Cllr Liz Maddison has provided an update of latest activities:
Thank you to all who attended and helped at my Mayor at Home in the Town Hall. Everyone I spoke to enjoyed the event and the super performance of Spennymoor Town Band. A reminder too of the Mayor’s Civic Service on Sunday, 5 October at 3pm at St Paul’s Church which should also be a lovely event.
The Northern Echo has reported that Byers Green is on their list of the 5 best unspoilt villages in Durham.
For those who enjoy walking, signage was installed last year along the Auckland Walk, paid for with Member funding, that features Byers Green as well as other areas of interest and the wildlife to spot along the way.
A PACT meeting was held on 24 September that again highlighted the concerns of residents with ASB. Requests for multi-agency involvement was made to the police officers present. The event was well attended by residents. This regular monthly meeting is open to all residents to voice their concerns direct to the police, and usually held last Wednesday of the month, 6pm in the Town Hall.
Representatives from Tudhoe Methodist Church on Front Street invited members of our group to their coffee morning on the 27 September, which was a great success. They want to modernise the interior and make their space welcoming to the local community and have been out and about seeking resident’s views on how to develop this project. All councillors present were supportive of their plans and several members offered a few ideas too!
On Sunday, 28 September, I was delighted to be asked to join the Town Band in the town centre before they departed for Chorley to attend the Red Admiral Entertainment Contest, 3rd section. The band advised later in the day that they came 2nd out of 9 bands and were also voted best percussion, best cornets and best euphoniums/baritones. Fiona was the only female conductor from 42 bands performing at the contest. We are lucky to have this very talented and dedicated band representing our town. Congratulations!
Once again I have had to report a number of fly tipping incidents, all in the same area. This time it was a very large sofa and chair, several abandoned bin bags of rubbish, builders rubble, a tyre and a vast array of household equipment. We do our best to keep the town looking tidy but these types of incidents are unsightly, but create a lot of work to clear away.
I have recently met with officers to address a number of highways issues on Whitworth Road, on Long Lane, Binchester and in Newfield.
Clean & Green have responded to some environmental concerns I raised with them too following complaints of ASB. Updates to follow.
DCC have advised that “there is a new funding programme launched to support community groups and organisations across County Durham.” They said “the Thriving Together programme through partners Point North offers funding to the County’s voluntary and community sector for the delivery of essential support to residents … this annual £500,000 is being made available to organisations through Point North to help improve the health and wellbeing of residents and boost community resilience. Groups and organisations can apply by visiting www.pointnorth.org.uk/grants”
Liz Maddison
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
