Councillors and residents spoke out against plans to mine two areas near Pittington, east of Durham City, at a meeting held in neighbouring West Rainton on Tuesday night.

During a 90-minute debate, people voiced concerns over the environment, traffic, noise, dirt and disruption.

Afterwards, Steve Percival, vice chairman of West Rainton and Leamside Parish Council, said: “There were very clear concerns about these proposals.

“We have real concerns about the environmental impact of the plans. We’re very proud as a parish council to be in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust to reduce the carbon footprint of the parish.

“Also, the A690 couldn’t take the extra traffic – there would be lorries day and night down to Yorkshire.”

ATH Resources has shown an interest in extracting 3.3 million tonnes of coal from the two sites and wants Durham County Council to declare them as being of strategic importance.

However, the firm has said it has no immediate plans to progress any projects in County Durham and council bosses do not currently consider the sites to be strategic.

Councillor Percival said: “We were happy to hear that ATH Resources have slowed down their approach in that they don’t foresee lodging any planning application any time soon.”

However, another mining firm is also showing interest, he added.

Residents are invited to make their views known at a meeting of Sherburn Parish Council, to be held in the village’s workingmen’s club on Tuesday, February 8, at 6pm.

Durham County Council’s consultation on its minerals and waste sites policy closes on Monday, February 14. To comment, email: ldfconsultation@durham.gov.uk

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

I have over seven years police service and have worked both Washington and Houghton Le Spring area.  For the last five years I have been in my current role as Neighbourhood Beat Manager.

 My role of Neighbourhood Beat Manager is to:

 Meet the needs of my local community by providing public reassurance and effectively reduce crime & disorder by identifying problems and providing long term solutions. 

• To preserve and protect life and property, maintain peace and conduct patrols within the area. 
• This role is conducted with the help of partner agencies which include Gentoo and Sunderland City Council, and my main objective is to improve and maintain quality of life for residents, businesses and visitors to the area.

 I cover the Fencehouses area and work with the Houghton Neighbourhood Policing Team.

• By E-Mailing your neighbourhood team
• By phoning 03456 043 043 and asking for extension 69191
• http://www.police.uk/

Sunderland Echo

MY great-great-grandfather was George William Winter Honey, postmaster at Fence Houses in the 1870s. Although born in Plymouth in 1846 he arrived in the North East in the late 1860s. I know he is buried in Hillside Cemetery, Houghton – as is his wife Mary and mother Rebecca. He had several children while living in Fence Houses.
I’ve recently been given various original documents/paperwork etc relating to him and the post office which are now treasured with his handwritten geography book from 1862 that I’ve had for some years. This followed the death of a cousin who also lived in Wiltshire!
Has anyone got any other information/old photos of the old post office – I did find the “new” one in June while on a trip north – or any other information on the Honey family. Can anybody in the area help me?
Pat Goodship,
Melksham,
Wiltshire
Telephone: 01225 345306
Email: bedpanpat@hotmail.com

You may have seen a letter in the Sunderland Echo reference the Honey family – George William Winter Honey was postmaster in Fencehouses in the 1880′s/90′s.

A cousin of mine died in January this year and I’ve inherited a lot of family documents & photos, mostly to do with the Honey family. (or possibly the Hunter family from Bournmoor as this is where Mary Jane Hunter – my grandmother – came from)

I’ve attached a photo of an old football team – haven’t a clue who is on it belonging to the family or when it was taken, but I’m 99% sure it’s to do with your area.

I’ve also attached a photo of a John Hunter who I think may be one of the team.

Hope you may be able to help identify it – or people on it. Definitely a memory jogger!.

Pat Goodship (Melksham)

Click on the Image’s to Enlarge

SIG Combibloc / Redevelopment Plans

Click here to download the Plans

Click here to download the Masterplan Indicative Floor Areas Breakdown

Simply add your post code or street address and you will be directed to the site map, you can manoeuvre around the map by placing the mouse over the map click and hold down the left mouse button and you can now drag the map to the required area.

If you live outside of Fence Houses it still works and your complaint will be directed to the relevant Council.

We think this is brilliant!

If you report a problem don’t forget to report when it has been fixed.

Enter a nearby UK postcode, or street name and area:

I know its early days but I thought there maybe some one who has a photo or any information lying in a drawer.

“Hello I am researching a man who was based at fencehouses/cocken hall camp in 1916. I am trying to find any information.memories /photographs of the camp and wondered if you had any in your collection”?