Due to the resignation of Margaret Seymour, a vacancy has arisen in the office of Councillor for Ferryhill Town Council, please see link below;

Notice of Vacancy – Ferryhill Dean Bank Ward

 

The County Durham Health and Wellbeing Board works with health services, public health, and social care services to improve the health and wellbeing of County Durham residents.

Every 3 years the Health and Wellbeing Board reviews pharmacy services in the community to ensure they are meeting the needs of the local population. Pharmacy services are either services you receive from your community pharmacy (including online pharmacies) or from a dispensary in your GP practice. This 3-year review results in the publication of a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) The current PNA is available to view at Durham Insight Info  and the next PNA is due for publication on 1 October 2022.

The views of local people about their experiences of pharmacy services are important. Therefore, we would like to hear your views on pharmacy services and would be grateful if you and anyone else you wish to share this with could complete the online questionnaire and submit it on or before Friday 21 January.

Please note this questionnaire should only take a couple of minutes of your time.  Complete Online Survey

Residents across County Durham can have their say on the future of local library services.

Durham County Council held the last review of the county’s library service in 2012. In recent years society has experienced massive digital and technological advancements and as a result, services have needed to be revitalised to reflect this.

The council now needs the public’s help to continually keep up to date and make sure library services are fit for purpose, continue to provide the best experience, and also attract new users. The consultation is part of a broader commitment by the council to providing robust local services.

As part of the latest review, the authority wants to gather views and opinions to help it understand what library users value about the services they use, why some people don’t use the library and what County Durham residents would like the service to be like in the future.

This will help the council to:

• Identify new priorities and needs for library services for all County Durham residents
• Understand the role of the library within the community
• Support community needs and aspirations
• Ensure it continues to provide a comprehensive, engaged, responsive and efficient service
• Create a better link between libraries and the way communities access wider services, with a focus on usage and convenience
• Identify and recommend the use of new technologies in the library service.

Whether people regularly visit their local branch, access digital library services or currently don’t use the library service, the council wants to hear from everyone on how services should be delivered in the future.

The consultation is about understanding the needs of the community the service provides for and how things might be improved.

Libraries continue to be a vital community asset, with 39 libraries throughout County Durham, 12 of which are town centre-based and 27 which are smaller community-based sites, playing a key role in neighbourhoods and communities.

During the pandemic County Durham’s libraries have played a vital role in supporting communities, with the introduction of a ‘pick and collect’ service which enabled people to borrow books during lockdown. The council also runs a mobile library vehicle, outreach services to people who are housebound and a book-bus to care homes.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, the council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We are aware of the vital role that libraries play in all of our communities in County Durham which is why it is important that we undertake this engagement with the public to make sure we are providing the best service possible.

“Literature and libraries are an integral part of our cultural identity and this is something that we are keen to promote in the county’s bid to be named UK City of Culture 2025.

“This is about listening and understanding local needs, as well as making sure that library services cater for all residents, young and old, both now and in the future, so please take part and give us your views.”

The council will be contacting all library users directly by email to inform them of the work to review the current service, and to encourage completion of the online or paper survey, as well as hosting a number of focus groups whereby people will be able to directly get involved and have their say as part of the consultation.

People will also be encouraged to attend their local Area Action Partnership (AAP) meeting where the review will be discussed. The work will be delivered with Counterculture, which helps cultural, educational, and creative organisations to plan, manage and thrive.

Members of the public can have their say by going to www.durham.gov.uk/consultation to complete an online survey or register to attend a public event. Alternatively, people can pick up a paper survey from local libraries.  Paper copies are also available from Ferryhill Town Hall.

The deadline for comments is 5pm on Friday 1 April 2022.

For more details about the consultation, including information on next steps and FAQs, go to www.durham.gov.uk/consultation

Citizens Advice Ferryhill Outreach
Town Hall, Ferryhill, DL17 8JL
Free, independent, confidential and impartial advice
Dates as below, drop in, no appointment necessary 10am till 1pm

Friday 07 January 2022
Friday 21 January 2022
Friday 04 February 2022
Friday 18 February 2022
Friday 04 March 2022
Friday 18 March 2022
Friday 01 April 2022

Other Citizens Advice support options:
Adviceline: 0808 278 7821 Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
Debt Adviceline: 0300 323 2000 Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
Consumer Helpline: 0808 223 1133 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Universal Credit Helpline:0800 1448444 Monday to Friday 8am-6pm
Self-help advice and finding us: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Ferryhill Town Council will close today for the Christmas period, the Town Hall office will re-open on Tuesday 4th January 2o22.  On behalf of Members and staff we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Ferryhill Town Hall will close on Friday 17^th December 2021 at 3.30pm, staff will continue to work from home next week until Thursday 23^rd December 2021 when the Town Council will close for the Christmas period and will return on Tuesday 4^th January 2022.  Staff can be contacted by telephone on 01740 652157 or email enquiries@ferryhill.gov.uk.  If you need to visit the Town Hall in person please do so by Friday.

