Boosting the local economy, providing activities for young people and supporting improvements to highways and the environment are just some of the initiatives that your local County Councillors have helped develop, in response to issues that have been identified by the local community.
Working with Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (GAMP) each County Councillor receives a Neighbourhood Budget to spend on local projects. The Neighbourhood Budget is an annual allocation of £20,000 which is made to Durham County Councillors to support the improvement of social, economic and environmental wellbeing activities in the Great Aycliffe and Middride area.
Over the last couple of years County Councillors Eddy Adam, John Clare, Mike Dixon, Joan Gray, Jed Hillary, Kate Hopper and Sarah Iveson have supported GAMP and its partners to achieve a number of notable successes, including:
• Part funding of a new 3G Pitch at Greenfield Community College;
• Woodham Village Community Centre now has a new extension to help meet the
needs of the local community;
• Supported over 200 local residents into employment through part funding of GAMP’s flagship Employability Skills and Discretionary Fund project;
• Funded parking improvements at Aycliffe Village Primary School;
• Helped Newton Aycliffe Junior Youth FC with their pitch hire costs for the season;
• Part funded new gymnastics flooring at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre;
• Funded a new IT Suite at the Hub of Wishes;
• Supported Horndale Infants School’s Breakfast Club and Sports Kit.
• Provided funding to help towards refurbishment works and the asset transfer of Aycliffe Village Hall.
• Supported projects at both Middridge Village Hall and Middridge Allotment Association.
However, work won’t stop there as a number of projects are planned for 2016, these include:
• Kings Drive Estate will benefit from a number of environmental improvements;
• A major scheme to improve parking problems in and around Simpasture Shops will start in the next couple of months;
• Gilpin Road will also benefit from off street parking improvements.
Brian Riley, GAMP Coordinator, said: “The GAMP Partnership continues to go from strength to strength, and we feel that the efforts of the Durham County Councillors in their capacity as Community Champions is an integral part of the partnership”.
“We encourage members of the community to contact their local County Councillor if they have any neighbourhood issues or ideas to improve their local area”.
If you want to discuss any issues within your community, your local County Councillor can be contacted as follows:
Eddy Adam (Aycliffe West) email: eddy.adam@durham.gov.uk  or phone: 03000 268670
John Clare (Aycliffe North and Middridge) email: john.clare@durham.gov.uk  or phone:  03000 268696
Mike Dixon (Aycliffe North and Middridge) email: mike.dixon@durham.gov.uk or phone: 03000 268706
Joan Gray (Aycliffe North and Middridge) email: joan.gray@durham.gov.uk or phone: 03000 268713
Jed Hillary (Aycliffe East) email: jed.hillary@durham.gov.uk or phone: 03000 268723
Kate Hopper (Aycliffe West) email: kate.hopper@durham.gov.uk or phone: 03000 268727
Sarah Iveson (Aycliffe East) email: sarah.iveson@durham.gov.uk or phone: 03000 268730