Residents of Shildon may have noticed work being carried out over the last few months by Direct Works to reduce and restrict access by vehicles to certain areas of land belonging to the Town Council.
With spring fast approaching and the risk heightening of unauthorised encampments pitching around the area, Shildon Town Council, Durham County Council, police and Livin are working in partnership to reduce the likelihood of this happening, but to act accordingly if one manages to appear.
Hackworth Park has had a lot of target hardening over the years to stop unauthorised encampments on the two larger fields along Middleton Road.
These have included installing mounds, double gates with lock protection and strategically placing large boulders over Surtees Avenue, carried out by Shildon Town Council with Durham County Council installing a collapsible bollard near the Masonic Hall entrance.
Unfortunately, last year the main park was accessed after the lock and chain was removed and a large unauthorised encampment was set up on the football field.
After a visit from a bailiff and threat of eviction action, the encampment soon left the area and Shildon Town Council’s Direct Works started work on the clear up.
On this occasion, council staff had to clear general household rubbish and waste from building and garden work and the unsavoury task of removing human faeces from an area of the park used for a toilet.
Since that time, the town council has purchased and installed a further two collapsible bollards behind the gates into the park from Central Parade and St John’s Road and hope this is sufficient to deny further access.
Jubilee Fields is currently undergoing major work to restrict and deny access to this field after an unauthorised encampment set up for three weeks last year after gaining access before Durham County Council were able to complete the metal fence surrounding the area.
Again, bailiffs were used and eviction served with the town council clearing the land of rubbish and waste of all kinds.
The use of bailiffs and any waste collection from these encampments cost both the town council and Durham County Council taxpayers’ money.
On Jubilee Fields in partnership with Livin, the town council is installing fresh mounds behind the metal fence with Livin supplying up to 20 established trees.
Funding has been secured and wildflower seed will be sown to create an aesthetic habitat to the area.
It is planned to include local schools and community groups in the tree planting and wildflower sowing and be completed by the end of April.
Another area to have had work carried out is the land near the station which has been mounded next to the path, with some outlying fields getting boulders or mounds placed at the entrance way to restrict manoeuvring vehicles.
Even though the town council cannot guarantee 100% protection, they ask residents to be vigilant and contact the police on 101 or Durham County Council Gypsy, Romany & Traveller liaison team on 03000 260000 straight away.
If you would like any further information, you can contact Shildon Town Council on 01388 772563 or email council[@]shildon[.]gov[.]uk.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
