setting up the service and I am pleased that we able to launch it despite the financial constraints we are currently working under.”

To contact the Equipment Advice Service call 0191 384 6726, email equipmentadvice@durham.gov.uk or visit www.durham.gov.uk/equipmentadvice

For an online self assessment visit www.equip-yourself-durham.org.uk

Just got our council tax bill like everyone else today. Good to see that for the third year running the grant from government to keep the council’s part of the council tax. So with the Lib Dems in government three years of County Council council tax freeze! After a doubling under Labour that’s not bad.

Plus parish council rates in the Fram Division either frozen or down, thanks to Lib Dem involvement working with other groups across the area.

Plus an 11% cut in the cost of the Mayor of Durham thanks to Lib Dem work.

and a freeze for the police precept too. So only the fire brigade have increased the rate.

Just three weeks back, Lib Dems at Durham Council along with opposition councillors from three other groups supported Lib Dem proposals to cut the cost of directors which would have seen a reduction in their numbers. Durham had 7 other councils have 3.

Labour refused to support these proposals, yet today they caved in and removed one of the director posts, saving over £175,000 a year – it’s a start but why can’t they work with all members of the opposition instead of refusing to listen until after the event. Still – a success for anyone anti-Labour and anti-waste.

I don’t expect Labour to use the money saved from this to protect library opening hours as we wanted – given that at the scrutiny meeting this week on libraries the chairman said we were not discussing the budget – so much for the consultation – but keep up the pressure and sign the petition on NewtonHall library at http://www.durham.gov.uk/petitions and your Lib dem councillors will try and push for another Labour u-turn.

Neither do I expect Labour to protect other frontline services.  It has come to light though that since I kicked up an almighty fuss about slashing pest control officer numbers from 17 to 6 (Yes 6 to cover thousands of square miles of our County), Labour have back tracked and numbers will be 50% higher. Still a huge drop from 17 to 9, but with better working practices not as bad as the hopelessly impossible 6 they originally planned – and three jobs saved! Another Lib Dem success!

What this says is that whereas Labour refuse to listen to councillors in meetings, including their own backbenchers, if residents and councillors kick up a huge fuss over unnecessary cutbacks in the press, it can make a difference.

So if Labour is cutting something you don’t agree with tell the world and let your local councillors know, if it is right to fight a particular Labour council decision, you will get local councillor support.

Just don’t ask me to support keeping officers earning upto £200,000 a year each plus pension!

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.

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. Continue reading →

If anyone has any info on the damaged bus shelter in Pity Me opposite Oxley Terrace, please inform the police asap. I have reported it for action to remove the damaged plastic as a matter of urgency.

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. Continue reading →