Tag: durham county council

County Durham Leisure Centres Hold Sport Relief Fundraiser

By on 27th February 2016in Lifestyle

Council fitness coaches are inviting families to spin, swim and sprint in aid of Sport Relief…

As part of their continuing efforts to improve the health of people in County Durham, staff at Freeman’s Quay and Riverside leisure centres have organised fundraising fitness events this March.

Cllr Maria Plews, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people to visit our Durham and Chester-le-Street leisure centres, use some of the fabulous facilities we have, and support a great cause.”

A 24 hour ‘spinathon’ will take place at Freeman’s Quay Leisure Centre from 8pm on Thursday 17th March until 8pm on Friday 18th March.

Members of the public can book themselves in for a 30 minute slot – or longer if they feel up to the challenge – on one of the centre’s 13 spin bikes between 6.30am and 10.30pm.

Staff – including coaches Aiden McDaid, Steven Gardiner and Sam Renwick – will then continue the trial through the night.

With cyclists busy on the bikes, coaches Laura Gwynne, Claire Fothergill, Chloe Heslop and Carol Shaw will invite swimmers to take part in an hour long ‘aquathon’ on Friday 18th March.

From 9.45am to 10.45am visitors to the Freeman’s Quay pool will be able to dance along to everything from Abba to Glee, and the Beatles.

Meanwhile, at Riverside Leisure Complex, schoolchildren and sports club members will be encouraged to walk, jog or run a mile on its running track between 9am and 3pm.

The track will also be open from noon to 1.30pm for any member of the public who would like to take part.

All the events are free, but donations to Sport Relief will be requested.

6,500 Illicit Cigarettes Seized In Durham Raid

By on 25th February 2016in In & Around

Council officers have seized more than 6,500 suspected illicit cigarettes and tobacco with a street value of more than £1,500 in a raid…

Durham County Council’s Consumer Protection Team removed 6,640 cigarettes and 2.5kg of hand rolling tobacco believed to be counterfeit from a property at Kimblesworth, just outside Durham City, on Tuesday.

The raid comes on the back of officers having seized more than 450,000 illicit cigarettes since April last year, with a street value combined with confiscated tobacco in excess of £80,000. The consumer protection team obtained a search warrant from magistrates to carry out a raid on the house, which was suspected to be connected with the supply of illicit tobacco.

Assisted by Durham Constabulary’s Chester-le-Street neighbourhood policing team, officers seized the cigarettes and tobacco from inside. It is believed the items were being sold from the house illegally, for £3.50 for a pack of cigarettes and £7 for a pouch of tobacco.

A woman was interviewed by Consumer Protection Officers on suspicion of selling counterfeit tobacco, and tobacco not displaying the required health labelling.

Joint operations with Durham Constabulary since April 1st 2015 have seen the consumer protection team seize 456,320 illicit cigarettes and 28.15kg of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco, with a combined street value of £84,000.

Joanne Waller, head of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection, said: “Our work to rid the supply of illicit tobacco at all levels in the supply chain continues unabated.

“The sale of these illegal cigarettes sidesteps the controls that lawful businesses have in place to uphold age of sale laws, and undermines the work of the stop smoking services.

“This illegal source of cheap tobacco encourages a whole new generation of young smokers, and provides little incentive or motivation for other smokers to quit.

“There will be no hiding place for those who continue to flout the law and indulge in this criminal activity.”

Anyone with information on suspected counterfeit goods sales, such as tobacco, cigarettes, clothing, trainers, and alcohol,  should contact the Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06.

Campaign Launches To Boost County Durham Recycling

By on 25th February 2016in In & Around

A campaign is to be launched to encourage even higher levels of household recycling in County Durham…

Durham County Council has secured almost £31,000 from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to promote its national Recycle Now ‘Good to Know’ campaign locally.

The council will promote the six month long Good to Know campaign from next Monday 22nd February.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the different types of materials that can be recycled from different rooms of the home in the blue lidded recycling bins and recycling boxes, including those from which WRAP believes recycling rates are lower.

