This week’s edition of the Mercury has hit the streets. Enjoy our eight-page souvenir pullout of Barnard Castle Meet. Here’s what is making the headlines:
A report calls for the closure of an out-of-hours service at The Richardson Hospital despite protests.
Arrests made over Whorlton Hall abuse allegations.
Police reveal why travellers arrived earlier.
Bowes Show unveils a new class for the “tallest sunflower”.
Family and Friends march 18 miles to Britains highest pub in honour of poorly Stevie.
Organisers of a cycle event that will shut roads in the upper dale want it to become an annual spectacle.
Family take over tenancy of historic land in memory of Ken Brown.
Concerns raised about kids crossing the A67 at Startforth on their way to school.
Benjamin smashes his fundraising target for his sick brother.
New boss at The Witham announced.
Third round of broadband work brings hope to the dale.
Barney designer’s clothes on shelves at Sainsbury’s.
Crafty Staindrop woman takes her work online.
Also readers’ letters, up-to-date events guide, sport and much more.
![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)
