Last Wednesday’s Town Council meetings were quite exciting! The Environment Committee began with a presentation by Stuart Timmiss, Head of Planning at Durham County Council, on the pre-submission County Plan.
The Plan’s key aim is to provide a thriving economy, largely based on the business opportunities provided by the A1/A19 corridor which runs south-north through the County, but also seeking to create sustainable, regenerated communities in every small town and village across the county.
The Plan lays out its vision for employment land, housing, infrastructure services and community facilities, the green infrastructure, transport and tourism, over the next 25 years. Mr Timmiss was especially proud of the Plan’s flexibility for growth in rural areas, for the fact that it is the only plan in the country which requires developers to provide 10% of housing for older people. It also not only extends the amount of green belt, but joins up Durham’s green belt with green belt land in Gateshead.
Mr Timmiss outlined the Plan’s aspirations for Great Aycliffe, which is at the centre of the Plan’s ambitions for the County, and which has been given employment land and housing allocations to allow it to grow substantially.
Members asked many probing questions, before agreeing unanimously to fully support the Plan. The Committee complimented Mr. Timmiss and his Planning Colleagues on both the consultation process undertaken and the inclusion of the Town Council’s suggestions and comments in regard to the draft Local Plan.
The meeting also received a report on the Allotment Holders’ AGM, and a report on twenty-five! separate school and community events organised in the preceding month by the Environment Officer – including walks, pond clearance, ‘scrub-bashing’, bulb-planting and bird-box making!
Finally, the Committee unanimously approved the planning application for a fenced Nature Reserve with surface water storage pond on ‘The Moor’, near Cobbler’s Hall.  This will be provided and maintained by the County Council as part of the development of Site O, and should additionally help to protect houses along Woodham Burn from flooding.
The Recreation Committee made two significant decisions.
Firstly, given that pupils will now stay on at school until they are 17, the Committee agreed to charge young people as a ‘Junior’ at its Oak Leaf facilities until they are 18 years of age.
Secondly, the Committee agreed to give the Northern Bygone Vintage and Classic Car club permission to make their show (held in September this year at the Oak Leaf Complex) an annual event.
Finally, the Committee received a report detailing progress made by officers to put on the Fireworks Display next year.  Officers are of the opinion that the Oak Leaf site still offers the best venue, and that admission by ticket (restricted to Aycliffe residents) would appear to be the best solution.
They are currently costing further measures – providing extra lighting, and closing Greenfield Way – and will report back on the feasibility of these ideas, before submitting a report to the Safety Advisory Group.
John D Clare