Esh Parish Council - Telephone: 0191 3736687 - Email: clerk@eshparishcouncil.gov.uk

Esh Parish Council

Esh Parish Council

New Parish Councillors

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The Annual Meeting will take place Tuesday 25th May at 7pm

The Acceptance of Office will need to be signed before the meeting and proposed this takes place 6:45pm before the Annual Meeting.

Please check the Meetings Diary for the venue details which also lists all the Parish Meetings for the year ahead. As The Council of the Parish of Esh is warded meetings will move around the villages monthly and not all take place on a Tuesday. All dates are already booked or in the process of confirmation by the venues. The schedule may change if the dates are not available. The agenda for the Annual Meeting will be available 4 clear days before the meeting.

Following the Acceptance of Office all Councillors must complete a Register of Interest Form within 28 days of taking up office.

Play Parks – Update

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The ROSPA Inspections of all pay parks was carried out and concerns reported.

Sir Bobby Robson Play Park Report identified the skate park was in need of some attention and pleased to say this work has now been carried out. To also keep this maintained we have agreed a Service Level Agreement to continue the twice yearly maintenance. Durham Spray Paints will be adding to this with art work as part of a Youth Project, Parish Council agreed and further information will be provided by Durham Spray Paints in the next few weeks.

The soft surfaces have already previously seen repairs and so an alternative solution has been suggested, costed and agreed by the Parish Council. Work will commence soon as possible.

We have been in contact with Wicksteed and we are hoping for the repairs in relation to the soft surfaces be completed by the end of June 2021 and we will update residents accordingly, once work is underway.

Quebec Play Park has a similar issue with the soft surfaces and work will be taking place soon as possible.

Anti-social Behaviour concerns have been passed to the County Wardens and the Police and further support over the next few weeks and high visibility patrols are currently carried out.

Esh Play Park reopened in early March 2021 and is popular and well used by children and parents after school and on the weekends.

Esh Parish Notice of Uncontested Elections

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Notice Of Vacancy Esh Ward

Esh Ward

Langley Park Ward

Quebec Ward

Ushaw Ward

Notice of Election Ushaw Ward

Vacancy, Election and Referendum Notices

 

This does not come in to effect until 10th May 2021 when the current members retire and after new members sign the Acceptance of Office. This is usually done so at the first meeting.

The councillors will also need to complete their register of pecuniary interests within 28 days.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh

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It is with great and deep sadness that we acknowledge and come to terms with to the death of Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh

On behalf of our communities, the Parish Council sends its deepest sympathies to the Royal family at this time of great sorrow.

Arrangements are being made to mark his passing and we will update you with further details as soon as they are confirmed.

Anti-social Behaviour Concerns – The Old Recreation Ground

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Work will commence later this month to address the central area of the site due to ongoing anti-social behaviour. This is following on from works that have already taken place in September 2020 and January 2021. Once the work has been carried out the remaining litter will be collected as it is impossible to get to the stuff deeper in the undergrowth. All work will be carried out by a professional company and will work around and leave in place any nests found during the works. There will also be signage going up regarding off road vehicles which are not permitted to be used.

Elections Thursday 6th May 2021

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County Council, Parish Council and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections are due to take place Thursday 6th May 2021

The Council of the Parish of Esh (Esh Parish Council) is made up of the wards of Esh (2 Seats), Langley Park (10 Seats), Quebec (2 Seats) and Ushaw (2 Seats). Elections are open to all residents and within a specified distance from the parish boundary also. As a Parish Councillor you will be expected to represent all wards covered by Esh Parish Council and not just the ward elected. Parish Councillors are unable to make individual decisions and it is the Parish Council collectively responsible and discussed in Parish Meetings as agenda items.

Nomination Packs can be downloaded directly from https://www.durham.gov.uk/nominationpacks

This also includes information on the deadlines to submit the nomination papers and other important details.

Wallnook Development – UPDATE

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The decision was posted to the planning portal 20/01/2021 for refusal.

This can be viewed on the Durham County Council Planning Portal

Extracts from the Delegated Report

Esh Parish Council – Raise objections.

Objection is raised to the delays in the determination of the application and it is considered that this has happened to permit the County Durham Plan process to complete. Questions are raised as to why some documentation has only been made available in November 2020. The planning permissions should have expired. The development is considered to be in the wrong place and unnecessary. Assurances are sought that any subsequent detrimental effects of the development on Parish Council land are compensated by the developer. The existence of a drainage ditch on the eastern boundary of the site appears to have been overlooked. The existing fenced pumping station is not referenced. The main access route remains unclear and informed by outdated and inaccurate traffic survey data. Public footpath no. 27 and the LVRP will be damaged by the proposal. The recreation ground is now a Fields in Trust Centenary Field dedicated to the war dead and could face harmful flooding and tree removal impacts. The Local Planning Authority had up until recently misunderstood the land ownership of the recreation ground. Concerns regarding subsidence and the coal mining legacy of the site. The development would potentially not be completed until 2034 and both existing and prospective residents would be impacted upon by a build duration of this length. Further development which will lead to cumulative impacts have occurred since this scheme was granted outline planning permission including upon local services and facilities. Adequate housing is available for sale in the area. Any benefits of the development would fall within Witton Gilbert Parish not Esh yet it is Langley Park which would receive the impact. Objections are raised to the delivery of the access and impacts upon the LVRP and its users. No updated utilities assessment has been undertaken with particular reference made to internet provision. An improvement to services in Esh Parish should be funded by the developer. The sustainability and energy efficiency credentials of the development are criticised. No consultation has been made in regard to the provision of access routes to the adjacent Esh Parish recreation ground and works to trees therein.

Cllrs Simpson and Coult – Raise objections.

There have been unacceptable delays with the application and there is a clear lack of deliverability of the scheme. The Neighbourhood Plan does not allocate the site for housing. Concerns are raised over the severity of the flood risk. The site is a considerable distance from services and facilities and the gradients unappealing for elderly residents. Concerns are raised over the impact of the development upon local service capacity. The development has only one access and no emergency vehicle arrangements. The sustainability credentials/energy efficiency of the dwellings is inadequate. Significant concerns are raised in regards to the traffic implications of the development together with concerns over the structural integrity of the bridge over the River Browney. Detrimental impacts upon the Lanchester Valley Walk are cited.

Former Cllr McGaun – Raised objections.

Concerns were expressed regarding whether the correct procedures and due diligence have been followed. A great number of local residents have expressed their concerns including in regards to the scale and layout of the development, environmental impact and safety. Attention is drawn in particular to concerns in regards to flood risk and traffic implications.

Though the Reserved Matters have been REFUSED there is the possibility they may appeal the decision with the Secretary of State within 6 months.

COUNTY DURHAM PLAN

The site is included in the County Durham Plan (MAP)

and

(SHLLA) Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2019 (MAP)

It is also mentioned in the document below.

Durham County Council response SQ Matters 8-14

It is unlikely this will go away while the County Durham Plan runs until 2035.

 

Our address:

Esh Parish Council
Miners Institute
Church Street
Langley Park
Durham
DH7 9TZ

T: 0191 3736687
E: clerk@eshparishcouncil.gov.uk

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