Ferryhill Town Council is pleased to announce that the latest group to benefit from the Council’s Members Initiative Fund is the Ferryhill LADDER Centre, who recently attended a cheque presentation at Ferryhill Town Hall, where Councillor Stephen Bowron presented a representative of the Centre with a cheque for £100 from his MIF allocation.

The Ferryhill Ladder Centre provides an invaluable service for the community of Ferryhill, providing free support and guidance on a wide range of issues including employment opportunities, access to training and benefits advice. The Centre also offers free access to IT services and hosts youth groups and several Social Activity Groups aimed at tackling social isolation, access to sporting activities and improving mental health.  The Centre is also a referral point for the Town’s Foodbank and an access point for the NE First Credit Union.

Monies provided through the MIF Fund will be specifically used to provide resources for the Men’s Mental Health Group, covering the cost of gardening resources, to enable a vegetable patch to be developed, and plants to be grown in the Centre’s polytunnel.

Councillor Bowron said ‘I am delighted to be able to support such a worthwhile project.  Ferryhill LADDER Centre continue to support the community of Ferryhill in so many ways, and I am only too pleased to be able to contribute to this specific Men’s Group project, which takes place every Wednesday, and which I am currently volunteering with.

For more information on the Town Council’s Members Initiative Fund please contact Karen Younghusband at Ferryhill Town Hall on telephone: 01740 652157 or Email: kyounghusband@ferryhill.gov.uk

Ferryhill Town Council are looking to co-opt someone to the Council to serve Ferryhill Village & Dean Bank.

A Councillor position has become vacant for Ferryhill Village & Dean Bank due to a resignation.  A by-election would have been held if 10 electors from the ward request an election, however the Elections Office at Durham County Council did not receive the required number of valid requests by the deadline.  This means that the Council must now co-opt a Councillor.

Anyone interested in becoming a Town Councillor to serve the Ferryhill Village & Dean Bank Ward should complete and return an application form before midnight on Sunday 16th April 2023.

Candidates meeting the eligibility criteria to become a Councillor will be invited to a Council meeting to be held on Wednesday, 26th April 2023 at 6.00pm to introduce themselves and explain why they wish to become a member of the Council.  The successful candidate will be chosen at the meeting.

Applications forms and further information is available from the Council’s website using the following link  Co-option of a Town Councillor for Ferryhill Village & Dean Bank Ward  or from the Town Hall, or can be requested by calling 01740 652157, or by emailing enquiries@ferryhill.gov.uk

Ferryhill Town Council are seeking to co-opt a Councillor for the Ferryhill Village & Dean Bank Ward.  The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 16th April 2023.

For further details please see below:

Co-option Notice

Policy for the Co-option of Members

Co-option Application Form

Make a difference – Become a Councillor

Ferryhill Town Council is celebrating having secured £48,199 external funding through Durham County Council’s Towns & Villages Programme via the 4Together Partnership. Funding will be used to contribute to a project that will see the Car Park at Mainsforth Sports Complex being resurfaced, with improved drainage and the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Points.

In recent years, the car park has deteriorated significantly and is currently full of potholes and uneven surfaces. Users of the Complex have continued to campaign for improvements to be made to the facility, but a lack of available funding has prevented progress. Thanks to the grant monies secured, the improvement works have now been scheduled to commence on site on Monday, 20th March.

Mayor, Councillor Carole Atkinson said ‘On behalf of Ferryhill Town Council I would like to say a huge thanks to the Towns & Villages Programme for contributing the funds needed to enable this project to be brought to fruition. It has taken a few years to source the funds required to deliver the project but going forward the many users of the site will be provided with a safe and robust car parking facility complete with Electric Vehicle Charging Points, that can be used for many years to come.’

Ferryhill Town Council is inviting residents to join them in Celebrating the Coronation of HM King Charles III at a ‘Party in the Park’ event, which is to be held from

12.00 noon – 5.00pm on Sunday, 7^th May 2023 at Dean Bank Park. The event which is being organised by Stanley Events will include live music performances, children’s entertainment, inflatables and a range of activities including a variety of stalls. Local Performing Arts group, Chance Drama will also be in attendance to put on a show.

The family orientated event will also comprise refreshments and street food vendors although residents are welcome to bring a picnic along. Entry to the Event will be FREE. A limited number of tables and chairs will be provided at the venue for residents to use on a first come first served basis. Please note only sealed drinks will be permitted and residents will not be allowed to bring their own alcohol into the venue.  A fully licensed bar will however be in attendance to cater for resident’s liquid refreshments. Please look out for further details about the event in the Ferryhill & Chilton Chapter and on the Town Council’s Facebook page and website.

Anyone who would like to have a stall at the event are asked to contact Ferryhill Town Hall on tel: 01740 652157 or email: enquiries@ferryhill.gov.uk for an application form.  Stalls are available at a cost of only £5.

Having launched its Members Initiative Fund in April 2022, Ferryhill Town Council is pleased to announce that donations have been made to a total of twenty community groups through the scheme. The latest group to receive funding was Chance Drama, who were presented with a cheque for £450 by Councillor Bernie Lamb in a presentation that took place at Ferryhill Town Hall. Funds were donated by Councillor Bernie Lamb and recently retired Councillor, John Lamb.

 

Chance Drama who provides low cost Performing Arts classes for young people in the Ferryhill area will use the funds donated, to help cover the costs involved with hosting singing tuition classes for young people.

