STANHOPE PARISH COUNCIL
At a meeting of the Council held in Eastgate Village Hall on 2nd April 2025
PRESENT: Cllr L Blackett, Cllr Mrs D Sutcliff, Cllr M Brewin, Cllr R Lawrie, Cllr P Turton, Cllr Mrs S
Thompson, Cllr Mrs S Smart, Cllr E Buchanan Cllr Mr D Craig – Chairman Susan Anderson – Clerk
Also present: Cllr Mrs A Savory
Apologies for Absence Cllr J Shuttleworth, Cllr Miss J Carrick, Cllr Mrs A Hawkes, Cllr Mrs C Burdis To
To Receive Any Declarations of Interest from Members Cllr Mrs Savory declared an interest on
Planning Matters Cllr Lawrie declared an interest in an item in correspondence
Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd March 2025 Minutes were moved as a true and correct record
and were signed by the Chairman
Matters Arising
- Willard Grove Tenant – A tenant who we wrote to regarding not renewing the tenancy would like
to keep his plot. He has reduced his hours at work and will have more time to cultivate the plot. The
councillors will give the tenant a three-month probationary period. If after an inspection the plot has
not been cultivated then the tenancy will be terminated and forfeit the fees. Resolved: Clerk to write
to the tenant. - Church Hall, Stanhope – A meeting took place in St Thomas Church on Tuesday 18th March which
was very well attended. The meeting was run by the Rev Alaistair Prince who is on the PCC, Paula
McLeod is Treasurer and Sue Andrews the Secretary. The Church Hall is a Grade II listed building and
following an Architectural Report the repairs will cost £110,000 so its future is being considered.
There are three issues, the running costs of the hall, the repairs to the roof £25,000 and the
rendering £45,000, the element of the number of people running it. Plans were handed around for
alterations to the church which will cost £450,000 which is money from endowments. Questions
were answered and it was felt that the decision to close the Church Hall had already been decided
there are many questions that need answering. It was suggested that could a management group be
formed to help the PCC so 1 to try and keep the Church Hall open as so many groups use it. It was
mentioned about putting a path across consecrated ground in the church yard which should not be
allowed to happen. A full report was sent to all of the councillors by Cllr Turton. The councillors
would like a letter of support to go the PCC and that the grant money will continue along with the
other Village Halls. Resolved: Clerk to write - Lime Tree, Stanhope – We asked for a new Lime Tree to be planted where the old one had to be
felled. The reply that came back was that DCC were unable to replant due to the path. - Ponders Lane, St Johns Chapel- An inspection has taken place and the works will be programmed
in due course to rectify the issues with the footbridge. - Dentburn Bridge, St Johns Chapel – This was also inspected and a refurbishment scheme for this
structure had already been added to the 25/26 works programme. There is no information as to
when the works will be undertaken as DCC are currently in the early stages of design. Since then the
bridge has been hit and some stones have been knocked off. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC - Weardale Practice – The current newsletter has been sent which has been sent to all councillors.
The Practice Manager has invited a couple of councillors to attend a meeting to discuss the new
process and any concerns that the Parish Council may still have. Cllr Mrs Thompson and Cllr Mrs
Savory had been at a recent meeting and people can still ring for an appointment. The surgery does
understand that elderly people cannot make online appointments. The phone system was explained
that when priority calls come, they must be taken first for example calls from the Community
Hospital, Care Home, paramedics. A discussion took place but it was felt that the Practice Manager
from the surgery should attend a Parish Council meeting which has happened in the past. Resolved:
Clerk to write to the Weardale Practice.
- Frosterley Car Park – The Street Warden has been and put signage up but did find no dog foul.
The area will be kept an eye on when the Street Warden is passing. - Houses behind Front Street, Stanhope – a councillor enquired if there was any update. Cllr Mrs
Savory mentioned that some adapted plans had been received but there is no decision yet. The
houses are still not in keeping with the area and there are the problems with the access onto
Graham Street and the loss of the car park spaces. 9. Westgate parked cars- Cllr Craig mentioned
there is no improvement with the cars parking opposite the opening by the Hare and Hounds. Cllr
Mrs Savory had spoken to the Police regarding this problem.