Good to Know will see the council’s strategic waste team getting the message out at school assemblies and roadshows, through social media, knocking on doors and handing out leaflets. The campaign message will also be advertised in newspapers and on the back of buses, as well as on radio.

Officers will also be giving out bin stickers, and putting stickers on recyclable items in Durham’s Sainsbury’s store.

Around half of the population already recycle, and the campaign aims to encourage people to do more by highlighting the benefits. For example, one drinks can could save enough energy to power a TV for four hours, and plastic bottles can be recycled and made into a chair.

Alan Patrickson, the council’s Head of Projects and Business Services, said: “More than six out of ten of us now describe ourselves as committed recyclers, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t do more.

“This campaign will raise awareness about the products people might still be unsure of, and help those that already do their part to recycle extra items and different materials that they might not have thought of.”

Good to Know will run alongside the council’s ongoing Bin it Right campaign, which aims to get people to put the right items in the right bin, in order to stop recyclable material being contaminated and made unusable.

Durham Ice Cream Man Caught Selling Cigarettes To Kids

By on 24th February 2016in In & Around

A court has heard that an Ice Cream Man sold cigarettes from his van to children as young as 8…

Angelo Fella, from Catchgate near Stanley, was caught out when an off duty Police Sergeant queueing at his van witnessed him selling cigarettes to an 8 year old.

Surveillance then revealed the 54 year old selling cigarettes to children aged 11 and 13.

Fella has now pleaded guilty to three charges brought by Durham County Council, and has been ordered to pay out over £1,000.

At Peterlee Magistrates Court on Tuesday, it was outlined how the off-duty Sergeant was queueing for an ice cream at Fella’s van while it was visiting Catchgate, near the village’s primary school, in July 2015. The policeman watched as the defendant, who trades as Roma Ices and lives at Anthony Court, sold cigarettes to the child.

The same day, Fella sold cigarettes to a child aged 13, again at Catchgate. The Sergeant complained to Durham County Council’s consumer protection team, which obtained court authorisation to carry out surveillance on Fella’s van.

Days later, video evidence was captured of Fella handing two packets of cigarettes to a girl in school uniform at Catchgate. The girl was later confirmed to be 11.

Fella was interviewed by Consumer Protection Officers, and initially denied selling cigarettes to children. However, photographic evidence was put to him and he admitted doing so.

Fella pleaded guilty to the three charges of selling tobacco products to a child under the age of 18.

The court heard the defendant – the third generation of his family to own the ice cream business – claim he only sold cigarettes to children who were known to him in the expectation they were buying them for family members over the age of 18.

Magistrates were also told Fella lost his Council Street Traders licence after the offences came to light, although it has since been reinstated on appeal with a condition that he is not allowed to sell products including cigarettes on which there is a lower age limit.

The defendant was further said to have suffered financial loss as a result of the episode, while his marriage has also broken down.

Fella was fined £100 for each offence and ordered to pay £200 legal costs, £553.69 investigation costs, and a £20 victim surcharge, a total of £1,053.69.

Speaking after the case, Joanne Waller, Durham County Council’s Head of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection, said: “It is against the law to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18, and yet Fella knowingly did so to children up to ten years below the legal age limit.

“His actions were highly irresponsible, and our consumer protection team will not tolerate such activity.

“The financial penalty imposed on Fella should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of making a fast buck by breaking the law.”

Winner Of Gym Membership Heads From Couch To 5k

By on 23rd February 2016in Lifestyle

A hairdresser is hoping to go from her couch to running 5k after winning free use of Newton Aycliffe’s newly refurbished leisure centre…

 

Sophia Langan, 27, entered Durham County Council’s New Year fitness contest, with the prize being three months free membership for her and a friend.

Now, with husband Anthony, 36, she has visited her town’s freshly re-opened facility to start a journey to fitness she hopes will inspire others.

Sophia, from Newton Aycliffe, said: “I entered the competition when I decided I needed to do more exercise and get myself fit.

“In the past I’ve had severe back problems and haven’t been able to run, but now they are fixed, with my husband, I’m aiming for the NHS recommended ‘Couch to 5k’.

