County Durham Area Developments - Areas and Subjects NOT being covered on the "Sunderland & Durham" Forum

[Newcastle Historian]

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USING THIS COMMUNAL AREA OF THE NORTH EAST ENGLAND SUB-FORUM . . .


Recently, a thread has been set up in this 'communal area' of the forum, called "Northumberland Area Developments - Areas NOT covered on the Newcastle Forum"

That thread covers the areas in the 'extreme-West' and 'extreme-North' of the County of Northumberland.

Those areas have 'urban-development' issues, like any other area, but they are either not actually covered by the Newcastle Metro Area Forum (they are outwith the remit of that forum) or they are simply not easily covered on there, because they are not 'identifiable' with the Metropolitan Area.

I feel that there may well be a similar situation in certain areas of County Durham, where there are small developments and relevant issues for discussion, that do not readily fall to be covered by the Sunderland and Durham forum.

If so . . . they can be covered, and discussed, in this thread.

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[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by denm

I agree regarding Cumbria, --although I thought they would have come under a forum covering the North West, --but I think that it's a good idea for it to come under the North East banner, ---suppose with Taliskers thread, --it's wait and see if it generates any interest, so good luck with this, ---as for other areas, ---I suppose there are places which are on borders of Counties which are not being covered, --but can't think off hand.

denm, with apologies for 'quoting you' from another thread (though it is on the same subject) . . . but I just wondered if you had given the matter any further thought, as to areas that could/would find this thread of genuine use.

Areas from 'the borders of County Durham', say?

As you can see, the equivalent thread for the West and North of Northumberland (now that we have established the actual areas of Northumberland to be covered in it) is becoming quite well populated by 'relevant' news from newspapers about that area.

I would have hoped, if we can clarify it, that the same could happen for County Durham?

What do you (and anyone else!) think?

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[denm]

After correspondence with NH regarding areas not been mentioned in County Durham, , ----I thought of some of the outlying areas of the County, --such as Wolsingham, - Stanhope and Eastgate, ----the latter having lost it's Cement works some years ago, --which had a huge impact on the community, ----the Council needed to come up with a plan, ---and they did, -------they came up with a Renewable Energy Village project for the former Cement Works, ---and the Task Forces project is for the people of Weardale, ----it will be a friendly - living/ Working and learning Environment and Visitor Attraction, ----as far as I'm aware, ---they are to put in detailed plans, --with the hope of starting in 2011, ---good luck to them.

[denm]

Just came across these,

[JetStreak]

I guess technically the Durham Gate development from the Sunderland and Durham forum should be in here as while it's in County Durham, it isn't in Durham City. If in fact that's what the other forum is supposed to cover?

The same with the potential Hitachi trains plant at Newton Aycliffe.

[horokeio]

Originally Posted by JetStreak

I guess technically the Durham Gate development from the Sunderland and Durham forum should be in here as while it's in County Durham, it isn't in Durham City. If in fact that's what the other forum is supposed to cover?

The same with the potential Hitachi trains plant at Newton Aycliffe.

I've always taken Sunderland and Durham in the subforum title to mean "Sunderland and County Durham" so I can't personally see any reason for this extra thread. If this idea isn't widely shared then Denm's suggestion that this particular thread might cover the furthest rural reaches of the county is a decent one, though I imagine it would mean dormancy for long stretches of time. I don't find such hyper-organisation particularly necessary though; the forums are easy enough to navigate irrespective of their titles and positions.

[denm]

Originally Posted by horokeio

I've always taken Sunderland and Durham in the subforum title to mean "Sunderland and County Durham" so I can't personally see any reason for this extra thread. If this idea isn't widely shared then Denm's suggestion that this particular thread might cover the furthest rural reaches of the county is a decent one, though I imagine it would mean dormancy for long stretches of time. I don't find such hyper-organisation particularly necessary though; the forums are easy enough to navigate irrespective of their titles and positions.

