The recent changes to bus services affecting Brasside, appear in part to be down to blockages elsewhere in Durham – in particular Gilesgate Bank. The Council is consulting on an extended bus lane along that road, but the problem is the roundabout in the City. I am now in discussions with Gilegate Councillors, Bus Co’s and Officers to see if a solution can be found which will then allow improvements to bus services not only in Brasside but throughout the area.
PARKING SCHEME A GREAT SUCCESS
The new parking scheme on Framwellgate Moor Front St has been a roaring success. I am very happy that I was able to get this implemented. Having spoken to residents and shopkeepers, all (so far) are agreed that there is less parking on pavements (so less risk to pedestrians), and the parking bays are no longer full of all day parkers helping local businesses and shoppers and passing trade.
If you do need to park all day there is plenty of space in the car park at the rear of the Community Centre which I arranged to be resurfaced last year.
If anyone does have any parking issues from this, please let me know.
COUNCIL TAX FREEZES?
The Council Tax in our area is made up of Five elements – County Council, Parish Council, Police, Fire and Charter Trust (Mayoralty).
For most people the Mayoralty is less than £5 a year, the big element (over £1000) is for the County Council. For the Parish Councils it is around £30 a year.
The Coalition Govt has offered 2.5% for councils if they freeze council tax for residents. If implemented by Durham County Council will mean a second successive year of Council Tax freeze compared to a doubling of Council Tax under the Labour government.
Each council has to decide if it wants to accept the 2.5% grant or ask for more money from taxpayers. I expect DCC will accept the grant offer, freezing the biggest portion of council tax.
What is less certain is with regards to the Police and Fire and Parish elements of the council tax. As a member of Framwellgate Moor Parish Council I get the feeling that there is no desire from Lib Dem or Independent Councillors to increase the parish precept. Waiting to find out about Bearpark and Witton Gilbert parishes.
Police and Fire have not yet announced any figures however an offer from government to pay for a 3% rise, if accepted could mean no council tax rise at all for residents.
The final part of the Council tax bill – is a few pounds for the Charter Trust and Mayoralty of Durham City. Last year I negotiated with the County Council alongside other Lib Dem Charter trustees and reduced down service costs and consequently the Charter trust levy by 14%. I will be pushing for a minimum of a freeze this year and personally think we could reduce the figure down a bit more.
The more money in residents pockets the better.
GARDEN WASTE COLLECTIONS – END FIRST/SECOND WEEK NOVEMBER
Time to start tidying the garden. The garden waste collections are scheduled to end the first and second week of November, although with the recent mild weather we might find a lot of leaves still needing cleaning up after this date! I have been pushing the council for months to include details on their website of garden waste times but so far no action. It’s a joke how many things you can’t check for on the council website. if they got more information onto the site, they would have fewer delays when people call with more serious issues.
HELP FRAM COMMUNITY CENTRE
YOU CAN HELP FRAMWELLGATE MOOR COMMUNITY CENTRE BY VOTING FOR THEM TO WIN A GRANT FROM NAT WEST FOR £6000.
PLEASE CLICK HERE AND VOTE NOW:
BIG BUS CHANGES ON WAY FROM ARRIVA
For a number of weeks I have been trying to get someaction to ensure that when there are changes to bus services in our county councillors get told so that they can respond to residents concerns. I have also been trying to get some action to improve buses going to Brasside following cut backs in services.
Today councillors received details of the following big changes to services run by Arriva (good that we are finally being told in advance of it happening), however the news itself is not good at all.
The main bus companies in our county get millions of pounds in grants from the government but are still cutting back on services – some of it due to grant reductions, some to increases in fuel bills. Perhaps they should be getting more efficient buses onto routes as the number of old bangers travelling around our county is still unacceptable. Buses seem to get sent up to the North East once they are ruled too polluting to be used in London. This has to be part of the reason for cutbacks – though clearly not all. Invest in more efficient buses and it wont cost as much to run the services.
Changes:
We have just been given advanced notice by Arriva of forthcoming changes to their commercial bus services (ie services they run without subsidy from the County Council) with effect from the start of January 2012.
