Independent County Councillors attended the County Planning meeting on 7 November, writes Cllr Liz Maddison.
We spoke against the planning application for a change of use to build 96 residential dwellings at Durham Gate on land identified in the County Durham Plan for industrial use.
We believed this land was important for the future economy of Spennymoor to attract businesses to our area that could offer employment opportunities for our residents. As a Planning Committee member said: “If this site became residential, industrial land would be gone forever”. Officer recommendation was refusal of the application to build residential properties and to change the use of this designated employment land. The Committee agreed with them; the vote was 9 against and 3 for the planning application.
Road surfacing improvement works on Clyde Terrace, Whitworth Terrace and Carr Lane have now been completed with white lining to follow on roads, pedestrian crossings and some mini roundabouts.
A request to refresh bus stop markings is currently being looked at.
The bespoke barrier on the junction of Oxford Road and High Street had to be especially fabricated and has now been installed. Some bespoke ‘tops’ for the barriers on King Street are missing and these have been placed on order too.
A pilot scheme was recently announced for the safe disposal of used ‘vapes’. Tudhoe Refuse & Waste Recycling Centre and North Park Youth and Community Centre are designated centres to receive used vapes for disposal.
I have asked if the Leisure Centre, being a central point in the town, could also receive these as is the case in other towns. This request will be considered if the pilot scheme is a success.
The taxi parking issue on Rock Road, Middlestone Moor, has been raised again by residents. We are once again trying to find a solution to this problem.
Double yellow lines on the junction of Central Drive to West Terrace to deter parking at school opening/closing times has also been requested for this busy junction. Other junctions have been identified and are being considered for similar road markings.
Funding has been secured for ‘target hardening’ to deter illegal encampments on the Merrington View car park following on from our previous site meeting with officers. We have now met again to look at a similar issue on the Daisy Fields and to discuss a plan for this area.
Two trees, each provided with its own plaque, have been planted on village greens at Byers Green and Tudhoe Village. We have provided Member Neighbourhood funding to purchase these trees to celebrate the Coronation and reign of King Charles III.
Barratts met with me to discuss issues raised by local residents. They indicated that they will be meeting the Adoptions team shortly but expect all identified issues to be addressed by end of year, including the completion of road surfacing between Lotherton Drive and Gibside Way.
I was advised that planned work on Whitworth Road is still with the respective design teams to agree but they are keen to progress this work.
Following recent storms a blockage was found in the drain pipes above Michael Terrace, Byers Green, which had been improved last year, that caused flooding. It has now been removed and has cleared the problem.
The area has now been placed on an inspection schedule to be checked on a 6-8 week basis.
Drainage work off the Auckland Walk up to the junction of Church Street, Byers Green is being undertaken prior to installation of a new pathway that will be paid for with Member Neighbourhood funding.
We will be attending services of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Saturday, 11th November and Sunday 12th November at 11am on both days.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
