Dear Editor
As reported in the Newton News for the last couple of weeks ago The Durham County Plan is in the consultation phase and it is important that the views of those in the Great Aycliffe Area are heard. One way it will affect us in where and how many houses are built in this area. The Town Council are happy to see continued development of the Industrial Estate and of more housing to serve the needs of those who live and move to work in this area. Whilst we are pleased to see the development of housing on sites such as that at Copelaw, we are concerned about the County Council’s proposal to designate the area at Cobblers Hall which runs alongside Burnhill way (DCC Plan Reference Number H33 – [7/NA/186]) as a site for housing development.
Although this area may look an ideal site, there are two main factors that the Town Council are concerned about. The first is that the site was previously marked by Durham County Council and earlier by Sedgefield District Council as an area that was unstable and therefore completely unsuitable for building land. Secondly, the site is also of historical and biological interest. It has been suggested that this area has been untouched since Roman times, perhaps those in the past have known more than those proposing its current designation as a development site. It’s also a habitat for an extensive amount of wild flora and fauna. The Town Council Planning Committee are of the opinion that this area is of extreme biodiversification interest and should be preserved as an undeveloped piece of land. If you agree with the Council on this issue, please go on to the Durham County Plan web site and add your weight to the argument for preserving this site.
Peter John Bergg
Chairman of the Planning Sub Committee
Great Aycliffe Town Council
