It’s been a little while since my last eNewsletter - my apologies for that – I’ve been very busy of late. It’s usually the case that following distribution of my Little Red Rosette I’m inundated with requests for help with various issues across the ward. Having now caught up a whole lot with just 4 long term cases and 13 other cases slowly progressing, this year has been by far the busiest year ever… and it’s only just turned June. Thus far I’ve helped resolve 73 requests for action.

The Harrowgate Hill Community Website is in need of an overhaul, many of the scripts have become redundant to the World Wide Web browsing applications and it has become impossible for me to add new content backend, create an eNewsletter or even edit the Walk of the Ward section. I plan to upgrade the site and even give it a whole new look and feel, so watch this space… now that I’ve said it - I’ll have to do it!

I’m currently putting together the next edition of the Little Red Rosette which will hopefully be back from the printers and ready for distribution by the end of July… There’s plentiful goings on and items to write about, but this edition will focus more on other councillor engagements I take part in, such as scrutiny committee’s and how you as a resident can get involved too.

In addition to this; the Friends of the Hill residents group has received some positive feedback with regards to our plans to adopt the land to the front of the former Beaumont Hill School site. As this is a first for Darlington there are some other matters which the council must consider before giving full approval and it is thought that cabinet may have to give their final stamp of approval. Hopefully, once approval is final, with the help of all local residents, schools and other interested parties the group plan to transform the area into a Communal Garden along with its own allotment areas to produce plants to bring the area to life. Groundwork is to help with planning and design whilst eVolution is to help with applications for funding from various sources.

Cllr. M Burton