Representatives from Durham County Council attended a public consultation meeting to answer any questions from members of the public regarding its County Durham Plan. People have been able to respond to the consultation since September, but the public meeting, held at St. Patrick’s Church Hall on Wednesday 17th October, was a chance for people to see proposed plans in more detail and seek reassurances or have any questions answered. The County Durham Plan has several aims, mostly to do with new development, but also with objectives for creating new jobs and attracting new industry to the county. New developments will consist of a mix of housing, retail, and development specifically for employment. However, the former has created some concern among residents in Consett. One of the proposed new sites for housing development is a greenfield site on Medomsley Road, between Berry Edge Farm and the Fairways estate


View Proposed site in a larger map

However, the Fairways Resident’s Association, who recently won a battle against developers wanting to build wind turbines only 350 metres of their homes, are facing a fresh fight against the development where it is currently proposed. At a resident’s association meeting held on Sunday 14th October, Joanne Wilson, from Fairways, spoke against the development of this particular site, saying “We’ve got a big fight on our hands.” She expressed great concerns about the current infrastructure in Consett, such as GPs, schools and roads and whether the town would be able to deal with such an increase in the population. MP for North West Durham, Pat Glass, who attended Sunday’s meeting, reassured residents that the plans are at a very early stage and that “there is some way to go and the Council have a lot of leeway on this.” Councillor for Consett North, Owen Temple, also gave some assurances to the resident’s association stating that with regard to how many new sites the council would like to develop for housing, “clearly, there is flexibility.” He added “There are sites that I think that they can be persuaded are not suitable.” Bernice Neasham of the resident’s association said “some may agree with some of the planned developments, and some may agree with none at all.” Adding “It’s not a done deal, and we need to get that message across.” The consultation is due to end on November 2nd, after which the Council will consider all of the responses it has had and move on to its reporting stage. To view the County Durham Plan  and see how you will be affected, or to have your say in the consultation process before it closes, visit the website at durham.gov.uk/cdp


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