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News from Peterlee, Seaham, Hordon, Easington, Hartlepool, Blackhall, Wingate and the wider East Durham area

New bench allows family memorial to return to North East reservoir

New bench allows family memorial to return to North East reservoir

A memorial bench that was stolen from its scenic viewpoint at a County Durham reservoir has been replaced by water workers. Christine Sewell, from Sherburn Village, Durham, noticed the bench missing when she visited Tunstall Reservoir, near Wolsingham, in Weardale in...

Planning enforcement operation takes place in Station Town

Planning enforcement operation takes place in Station Town

A planning enforcement operation has taken place in East Durham following intelligence suggesting breaches of regulations. Durham County Council conducted a two-day operation in Station Town and Wingate, supported by Durham Constabulary and the Environment Agency...

Geothermal heating scheme lined up for  Horden after funding won

Geothermal heating scheme lined up for Horden after funding won

The prospect of schools and homes in Horden being heated by clean, green geothermal energy moved a step closer this week after extra funding was given to an innovative plan to extract energy from mine water. Money is being invested in the Horden Minewater project in...

Another walking and cycling route upgrade completed in County Durham

Another walking and cycling route upgrade completed in County Durham

School runs and commutes have become much easier for people living and working in part of County Durham after a walking and cycling route was upgraded. Durham County Council has completed improvements to the path between Old Pit Lane in Newton Hall and Rivergreen at...

Unlicensed landlord instructed to pay more than £47,000

Unlicensed landlord instructed to pay more than £47,000

A County Durham landlord has been ordered to pay almost £50,000 for failing to adhere to licensing legal requirements on several rental properties, despite numerous warnings. Durham County Council prosecuted Kamran Adil, of Halterburn Close, Gosforth, bringing nine...

Romans spotted in Hardwick Park

Romans spotted in Hardwick Park

A County Durham park is now home to a Roman village…of the virtual variety. The new augmented reality attraction, in Sedgefield’s Hardwick Park, gives visitors the opportunity to meet Roman characters, view buildings, solve puzzles, and make iron tools. It’s all...

Try fitness classes for free as Peterlee Leisure Centre reopens

Try fitness classes for free as Peterlee Leisure Centre reopens

A leisure centre in East Durham is offering free exercise classes this weekend to celebrate its reopening following an ambitious refurbishment. To celebrate the reopening of Peterlee Leisure Centre on Monday 30 October, Durham County Council is inviting the public to...

Local adoption charity host adoption information event in Durham

Local adoption charity host adoption information event in Durham

Leading children's charity, Adoption Matters, one of the largest voluntary adoption agencies in the UK are hosting an adoption information event for anyone interested in adoption. Adoption Matters North East team is hosting a drop-in event during National Adoption...

Significant progress on path to net zero across County Durham

Significant progress on path to net zero across County Durham

Councillors will hear about considerable progress being made towards a more sustainable future, as carbon emission reduction efforts in County Durham reach new heights. Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be presented with an update on the authority’s Climate...

Minister discusses NETPark expansion during visit

Minister discusses NETPark expansion during visit

Plans for the expansion of a leading science park which would generate millions for the local economy were discussed during a government visit. Victoria Atkins MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, visited The North East Technology Park (NETPark) at Sedgefield, one...

Council wins national public service award

Council wins national public service award

A North East council has been recognised for its commercialisation and entrepreneurship at a national awards ceremony. Durham County Council was selected as a finalist in two categories at this year’s Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards, which...

Swinburne Maddison helps bring first padel facility to County Durham

Swinburne Maddison helps bring first padel facility to County Durham

One of the region’s leading law firms has put the North East on the map with its behind-the-scenes legal work at Infinite Durham. The development is a multi-activity park at Belmont Business Park on the outskirts of Durham city, which is to become home to the first...

£6m Horden Masterplan delivery update to be shared with community

£6m Horden Masterplan delivery update to be shared with community

Plans to invest £6 million in Horden to support the regeneration of the village are to be shared with residents. Durham County Council is hosting events which began yesterday to update people in Horden on the first phase of its plans to regenerate the area. The events...

New Co-Chairman appointed to lead growing business network

New Co-Chairman appointed to lead growing business network

East Durham Business Network is delighted to announce the appointment of new co-chairmen to drive forward the group’s activities. Ranjeet Gill and Gursh Kahlon, who co-founded commercial property company Clearwater Developments over ten years ago, replace outgoing...

