At a meeting of the Council held in Eastgate Village Hall on 7th October 2026
PRESENT:
Cllr D Craig, Cllr Mrs D Sutcliff, Cllr Mr D Wright, Cllr P Turton, Cllr Mrs S Thompson,
Cllr J Shuttleworth, Cllr L Blackett, Cllr E Buchanan, Cllr R Lawrie
Cllr Miss J Carrick – Chairman
Susan Anderson – Clerk
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Apologies for Absence
Cllr Mrs S Smart, Cllr M Brewin, Cllr Mrs C Burdis
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To Receive any Declarations of Interest from Members
None received
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Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd September 2026
Minutes were moved as a true and correct record and were signed by the Chairman
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Matters Arising
- EASTGATE VILLAGE HALL – Eastgate Village Hall Committee would like to convey their thanks
for the £500 grant which will go along way towards the expenses for the upkeep of the
village hall. - WEARDALE COMMUNITY TRANSPORT ALLOTMENTS AT BONDISLE – The Board of the WCT
have decided to handover the two allotment plots to the two gentlemen that have been
running them. - SCHOOL CLOSE BUNGALOWS – An email has been received from a resident of School Close
Bungalows regarding the height of the hedge. Cllr Shuttleworth advised that the resident
needs to contact Believe Housing as they own the property in School Close. - REPORT OF CAMPERVANS OVER THE STONE BRIDGE, STANHOPE – The enforcement officer
has checked the records at DCC and the Land Registry and the land is unregistered and not
part of DCC ownership nor the extent of the adopted highway. In the absence of an owner, it
makes enforcing something difficult. A resident from Stanhope has sent another photo that
there was a caravan on the grass verge on Saturday 3rd Oct. Cllr Shuttleworth mentioned that
one meter belongs to the Highway but the rest must belong to someone. Land did not have
to be registered prior to 1968. The councillors said that it could go back to the Hilliards. - PARKING SIGNS AT COWGARTH HILL – One of the parking signs has been taken down but
there is still a sign up at the end of the road. - B4RN- B4RN have reached the investment target for Phase 1 from Killhope lead mining
museum to The Weardale Adventure Centre. Some wayleaves are still short and Linda
Jamieson would like the help of the Parish Councillors if they know any of the people listed in
the email. They are still looking for investment for the second phase and also Rookhope. The
councillors did not know many on the list. - COMMUNITY HIGHWAYS WORKER – All councillors need to make a list of jobs that our
Community Highways Worker will need to do in all of the villages on a regular basis for next
year. This is so Simon is not travelling about doing jobs here and there it would be better if he
spent so many days in one village at a time then moving onto another one. He needs to be
seen doing jobs in all of the villages. Also it has been suggested that Stanhope Parish Council
is printed onto the DCC van so it says in partnership with Stanhope Parish Council. - COUNCILLOR EMAILS – Cllr Turton mentioned that the authenticated has been turned off so
that you can log in straight away. - B THOMPSON – Cllr Miss Carrick mentioned that there was a good turn out for Brian
Thompsons wake.
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Correspondence Received - An email was received that some people think the foam doesn’t feel secure and the ground
feels like it could open up at the play park in Westgate. This has been mentioned by S
Makepeace in his inspection report, who is in the process of repairing it. It is rabbits that
have caused the problem under the surface. - A tenant from Bondisle would like permission for an 8ftx6ft garden shed. Resolved:
Permission granted - A tenant from Crosshill sent an email asking if the Parish Council could remove some rubbish
from the plot. After speaking to the Chairman it is not possible to remove any more rubbish.
The metal can be collected by a scrap man and the rest can be taken to the tip. - An email has been received from a resident of Frosterley concerning the safety and the
fencing of the Play Park. Parents do not think the current access from the main road is safe
for the younger children. Cars are parked on the footpath so people with pushchairs and
wheelchairs cannot get passed. The fencing along Church Lane is in a horrific state of
disrepair. The field is still being used by dog walkers. Even though the playpark is being
refurbished the football goals are without nets. The email was sent to the councillors. Cllr
Shuttleworth has sent the email to the play equipment staff who will respond directly to the
resident. - An email has been received from someone who is a member of the NCMD and is a
responsible detectorist. He was wondering if any land owner could give him permission to go
onto their land. He would respect crops, livestock, gates and landowner restrictions, fill all
holes, remove rubbish and follow the requirements for reporting significant finds. Received
and noted - An email has been received that a pole has been renewed at East Blackdene and the light is
not working. DCC have been contacted as it is a parish light. - Cllr Turton would like to discuss the BT switchover from the copper lines to broadband. The
planned switch off for the existing network is January 2027. What measures are being put in
place to support rural communities and in particular elderly and vulnerable residents.