Ferryhill Town Council is pleased to announce that for the first time ever it will be organising a Santa Tour around the Town.  Santa, who has taken time out of his busy schedule to visit Ferryhill will be chauffeur driven on a specially adapted vehicle, so that he can wave at children enroute.  The event will commence at 4.00pm on Wednesday, 22^nd December and will include four stopping points along the way, where children will be able to see Santa.  Details of Santa’s route is as follows:

PART 1 – Ferryhill Business & Enterprise College (FBEC) – Beaumont Street Car Park

Depart 4.00pm – FBEC, Merrington Road

St Cuthberts Avenue/Lightfoot Terrace

Kelvin Street

Beaumont Street

Stopping Point 1 – Beaumont Street Car Park 4.15pm – 4.30pm

PART 2 – Beaumont Street Car Park – Ferryhill Sport & Education Centre (FSEC) Car Park

Depart 4.30pm Beaumont Street Car Park

Kelvin Street

Watt Street

Newcomen Street

St. Cuthberts Terrace/Barrington Terrace

Top of Darlington Road/Parker Terrace to access Dunning Road

Dunning Road

Derwent Road

Bottom of Derwent Road turning left onto Dean Road

Rutherford Terrace

Ross Terrace/Conyers Terrace

Rowlandson Terrace/Osbourne Terrace

Louvaine Terrace

Lambton Road via Linden Road

Stopping Point 2 – Ferryhill Sport & Education Centre (FSEC) – 5.00pm – 5.15pm

PART 3 – Ferryhill Sport & Education Centre Car Park– Mainsforth Rise Car Park

Depart 5.15pm FSEC Car Park

Auckland Road

Brancepeth Road for access to Raby Road and Wood Lane

Cleves Avenue

Linden Road

Gladstone Terrace

High Street

Chilton Lane

Croft Gardens/Eldon Terrace

Hope Rise/Newlands Rise (Chilton Lane)

Arthur Terrace

Encombe Terrace

Wensley Terrace/Feversham Terrace

Commerical Street/School View

Stopping Point 3 – Car Park at Mainsforth Rise – 5.45pm – 6.00pm

PART 4 – Car Park at Mainsforth Rise – Market Place Car Park (via Laurel Road)

Depart 6.00pm Mainsforth Rise Car Park

Commercial Street/Mainsforth Front Row

Firwood Terrace/Linden Terrace

Surtees Terrace

Laurel Road

Commercial Street

Chilton Lane

Dean Road for access to Lime Road

Lime Road

Church Lane (to St. Luke’s Church)

Church Road

Stopping Point 4 – Market Place Car – 6.30pm – 6.45pm

Please note: Times are approximate

Residents are advised to keep an eye on the Council’s facebook page, where regular updates will be posted throughout the day of the event regarding Santa’s journey.

The results of the poll for the election of  a Town Councillor for Ferryhill (Ferryhill & Dean Bank Ward) held on Thursday 9th December 2021 are as follows:

Declaration of Result – Ferryhill Town Council (Ferryhill Dean Bank Ward)

Ferryhill Town Council would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along and supported its Christmas Fayre on Friday, 26th November. A special thank you to all stall holders both at the Craft Fayre in St. Luke’s Church Hall and the Christmas Market, to Keith Turner for providing show rides and catering vehicle.

St. Luke’s Church for use of its Parish Hall and for providing refreshments, and the Town’s Primary Schools (Dean Bank Primary & Nursery, Cleves Cross Primary, Broom Cottages Primary & Nursery and Ferryhill Station Primary) for taking part in the Christmas procession and carol singing in the Town Hall garden, to Blackberry Donkeys for bringing two of their festive donkeys to lead the procession, to face-painter Dawn Belshaw and Mr Abro for providing children’s entertainment, and not forgetting Santa who greeted local children in his grotto.  Despite the adverse weather conditions hundreds of people attended the Christmas Fayre event and watched on as 10 year old Demi-Leigh Keenlyside, a pupil of Broom Cottages Primary & Nursery School switched on the Town’s Christmas Lights.

The Town Council would also like to say a huge thank you to ApproachToo for working with local Primary Schools to design festive posters wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.  Designs were judged by residents of Denehurst and Hilda aged 103, a resident at Tenlands.  The winning pictures were transformed into posters and displayed in the large noticeboards in the Market Place Car Park and at the bottom of Darlington Road/A167. Congratulations to Lily May from Dean Bank Primary & Nursery School and Roman from Ferryhill Station Primary School for designing the winning entries.

A spokesperson for Ferryhill Town Council said ‘It was lovely to see the community of Ferryhill come together to enjoy the Christmas Fayre with all its activities. It was great to see that the weather didn’t deter people from attending the event, which shows what an amazing community Ferryhill really is. A big thank you goes to everyone who participated in the event, and to local school children for designing the fantastic posters.’

On Friday 26th November 2021 the following Road Closures and Temporary Bus Stops will be implemented to accommodate Ferryhill’s Annual Christmas Fayre and Official Christmas Lights Switch on:

 Road Closures

•  Market Street, Chapel Terrace (Part) and Church Road will be closed to all vehicles on Friday 26th November 2021, from 3.45pm –  6.15pm approximately.
•  Church Lane and the Unnamed Road between Church Lane and Market Street will be closed from 3.45pm to 4.30pm

 Temporary Bus Stops will be erected to facilitate the above road closures as follows :-

SERVICE 7 WILL PICK UP OUTSIDE THE CO-OP STORE EN ROUTE TO DARLINGTON AND IN THE LAY-BY OUTSIDE LA MENSA FOR JOURNEYS TO DURHAM.

SERVICE 56/56A WILL USE THE TEMPORARY BUS STOP OUTSIDE THE FERRYHILL WORKINGMEN’S CLUB FOR PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TO FERRYHILL STATION/MAINSFORTH etc.

SERVICE 8 WILL USE THE TEMPORARY BUS STOP OUTSIDE THE CO-OP STORE EN ROUTE TO FERRYHILL STATION/DARLINGTON

SERVICE 113 WILL USE THE TEMPORARY BUS STOP OUTSIDE THE WORKING MEN’S CLUB EN ROUTE TO SEDGEFIE

Anyone requiring further information should contact Ferryhill Town Council on telephone number: 01740 652157.