East Durham Sixth Form students celebrating fantastic A Level results

East Durham Sixth Form students celebrating fantastic A Level results

East Durham College is thrilled to announce that A Level students at the college’s sixth form, ED6, have achieved some fantastic results this year, including two students securing places at Cambridge and Oxford University for the first time. ED6 Sixth Form, which is...

Council expands electric vehicle fleet

Council expands electric vehicle fleet

A North East council has expanded its electric vehicle fleet as part of its aim to achieve net zero. Durham County Council has acquired 29 new electric vehicles (EV) as part of its vehicle replacement programme, which sees vehicles that are due to be renewed replaced...

East Durham College to receive £1.9m of new Government T Level funding

East Durham College to receive £1.9m of new Government T Level funding

East Durham College has announced it is set to receive a whopping £1.9m to develop several of its facilities to support the delivery of exciting new T Level training from 2024. This latest wave of capital funding investment, announced by the Department for Education...

Peterlee schools enjoy success at Future Business Magnates awards

Peterlee schools enjoy success at Future Business Magnates awards

Talented students from 15 schools from across County Durham gathered last week at Beamish Hall Hotel for the final of the County Durham Future Business Magnates competition. Organised by Business Durham, the business support service of Durham County Council, the...

Plans for dozens of new homes in Seaton Village announced

Plans for dozens of new homes in Seaton Village announced

Plans for dozens of new homes in a County Durham village are being hailed as a welcome boost to the region’s housing stock. The proposals from local housebuilder believe developments Limited would see a mix of 46 homes developed on land at Hillrise Crescent in Seaton...

Woman fined for mis-using mother’s blue badge

Woman fined for mis-using mother’s blue badge

Two people have been fined for mis-using Blue Badges after parking in disabled bays on the same street in Hartlepool. Durham County Council took legal action against Karen Summerbell, of Willow Drive in Trimdon Village, after a civil enforcement officer at Hartlepool...

New dog control measures set to come into force

New dog control measures set to come into force

A requirement to keep dogs on leads in cemeteries is among a series of new measures set to come into force in County Durham next week. Durham County Council is renewing its Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Dog Control, which it first introduced in 2017. The...

Environmental impacts of food highlighted in new campaign

Environmental impacts of food highlighted in new campaign

Places to eat in County Durham have signed up to an innovative new scheme which will see carbon ratings included on their menus. Durham County Council has launched its second Food for the Planet campaign which is aimed at encouraging both eating establishments and...

More road sweepers brought in to keep County Durham clean and tidy

More road sweepers brought in to keep County Durham clean and tidy

The North East’s largest council has bolstered its road sweeping fleet in order to keep communities clean and tidy. Durham County Council has taken on three road sweepers that will be deployed in town centres and elsewhere, as part of its work to help communities look...

New business village for Peterlee takes shape

New business village for Peterlee takes shape

A new modern business village based on the success of a previous one in Cramlington is taking shape in County Durham. Endeavour Village Peterlee is a business community where highbrid units are offered that are totally flexible, energy-efficient, low start-up cost...

Creating a right of way network fit for the 21st century

Creating a right of way network fit for the 21st century

A vision for the future of public rights of way (PROW) in County Durham will go before councillors next week. Durham County Council has drawn up its fourth ‘Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP)’, which will be considered by the authority’s Cabinet when it...

Nissan’s school engineering event inspires thousands of young minds

Nissan’s school engineering event inspires thousands of young minds

Nissan has brought the world of engineering and manufacturing to life for 1,700 youngsters with its inspirational two-week Schools Engineering event Children from 35 schools visited Nissan Sunderland Plant to see how car manufacturing has evolved over the past 30...

Spring into Dalton Park’s free Easter egg-stravaganza

Spring into Dalton Park’s free Easter egg-stravaganza

Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Destination has pulled out all the stops to create an egg-cellent two-day line up of free fun this Easter. Taking place on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th April, the celebration will include giant bouncing bunnies, roller skating chicks, arts...

Business employees urged to tap into charity support if they need help

Business employees urged to tap into charity support if they need help

A charity which provides vital support to individuals and families is urging employees from businesses across the area to contact them if they need any help or advice as the cost of living crisis continues to impact on so many people. The team at Peterlee-based East...

First cohort join scheme to increase diversity of board members

First cohort join scheme to increase diversity of board members

Five people with a range of life skills and experiences have started an exciting new development programme which could turn them into board members of the future. County Durham-based believe housing recently welcomed the first cohort to its Board Trainee Programme, as...

Council secures more than £5m to help ‘off-gas’ households

Council secures more than £5m to help ‘off-gas’ households

People in County Durham whose homes are not connected to a mains gas supply are set to benefit following the success of a funding bid. A total of 250 properties will be eligible for work to make them more energy efficient after Durham County Council was successful in...

