Category: In & Around

Frosty Fun In Chester-le-Street For Christmas Light Switch On

By on 30th November 2015in In & Around

The Chester-le-Street Christmas lights are set to turn the town into a Winter Wonderland…

 

Residents and visitors to Chester-le-Street are invited to gather around the Christmas tree for the annual festive light switch on, taking place on Thursday 3rd December at 4pm.

They’ll be joined by the Town Crier, stilt walkers, Frosty the Snowman, and characters from Disney blockbuster Frozen.

Organisers have arranged for free parking after 3pm in all Durham County Council car parks throughout December, and businesses are set to remain open throughout the evening, meaning hot drinks and food will be available.

For more information, email chester-le-streetaap@durham.gov.uk.

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County Durham Invited To Sign Up For Garden Waste Collection

By on 25th November 2015in In & Around

Residents in County Durham are invited to sign up for next year’s garden waste collection service…

 

Durham County Council will resume the fortnightly collections for more than 190,000 eligible properties in March 2016.

Householders can subscribe to the service, which offers 17 collections between spring and autumn, for an annual fee of £20.

Following feedback from residents who used the service last year, an additional collection has been added for the 2016 scheme.

Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships at Durham County Council, said: “The garden waste collection service is a convenient way for residents to dispose of and recycle their garden waste.

“Nearly 65,000 people subscribed to the service in 2015, and we are very pleased to be able to offer 17 collections for 2016, with no increase in the annual fee of £20, and would encourage people to sign up to take advantage of the service.”

Residents wishing to receive all 17 collections must sign up before 14th February 2016.

Those who do subscribe will receive a pink bin sticker and a collection calendar, which will be issued from January 2016.

Anyone who has already subscribed to the service for three years will automatically receive their sticker and collection calendar in January.

For more information about garden waste collections, or to subscribe, you can go to www.durham.gov.uk/gardenwaste or call 03000 261 000.

In Teesdale, garden waste collections are provided by Rotters Composting, and residents in this area should contact Rotters direct to arrange collections at www.rotters.org or by calling 01833 690 022.

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Drop And Wrap Service Running For Sunderland Christmas Shoppers

By on 24th November 2015in In & Around

Shoppers in Sunderland can get Christmas all wrapped up thanks to a new initiative…

From November 26th, Sunderland’s Business Improvement District company, Experience It Here! will be running a special Drop and Wrap service in partnership with National Skills Shop for Retail.

Shoppers will be able to unload their gifts at the new Elephant Tea Room, High Street West, and leave them there to be wrapped while they enjoy the packed programme of seasonal events running in the city.

This includes an ice rink, Christmas market and funfair.

“Christmas shopping can be hectic,” said Chief Executive of Sunderland BID, Ken Dunbar.  “We’re hoping that the Drop and Wrap service will help reduce stress and give visitors a chance to enjoy our events, without having to lug their gifts around.”

The Drop and Wrap service will be run by staff and apprentices from National Skills Shop for Retail, as well as several volunteers.

“There’s so much going on in Sunderland this Christmas, so it’s great to be able to provide a service that will make it easier for people to take advantage of that,” said Chris Hall, Sales and Marketing Director at National Skills Shop for Retail.

“We expect the service to be very popular and are appealing for volunteers to get into the festive spirit and give us a hand.”

Shoppers can have their presents wrapped from £2 per item, with 50% of proceeds going to charities run by Sunderland Minster.

“Not only will this service help Sunderland’s visitors to enjoy the festive season, but it will also raise money for some really great causes,” said Sheila Bamber, Canon Provost at Sunderland Minster.

“We’re very grateful to Sunderland BID and National Skills Shop for Retail for choosing our charities to be the recipients of the money that’s raised.”

For more information about the Drop and Wrap service, or to volunteer, please call 0191 649 8686.

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North East Youngsters Name Winter Characters

By on 23rd November 2015in In & Around

A magical duo, designed to spread seasonal sparkle across Sunderland, are being brought to life with help from two North East youngsters…

The Frostlings, who are spearheading a programme of festive entertainment in the city’s Frost Village, had, until now, been without first names.

But following an appeal by their creators, Sunderland Business Improvement District, the brother and sister duo have been officially crowned Frostina and Spike.

Both names were among suggestions submitted by youngsters from across the North East, with Mia McCormick and Rebecca McKitterick finally chosen as the winning entrants.