South west Co Durham
95/96 Middleton – Barnard Castle
To be withdrawn entirely. Currently 1 p h M-Sat daytime
84 Bishop Auckland – Cockfield – Darlington.
Cockfield – Darlington section to be withdrawn. Currently approx every 2 hrs
85 Bishop Auckland – Cockfield – Barnard Castle.
Cockfield – Barnard Castle section to be withdrawn. Currently approx every 2 hrs
86/87 Bishop A – Toft Hill – West Auckland – Bishop Auckland
Arriva still to finalise plans, but current intention is to withdraw of the Ramshaw – Toft Hill – Bishop Auckland Section. (Currently 1 ph)
19 Bishop Auckland – Woodhouse Close
To be withdrawn, but partially replaced by diversion of service 85 to run 2 ph via Woodhouse like the current eve and Sunday service.
36A Bishop Auckalnd – Coundon
To be withdrawn (currently 2 p hr)
Note the the Bishop Auckland – Ferryhill svc 35/56 continues, so Coundon will still 2 p hr to Bishop Auckland)
Spennymoor / Ferryhill / Trimdons area:
8 Spennymoor – Chilton – Darlington
Revised to include York Hill section of current svc 69; between Spennymoor and Kirk Merrington rerouted via Middlestone Moor, replacing aprt of service 56; between Kirk Merrington and Chilton rerouted to run via Ferryhill, Ferryhill Station and Chilton Lane, replacing part of service 69. Details of routing in Ferryhill to be confirmed.
55 Sedgefield – Trimdon- Cassop – Durham
To be withdrawn entirely (currently 1 p hr)
56 Bishop Auckland – Spennymoor – Ferryhill – Durham.
To be truncated to run Spennymoor – Ferryhill – Durham, and to omit Bishop Middleham; remains 1 p hr. Timetable and route in Coxhoe- Durham corridor revised to take up the slot in the 20 min frequency currently provided by service 55.
69 Tudhoe York Hill – Spennymoor – Sedgefield
To be withdrawn entirely. See service 8 for alternative local links in the Ferryhill – Spennymoor section.
Durham area:
46 Crook – Durham:
To be revised to operate as an extension of the Brandon – Durham svc 49, ie a reduction in the combined frequency in Meadowfield – Durham section by 3 ph.
LATEST COUNTY PLAN DOCUMENTS
HOUSING AND RELIEF ROAD PROPOSALS
The link in this message contains a pdf showing the information I mentioned last week regarding the more detailed proposals for development of land at various locations as part of the Councils proposals to build new housing and relief roads around Durham City. I have split it into 9 parts so the files are smaller. It is in the form of a presentation given to councillors last week. When you have opened one file, to return to this page, click back arrow/button on browser.
This information is to be made available to view on large boards at Framwellgate Moor Community Centre from 4pm to 8pm on 17th October where council officers will be on hand to answer questions. (Other locations also detailed in Part 9).
My initial views can be seen below in previous blog last week.
It is possible that the large number of people viewing this could cause the site to slow down in the next few days. Please feel free t email me if you would like the whole think sending to you by email (About 5mb).
FLYTIPPING – TYRES
Another flytipping incident I reported over the weekend. If anyone notices any flytipping, call the Highways Action Line on 01913706000 or email hal@durham.gov.uk or contact me.
POTHOLES FILLED ON WAY TO FINCHALE ABBEY
Following complaints about some pretty bad potholes – saw one for myself which must have been 6 inches deep, I have managed to get the council out to to fill a number of holes on the way to Finchale Abbey. If anyone notices any potholes around any of the villages, email me and I will see that action is taken.
Road closure advanced notice – AYKLEY HEADS TO COUNTY HALL
B6532 County Hall Roundabout to Aykley Heads Roundabout,
Durham City
Temporary Road Closure Notice
The County Council intend to close to vehicular traffic, from 00.01 hours on Sunday 9 October 2011 a 550 metre length of B6532 between its junctions with County Hall and Aykley Heads roundabouts, Durham City.
The closure, which is being effected by means of Notice under Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, is necessary to enable carriageway resurfacing, which will probably take until 06.00 hours on Monday 10 October 2011 to complete, to be carried out to that length of road.
Throughout the period of closure an alternative route will be available to vehicular traffic from the south eastern side of the closure from County Hall roundabout north westerly along A691 to A167 Sniperley Roundabout then north easterly along Dryburn Park Road to Blackie Boy roundabout then south easterly along Dryburn Road to the north western side of the closure and vice versa.