There were celebrations for all connected with the TCR Hub, in Barnard Castle, after they bagged two trophies in the Teesdale Business Awards. We’ve full coverage and pictures of this year’s awards, which were held online
Organisers of a spring Holi festival are urging everyone to add a splash of colour to Barnard Castle
The Four Alls pub, in Ovington, has been judged the best country pub by Camra
Motorists are continuing to ignore give way signs at the Kinninvie crossroads
In sport, meet the teenage dale rally driver who is hoping to live life in the fast lane, plus Barnard Castle Juniors FC have taken delivery of new portable floodlighting, while at the other end of the age spectrum, walking football sessions have been introduced at the TCR Hub
In What’s on, we all the details of a three-day Book Fest planned for early March
We chat to the former Barney town councillor-turned-poet who has published a new book following in the footsteps of an 18th century writer along the banks of the Tees
We’ve readers’ letters, Bob Garton’s quiz, Ken Cook’s weather forecast for the week, family notices, the events guide and much more. All in this week’s Mercury, 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)
