This page contains news and other information provided by Brian Jones, the
Darlington Borough Councillor for Sadberge & Whessoe.
Brian will be updating this page on a regular basis, so it's worth coming
back from time to time to get his perspective on issues affecting
Sadberge. If this is your first visit to this page then click
here to see Brian's
welcome message.
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Ward Councillor's News
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Parish Grants
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As Chair of the Darlington Association of Parish Councils, I have invited the Chair of all 12 parish councils in Darlington to a meeting to be held in the town hall on Tuesday 15th July. We will be discussing the future of the grants to parish councils which Darlington borough council were going to withdraw. We are looking to enforce our view that parish councils play an important role in villages and need to be supported in providing facilities that are not provided by the borough.
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Added: 27-Jun-2008
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Ward Surgery
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My next ward surgery will be held in Brafferton village hall between 6-30pm and 7-30pm on Tuesday 29th July.
I can be contacted on 01325 332820 or brian.jones@darlington.gov.uk.
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Added: 27-Jun-2008
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Talking Together
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A Talking Together session will be held in Sadberge village hall from 5.30pm - 7.30pm on Wednesday 16th July.
This session will bring together representatives from the Borough Council, Police, Primary Care Trust, Fire Service and others, and is your chance to question senior members of these organisations.
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Added: 15-Jun-2008
Updated: 27-Jun-2008
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Promoting Good Quality Design In Darlington
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A 'hands on' workshop to promote good quality design in Darlington will be held in Sadberge village hall from 6-8pm on Wednesday 2nd July.
As part of the Council's Local Development Framework, a Supplementary Planning Document is being prepared to look at the design of new developments within the Borough. It wil be used to help assess the quality of design of all planning applications to make sure that the design of new development reflects the special character and distinctiveness of the Borough's heritage.
This workshop will provide residents with an opportunity to comment on the work so far.
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Added: 15-Jun-2008
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Wind Farms Update
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At a meeting held in Bishopton village hall last Tuesday, representatives of several parish councils and parish meetings discussed ways to oppose the proposed wind farms at East and West Newbiggin which is less than a mile to the east of Sadberge and which would encroach heavily on the conservation village of Bishopton. Peter Wood, chair of Bishopton parish council was elected as chair of the group with Paul Frost as media spokesman supported by Clare Wise. Various tasks were allotted to members with a view to building up knowledge about wind farms and how best to provide a strong opposition to this particular proposal.
For my own part I have written to Kerry Quinn, MD at Durham Tees Valley Airport in support of their objection to the wind farms due to the potential effect on the airport radar systems. A similar stance has been taken by Defence Estates Safeguarding in connection with the radar systems at RAF Leeming and the NATS radar at Great Dunfell.
A similar situation exists with Newcastle Airport where there are great concerns about wind farms in Morthumberland.
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Added: 13-Apr-2008
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Council Meeting
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The Special Council Meeting to discuss the budget for 2008-09 was held on 28th February. The changes to the bus subsidy and parish grants which had been agreed at the Cabinet meeting on 19th February were confirmed. It now remains to ensure there is a public consultation on providing a bus service that suits the residents and not the council or the bus company! This was well aired at Sadberge parish council last night and everyone is prepared to put in as much time and effort as is necessary to get the best result possible.
The issue of the parish grants will be discussed at a meeting of the Darlington Association of Parish Councils tomorrow evening when we will decide the way forward. We must ensure that no rural services are lost because of financial cuts.
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Added: 5-Mar-2008
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Cabinet meeting
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The meeting to discuss the Sadberge buses and the parish grants held in the town hall on 19th February was very well attended by more than 20 Sadberge residents. Because I was feeling rather 'under the weather' with salmonella poisoning, I was delighted to have such strong support. The result was a victory for common sense and although the 17 service will disappear, the 97 service will be revamped to provide an equal if not better service than at present. As ward councillor I expect to be fully involved with discussions and decisions, along with the parish council and residents.
The other good news is that the parish grants will be retained, at least for the moment. I welcome the announcement of a review and have sought an assurance that I will be fully involved in my role as Chair of the Darlington Association of Parish Councils and Parish Meetings.
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Added: 24-Feb-2008
Updated: 5-Mar-2008
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Wind Farms
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Coming to a location near you!
Preliminary investigations are taking place to build two wind farms close to Sadberge. An Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Document outlines one project with nine turbines, maximum height of blades 100 metres, at West Newbiggin and a further site with two turbines at East Newbiggin. The name East Newbiggin is misleading because the site is actually nearer to Great Burdon and will be clearly visible from the village hall.
Neither of the sites are within the Sadberge Parish Council area but could clearly impact on Sadberge residents.
Your views would be appreciated.
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Added: 20-Jan-2008
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Parish Grants/Bus Subsidy
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A Draft document prepared for consideration by Darlington Borough Council suggests that the grants to all parish councils in the Borough should be withdrawn and the subsidy on bus routes 17 and 97 should be removed. If you attended the parish council meeting on Monday 14th January you will have heard Richard Alty from the Borough Council outline the reasons for removing the bus subsidy and the alternative suggestion that the buses could be replaced with a 'community bus' run by volunteers.
The removal of the grant to Sadberge Parish Council will mean that either the precept will have to be almost doubled, or the parish will have to curtail it's activities.
The removal of the grant or the bus subsidy is totally unacceptable and will be disputed by myself with the support of the parish council. I have already spoken at a special meeting of the Cabinet (the nine councillors who make recommendations to the full council), outlining our strong objections to such a move.
Millie Scaife and I attended a 'Talking Together' session on Saturday and again took the opportunity to put forward our objections in the strongest possible terms. A further 'Talking Together' session will be held from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday 30th January at Whinfield School giving residents the opportunity to speak to the people who are likely to make decisions on these matters.
As Chair of the Darlington Association of Parish Councils and Parish Meetings, I have arranged a special meeting to be held next Thursday evening to discuss these issues with all parish councils across the borough.
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Added: 20-Jan-2008
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Congratulations!
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Well done Sadberge for winning the title of 'Calor Village of the Year' in the Tees Valley. I know Millie Scaife, Alastair Mackenzie and others worked hard to improve on last years 2nd place and confidence is high for further success in the regional event.
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Added: 31-Aug-2007
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