Regarding the Sunderland /Durham Forum, --I too think of it as -- Sunderland and County Durham, ---but I think this Communal Forum has been set up for areas of County Durham that maybe have issues and proposals in their Town or Village and that don't get a mention on the Main S/D forum,---I have mentioned one such proposed Development in my post above, ---that of the Eastgate Renewable Energy Village, ----I'm sure there are other places that have some issues, or some news, -- whether large or small that perhaps could get covered on this site, ---and you could well be right when you say it might become dormant for long stretches at a time, ----but at least the oppotunity is here , -----the way I see this is, ---the site is up now, --- so lets see how it goes.

[denm]

A bit more news about the West of the County/Durham Dales, ------ the Weardale Railway --- re-opened earlier this year for passengers and which is a tourism attraction, ---the line runs from Bishop Auckland ( West) through Wolsingham, Frosterly and onto Stanhope, ---and the 18 mile line is also hoped to carry freight, ---as recent plans were approved by Durham County Council to Develop a coal loading facility within the Wolsingham Depot, ----the line could also be extended to Eastgate if project for the Renewable Energy Village goes ahead.

[denm]

News regarding Consett, -------I read sometime ago that Tesco wanted to build a store in the Town, which would create over 200 jobs, ---I'm not sure what happened with this proposal, whether they received permission, --and if they did, --has any work started, ---anyone know? thanks.

[Tyr]

Durham. It has nothing to do with Sunderland, mad its in the same forum.

Co.Durham. Covered nowhere right now.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Tyr

Durham. It has nothing to do with Sunderland, mad its in the same forum.

Co.Durham. Covered nowhere right now.

It is covered in this thread, and major projects will probably continue to be covered on the "Sunderland and Durham" Forum, the remit for which is . . . 'For Sunderland, Washington, and County Durham', as it states in the sub-heading for the forum, beneath the main heading.

I am hopeful that, between the Sunderland and Durham forum, and this "County Durham Developments" thread, County Durham will be well covered. It requires people to post about the 'Urbanism Issues' within the County though!

Also, I have moved your above post here, from the 'Northumberland Developments' Thread

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[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by denm

News regarding Consett, -------I read sometime ago that Tesco wanted to build a store in the Town, which would create over 200 jobs, ---I'm not sure what happened with this proposal, whether they received permission, --and if they did, --has any work started, ---anyone know? thanks.

I don't know about the Consett one, would be good news though, but this one nearby in Stanley, was announced today . . .

Tesco hopes new shop in Stanley, will make 400 jobs
November 30th 2010, by Neil McKay, Evening Chronicle



TESCO is planning a new store which they say will revamp a run-down town centre and create 400 new jobs.

Durham County Council planning officers were to have recommended members approve the plans for the store at Stanley today but the planning committee meeting was put back until next month due to the bad weather.

The Tesco Extra will be one of the first in a new generation of environmentally-friendly eco stores. As well as food, the supermarket will offer shoppers clothing, electrical goods, DVDs and CDs. It is hoped it will be open by mid-2012.

At a public exhibition this year, attended by hundreds of locals, more than 94% who filled in a questionnaire said they supported the proposal.

Councillors will be told that eleven residents objected to the development on the grounds of access and parking, but officers are to recommend “that the objectors were not considered sufficient to justify refusal of the application.”

Planning officers will advise council members that the new store “will enhance Stanley town centre by replacing an existing retail park which has a poor appearance with a large modern building which will enhance the appearance of the town centre and will draw people into the town centre. The scheme represents significant investment in Stanley which will widen retail choice and contribute to the regeneration of the area.”

North Durham MP Kevan Jones is also backing the scheme to revitalise the Clifford Road area of Stanley.

Mr Jones said: “I am confident that this development will be of great benefit to my constituents.”

To maximise use of the town centre site, the store will be on stilts with shoppers entering the store via travellators linking the ground floor car park to the store above. There will also be a cafe on a mezzanine floor.

Under and around the store there will be 550 car parking spaces, including 28 disabled and 24 parent and child.


Read More - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz16mcCkjE1

[denm]

It was some time ago that I read something about Tesco's proposal for Consett, ----anyway bound to hear something later, ---- but this is good news for Stanley, ---and hundreds of jobs being created too.