Social worker praises council for inspiration to pursue career

Social worker praises council for inspiration to pursue career

This World Social Work Week (20 to 24 March), a woman working in County Durham has spoken of how her own experiences influenced her decision to become a social worker. Aimee Smith started working permanently as a social worker with Durham County Council after a...

New children’s strategy launched for County Durham

New children’s strategy launched for County Durham

Young people in County Durham have been influential in developing a new strategy for children’s services. Durham County Council has launched its new children’s strategy, Growing Up in County Durham (GUiCD), for 2023-2025. Building on its previous strategy for...

Wellfield School could join  multi-academy trust if plans approved

Wellfield School could join multi-academy trust if plans approved

Councillors will be asked to agree proposals which will set out a sustainable future for an East Durham school next week. Durham County Council’s Cabinet will hear proposals to secure a positive outcome for Wellfield School, in Wingate. The plans would see the school...

Have your say on home to school transport proposals

Have your say on home to school transport proposals

People are being invited to have their say on potential changes to home to school transport arrangements in County Durham. Durham County Council currently provides home to school transport for almost 9,000 children and young people across the county every day. Growing...

Council receives £3.1m to expand EV charging points

Council receives £3.1m to expand EV charging points

A further 150 electric vehicle charging points are set to be installed across County Durham. Durham County Council has been successful in securing an additional £3.1 million from the government to expand the county’s charging infrastructure. The authority is one of...

Community projects have just days left to apply for large grants

Community projects have just days left to apply for large grants

Up to £90,000 in grants is up for grabs from believe housing’s latest round of its community investment programme. Not-for-profit organisations in County Durham have one week left to apply to the housing provider for a Large Capital Community Grant, of between £10,000...

Hefty bill for East Durham men convicted of waste offences

Hefty bill for East Durham men convicted of waste offences

Three County Durham men have been left with a combined bill of more than £3,500 after being convicted of waste offences. The cases of Robert Wright, Stephen David Keers, and Kieran Fisher were dealt with at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court following prosecutions by Durham...

£6m investment at Durham station is now complete

£6m investment at Durham station is now complete

A £6 million investment to deliver more reliable journeys for passengers travelling along the East Coast Main Line through Durham station is now complete. Over five weekends, from Saturday 14 January to Sunday 12 February, engineers have replaced around 860 metres of...

Couple’s ideal bungalow marks milestone for Believe Housing

Couple’s ideal bungalow marks milestone for Believe Housing

Leaving their family home after half a century was a wrench for Malcolm and Barbara Clement, until they found the ideal new bungalow with believe housing. The couple lived in their previous house, in Shildon, County Durham, for 53 years. But when the time came to get...

Fly tipping continues to fall across the County Durham area

Fly tipping continues to fall across the County Durham area

Cases of fly-tipping continue to fall across County Durham. Levels are at the lowest they have ever been following efforts by Durham County Council to tackle the issue through education and enforcement. In the last year, fewer than 6,000 incidents were recorded across...

Landlord fined after yard at Horden property’s health risk

Landlord fined after yard at Horden property’s health risk

A company which failed to declare its interest in a property which had health and vermin risks has been ordered to pay more than £1,800. Durham County Council had reason to inspect a house in Horden in August last year following concerns around the state and condition...

Have your say on dog control measures un County Durham

Have your say on dog control measures un County Durham

People are being invited to have their say on a review of dog control measures in County Durham. Durham County Council introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Dog Control in 2017 in response to community concerns about irresponsible dog ownership. The...

Resurfacing County Durham’s roads and reducing plastic pollution

Resurfacing County Durham’s roads and reducing plastic pollution

The North East’s largest local authority is doing its bit to reduce plastic pollution whilst making County Durham’s roads smoother and safer, for longer. In the course of last year’s resurfacing programme, Durham County Council covered more than 126,000 square metres...

Reminder for parents to apply for primary school places

Reminder for parents to apply for primary school places

Parents in County Durham are being reminded they are running out of time to apply for a primary school place for their child. The deadline for applications for the next academic year, which starts in September, is Sunday 15 January 2023. For a child to be eligible to...

Working in partnership to support residents with cost of living

Working in partnership to support residents with cost of living

A North East council has vowed to keep doing all it can to help people amid the rising cost of living. Durham County Council has also committed to continuing to work with partners to assist residents, after some of the challenges facing them, including child poverty...

