Hitting the headlines this week:
An investigation has been launched into a series of fly-tipping incidents across the dale
Durham County Council has unveiled plans for a raft of parking restrictions in Barnard Castle town centre and Startforth
The operators of an arson-hit garage say they have received overwhelming support following the incident
Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market has celebrated its 25th anniversary
It’s all systems go for the Streatlam Show this weekend
Fancy a game of bridge? Even dummies can play!
A landmark celebrating Evenwood’s mining heritage has been restored to its former glory
Cricketing legend Sir Ian Botham will be chatting about his amazing career when he brings his show to The Witham next year
Dale photographer Martin Rogers’s stunning pictures have gone on show at the Bowlees Visitor Centre
In sport, Barnard Castle CC’s 1st XI lifted the Kerridge Cup withy victory against Darlington; plus, football, gold, tennis, bowls, athletics and more
Plus… all your letters, a look back with Remember When, Bob Garton’s fun quiz, farming news, family notices and much more…
All in this week’s Mercury, which is out now
![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)
