This week’s Teesdale Mercury is out in the shops
Here’s the news:
Vandalism at The Bowes Museum puts future investment in the park grounds at risk.
Organic farm shop staff left “overwhelmed” after winning “rural oscars”.
Marvellous machines hit the road at Bowes.
Tractor rally in memory of popular dale farmer.
Mast operator unable to give any promises over TV reception in Teesdale.
Flood warning system for homes in Barney.
Wild Wednesday – pictures.
Landowners back bid for faster web speeds.
Memorial race for Thomas Brown returns.
Villagers get together for family fun in Evenwood.
Hamsterley Hoppings rides again.
What’s on – folk group steams festival shows and a real knockout Rocky story.
Farming – harvesting heather to tackle climate change and mart reports.
Sport – Coaching award for Raby Castle stalwart, rugby is back in action and Usher blasts Barney to victory.
Plus letters, community news, jobs, personal announcements and 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)