Council wins award for use of technology in social care

Council wins award for use of technology in social care

A North East council and some of its local care homes are celebrating after winning national awards for their use of a digital social care system. Durham County Council and care homes it works with have won two accolades at the national Reminiscence Interactive...

Updates to Christmas bin collections

Updates to Christmas bin collections

Residents across County Durham are reminded of some changes to bin collections over Christmas and New Year. Durham County Council’s collections will take place as normal up to and including Friday 23 December. From Tuesday 27 December to Friday 30 December,...

Bold new vision for County Durham’s economy officially adopted

Bold new vision for County Durham’s economy officially adopted

A bold and ambitious new strategy that will shape County Durham’s economy over the next decade and beyond has been officially adopted by the county council. The County Durham Inclusive Economic Strategy sets a clear, long-term vision for the area’s economy up to 2035,...

New gym, play area and bowling at Peterlee Leisure Centre

New gym, play area and bowling at Peterlee Leisure Centre

A leisure centre in East Durham is set to undergo significant works to enhance its sports and leisure offer. Durham County Council will be carrying out works at Peterlee Leisure Centre in the new year as part of its Leisure Transformation Scheme. The works will...

Seaham among the areas to flourish under the County Durham Plan

Seaham among the areas to flourish under the County Durham Plan

Councillors will hear how the County Durham Plan has influenced development, housing, and actions against climate change in County Durham. Next week, Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be presented with an Annual Monitoring Report on the County Durham Plan, which...

Keeping County Durham’s highways safe this winter

Keeping County Durham’s highways safe this winter

With darker nights and more wintry weather, residents are being urged to report highways issues to help keep the county moving. Durham County Council is delivering its annual programme of work to maintain the county’s roads and footpaths, with teams from across the...

Durham County Council reports huge increase in flytipping prosecutions

Durham County Council reports huge increase in flytipping prosecutions

A North East council is reporting a huge increase in fines against flytippers and a big drop in flytipping overall. Durham County Council, which was taken over by cross-party joint administration last year has made major changes to its warden structure and is cracking...

£11.5m affordable homes development in Murton given green light

£11.5m affordable homes development in Murton given green light

Plans for a £11.5 million development of affordable homes in a County Durham village have been given the green light by local planning officials. The news follows unanimous approval of a scheme submitted by North East planning experts Hedley Planning Services on...

First homes to go on sale at Bowburn development

First homes to go on sale at Bowburn development

A new housing development in Bowburn will officially launch to the public next month. Bellway is opening the doors to a sales office at Clarence Gate on Saturday 3 December, giving potential buyers the first chance to visit the site off Rosalind Franklin Way. The...

Peterlee care home praised after surprise industry regulator visit

Peterlee care home praised after surprise industry regulator visit

A Peterlee care home has been praised by industry regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – after inspectors made an unannounced visit. Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, on Manor Way, was given an overall “Good” rating in their latest CQC report, which asked if the...

Illegal cigarettes found in home of Peterlee man

Illegal cigarettes found in home of Peterlee man

Two men have been ordered to pay over £1,000 for selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco in County Durham. Durham County Council’s Trading Standards team took legal action against Kenneth Allen after he was found to be selling illegal cigarettes from his home in...

Map showing county’s rights of way reaches 70th birthday

Map showing county’s rights of way reaches 70th birthday

A map which depicts thousands of miles of public rights of way which residents and visitors can make use of has reached its 70th birthday. Durham County Council’s Definitive Map was created in November 1952. It is a legal record indicating the position and status of...

National award win for Durham County Council employee

National award win for Durham County Council employee

An employee at the North East’s largest council has claimed a national award for helping to put data at the heart of the digital transformation of adult social care. Marion Ingleby, strategic manager in adult social care with Durham County Council, won the Leadership...

Reminder for parents to apply for secondary school places

Reminder for parents to apply for secondary school places

Parents in County Durham are being reminded they are running out of time to apply for secondary school places for their children. The deadline for applications for the next academic year, which starts in September 2023, is Monday 31 October 2022. For a child to be...

believe housing’s new grants respond to rising cost of living

believe housing’s new grants respond to rising cost of living

Funders have changed the direction of a £25,000 grants scheme, so the cash can go directly to County Durham projects that address the rising cost of living. Affordable housing provider believe housing has temporarily closed its community grants scheme, so the money...

MP marks major milestone moment in development of Integra 61 Durham

MP marks major milestone moment in development of Integra 61 Durham

Citrus Durham has marked a major milestone in the development of the 650,000 sq. ft Connect warehouse and logistics development within its Integra 61 mixed-use project at J61 of the A1(M), Durham. Durham City MP Mary Kelly Foy was invited to site to mark the event by...

