The Parish Council is now on Facebook. If you are a user please have a look and send any feedback to the Parish Clerk.
COMMUNITY GRANTS – CLOSING DATE 30 NOV 21
If your group or organisation wishes to apply for a grant from the Parish Council, please be aware that the closing date for applications is 30 November 2021.
Information on grant applications and an application form is available in the Policies, Procedures and Information section of this web site.
Planning Application to create Northeast Region Football Centre off Pithouse Lane – Parish Council Objections.
Planning Application DM/21/014/04/FPA
Address: Leamside Equestrian Limited Stud and Equestrian Centre, White House Farm, Pit House Lane, Leamside, Houghton the Spring.
Proposal: Engineering operations to create a football centre incorporating the creation of 20 no grass pitches (Use class F”), demolition of the existing stable block, creation of new building to provide changing facilities, creation of car parking and widening of existing access track.
The Parish Council has raised objections to this proposal and these are detailed here: Leasmside Football Centre – Final Response
Planning Application to import 75,000 tonnes per annum of top soil to Pithouse Lane – Parish Council Concerns.
Planning Application DM/21/00995/WAS Address: Land South West Of Lumley Moor Farm Pithouse Lane Little Lumley DH4 6QD
The Parish Council has expressed its concerns to Durham County Council and these are detailed here: Planning App Final Response DM2100995WAS:
Proposal: Improvement scheme to agricultural land by re-profiling land through importing sub-soil and top-soil to allow arable cultivation on the site.
ROAD CLOSURES AND DIVERSIONS
Durham County Council has introduced a new system called One Network that makes Road Closure and Diversion information available to residents, businesses, and motorists via the web on your mobile phone, tablet and computer as well as through the Sat Nav system in your vehicle. Click on the email icon on the left top of the page and register an account either as a private individual, business person, etc from the drop-down list.
Visit the One Network. This link is included in the “Useful Links” section of this website.
As well as using the searchable list, the One Network mapping system can be used to check live information regarding road works in your area. To do this you simply type the address in the search bar and select the period of time you are interested in (Today, 2 weeks, 3 months, 12 months).
Another useful feature is the ‘Alerts’ feature which allows you to receive email alerts within in defined area every time new road or street works are recorded. You can set the system to tell you only if the works are high, medium, or low impact and choose to receive email notifications daily, weekly, or monthly. Simply register with One Network and select your preferences.
In addition to the above, the One Network system can provide you with a whole host of additional information with new information being added frequently.
For further information on how to set up your account and receive email alerts please watch the YouTube video.
BAG AND BIN THE POO CAMPAIGN
Did you know that 24% of the UK adult population have a dog? That’s over 10 million pet dogs producing over 1,000 tonnes of waste each day! That weighs as much as 200 elephants or 100 double decker buses!
Dog mess affects everyone. It is unpleasant to see it lying around on pavements, in play grounds and other public green spaces. It’s even more unpleasant to step in or to go through it with a pushchair or wheelchair!
As well as being a nuisance, dog mess is unhygienic and can spread disease. It also unfortunately gives dog owners who do clean up after their dogs a bad name. It is the law to clean up after your dog!
We know that most dog owners in the village are responsible and clean up after their pets, but we also know many don’t.
We are running this communication campaign to remind all dog owners about the importance of picking up after their pet to try and ensure the dog mess generated in our village ends up safely in the bin.
The good news is it’s very simple to keep the streets and our public green areas clean.
As part of this campaign, stickers and posters are being rolled out around the parish to encourage all dog owners to act responsibly and to, “please pick up & bag the poo – any public bin will do” (general black waste bins or the dedicated red dog bins). The posters are available here to download if you think you need one near you. Mobile Phone Poster v2 The Poo Fairy Poster v2
In addition, you are also encouraged to report irresponsible dog owners to Durham County Council (DCC), the dog fouling enforcement authority.
This can be done online at: www.durham.gov.uk/dogfouling or by calling: 03000 261 000.
