A joint project to enhance the local recreational amenity of the Auckland Walk within the boundary of the former Spennymoor Division, which was devised by two County Councillors, was completed in November 2025.
Spennymoor Division County Councillors, Pete Molloy and Liz Madison, already knew how well the Auckland Walk is used by local walkers and cyclists alike, and they both wanted to try and encourage more local people to enjoy the Auckland Walk experience.
Both Councillors first held a meeting with an officer from Durham County Council’s (DCC) Parks and Countryside Service in November 2023 to discuss their joint idea for the installation of finger sign posts and information boards, which the officer was happy to support and she suggested extending the project to the whole of the Auckland Walk to Bracks Farm. That would potentially involve Councillors from other Electoral Divisions that the Auckland Walk passed through, and both Councillors were happy for their project to be extended to incorporate the whole length of the Auckland Walk.
Speaking of his idea for the project, Cllr Molloy said, “There are different access points along the Auckland Walk, so to aid its users, especially those who are not from the local area that may come across it, I wanted to identify the direction of local places along the route and the distance to those places, so I thought having finger sign posts installed would be of benefit to everyone.”
The finger sign posts and information boards started being installed in May of this year at Byers Green Station to Old Park Terrace, but with the ongoing road works on the protected right hand turn on Whitworth Road, next to the Auckland Walk carpark where some of the installation was taking place, the decision was made by DCC’s Parks and Countryside Service to suspend the installation until the road works were complete.
Cllr Maddison said, “it has taken over 2 years for our Auckland Walk project, jointly funded by myself and Cllr Molloy, to come to life. We now have superb information boards identifying important landmarks, areas of interest and wildlife habitats along our section.
“A promise made is a project delivered with assistance of the Countryside Team of DCC and this pleasant walk is in close proximity to the town and well worth a stroll along it’s recently surfaced footpath to take you into the Countryside.”
To fund the project, Councillors Maddison and Molloy, provided £4,975 each from there Neighbourhood Budget, as well as Neighbourhood Budget from Bishop Auckland and the rest of the funding coming from the Parks and Countryside Service.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