Mia, 10, from Plains Farm, Sunderland, was inspired by a fellow Barnes School student for Frostina, while six year old Rebecca, from Newbottle, plumped for Spike thanks to the male character’s spikey hair.

The pair will now each receive a free family pass to the Frost Village, where visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including an outdoor ice rink offering daily skating sessions and classes for everyone from children to adults.

Ken Dunbar, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID, said: “This year’s seasonal schedule is one of the busiest and most exciting Sunderland has ever seen. Frostina and Spike Frostling will play a key part in that and we’re delighted that they have now finally been named.

“I would like to congratulate Mia and Rebecca on their winning entries and thank everyone who took part, we received some amazing suggestions.”

The Frostlings are part of a number of illustrated characters which have been created by the BID to add some unique magic to Christmas in Sunderland.

The duo will appear in and around the Frost Village, which is at the centre of the city’s seasonal activities programme, with a traditional Christmas market and fun fair also running nearby.

Christmas in Sunderland city centre officially gets underway on November 26th, with a Gala Ice Extravaganza featuring stars from TV show, Dancing On Ice.

The Frost Village will then be open Sundays to Wednesdays from 10am to 8pm and Thursdays to Saturdays from 10am until 10pm, with a Christmas fun fair on the former Vaux site opening daily from noon.

The real open air ice rink at Keel Square will offer a range of activities for all abilities including skating lessons, ice discos and skating with princesses and super heroes.

The Frost Village will close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and skating sessions for that date must be booked in advance.

For further information about the Frost Village or group bookings visit www.sunderlandchristmas.co.uk.  You can also keep up with Frostina and Spike on Facebook and Twitter.

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Lumiere Festival Volunteers To Be Honoured For Their Efforts

By on 22nd November 2015in In & Around

Around 170 Festival Makers who helped some 200,000 people enjoy the UK’s largest light festival earlier this month are to be honoured for their efforts…

 

A formal thank you to the volunteers who supported Lumiere will take place this week at Durham Town Hall, and all invited have been contacted. The special event will be attended by Cllr Jan Blakey, Chairman of Durham County Council, as well as representatives from Lumiere producers, Artichoke, and the sponsors of this year’s Festival Makers, Northumbrian Water.

Lumiere, which ran November 12th to 15th, is an Artichoke production and was commissioned by the county council for the fourth time in 2015. Its 29 fabulous artworks attracted record crowds and were spread across the city. They included a colossal whale in the Wear, a ghostly fog below the Cathedral and a fantastic tale of myth and fable combined with local history, projected onto the Castle.

Ensuring a better experience for visitors was one of the main tasks of the army of Festival Makers, supported by Northumbrian Water, who provided a welcoming face and great knowledge of the city for the audience.

Chairman of the council, Cllr Jan Blakey, said: “Lumiere is spectacular but it was all the better for the wonderful work of the volunteer Festival Makers, who maintained their enthusiasm despite some pretty inclement weather.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank them publicly and I look forward to meeting them all in person at our special event.”

Louise Hunter, Director of Corporate Affairs at Northumbrian Water, said: “The Lumiere festival has gone from strength to strength and with the help of the Festival Makers, 2015 has been a record-breaking, best year ever.

“We’re proud to have played a part by supporting the Festival Makers, who braved the elements to help with the smooth running of the event.”

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County Durham Campaign Drives Out Litter From Motorists

By on 22nd November 2015in In & Around

Thousands of people have been educated about throwing rubbish from vehicles, and dozens were caught in the act as part of a campaign to drive out litter in County Durham…

 

Durham County Council joined forces with a number of organisations throughout October in an attempt to tackle the issue of litter being discarded from cars, vans and other vehicles.

The education, engagement and enforcement campaign, which targeted six hotspots throughout the county:

  • raised awareness of the problems caused by rubbish from vehicles
  • encouraged people to dispose of litter from vehicles responsibly
  • reduced the amount of litter from vehicles in hotspots
  • saw more than 2,500 children in 10 primary schools educated about responsible rubbish disposal
  • saw a further 320 young people in four sixth forms and further education colleges visited, targeting potential new drivers
  • identified people throwing litter from their vehicles, resulting in 31 fixed penalty notices, 29 advisory letters and a further 13 ongoing investigations
  • visited 20 fast food restaurants asking them to report anyone seen littering from vehicles
  • saw 400 education packs handed out to new drivers at test centres and through 172 driving instructors
  • informed drivers at MOT test centres, car dealerships, petrol stations and through driving instructors.

Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, Durham County Council, said: “Litter from vehicles is a major issue, not only because it is a blight on our surroundings, but it also has a big impact on wildlife and the staff who have to clean it up, as they are exposed to the risks.

“Cleaning it up and keeping our roadsides and remote areas clear of rubbish is also costly, and these resources could be put to use in other ways.

“Campaigns like ‘Driving Out Car litter In County Durham’ are a great means of educating people of all ages about the importance of proper waste disposal from vehicles and keeping our surroundings clean.”

Vehicle littering offences can be reported online at www.durham.gov.uk/litter or by calling 03000 261 000.

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Extensive A690 Roadworks Begin Monday 23rd

By on 21st November 2015in In & Around

Drivers are advised to allow extra time for journeys while essential road maintenance takes place on one of County Durham’s main routes…

 

Durham County Council will be carrying out resurfacing work on the south-bound section of the A690 dual carriageway, between the county border with Sunderland and Rainton Gate.

The work will start on Monday 23rd and is expected to take six days.

During the work a contraflow system will operate on the north-bound carriageway of that section of the road and five central reservation crossover points will be closed.

Diversion routes for residents in West Rainton and Rainton Gate will be in place.

John Reed, head of technical services at Durham County Council, said: “This work is part of our essential maintenance programme which is aimed at keeping the county’s roads in good condition.

“We appreciate that this is a busy commuter route in and out of Durham and we would ask road users to be patient and allow extra time for their journeys while we carry out this work.”

Youth Crime More Than Halves In County Durham

By on 20th November 2015in In & Around

Victims are being asked what they would do if given the chance to come face to face with the young people who commit crimes against them…

 

Between April and September this year, 236 victims of youth crime were contacted by Durham County Council’s Youth Offending Service to offer them the opportunity to see offenders give back to the wider community.

And as International Restorative Justice Week begins, County Durham Youth Offending Service (CDYOS) has revealed that over the past five years such work has helped see the number of young people committing crime fall by 51.5%, with the number of crimes they commit down by 46.8%.

Gill Eshelby, CDYOS’ strategic manager, said: “Restorative justice is never an easy option, and it takes real commitment from all parties to make it work, but the results are worth it.”

Each year the youth offending service works with both many young people who offend, and victims, on a range of restorative justice projects that benefit not only those directly affected by crime, but the wider community.

In total CDYOS oversaw 5,231 hours of restorative justice during 2014/15, with nearly three in five victims of youth crime participating – but such work was not just about litter picking.

It also included working with local organisations, undertaking environmental projects, building maintenance and potentially any other project that a victim suggests – especially if it helps develop a young person’s skills.

And charitable initiatives, including young people making poppies for Remembrance Sunday, Christmas wreathes, spring flower baskets and summer nesting boxes, have, over the last three years, helped raise nearly £5,000 for local charities.

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Alex Nelson’s Places To Go: Darlington

By on 18th November 2015in Have Your Say, In & Around, Lifestyle, Places To Go, What's New?

Stationmaster Alex Nelson has been suggesting places to go by train every month for ten years. This month, he’s headed to Darlington…

 

 

Over the past few decades, County Durham has been getting smaller. First of all, the county lost Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Stockton and Hartlepool in 1974, followed by Darlington when it became a unitary authority in 1997.

With its population of over 100,000, Darlington is a town famous for many reasons, not least for the world’s first locomotive hauled railway service (from Stockton to Darlington) founded by Edward Pease and his business associates.

The company initially provided only the track, which was hired out to whoever wished to run a train, hauled either by horses or by steam. The transition to standard railway management was a gradual one, spurred on by frequent disputes between drivers over right of way, and by the dangers of the higher speeds of steam locomotives.

The town does have its own railway museum, but it’s been several years since I’ve visited, as opening hours are much reduced. This isn’t at the main Darlington station, sometimes known as Bank Top, but at the original station at North Road, a 20 minute walk north of the town. It’s the first stop on the branch to Bishop Auckland, which runs infrequently, but stops alongside the museum and the shed where the iconic new steam locomotive 60163 Tornado was built in 2008.