“I’m very excited to have won this competition, as it will really get us in the exercise groove for the long term.

“I’m hoping to increase my core strength and fitness levels, and the goal for us both is, by the end of the trial, to be able to run 5k with ease.”

Sophia and Anthony, an IT trainer for the NHS, visited the centre earlier this week for their gym inductions, and over the coming weeks the council will be tracking their progress in an effort to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

Councillor Maria Plews, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, said: “The council is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all its residents and their families.

“This is a great opportunity for Sophia and Anthony to make a real change to their lives, and I hope others will follow their lead and make the most of the fantastic facilities we have at our council-run leisure centres.”

For more information about gym memberships at Durham County Council leisure centres, visit www.durham.gov.uk.

Durham City Is Contender For Britain In Bloom Champion

By on 22nd February 2016in In & Around

Durham City is bidding for gardening glory once again – this time in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions competition…

 

Durham in Bloom, a community-based campaign involving local businesses, residents, volunteers, Durham County Council and various partners, has been revealed as a contender for the prestigious accolade.

It comes after the city scooped double gold in the RHS Britain in Bloom competitions in 2014 and 2015.

The group will now battle it out for the first time with other high-quality entries from all over Britain for the much sought after title of Champion of Champions.

Oliver Sherratt, Durham County Council’s corporate director, neighbourhood services, said: “We are absolutely delighted and honoured that Durham City has been recognised once again, on a national stage, for its commitment to horticultural excellence.

“To be named as a contender in such a prestigious and respected competition is testament to the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the Durham in Bloom group, and the volunteers who help ensure the city is a beautiful place to live, work and visit.”

Durham in Bloom will officially launch its campaign to become the Champion of Champions later in the spring.

Hundreds of volunteer hours are dedicated to sustainable environmental schemes and various improvement projects each year as part of the Durham in Bloom campaign.

This year is no exception, with plans already underway for a raft of further enhancement schemes such as flowerbed planting on Gilesgate roundabout with local schoolchildren.

Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “We have a proud record of horticultural achievement in County Durham, and this is underlined by the continuing success of Durham City nationally as well as the impressive efforts of our towns and villages in regional competitions.

“We would urge everyone to get behind our entry, and we offer our huge congratulations to the Durham in Bloom group for their nomination in the Champion of Champions event. We wish them all the very best of luck.”

For more information, visit www.durham.gov.uk/inbloom or follow Durham in Bloom on Facebook.

Story Of Indian Stowaway Comes To Bishop Auckland

By on 19th February 2016in Entertainment

A stowaway is set to slip into Bishop Auckland Town Hall this month, as ‘the bright young things of British theatre’ bring their latest show to County Durham…

 

On Wednesday 24th February, as the venue continues to take part in Febfest, a three week programme of arts events across the town, the award-winning company Analogue bring their tale of an extraordinary journey in search of an impossible future to the south Durham stage.

Stowaway, which was inspired by real-life stories, tells of a man from India who, desperate to change his life, hides in the wheel arch of a commercial airliner bound for the UK – only to hours later be found frozen in the car park of a DIY superstore in a leafy outer London suburb.

With the skeleton of a plane cutting across the stage, the play flies back and forth through time and place to explore a journey that leaves the man far from home and adrift from everything he knows.

Next week also sees Jackass Youth Theatre take to the stage to perform a new play, What Are They Like, which examines the changing nature of the relationship between parents and their children, as adolescence takes its grip and adulthood beckons.

The play, by Lucinda Coxon, was especially written for young performers and, through the course of the show (on Monday 22nd February) the troop will take on existential angst, mood swings, fashion fiascos, terrifying physical changes and never having enough money… and that’s just the parents!

Tickets for Stowaway – which is suitable for theatregoers aged 14 and over – cost £10 or £8 for concessions. Tickets for What Are They Like – which is suitable for all ages – cost £6 and £4 for concessions.

To book for the shows, which both take place at 7.30pm, call Bishop Auckland Town Hall’s Box Office on 03000 269 524 or visit the venue in person.