Resolved: Clerk to invite a representative from BT to a Parish Council meeting.
2 - Stanhope Hartwell Educational Foundation has sent the Receipts and Payments for the
financial year ended 31st March 2026.
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Planning Matters
DM/26/02111/AD
Retention of 2 no.signs to front and rear
Business Durham
Unit R2
Durham Dales Centre
Castle Gardens
Stanhope
DM/26/02454/FPA
Erection of lunch hut
Lunch Hut North of
Hill Crest
East Lane
Stanhope
DM/26/02338/MIN
Installation of abstraction boreholes, reinjection boreholes and lithium processing plant to enable
lithium production for a period of 40 years followed by decommissioning and restoration
Land to the North
West of Ludwell
Eastgate
DM/26/02202/VOC
Application to vary condition 2 (approved plans)
Pursuant to application DM/21/02979/FPA
Barn North West of
Hawkwellhead Plantation
Ireshopeburn
DM/26/02547/PA56
Prior approval follow up to DM/26/02115/PNA (prior approval for a general purpose agricultural
building under Schedule 2, part 6, Class A of the GPDO)
Land to the south of
Stonedrass Cottage
Wearhead
DM/26/02606/FPA
Proposed garage annex conversion
14 Western Hill
Frosterley
No Comments on any of the applications
3
Planning Permission Granted for October 2026
DM/26/00545/FPA
Change of use of land from agricultural to equestrian. The facility will be used solely for private, non
commercial equestrian purposes (amended 27.7.26)
2 Newfield Farm
Stanhope
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Finance - Grant Money for Planters – The grant application form has been completed and sent in on
30th Sept. Most of the grant money would be taken up by the planters and the seats and the
delivery charges. To get the community involved the allotment tenants will be asked to see if
they could donate any plants that they have grown to go into the planters. A small amount of
money would be available for some plants in any villages that do not have allotment sites or
we don’t get enough flowers grown. Our Community Highways could plant the planters and
S Makepeace would take delivery and install the planters. The planters and the seats can go
onto our insurance at no additional cost. Permission has been sought from CPLL at DCC,
Ireshopeburn Institute and the Town Hall at St Johns Chapel. - Bank Reconciliation Figures – Figures agreed
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Accounts for Payment
Allen Sykes Ltd
Paul Irwin Ashcroft Grass Cutting
Forvis Mazars LLP
S Anderson Salary
HM Rev
S Anderson Expenses
S Anderson Home as Office
WJPS Annual Domain Name Renewal
Accounts for Receipts
Northern Powergrid Wayleaves
£318.00
£120.00
£252.00
£923.55
£116.92
£14.40
£35.00
£100.80
£180.27
4
DIRECT DEBITS
Bank Charges
EON Ashcroft Lighting
EE
Resolved: Accounts moved
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New Matters for Discussion
£9.10
£314.14
£31.80 - Cllr Buchanan asked who is responsible for a mature tree that has come down into the river.
Cllr Shuttleworth mentioned that it is the land owners responsibility but he would look into
this - Cllr Mrs Sutcliff has had a complaint about the road up to Sidehead. Low Loaders have been
travelling up the road and are damaging the road at four lane ends. She would like a meeting
with the highways inspector. Resolved: Cllr Shuttleworth will speak to the Inspector. - Cllr Mrs Thompson would like the garden tidying up in Ireshopeburn. It needs weeding and
plants cutting back. Resolved: Clerk to contact D Hunt - Cllr Mrs Thompson would like to report a large pot hole along High Street, Stanhope by the
Methodist Chapel, Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC - Cllr Mrs Wright has had many complaints about the overgrown bushes down The Butts in
Stanhope. You cannot see the river anymore it is so overgrown and there are three seats
there that look onto the river. Resolved: Clerk to arrange to have these cut back - Cllr Lawrie mentioned that one of the swings and the trampoline need repairing in Ashcroft
Play Park. Resolved: Clerk to contact S Makepeace - Cllr Lawrie mentioned the derelict garages up Ashcroft that there are weeds growing out of
them and they are so untidy. Resolved; Clerk to contact Believe Housing - Cllr Lawrie would like the Civil Contingencies at DCC to come out to a Parish Council meeting.
Resolved: Clerk to send an invite - Cllr Miss Carrick would like to report that there are saplings growing out the walls by Horsley
Hall and Horsley Bridge. Resolved; Clerk to report to D Hunt
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Clerks Business
Nothing to report
Meeting Closed at 7.27pm
Date of next meeting is Wednesday 4th November at Eastgate Village Hall commencing at 7pm