North Road Station Museum is known as the Head of Steam, and is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-3.30pm. There is an admission charge of £4.95, with reductions for concessions and children. The big problem it faces, however, is that despite being a very interesting museum and incorporating the fascinating Ken Hoole Study Centre, it is dwarfed by the National Railway Museum off-shoot at Shildon, just up the line, which is much larger and benefits from free admission.

The Shildon museum is where people tend to gravitate, but on a day trip to Darlington, it’s well worth a visit to the original.

 

The town centre contains many interesting alleyways (or vennels), particularly between the High Street and Skinnergate, which runs parallel to the west, away from the railway station. There are many independent shops and specialist cafes on these vennels.

My wife and I enjoy many of the shows at the Darlington Civic Theatre, which is a more intimate performance space than the likes of the Sunderland Empire or Theatre Royal in Newcastle. The theatre is also close to the railway station for a ride home afterwards, but requires careful planning of train times if you’re to avoid a long wait after the show.

Darlington is also an excellent place to change trains, having a flat floor plan with no bridges or subways between platforms. Watch the indicators, though! Whilst southbound trains routinely leave from Platform 1, northbound from Platform 4, and locals to Middlesbrough/Saltburn from Platform 2/3, these are prone to swap around from time to time.

I learned this the hard way when I foolishly directed a lady on her way to Whitby (via Middlesbrough) to wait with me on Platform 1 whilst her train gently slid out of Platform 4… and it was her last connection. I wrote an apology in the Whitby Gazette and it won Letter of the Week, but the memory still fills me with dread.

On the railway, I’m supposed to know what I’m doing…

Alex Nelson

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Atlantean: Volkswagen’s Smoking Gun

By on 16th November 2015in Have Your Say, In & Around, Lifestyle, What's New?

Long time In & Around contributor Atlantean takes a moment to reflect on the Volkswagen scandal…

I own a Volkswagen Golf.

Not something I am particularly proud of at the moment, as a paid up supporter of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, and a supporter of Oxfam and internet campaigning group Avaaz.

With the Paris Climate Change Summit coming up (30th November to 11th December) with the aim of trying to arrest global warming, many commentators are warning that we are at – or beyond – the tipping point when planet warming becomes irreversible.

I was surfing the Volkswagen GB website recently, finding nothing about the emissions scandal, when to my surprise I found the following message at the bottom of the page:

“Our CO2 and consumption values are provisional and are currently under review. Revised values will be published if necessary.”

But hang on… the scandal was not about CO2. It was about nitrous oxides from diesel engines. On top of 11 million vehicles worldwide (508,276 of them in the UK), we can now add a minimum of 800,000 petrol cars too.

I took my four month old Golf into my dealer, Pulman of Durham, and requested to hand the vehicle back in if it were affected by the scandal. Their immediate response was that I should contact their solicitors.

How’s that for customer service, before we even established if my car was affected?

I had said nothing about going to law. I was willing to hand back the car and cancel the finance agreement under the Sale of Goods Act. They checked, and yes, my diesel car was affected.

Five weeks later, having heard nothing, I phoned Pulman, whose receptionist had never heard of NOx emissions. Wonderful. I was told I could check on line, so I entered my car’s vehicle identification number, and was told that my car was NOT affected.

By now unsure, I was willing to hand back the keys and cancel the agreement even if the car was not affected by ‘dieselgate’. I wondered why my car wasn’t affected. Had VW had a change of heart and stopped fitting the defeat device? Why should they do that? Many people are signing up for a class action against Volkswagen being formulated by solicitors Slater and Gordon, and I think I will join them.

According to latest estimates, it looks like I may have to wait until well into next year to have my car fixed. But what will VW do? Will the fix affect performance of the engine and/or fuel consumption? Will there be any compensation, as there is in the United States?

If their car performs as well as before, and doesn’t use any more fuel, many people won’t be bothered so long as their car is fixed. However, I’m bothered about emissions, and chose a VW on the grounds of its better emissions performance. Even if my own car is unaffected – and I have had conflicting advice, remember– I do not wish to be associated with the brand.

They’ve finally got over the disgrace of building the People’s Car for Adolf Hitler, and now this!

Pulman of Durham, pay attention. You need to up your game with regard to customer service and make some communication with your customers, and if you do not have the answers from VW that you need, I suggest you find yourselves a different motor franchise or face the consequences within a year.

Have you been affected by this scandal? I’d like to know your thoughts. Write to atlantean247@yahoo.co.uk.

Atlantean

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