Ho ho ho as Christmas comes to East Durham Garden Centre

Ho ho ho as Christmas comes to East Durham Garden Centre

East Durham Garden Centre will this weekend open its doors to this year's Christmas department. This is one of the garden centre's most highly anticipated events and sees thousands visit during the lead-up to Christmas. The launch will happen this Saturday, October 8....

Durham County Council wins prestigious national award

Durham County Council wins prestigious national award

The North East’s largest council has scooped an honour at an annual awards ceremony which celebrates the work of public services. Durham County Council won the Best Innovation or Demand Management Initiative Award at the Association for Public Service Excellence...

Specsavers Hartlepool launches recycling initiative

Specsavers Hartlepool launches recycling initiative

Specsavers Hartlepool is offering customers the chance to recycle their glasses and contact lenses in-store for free. The new initiative comes after the high-street opticians teamed up with recycling experts MYgroup to install recycling collection boxes at Specsavers...

Schoolchildren design safety posters for housing development in Wingate

Schoolchildren design safety posters for housing development in Wingate

Bellway held an art competition at Wingate Primary School to spread awareness of health and safety among children in the village. All 362 children at the school took part and created their own posters about safety at a construction site. The winners of the competition...

Applications open for 2023/24 school year

Applications open for 2023/24 school year

Parents whose children are due to start primary or secondary school next year can start applying for a place from next week. Durham County Council will be accepting applications for the 2023/24 school year from Monday, 5 September 2022. If a child was born between 1...

New team to assist with clearing waste created

New team to assist with clearing waste created

A new waste clearance team will remove rubbish from the yards and gardens of people who fail to comply with notices to do so. Durham County Council’s neighbourhood wardens previously relied on the authority’s clean and green teams to follow them into particular areas...

Dene Academy students celebrate GCSE success

Dene Academy students celebrate GCSE success

Once again, students have achieved superb GCSE results across a range of subjects at Dene Academy. This year, Dene students have excelled in French, History, English, Science and Mathematics. Furthermore, 94% of students achieved a Grade 9-4 in Art, 93% of students...

£20m investment committed to improving County Durham’s highways

£20m investment committed to improving County Durham’s highways

County Durham’s roads and footpaths are on track for a £20 million investment over the next three years. Durham County Council has agreed to fund improvements in four priority areas, as identified by the Cabinet member responsible for highways. The county’s...

Four-figure funding boost for East Durham Trust

Four-figure funding boost for East Durham Trust

A County Durham charity that works to improve the lives of families living in the county’s former pit villages has received a four-figure funding boost from the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund at the Community Foundation. East Durham Trust provides a range...

Visitors to Seaham Food Festival reminded to plan their journey

Visitors to Seaham Food Festival reminded to plan their journey

With just days left to go until Seaham Food Festival, organisers are reminding festival goers to plan their journey before they travel. The Durham County Council-run event will return to County Durham’s coastline this weekend, on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August. With...

£1m of funding secured to support unemployed young people

£1m of funding secured to support unemployed young people

More than £1million in funding has been secured to help almost 300 unemployed young people get into work and improve their skills. Durham County Council and Groundwork North East have been successful in winning a £1.2million bid awarded by the Youth Futures...

Healthy dinners on the menu thanks to family cooking classes

Healthy dinners on the menu thanks to family cooking classes

Families in two County Durham communities are learning how to cook healthy meals on a budget, thanks to believe housing. The housing association provided funding to the Family Dinners project, a five-week course taking place at ,Seascapes Primary School in Peterlee,...

Youngsters become role models to prevent deliberate fires

Youngsters become role models to prevent deliberate fires

Children are helping to raise awareness of the potentially devastating impact of deliberate fires, in a bid to reduce incidents in their communities. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and believe housing have teamed up to run the Phoenix Fire...

Over 1,000 County Durham homes being made more energy efficient

Over 1,000 County Durham homes being made more energy efficient

A multimillion pound project is underway to make homes across County Durham warmer, greener and cheaper to run. The housing association believe housing is upgrading more than 1,000 properties with a series of measures to make them more energy efficient. Contractor...

WL DISTILLERY founder selected as a batonbearer for the North East

WL DISTILLERY founder selected as a batonbearer for the North East

The Queen’s Baton Relay returns to England this summer when the Queen’s Baton will be carried across the country by inspirational batonbearers, and Scott Wilson-Laing Founder and Owner of award-winning County Durham based WL Distillery has been selected to be one of...