Correspondence Received - The Chair of a group who are trying to develop a pilgrimage route to run from Killhope to Bishop
Auckland, The Way of Hope, with the aim of promoting visitors to the Dale. The route broadly
follows the existing Weardale Way, with diversions to sites on interest including Churches, Chapels,
and museums. The North Pennines National Landscape are keen to provide grant aid to the group
for the repair and reinstatement of the historic Scarsyke guide post (currently broken and
languishing in Westgate Chapel). The group is informal without a written constitution or bank
account. They have run under the umbrella of the Weardale Churches Joint Parochial Church
Council, who are unwilling to receive and administer the grant money as they are concerned that it
will give rise to continuing liability for maintenance and insurance of the stone. The group would like
the Parish Council to agree to receive the grant on the group’s behalf for the short period between
receipt from National Landscapes and payment of the contractor. Our auditor has been contacted
and we can receive the grant money but we cannot claim the vat back. Cllr Craig and Cllr Blackett
mentioned that there is another stone somewhere between Park View and Rainey Close Westgate.
Resolved: All the councillors were in agreement to accept the grant money but will accept no liability
for the stone. - Cllr Turton mentioned that a dog bin is needed in the gravelled area up from the cattle grid,
Stanhope. Some residents reported to him that a bin is needed there. - One of the bus drivers that drives the 101 bus service is making the Parish Council aware of the
problems that he faces in trying to get to the bus stop on the Market Place, Stanhope. It is all the
parked cars that park outside of the cobbled bays that is the problem they just don’t leave enough
room for the bus to get to the bus stop. Any help would be appreciated. Resolved: This is a Police
and Highways matter, Cllr Mrs Savory will flag it - DCC has received an application from Weardale Together Community Interest Company to have St
Thomas Church Hall listed as an Asset of Community Value under the Community Right to Bid
legislation brought in under the Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Value (England)
Regulations 2012. The Council has eight weeks to decide whether the nominated assets are of
community value being taken by the Head of Corporate Property and Land. If the assets are
considered to be of community value they will be added to the Councils List of Assets of Community
Value for five years. The owner of the property can object to their property being placed on the List
and they have a right to an internal review by the Council of the decision to list. Resolved: A letter of
support to be sent. - CDALC sent an email regarding the benefits of CDALC/NALC Membership.
Planning Matters
DM/25/00237/FPA Subdivision and change of use of former bank into two units, a restaurant unit
(Class E) to the ground floor and offices (Class E) to the first and second floor. Barclays Bank Front
Street Stanhope
PLANNING APPLICATION APPROVALS Retrospective Listed Building consent for the demolition of
one partly collapsed stone wall and one boundary stone wall to ground level, to gain access to
adjoining land to allow repair of the adjoined former Coach House. Boundary stone wall to be rebuilt
upon completion of repairs. (amended heritage statement and plans received on 12th & 14th Nov
2024).
Bonny Moorr Hen Stanhope DM/24/02772/LB & DM/24/03366/FPA Internal reconfiguration,
replacement windows including replacing window to rear with patio doors, installation of air bricks,
roof vents and alterations to boundary treatments. Chapel House Wearhead 3 DM/24/03270/FPA
Removal of existing access ramp to main dwelling, walls and planting area within the existing garden
area. Installation of new door and external staircase to rear of building and new steps to existing
entrance door. Installation of UPVC doors to annex building. Hard landscaping works (amended
11.2.2025) 1A Bridge End Frosterley
Finance
- When the invoice was paid for the hire of the Church Hall the details on the invoice were for the
St Thomas Church account. We need to find out if the Church Hall account is still open for when the
Village Hall Grant money is paid in May. - A tenant from Westgate sent too much rent money so a refund of £5.00 was sent back to them.
