PROJECTS to improve an upper dale village will soon begin after councillors drew up a plan of action.
Middleton-in-Teesdale and Newbiggin Parish Council decided on four new schemes to help improve Middleton-in-Teesdale. It was decided in January that footpaths, seating, information boards and the Bainbridge Memorial Fountain would all take priority during the coming year.
Speaking at the last meeting parish clerk Judith Mashiter said: “As councillors you decided to do four main projects. The car park issue is not something you as councillors allocated money to but it is something of paramount importance and you want to do something about it. It was agreed that the dementia-friendly village would not need much resource and would be something you would want to pursue. I think there needs to be some delegation so we know what needs to be done.”
Councillors are hoping that they will be able to replace one of the village’s notice boards. It was suggested that the parish council could apply for some funding from the Pennine Way National Trails to pays for new signage which will benefit visitors. It was noted that the information on the board would have to be connected with the Pennine Way which passes nearby. Cllr Christine Gilbert said: “The big wooden notice board that we have is not where we want it to be. I think we need to be doing something different.”
It was agreed that Ms Mashiter would ask Durham County Council to remove the existing triangular sign and seek permission to replace it with a new noticeboard.
However, if this isn’t possible, the parish council agreed that it would still apply for the grant money which would be used to replace styles between the village and Holwick instead.
Cllr John Miller said: “Some are okay but some are pretty awful particularly the ladder style one.
“If anyone tries to take an animal over, it will break its legs.”
There will also be a focus on footpaths throughout the village. A £10,000 family friendly walking route is planned with financial support from Durham County Council.
Cllr Andy Mitchell is compiling a report and photographs which will identify exactly where work needs to be carried out to improve the existing footpaths.
Councillors agreed to discuss the Bainbridge Memorial Fountain at a later date after grant funding sources had been sought.
Seating around the village has also been earmarked for repair. Councillors are looking to give residents the chance to adopt a bench so they are responsible for its maintenance.
Cllr Gilbert said: “Can I suggest we work from the centre of the village outwards so that it looks as smart as we can.”
Cllr Miller said: “I think the first part to do is the village greens.”
Chairman Cllr Adam Hearn said: “I personally don’t think the plastic benches are the most attractive. The one at Beck Road has never struck me as being particularly pretty.”
Cllr Gilbert said: “It is not beautiful but at least it does not look like it is falling apart.”
Cllr Miller and Cllr Sue Bainbridge agreed to take a closer look at the state of the village’s seating.
![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)
