BARNARD Castle’s band of volunteer workers celebrated recognition at the recent Teesdale Business Awards – by wrapping up and planting heather in the rain.
The workers form part of the town’s Christmas Lights group which was shortlisted as a finalist in the best community engagement section of the business awards.
Roger Peat, who co-ordinates the workers’ efforts, said: “Not a lot of people know that the workers are part of the Christmas Lights group.”
As well as helping out with the lights, the workers tackle a number of tasks helping to keep the town looking its best.
Last week they were out tending to the heather bed at the roundabout of Bede Road, Darlington Road and Staindrop Road thanks to a donation of 25 heather plants from Barney’s Morrisons store.
“This is a bed we have been maintaining for the last couple of years and it is devoid of ground cover,” said Mr Peat.
“It could still do with another 50-plus plants.”
“He added: “The bed is one of the first things people see coming into town.
“We keep the shrubs down so it does not impede drivers’ view, so the heather is ideal – and it is also resistant to salt.”
The heather bed also benefited from the donation of woodchips from Durham County Council.
The workers received six dumpy bags which had been collected from Romaldkirk church following storm damage to trees.
In addition to the heather bed, the wood chips will be spread around other areas, including the Remembrance Garden and Roman Way picnic site.
Next up for the workers is a joint litter pick with the Anti-Litter Bugs, E-Rotary, The Hub and The Witham.
It will take place from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, March 26.
The workers also plan to spruce up the rose bed on the corner of Thorngate.
Anyone who can spare a few hours and is interested in joining the workers or the Christmas Lights group can contact Mr Peat by email: roger_peat@hotmail.co.uk for more details.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
