Cllr Liz Maddison has provided update on activities:
Demolition of Cheapside shops is now planned for March 2024 with the improvement works still expected to be complete by end of year. This land is to be public open space under the ownership of the local authority.
Citizens Advice have advised me that the work on their premises on High Street, Spennymoor has been finished for some time now and the scaffolding company should have removed the scaffolding that is encroaching on the public footpath. They will remind their contractor to remove this as soon as possible.
DCC Highways have committed to resurfacing the road on Holborn, Cheapside, where potholes have again formed. Unfortunately we do not have an actual date for this road resurfacing planned works but will provide an update shortly.
Residents have reported a number of street lights out in Upper Church Street, Spennymoor (Tudhoe Division). It has been advised that due to the complexity of the work required, the work will take 3-4 weeks to complete.
I have reported the underpass on Greenways Estate close to the Ash Tree for clean up and removal of graffiti with a request for the pathway next to it to be also cleared of mud and leaves.
The pathway routes in the woods around Spennymoor have been severely damaged by bikes and quads using these trails. The police have been contacted about this with a request made for a meeting to discuss current ASB. The police have reported they now have powers to confiscate or crush any off road bikes and quad bikes causing nuisance and ASB. Countryside Officers have also been alerted about the damage to our natural environment.
The Auckland Way, close to Whitworth Road, has been churned up in places but this may be weather specific.
It is proposed that there will be new signage along this walk and ‘Way of Life Trail’ that will identify local features and places. This environmental work is being supported by our Member Neighbourhood funding.
The narrow footpath on Henry Terrace up from Byers Green Primary School towards Todhills and Long Lane has been cut back of weeds and undergrowth to make walking easier for pedestrians.
A similar request has been made to cut back undergrowth on the pathway from the Auckland Way down to Newtown and for a clean up of the mud on the path and road down from the Burton Woods exit to Paige Grove on Whitworth Road due to recent heavy rainfall. There is also a suspected blocked drain on this road that has also been reported.
Time has been spent reviewing the documents for the DCC budget setting meeting next week, where a 4.99% increase in precept is being recommended; 2 per cent of this is to cover Social Care funding pressures.
A list of further cost saving measures has also been published. The full report can be viewed on durham.gov.uk by navigating to ‘County Council’ meetings.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