The chairman authorised this from the bank account - The Bank Reconciliation Figures for 31st March 2025 have been sent to all of the councillors. The
Receipts and Payments for the Year End along with the AGAR figures have also been sent. The
accounts will be taken to Allen Sykes Accountants for auditing. We have received the AGAR forms
from Mazars which have to be sent by 30th June 2025. Resolved: Figures were agreed - Olivers Tree Services are due to inspect in the trees in the Old Cemetery, Stanhope, and the
allotments. This is done bi-annually and it was 2023 the last inspection was done. Resolved: Agreed - Cllr Mrs Smart would like a new Notice Board next to the bus stop so that people can see the
notices. Resolved: Clerk to get a quote - Cllr Miss Carrick has had a report that the stone seat by Centenary Close needs a repair. The
wooden seat is rotten. Resolved: Clerk to check that the seat is the responsibility of the Parish
Council
CDALC Nothing to report
AAP Report The last meeting has taken place of the AAP’s which is now known as Local Networks.
The meetings should commence in September and Cllr Mrs Savory is hoping that the new Local
Networks carry on a sterling job.
Accounts for Payment
N&C SCOTT ALLOTMENT OVER PAYMENT PAID JRB ENTERPRISE LTD SMITH OF DERBY FROSTERLEY
VILLAGE HALL SMITH OF DERBY WEARHEAD VILLAGE HALL SMITH OF DERBY WESTGATE VILLAGE
HALL GFW IRESHOPEBURN ALLOTMENTS DCC CEMETERY £5.00 £540.00 £328.80 £328.80 £328.80
£20.00 £199.60 4 S ANDERSON SALARY HM REV S ANDERSON HOME AS OFFICE S ANDERSON
EXPENSES INCLUDES SLCC MEMBERSHIP CDALC SUBSCRIPTION CHARGE 2025/26 SCOTTISH WIDOWS
(PRECEPT TRANSFER ) TOTAL ALLOTMENT RENT BANK FEES REFUND DIRECT DEBITS BANK CHARGES
EON ASHCROFT VODAFONE
New Matters for Discussion
£903.28 £20.96 £35.00 £275.85 £848.18 £45,000.00 £4092.17 ACCOUNTS FOR RECEIPTS £1251.00
£1.20 £9.70 £23.79 £44.50 - Cllr Mrs Thompson mentioned the congestion through Westgate with the traffic lights but the
parking of two or three mini buses is not helping the problem. The builders work could take up to
eighteen weeks. Resolved: Clerk to report to the Police - There are some broken kerbs on Front Street, Ireshopeburn below number 31. Resolved: Clerk to
report to DCC - Cllr Buchanan mentioned that is it true that Stanhope Silver Band will not be playing at the
Weardale Show (St Johns Chapel Show) this year. Cllr Mrs Sutcliff declared an interest. It is true but
no discussion took place on this as it is not a Parish Council matter it is the Show Committee. - Cllr Mrs Sutcliff mentioned that the grass verges up Sidehead are no better after reporting them.
Resolved: Clerk to report again to DCC - Cllr Mrs Savory mentioned that a dog was off the lead in the cemetery in Stanhope and the owner
did not pick up after the dog. A lady confronted the person and asked were they not going to pick
the dog muck up but just got a not very nice reply. The dog is a type of boxer dog. - The work on Wears Bridge at Wolsingham will commence on 8th May with pedestrian access
allowed. The bridge will be closed three times to vehicles. The work should be completed by Show
Weekend but it is either have the work done or the bridge would be closed. It was 5 mentioned was
there any progress on the road closed by Witton-le Wear to Hamsterley but there is no progress. - Cllr Brewin would like to report that the drains are blocked from Mill Lane to the Village Green.
Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC - Cllr Craig would like to know when will the repairs to the Stone Bridge be done. Resolved: Clerk to
write and Cllr Mrs Savory will also enquire. - There is a tree on Softley Bank that look rotten and needs attending too. Resolved: Cllr Mrs Savory
will report this - Cllr Craig also mentioned that some stumps have been cut off and thrown in his field but this has
not been done by DCC. - Cllr Miss Carrick would like to report that the sewage works sign is leaning and needs
straightening. Resolved: Clerk to report
Clerks Business
Nothing to report MEETING CLOSED AT 8PM