 

Councillor Bernie Lamb said ‘I am delighted to be able to support such a worthwhile project. Chance Drama provide a great service for young people and put on some fantastic productions that the whole community can enjoy. The Members Initiative Fund, which was only established in April 2022 has proved to be a hugely successful initiative and has already supported twenty community groups and twenty-two projects since it was launched.’

 

For more information about the Town Council’s Members Initiative Fund please contact Karen Younghusband at Ferryhill Town Hall on telephone: 01740 652157 or

Email: kyounghusband@ferryhill.gov.uk

 

Ferryhill Ambassadors for Community Change are really spoiling us by spreading a little happiness around our town.

With spring hopefully just around the corner and the lighter nights approaching the Ambassadors are brightening up the town and trying to lift people spirits by spreading messages of positivity.

Joel from Cleves Cross Ambassadors is asking people to ‘Bee Kind’ and ‘Feel Positive’.  Hollie from Ferryhill Station Ambassadors is reminding us that we are all ‘Amazing’ and to ‘Be Kind’.  Dean Bank Ambassadors are saying ‘Stay Positive’.

Ferryhill Ambassadors for Community Change seek to establish links to local and national decision makers, find out the views of children in their community and to have conversations with adults who can help them bring about change.

The Mayor of Ferryhill, Councillor Carole Atkinson, said, ‘The Ambassadors for Change do amazing work in the town.  The posters are the latest project they have undertaken and will certainly help spread a little happiness.  Well done everyone involved’.

Glenys from Approach Too said ‘When you feel down, try positive thinking: That’s what I’m told a man said; Don’t wear a frown, try positive thinking, Laugh at your troubles instead; You’ve got to look on the bright side, On hope so much depends; With your confidence sinking, positive thinking; Helps you on the way my friend!”

Posters can be seen in the town centre and at the bottom of Darlington Road next to the A167.

Durham County Council will be undertaking the following consultations between 09:00 on Friday 24 February and 17:00 on Tuesday 11 April 2023:

1.    Development viability, affordable housing, and developer contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) second consultation

DCC want your views on the updated draft Supplementary Planning Document following consultation during 2022. New development can put a strain on existing things like local schools, health services, open spaces and affordable housing. The County Durham Plan (CDP) requires that developers provide additional or improved services when the development is likely to affect communities. This means they have the potential to create or improve existing facilities and services through developer contributions. This SPD will support the CDP and other related policies, by bringing together all the regulations for developer contributions into one document.

To find out more you can visit  www.durham.gov.uk/consultation or book here to attend an online consultation event.  These are taking place on Monday 20 March at 4.00pm – 6.00pm and Thursday 23 March 10.30am- 12.30pm.

 2.    County Durham Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) 

DCC want your views on the County Durham Design Code Supplementary Planning Document which sets out guidance to ensure development is well designed and fits with its surroundings.

To find out more you can visit  www.durham.gov.uk/consultationor book here to attend an online consultation event.  These are taking place on Monday 20 March at 4.00pm – 6.00pm and Thursday 23 March 10.30am- 12.30pm.

3.    Housing Needs Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

DCC want your views on the Housing Needs Supplementary Planning Document which provides guidance on housing matters including housing for older people, students and first time buyers.

To find out more you can visit  www.durham.gov.uk/consultationor book here to attend an online consultation event.  These are taking place on Monday 20 March at 4.00pm – 6.00pm and Thursday 23 March 10.30am- 12.30pm.

 4. Trees, Woodland and Hedges Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

DCC want your views on the draft document which sets out guidance to ensure trees, woodlands and hedges are fully considered as part of the planning process, so that the multiple benefits that they provide can be experienced by the residents of, and visitors to County Durham.

To find out more you can visit  www.durham.gov.uk/consultationor book here to attend an online consultation event. This event will take place on Tuesday 21 March from 1.30pm – 3.00pm

Get Involved

You can make your comments known in a number of ways, but you are encouraged to submit your views online, via the consultation pages at: https://consult-durhamcc.objective.co.uk/kse.

You can also send your comments by e-mail to: spatialpolicy@durham.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can send your comments to the freepost address (all you need to do is write this one line on an envelope – no other address details or postage stamp are needed): FREEPOST Spatial Policy.

Details of the consultations and how to get involved can be found on Durham County Council’s website at www.durham.gov.uk/consultation or by contacting the Spatial Policy Team on 03000 263967.

Due to the resignation of John Lamb a vacancy has arisen in the office of Councillor for Ferryhill Town Council.  Please see a link below.

Notice of Vacancy – Ferryhill Town Council (Ferryhill Dean Bank Ward)

Tess Tickle and the Dragettes featuring Gucci Gabore held a charity event at Ferryhill Sport & Education Centre on Friday 10^th February 2023 to raise funds for the Mayor of Ferryhill, Councillor Carole Atkinson’s Charities.

The evening was very successful and raised a fantastic amount for the Mayor’s chosen charities which are Endeavour Woodcrafts & Ferryhill LADDER Centre.

Mayor, Councillor Carole Atkinson said after the event “I am over the moon with the amount raised for my chosen charities. I am so grateful to Tess & the Dragettes and also Gucci Gabore for their support, as always the show was fabulous.  I would like to thank the staff at Ferryhill Sport & Education Centre for providing the venue and ensuring everything was perfect on the night and special thanks to everyone who attended and supported me and to everyone who donated prizes, it was a brilliant night!”

It is hoped the Mayor will fit in one more charity event before her term in office comes to an end in May, please keep a look out for details here on Ferryhill Town Council’s website www.ferryhill.gov.uk, facebook page and also in the Chapter.