Dear Sir,

Since 2012, I have kept my election pledge to keep residents informed. So I was disappointed to see that promise interpreted in last week’s Newton News as ‘boosting my own ego’ and ‘preaching’.

It is not so intended.

One thing that letter said about me, however, *is* true, that I would wish to keep my place on the Council. Not just because it is the highest honour when residents choose you to look after their ward as their councillor, but also because there are some things I have started which I want to continue – including:

(1) FORREST PARK

• Can you remember me in St. Mary’s Church in 2011 initiating our campaign to put an extra 50ha. of employment land into the County Durham Plan? That idea turned into the multi-million international development you can see happening now at Forrest Park. I have had no direct involvement in that development, of course, but as Cabinet Support for Economic Regeneration at Durham County Council I keep an active check on progress, and I was lobbying our MP only the other day about the proposed rail-freight interchange.

(2) COBBLERS HALL

• In 2017-18, Cllrs Dixon, Gray and I were able to secure a £150,000 play area at Cobblers Hall. However, I want it to be an *environmental* play park, and further work is needed to achieve that.

(3) CLIMATE CHANGE

• I was made DCC Climate Champion in 2019, and last year DCC won the APSE national award for Best Climate Initiative. But we are only halfway there on emissions, we need to finish embedding climate action into the Council’s structures and systems, and there is a huge task to be done engaging with communities.

• DCC is one of few authorities which has economic regeneration as a strategic aim of its climate response; as Cabinet Support for Economic Regeneration, I am anxious to continue our exploration of how to bring a ‘Green New Deal’ to County Durham.

(4) SHRUB BEDS

• After years of my complaining, livin have recently kindly agreed to refresh their shrub beds. We are starting with the Kings Drive estate, but I want to see the project carried through onto the Well House and Horndale areas of my ward.

(5) STOCKTON & DARLINGTON RAILWAY

• In my role at DCC I have political responsibility for bringing about an S&DR Bicentenary, remarkable, not only for its celebrations, but for its economic and social legacy. Plus it is this former History teacher’s dream to rescue the Locomotion Pub, one of the first three railway stations in the world.

(6) WOODHAM BURN

• Woodham Burn is a biodiversity corridor vital for the ecological, physical and mental wellbeing of the town. Rich at its eastern end, it needs bolstering in its western sections, and the West Ward councillors have graciously allowed me to get involved in organising the transfer of Elmfield Playing Fields from DCC to the Town Council, to create a community nature area.

So, yes, I *DO* want to keep my position as your councillor (and I will not stop keeping you informed.)

Cllr John D Clare