Find out more about the plays by visiting www.bishopaucklandtownhall.org.uk.

Submit Your Ideas To Strengthen Rural Economy

By on 18th February 2016in Have Your Say

Over £2m worth of European funding is now available for projects to strengthen the economy of rural areas across the North Pennine Dales…

 

The North Pennine Dales (NPD) LEADER programme is seeking applications for the grant to fund projects which increase farm and forestry production, boost rural tourism, or support small and micro businesses and farm diversification. Bids are also welcome for projects which provide cultural and heritage activities or offer rural services.

Running until 2020, Durham County Council acts as the accountable body for the NPD LEADER programme, which covers an extensive rural area across Gateshead, County Durham and south of Northumberland.

The aim of the €2.666m programme is to create jobs and support strong and sustainable economic growth, as well as helping to conserve the unique nature of the local landscapes. By funding projects put forward by people, groups and businesses in the area, it also hopes to target areas that the communities themselves see as a priority.

Cllr Eddie Tomlinson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for rural issues, said: “The LEADER programme promises more jobs and stronger economies for rural areas across the region. By offering funding towards priorities that local communities themselves feel are important, these projects can make a real difference for generations to come, so we’d encourage everyone in the area to get in touch with ideas.”

Find out more by contacting northpenninedales@durham.gov.uk or calling 03000 266 895. You can also visit www.durham.gov.uk/npdleader.

MEGA Motion Campaign Is Out Of This World

By on 16th February 2016in In & Around

Pupils from Timothy Hackworth Primary in Shildon enjoyed a special spacewalk to school with the help of an astronaut…

 

Luke Costello, 6, won a MEGA Motion competition to decide on the theme of the special walk by writing about his hero Neil Armstrong.

As his prize, he enjoyed an out of this world walk alongside MEGA Motion’s very own astronaut, Mel Keeway, who joined Luke and his classmates as they walked, cycled and scooted to school. Once there, the pupil’s enjoyed an atmospheric assembly from astronaut Mel highlighting the benefits of healthy and environmentally friendly ways of getting to school.

The special day was the latest Durham County Council supported MEGA Motion event, which comes under the wider Local Motion campaign promoting sustainable transport throughout South Durham. The campaign aims to encourage children to walk, scoot or ride to school to make them aware of the health and environmental benefits from an early age.

As well as the fun walks, pupils earn points every time they use sustainable travel to get to school, aiming to collect enough points to become MEGA heroes by the end of the year.

Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “MEGA Motion is a brilliant scheme that encourages our children, in a fun way, to be healthier and more environmentally friendly every day. It’s great to see the kids enjoy such a memorable day, and we’d like to wish them all good luck in their quest to become MEGA Heroes!”

Witton Gilbert Flood Defences Completed

By on 14th February 2016in In & Around

Work to protect homes from flooding in a County Durham village has been completed…

 

Durham County Council has developed a new flood defence scheme at Witton Gilbert with funding from the Environment Agency. It will help to protect 50 properties which were affected by flooding during severe weather in 2012.

The scheme was designed following an investigation into the flooding in 2012, and has involved the creation of a series of basins to the rear of Durham Gardens and South Lea.

The five basins can store up to 1,000 cubic meters of rain water, which would otherwise flow through the village, putting properties at risk of flooding.

The council has also worked with local landowners who have allowed existing ditches at the back of Brookside to be extended in order to divert water flows away from houses and towards the basins.

Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships at Durham County Council, said: “I am delighted that this work has been completed, and very much hope that it will provide peace of mind to local people who have previously suffered the effects of flooding caused by severe weather.

“The scheme is designed to protect streets and properties from any further flood damage by diverting rain and surface water away towards the new basins.”

As well as working with the Environment Agency, which has contributed funding for the scheme, the county council has also worked alongside local contractor Hall Construction, which carried out the work on site.

John Reed, head of technical services at Durham County Council, said: “The flooding of homes and businesses can have a devastating impact on people’s lives.

“We have worked successfully with the Environment Agency and local landowners to construct a flood prevention scheme to protect homes and businesses in Witton Gilbert from flooding in the future.”

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