KINDHEARTED villagers have helped raised more than £1,100 to help families, who have been forced from their homes after a haulage yard fire.
Six families had to be re-housed following a fire at Ramshaw Removals yard in Evenwood last month. The families, who lived in Newholme Crescent, which backs onto the yard, have been re-housed, but many have lost all of their of possessions due to diesel contamination. The money, which has been raised through donations, a quiz night, prize draw and non uniform days at local schools, will be divided between the six affected families.
“It might not be much,” Pastor Sandy Gall of the Cornerstone Christian Centre, said, “Everyone wanted to help. There were folk who gave money but didn’t want to attend the quiz night and although we said it was £5 entrance, in reality people gave a lot more than that. They just wanted to help.”
Newholme Crescent resident Pamela Sams was away on holiday when the fire at the haulage yard happened. She and her partner Stuart Wilson have been unable to assess what they have lost as they have not been allowed access to their property.
“It’s like being in limbo. I don’t know what’s damaged and what’s not yet” she said and was moved to tears, when she received the cash donation. “But the generosity of everyone here [Evenwood] is overwhelming.” Ms Sams, who works as a care assistant at Lyons Court care home, said she did breach the cordon initially when she returned from holiday to retrieve her work uniform, but was almost overcome with fumes from the diesel. She said she had been offered alternative housing but she has opted to remain in the village, living at her brother’s home.
She is hoping a meeting with officers from Durham County Council and the environment agency will help outline the timescale of when she can expect to return to her home.
