County Councillor Liz Maddison provides an update on recent activities:
We welcomed the opening of the Leisure Centre pool on 14 October with the activity centre and cafe hopefully due to be completed before year end. More work has been promised on the entrance from the Cenotaph and on the car park.
Cllr McAloon and I have visited Abbey Leisure Centre to see a completed installation and believe you will not be disappointed when ours is complete! Whilst there, we viewed other activity equipment that we hope can be purchased for Spennymoor with support of some funding. More information will follow on this.
In an update for Burton Woods, I have been advised that a contractor has been appointed to complete remaining works to enable adoption of phases 1-4 with contractors on site within the next few weeks.
Site clearance work on Whitworth Road is also due to commence imminently, limited to the paths only. A date for the start of the protected right hand turn on the public highway is also expected. I have been in contact with Livin representatives to look at some areas mentioned in my previous article.
Resurfacing work on Holborn Road (next to the Post Office) will commence on Wednesday 23 October for two nights between 7pm and 6am.
This follows representation from myself and Cllr McAloon that the previous road surfacing had deteriorated.
Oxford Road resurfacing and relining work is in progress; some of the lining work has been funded by us. Durham Road lining work has been completed.
I am in touch with the Road Safety Manager who is proactively working to provide a School Crossing Person for Springmoor Grange as soon as the recruitment process is concluded.
A target start date of 30 October (weather permitting) has been provided to put in a new path from Auckland Walk to Church Street, paid for with Member Neighbourhood funding from myself and Cllr Molloy.
The new play area on Craddock Street is making progress with bushes now planted to shield the bungalows from the play area. An installation date is awaited. The three Spennymoor Division County Councillors (Cllrs Molloy, Maddison and Holmes) provided Member funding for this project.
I have been chasing for the bushes to be cut around the estates before the winter weather starts, as these are very overgrown and untidy. Clean & Green have now commenced in Kirkdale and are working their way round the area. Salt bins have also been filled. If any areas are missed in the next few weeks please get in touch.
We continue to take on casework as well as report on flytipping, potholes, litter and dog fouling. It is disappointing that we have to continue to draw attention to the few who continue to litter and allow dog fouling. Please use the bins provided to keep our town clean!
We have been meeting with local residents in identified areas of both Spennymoor and Tudhoe Divisions who have raised concerns of ASB affecting their quality of life. These concerns have been escalated to appropriate agencies and partner organisations. We have now been on walkabouts with officers covering these areas to identify solutions.
Due to the decline in use of the Customer Access Point in Spennymoor, we have been advised that from autumn 2025, this centre will only operate each week on a Thursday between 8.30am and 5pm as the majority of customers now prefer contact with DCC by phone, email, social media or webchat.
Dates for your diary:
Wed 5/11/24: Fireworks at Carr Lane. Note – a section of Auckland Walk will be closed off for this event. Signs will be in place.
Sun 10/11/24: 11am Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaphs.
Mon 11/11/24: 11am Remembrance Day in the Market area.
Sat 30/11/24: between 3am and 8pm, Christmas Lights switch on in the Market area.
Sat 14/12/24: 12 noon – 6pm, NEW event: Christmas Market and musical entertainment and some special additions.
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