County Councillor Liz Maddison has provided an update on activities.
There has been an increase in anti-social behaviour in the town centre recently and I have communicated with the police and ASB teams expressing my concerns and urging a plan of action to address this.
A lot of the good work to improve the town centre is being hampered by the negative actions of a small number of people.
Shopkeepers are having their businesses disrupted and incurring unnecessary costs whilst we, as Council Tax payers, are indirectly having to fund unnecessary repairs to the town’s infrastructure.
The expensive WiFi seat put in to provide a power source to charge up mobile phones has been significantly damaged and will now have to be removed.
On the plus side, the Cheapside public realm should be completed in the next week and the funding secured prior to local elections will enable work to start to the rear of Cheapside to improve the look of this area and create a safer walking route across the Holborn Road towards the New Aldi and Festival Walk beyond.
It was the 200th Parkrun event in Jubilee Park on Saturday, 31st May. Participants travel from all over the country to attend and Parkrun have many local runners too, all trying to surpass their personal best. Thanks to the team of volunteers who attend every event.
A celebratory cake cutting and photoshoot followed when the last runners and walkers went over the finishing line. Well done to everyone involved.
The new term of office has seen Binchester and Newfield added to Spennymoor Division and I have already requested some improvement works in these areas. Cllr McAloon and I continue to report environmental issues across our Spennymoor and Tudhoe Divisions.
Liz Maddison
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