[denm]

Barnard Castle News, ------- this could be excellent news for Barnard Castle and surrounding areas, ---a thousand jobs created would be fantastic, --- this from the Northern Echo, ---

Hopes for 1,000 drugs firm jobs
8:47am Tuesday 30th November 2010

Print Email Share Comments(0) By Owen McAteer »

COUNTY Durham has been shortlisted for a manufacturing plant that will create about 1,000 jobs.

Pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKline, the UK’s largest drugs firm, last night confirmed Barnard Castle will be one of three sites “considered first” for its new biopharmaceutical plant.

The plant – revealed by The Northern Echo last year – is expected to create hundreds of jobs during its construction and when it is running in about seven years’ time.

In addition, GlaxoSmith- Kline (GSK) confirmed last night it planned to go ahead with a manufacturing centre of excellence for skin creams and ointments at the existing Barnard Castle factory, which employs about 800 people.

The centre of excellence is aimed at building on GSK’s purchase of US skin specialist Stiefel last year.

GSK is Teesdale’s biggest employer, and the announcement was last night hailed as a vote of confidence in Barnard Castle’s future.

The company said it was planning a £500m investment in manufacturing after the Government confirmed yesterday that it intends to go ahead with “Patent Box” tax reforms announced almost a year ago by the Labour Government.

At that time, it emerged that GSK saw Barnard Castle as a possible site for the £300m biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant, having switched its attention from Asia or the US following the Patent Box announcement, which would give firms a ten per cent reduction in corporation tax on profits from a patent registered and then manufactured in the UK.

The measure is designed to encourage investment in research and development and related manufacturing in the UK.

Announcing a raft of plans for the company, GSK chief executive Andrew Witty indicated the majority of about 1,000 jobs to be created would revolve around the manufacturing plant.

There would also be investment at its facility in Ware, Hertfordshire, to develop a respiratory inhalation device for asthma sufferers.

Mr Witty said: “In the challenging and uncertain economic environment, this is a welcome step by the Government to improve the attractiveness of the UK as a place for the private sector to locate and invest.

“For too long, while great inventions and discoveries have been made in this country, downstream economic activity in development and manufacturing, and associated employment, have been attracted to other countries, which have more favourable corporation tax regimes.

“For GSK, the successful introduction of the Patent Box will enable us to increase investment in communities where we have existing facilities by scaling up manufacturing and building a significant new plant.”

Ian Williams, director of business and industry at regional development agency One North East, said: “It is excellent news that the Barnard Castle plant is in the frontline for construction of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant.

“The high-quality reputation of the site within GlaxoSmithKline is further underlined by the announcement of the manufacturing centre of excellence, which represents a real vote of confidence in the site’s future.”

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman, in whose constituency the site lies, said: “GSK are a valued local employer, and this is precisely the kind of long-term research and investment we should be encouraging.”

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[Newcastle Historian]

Whittonstall villagers facing a new mine proposal
December 2nd 2010, by Neil McKay, The Journal


VILLAGERS who successfully opposed opencast mining applications three decades ago now face yet another fight.

UK Coal yesterday confirmed it had submitted a planning application to mine two million tonnes of coal at Whittonstall, Northumberland, close to the border with County Durham, over a period of almost seven years.

In 1978 and again in 1984 plans submitted by the National Coal Board for a large opencast mine near the village were rejected following widespread protests.

Yesterday the company announced: “UK Coal has lodged a planning application seeking consent to extract 2.2 million tonnes of coal from a 208-hectare Hoodsclose site near Whittonstall in Northumberland.

“Site operations under UK Coal’s proposals would be fully screened from Whittonstall village.” The plans will attract opposition from both sides of the county border.

Durham County Councillor Watts Stelling, whose ward includes villages such as Leadgate, Ebchester and Low Westwood near to Whittonstall, said: “I have a number of serious concerns about this proposal, not least that it will involve digging up huge swathes of beautiful countryside.