If you can, tell DCC:
- The Date and Time of the dog fouling incident
- The Location
- The description of the dog and its owner,
- The dog owners name and address ( if known)
The reporting of incidents helps DCC to identify the “hotspot” areas across the parish which can then trigger more regular patrols by enforcement officers. Irresponsible dog owners could be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80, or prosecuted and fined up to £1,000, if they don’t clean up after their dog. Reporting of incidents may also help identify the need for additional bins in some locations.
Be a responsible dog owner and clean up after your pet
NOTICE OF UNCONTESTED ELECTION
The closing date for nominees wishing to stand for election for the scheduled Parish Council election on 6 May 2021 was 9 April. Only 3 nominees were received by Durham County Council for the 9 places available and consequently, there will now be no need for an election to be held. The 3 nominees duly elected as Parish Councillors, uncontested, are:
Maureen Boettcher, Ian Haddick and Avril Wallage.
The first meeting of the new council will take place at the Annual Council Meeting to be held in May 2021. The first item on the agenda will be to appoint a Chair and Vice-Chair for the year. This will be followed by the nomination of council representatives to serve on other bodies and monthly routine council business.
The remaining 6 vacancies on the parish council can be filled through a co-option process. The Parish Council will consider the process and timescales for this at its Annual Council Meeting so look out for further details on the Parish Council Notice Boards and the Website. In the interim, anyone interested in becoming a parish councillor should contact Mark Ramshaw, Parish Clerk at westraintonparishcouncil@yahoo.co.uk or Tel.07900 800 540
The formal Notice of Uncontested Election issued by the Returning Officer is available here. West Rainton and Leamside Parish
NATIONAL INSURANCE SCAM WARNING
An urgent warning has been issued to every single person with a National Insurance number in the UK after a surge in calls were reported trying to falsely steal information.
It is concerning for millions, as everyone in the UK is sent a National Insurance number before their sixteenth birthday – this helps with applying for jobs, and identifies you with HMRC and the DWP.
More than 1,000 complaints have been made to Action Fraud, with victims reporting they have received an automated telephone call, during which they are told their “National Insurance number has been compromised”.
They are then instructed to “press 1 on their handset to be connected to the caller” in order to supposedly fix the issue and get a new National Insurance number.
Once connected to the “caller”, victims are pressured into handing over personal details – which scammers claim is to enable them to receive a new National Insurance number.
However, giving the criminals your personal details will enable them to commit fraud using your credentials and information.
“If you have any doubts about what is being asked of you, hang up the phone.
“No legitimate organisation will rush or pressure you.”
How to protect yourself from fraudsters
If you receive an unexpected phone call, text message or email that asks for your personal or financial details, remember to
- STOP – take a moment and think before parting with your personal information or money
- CHALLENGE – could it be fake? It’s OK to reject, refuse of ignore and requests for personal of financial details.
- PROTECT – contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud
There is a simple, short, Friends Against Scams online training video can be accessed by clicking the link below.
https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/durham-elearning
Be Aware and Take Care.
#ScamAwareness
NEW PLANTERS – A BIG THANK YOU
As many of you will have noticed, we have a number of new planters throughout the Village. There are 15 in total. These have replaced the old wooden barrel planters and supplement the existing square black planters.
These planters, made from recycled plastic, are very robust and very heavy! Consequently, the logistics involved in getting these filled, planted up, and then putting them into position was always going to be a challenge.
This was achieved with the invaluable help and support of two of our local farmers:
Angus Lowrie kindly agreed to take delivery of the planters, topsoil, and gravel at Field House Farm. The planters were stored there until they could all be filled and planted up.
Moving and putting the planters into the various positions around the parish required the use of a tractor, trailer, and forklift truck, and Angus working with another local farmer, Tom Swinburn, who kindly agreed to help.
So a massive thank you to both Angus and Tom for the use of their premises, machinery, and time in working together, in a voluntary capacity, to support the Parish Council with this Community Project
A GUIDE TO WALKING ROUTES IN COUNTY DURHAM
If you would like an alternative to your usual walking exercise route, a link is available in Useful Links titled “Walks in County Durham” which you may find useful.