Independent Councillor Update

Cllr Liz Maddison has provided the following update.

Along with my County Council work I am also Town Mayor this year and the Town Council representative on Altogether for Spennymoor (long term plan for Towns £20m (LTPT)).

Thank you to everyone who managed to attend my Mayoral events to date and for supporting my charity that is Spennymoor Town Band and Youth Band.

More events are planned and being advertised; the next one being 5 October at 3pm in St Paul’s Church. This will be an extra special service with musical arrangements, choirs and a magnificent solo performance by Stephen Leightell with the Town Band also playing. The event is free with refreshments after the service.

At the last budget of DCC we managed to secure extra funding to improve the rear of Cheapside.

This work is due to start in the next couple of weeks. Residents had asked about a pedestrian crossing close to the roundabout on Holborn Road.

Highways did look at this at the start of the road improvements but advised this was not possible. Two sets of dropped kerbs were installed at safe crossing areas along this short road.

Lighting projectors are to be added to the lampposts on the new Cheapside area that will add a further dimension to this area. These are due to be installed shortly.

Work continues along Whitworth Road widening the path and adding lighting down to Page Grove as well as improving the entrance on Howsham Road.

Barratts have been asked if the work will be complete before the dark nights set in.

Following a recent walkabout I had with residents, Barratts advised that all identified issues would be addressed.

I will continue to monitor this on behalf of residents. DCC adoption staff have been working with Barratts in preparation for handover once all outstanding work is complete.

The Altogether for Spennymoor Towns Board met in August. Officers have since been visiting Community Centres and Town events to provide updates on actions so far.

The website is also to be reviewed to make access to information easier.

There has been recent consultations with Byers Green for suitable projects as the boundary has now been extended to include them in the plan.

Projects will be submitted to Government this year with a view to the first of these projects starting by mid next year.

Spennymoor High Street and all streets behind it are now in Tudhoe Division following the Boundary Commission review.

The boundary between Spennymoor and Tudhoe Divisions is now from the North Eastern upwards and all streets along Carr Lane, with exception of Jubilee Close that for some reason that I cannot explain was placed in Tudhoe Division! Binchester and Newfield, previously in Coundon Division, are now in Spennymoor Division.

Despite the extra workload and reduction of one Councillor, Spennymoor County Councillors have made significant progress in tackling issues within the new Division.

All independent councillors within both Spennymoor and Tudhoe Divisions are in regular contact with the police and anti-social behaviour team on the issues identified in the town. I have asked if the Police Commissioner will attend a meeting with us.

Some of my most recent events as Mayor were: to open the new Banking Hub in Spennymoor in the old Barclays Bank building on Whitworth Terrace; to hand over to Dave Wheatley the Gala Committee’s trophy for Best in Show of Vintage Cars on display at the Town Gala; to judge the wonderful photos and children’s entries at the Town Horticultural Show and to welcome everyone to Party in the Park.

It has been an action packed few months. Thanks to everyone who has participated and attended the events in the Town, with still more planned for the rest of the year!