“Then there will be 12 lorries per hour trundling onto the A68 past County Durham villages. The noise, dust and danger would be intolerable.”


Read More - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz16wZsoCEv

[denm]

The Villages must have thought it was all done and dusted years ago,---it's one of those when you can sympathise with the Villagers.

[Newcastle Historian]

Shopping complex plan delayed again
December 11th 2010, by Neil McKay, The Journal


A LONG-AWAITED application to invest £24m and bring 550 new jobs to a former mining community has been put back yet again.

Durham county planners had been expected to meet later this month to discuss the application to extend a popular retail park but the meeting has been put back to an unconfirmed date. The application was originally intended to have been heard five months ago.

ING Real Estates, the owners of Dalton Park, just off the A19, want to invest £24m in the regeneration of Murton in east Durham and has applied to the county council to build a five-screen cinema, hotel, pub, supermarket and restaurants on an underused part of the site.

Locals say they have already benefited by the opening of Dalton Park seven years ago, since when 500 people have been taken on – 70% of those from the immediate area.

Key stores include Marks & Spencer, Next clearance, Nike factory store, Joseph, Gap outlet and Past Times.

Businessman Michael Walton, of Fairview Gardens in Murton, who collected a petition with 2,000 signatures as well as 150 letters in support of the development, accused county planners of “dragging their feet”.

He said: “Murton desperately needs jobs and this will provide them. With cutbacks in public sector jobs imminent, private sector jobs should be welcomed with open arms.”


Read More - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz17nbZdCoj

[Tyr]

The Tesco in Stanley is to be a extra huh?
...I'm failining to see how it'll do too much business being right next to Asda but dearer.

Anything much known about the big academy they're supposed to be building on the kings head field in Stanley?
There's been a big sign there for eons saying its happening but no movement yet.

[denm]

Originally Posted by Tyr

The Tesco in Stanley is to be a extra huh?
...I'm failining to see how it'll do too much business being right next to Asda but dearer.

Anything much known about the big academy they're supposed to be building on the kings head field in Stanley?
There's been a big sign there for eons saying its happening but no movement yet.

Regarding the Stanley Academy, -----I found the following information, --hope this helps.


Stanley Academy still to go ahead

Following the disappointing Government announcement that most Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schools were to be stopped or put forward for discussion, we received the good news that Stanley Academy is still to go-ahead with full funding.

This means that Stanley School of Technology and Greencroft Business and Enterprise Community School will be combined into the new academy. You can view the proposed plans for the academy below:

Stanley Academy Existing.pdf (1 pages, 1430kb)
http://content.durham.gov.uk/PDFRepo...y_Existing.PDF

Stanley Existing Site Layout.pdf (1 pages, 1903kb)
http://content.durham.gov.uk/PDFRepo...ing_Layout.pdf

Stanley Academy Proposed.pdf (1 pages, 1338kb)
http://content.durham.gov.uk/PDFRepo...y_Proposed.PDF

Stanley Academy Perspectives of Proposed Scheme.pdf (1 pages, 688kb)
http://content.durham.gov.uk/PDFRepo...sed_Scheme.pdf


Link to article on 'Durham CC Website' - http://www.durham.gov.uk/pages/Servi...ServiceId=7027

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[denm]

Barnard Castle news, --

this from the Northern Echo, --


Hub on track despite weather
6:15pm Monday 13th December 2010

Print Email Share Comments(0) By Will Roberts »

A COMMUNIITY leader is hopeful a £4.4m youth centre will be opened in January despite weather causing delays to the build.

The Hub, on Shaw Bank on the outskirts of Barnard Castle, has been hampered by the snow in recent weeks, but Keith Jones, from Teesdale Community Resources (TCR) paid tribute to contractors Clugston for continuing to work through the bad weather.

The building project was hampered earlier in the year by heavy snow and rain in January and February, meaning that the initial opening day of 10am on October 10 this year had to be cancelled.

Mr Jones said: "The snow has really been holding things up for some time now but I have to give big credit to the contractors Clugston who have pulled out all the stops to keep things going.


Read more, --

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/new...spite_weather/