e-Newsletters It's been a busy start too, but below I've tried to capture the most important 'goings on' for you to pass on to your friends and family.
Digging Near Drinkfield Marsh Update
Digging by a private operator, on the Whessoe Road site boarding Drinkfield Marsh was causing a lot of concern for local residents. There were concerns over the scale of activity, the high levels of noise, which generally took place late at night and the size of the mounds of rubble being created. They were also worried over the number of fires, which were breaking at dusk.
Residents were also concerned over the lack of security at the site, as it remains; there is no clear boundary or fencing and children can easily access the site and be endangered.
Until Darlington Borough Council took action by way of two temporary Stop Notices and then a permanent Stop Notice, requiring cessation of operations and the reinstatement of the land to its condition prior to the operations taking place, these site operations were having a detrimental effect on the amenities of nearby residents through the production of noise, dust and fumes.
Darlington Borough Council issued an Enforcement Notice listing breaches of planning control which alleged that, without the benefit of planning permission, Mr R Shepherd/Albert Hill Skip Hire was using the land as a waste transfer station, a recycling centre, importation to the land controlled waste or other waste materials and carrying out on the land engineering works consisting of deep excavations and creation of earth mounds and tips.
Mr R Shepherd/Albert Hill Skip Hire and Mr A Blair (Dec’d) have now appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the enforcement notice served upon them by Darlington Borough Council relating to the alleged breaches of planning control and I can confirm that the Inquiry is to be held on Tuesday 16 February starting at 10.00am. However, the solicitors recently appointed to represent Mr A Blair have said that they may need more time to make their case and could ask the Planning Inspectorate for an adjournment to a later date.
The appeal is to be dealt with by the public inquiry procedure and you (residents who were affected by the activities here and objectors) may put your views and or representations on the appeal to the Planning Inspector on the day of the Inquiry. Your views will be taken into consideration before the appeal is decided.
It is important to note that the Inspector will only be giving consideration to the grounds of appeal above including whether there are rights in place already for the site to be operated in the way that it is. The Inspector will not be considering the merits of whether or not to grant planning permission should he decide that there are no such rights already in place.
Longfield School 20mph scheme draws a step closer
Darlington Borough Council Cabinet approved the Local Transport Plan budget in March 2009 and as mentioned in previous editions of the Little Red Rosette, the Longfield School 20mph scheme was outlined as being a priority within the travel safety theme.
Additional Lighting Requests
At the beginning of December I received an email informing me of the process for requested additional street lighting and their prioritisation with regards to crime and anti-social behaviour.
Speeding in excess of 40mph has been proven here and the police have been requested to take action.
A survey was taken between the 15th and the 22nd of October 2009. The average weekday traffic of 4,651 is a slight reduction from the survey taken between the 20th and 26th of July 2009 where volumes were 4,826 average weekday traffic. There is also a reduction of HGV's using this road from 3% of the average weekday traffic down to 2.5% of the average weekday traffic.
The results of the survey indicate that the 85th percentile speed (the speed at which 85% of all the vehicles travel at or below and 15% exceed it) is 39.9mph. The 85th percentile speed is a nationally used indicator to determine the safest and most competent drivers and this figure is used to determine whether the Police will take enforcement action.
The average speed over the 7 days was 32.3mph. 32% were travelling above 35mph and 10.2% were above 40mph.
Durham Constabulary normally carry out enforcement action where 15% or more of motorists are travelling in excess of 35mph. Consequently, Council Officers have asked Durham Constabulary to provide a level of enforcement on Burtree Lane.
Tees Valley Bus Network
You can also write to Connecting with Communities at;
13 Horsemarket
Darlington
DL1 5PW
All comments must be received by 8th February 2010
Tees Valley Bus Network Improvement Project will improve bus services by reducing journey times on the following roads for buses, with benefits for other people using these roads; The Inner Ring Road, North Road, Woodland Road, Yarm Road
It will also help improve other bus services in the Borough. This will be achieved by making improvements to the bus network in Darlington including; Junction improvement work, Bus Priority measures at a number of junctions and New Bus stops with improved accessibility
In addition a range of other measures will also be introduced including; Improved journey information with an increase in the use of real time information displays at bus stops and Ticketing initiatives.
Outline scheme proposals for the work to be carried in 2010 will be available for inspection and discussion at the Talking Together event. Views expressed at the event will be taken on board when developing the detailed design work.
Best regards
Mark