Tag: durham

Warm Up North Scheme Installs Free Central Heating

By on 1st March 2016in In & Around

Residents in County Durham are set to benefit from a new scheme which sees free central heating systems fitted to a number of homes without, or with only partial, central heating…

As part of Warm Up North, and thanks to a £6.5m government grant, Durham County Council in partnership with eight other North East local authorities and British Gas, will begin installing free central heating systems into qualifying properties.

The £6.5m funding was awarded to a scheme involving nine North East local authorities – Northumberland County Council, Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Gateshead Council and Newcastle City Council – with the emphasis on rural areas.

A number of residents in County Durham who may be eligible for the fund will shortly receive a letter with full information.

Cllr Eddie Tomlinson, Cabinet member for housing and rural issues at Durham County Council, said: “We’re very pleased to be part of this scheme which offers help to people who need it most.

“By tackling fuel poverty, we can help to ensure people can afford to heat their homes, which in turn can have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.”

People can find out more information by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/freecentralheating or by calling Warm Up North on 0800 294 8073.

Twenty projects nationwide were awarded funding, totalling £25m as part of the Central Heating Fund scheme, which will improve the energy efficiency of more than 7,000 households across England.

Lumley Castle Appoint New Director Of Sales

By on 29th February 2016in Local Biz

A former Barclays business leader has been appointed Director of Sales at a top North East hotel…

Tina Lowes, from Sunderland, who worked at director level for the bank as head of premier and small business for the North East, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, has joined the team at Lumley Castle Hotel, Chester-le-Street.

In her new role, Tina will be tasked with introducing the historic four-star venue to a wider corporate and leisure audience.

As well as consolidating the hotel’s reputation as one of the region’s favourite wedding and event venues, she will aim to raise its profile within the business community both regionally and nationally.

“Lumley Castle Hotel is not only magnificent; it’s unique,” said Tina, who has also just completed a six-month contract as Director of Partnerships and Commercial Development at Tyne Metropolitan College.

“With spectacular state rooms, opulent bedrooms and, of course, its renowned Black Knight restaurant, there really is nowhere else like it, and increasingly corporate clients are looking for places which offer something a little bit different.

“Lumley Castle is fast becoming a key venue for meetings, conferences, private lunches and large scale events and I shall hope to build on that.”

Christine Gott, General Manager at Lumley Castle Hotel, said: “Tina has a strong business background, along with great energy and enthusiasm, and we are delighted to welcome her to our team.”

For more information, call 0191 389 1111 or visit www.lumleycastle.com.

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.

Careers Service Spearheads Campaign Against Gender Stereotypes

By on 24th February 2016in Local Biz

The National Careers Service in the North East is spearheading a campaign to challenge gender stereotypes in the workplace…

As part of the campaign, the National Careers Service is helping careers advice professionals educate students across the region on the diverse range of opportunities open to them in the North East, regardless of gender. This has included attending careers briefings at colleges and schools in the region.

Labour market research by the National Careers Service in the North East reveals:

  • 21% of the science, engineering and manufacturing workforce is female.
  • Women make up only 9% of the UK’s engineering professionals.
  • 16% of IT specialists working in the North East are female.
  • 12% of applicants to computing degree courses are female.
  • Men make up less than 16% of the nursing care home workforce.
  • Men make up less than 20% of the social care workforce.
  • 67% of the Crown Prosecution Service workforce is female.
  • About 74% of the 20,000 members of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives are women.

The National Careers Service in the North East is employing the latest technology to showcase its findings. The App – Challenging Occupational Gender Stereotyping (COGS) – funded through the Equality and Diversity Innovation Fund was designed to help address gender discrepancies in a range of professions including IT, healthcare and engineering.

Carly Hinds, Partnership Manager for the National Careers Service in the North East, said: “The App can be used to help open up the minds of young men and women in the region to the wider spectrum of careers opportunities available.

“We want to debunk the misconception that some sectors are the domain of mainly males or females.

“We are employing the latest technology through the creation of an app which challenges the gender disparities within some industries across the region, such as engineering and healthcare.”

The App featured prominently in a recent event at Stockton Riverside College’s Bede Sixth Form. Alice Atkinson, Careers Coordinator for Bede Sixth Form, said: “I felt it was important for the National Careers Service to attend our Respect Festival, as many young people do not realise key sectors in the North East offer great opportunities for both men and women, and that employers welcome diversity.

“It is important for young people across the North East to not feel held back by their gender when pursuing a career they feel passionate about. Our work with the National Careers Service in the North East is there to encourage our students to challenge gender stereotypes within the workplace.”

The National Careers Service in the North East is behind the Supporting Inspiration project, which helps young people develop an appreciation of the world of work, local labour markets, the skills needs for different business sectors and career opportunities open to them.

It has established a Supporting Inspiration portal, which aims to transform the way employers contribute to making young people in the region work-ready.

The service, which is part of the Government’s Inspiration agenda, uses the portal to match up employers willing to inform students about the world of work, with schools and colleges across the region.

It connects with employers in Durham, Northumberland, Tees Valley, Tyneside and Wearside, who can offer a range of careers education support such as providing work experience placements, mentoring students face-to-face and online, and attending careers fairs.

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.”

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.

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.

Ramside Hall Completes £150,000 Conference Suite Refurbishment

By on 17th February 2016in Local Biz

A leading North East hotel is preparing for more conference and events business, following a £150,000 refurbishment of its biggest suite…

Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham, is one of the region’s most popular venues, hosting a wide variety of business events, celebrations, awards and charity dinners.

And now the hotel is welcoming more business, following on from a complete makeover of its Bishops Suite.

The suite can take up to 600 guests, and can also be divided into three smaller rooms, making it a flexible space suitable for meetings and for balls or awards.

The refurb has included redecoration, new carpets and curtains to give the room a brighter look.

The two bar areas have also undergone a revamp and new mood lighting has been installed.

“The Bishops Suite is always in great demand, and we’re expecting this to increase further now that it has been refreshed,” said John Adamson, owner of Ramside Hall Hotel.

“We have already had great feedback from people who have seen it, and we fully anticipate that it will continue to attract events.”

The hotel also has a ballroom which can take up to 320 guests, along with the Fountain Room which can take up to 60, and a number of smaller meeting rooms.

The refurbishment of the suite is the latest investment at Ramside Hall, following on from the creation of a £8m luxury spa, the addition of a wing of rooms and an additional championship golf course in the past 18 months.

For further information, visit www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk.

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