NEWS
Work on new Wolsingham housing estate causing problems
THE preliminary groundwork currently underway to prepare for the new housing estate on the site
of the former steelworks in Wolsingham is causing problems for those living nearby.
People living nearby have reported windows vibrating, noise so loud it is affecting home workers,
mortar falling out of walls and other complaints. These have been reported to Durham County
Council and an investigation has begun.
Stephen Reed, Durham County Council’s planning manager, said: “We have received complaints
regarding noise and vibration being generated from preparation works at the site. We are liaising
with the site operator and have requested monitoring data to determine whether the levels exceed
what is expected of the type of works being carried out. We are also working with the operator to
consider how any impact of the works can be reduced.”
One near neighbour who the Gazette has decided not to name said, “We discovered our living
room window ‘moved’ – if you put a little pressure on the top and it physically moved. We had to
take the edging strip off and tighten the screws. The vibrations from the groundwork have been
constant since day one.”
Another described her house as ‘trembling’. And yet another said the vibrations from the
excavations could be felt while walking along the path outside of the site. Another household
reported plaster coming off the inside kitchen walls with dust on the worktops.
The reason for the noise and vibrations is being caused by the machinery digging and preparing
the ground ready for house building. According to some locals who worked at the steelworks for
many years, there is concrete beneath the soil with some estimates saying it is 10 to 15 feet deep.
Indeed there is a huge heap of broken concrete on the site, apparently taken from underground.
One lady said she was not against more houses being built in the town but was worried about the
effect the current work is having on the wildlife and the trees. Some trees have already been
removed prior to work being done and there is a colony of slow worms, for which plans have been
made to move them in season. Another villager was concerned about the effect on the nearby river
and the fact that a flood plain is very close to the area of building.
Planning permission for new houses, which will include bungalows, was granted several years
ago but the company who did have plans to build did not go ahead and pulled out, apparently
without explanation.
The County Durham plan, which ‘ presents a vision for potential housing, jobs and the
environment until 2035 as well as the transport, schools and healthcare to support it’ outlines the
amount of new homes to be built in the county with the emphasis on building them to ‘ provide a
wide choice of quality homes to meet everyone’s needs and ensure they’re built where people want
to live, reducing the need to travel’.
Wolsingham town has not had the benefit of any extra public transport, schools or healthcare in
recent years but perhaps the building of so many new homes will bring them?
The Gazette did try to contact Bellway for a comment but on going to press, there was no reply.
