STANHOPE PARISH COUNCIL
AT a meeting of the Council held in Eastgate Village Hall on 4th June 2025
PRESENT: Cllr Mrs D Wright, Cllr L Blackett, Cllr Mrs S Smart, Cllr P Turton, Cllr M Brewin, Cllr R
Lawrie, Cllr Mrs S Thompson, Cllr D Craig.
Also in attendance – County Councillor Mrs A Savory, Cllr Miss J Carrick – Chairman, Susan Anderson
– Clerk.
Apologies for Absence: Cllr Mrs C Burdis, Cllr Mrs D Sutcliff, Cllr J Shuttleworth, Cllr E Buchanan
To receive any declarations of Interest from Members Cllr Mrs Savory declared an interest in
planning matters as she is on the planning committee.
Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 7th May 2025 Minutes were moved as a true and correct
record and were signed by the chairman.
Lawrence Barton – Weardale Renewables CIC Mr Barton sent his apologies as he was unable to
attend. He will attend the September meeting.
Matters Arising 1. Tree Inspection Report – Olivers Tree Services have inspected the trees and there
is no remedial works required at any of the play areas, allotments or the Old Cemetery, Stanhope.
He did mention work required at Bondisle Play Area but the trees are Durham County Councils, I
have let DCC know what the inspector mentioned in the report.
- Frosterley Play Park- The Neighbourhood Warden will put some signage up. In the fenced off area
where the play equipment is there are no dogs allowed at all. Dogs are allowed in the play area but
must be on a lead and any dog foul must be picked up. The warden has put some signage up but it
has been taken down. He will fine anyone who has their dogs off the lead in the playpark whether
there is signage up or not as he has proof that the signage was there. Cllr Mrs Savory mentioned that
there is a problem with dog fouling at Wolsingham. The Neighbourhood Warden is being proactive
and is stopping people to make sure they are carrying dog bags. The police have also been
contacted. 3. Joy Allen Police and Crime Commissioner – Joy has been asked to a meeting and she is
able to attend the August meeting. - Northern Lithium – G Stringer has sent an update which has been sent to allof the councillors. The
company’s specialists are currently trying to make sense of the masses of data that resulted from
the tests. The tests drew no negative comments. Due to Health & Safety considerations and general
logistics of accommodating visitors the company decided against holding the visits. A submission will
soon be made to DCC to discharge a planning condition which will allow the company to drill a third
borehole in line with the main planning permission. Cllr Miss Carrick mentioned that last year
Northern Lithium gave some grant money to community groups and will be doing the same again
this year. - Stone Bridge, Stanhope – Work is to commence on 27th May for seven days.
- Agenda for the surgery meeting – Cllr Mrs Smart sent a suggested agenda for when her and Cllr
Mrs Sutcliff go to the surgery. The surgery has acknowledged the agenda and have said they will be
touch maybe wanting more information. - Boundary Stone- Cllr Craig mentioned that there has been another stone marker. He has asked
the highways worker to strim around it. The western boundary of the park where the marker is runs
from Park View to Rainey Close and there used to be two. On the first ordinance survey map it was
on the righthand side in an allotment but at some point it was moved.
Correspondence Received 1. Cllr Mrs Wright mentioned that the waste bins on Stanhope Main
Street are covered in vape stickers and would like them removing. Resolved: This has been reported
to D Hunt. All of the bins have had the stickers scraped off and the bins have received a coat of
paint. A thank you email has been sent. - Cllr Mrs Thompson and Cllr Mrs Wright both wondered when the weed spraying was going to
start. This has now been done but will take a few weeks for the weeds to wilt. Cllr Mrs Wright
mentioned that the weeds are dying back. She would like the following areas looked at Front Street,
Stanhope, Solicitors, the Hub, Graham Street, Martin Street. Cllr Mrs Thompson would like to know if
Front Street, Ireshopeburn has been sprayed. Resolved Clerk to contact D Hunt
- A tenant from Crosshill would like permission for a shed 8ft by 6ft. Resolved: Agreed
- Cllr Mrs Wright mentioned the flower tubs in front of Stanhope Church that they need moving
back in line before they are planted. This has been reported to D Hunt. - D Hunt has been putting some dog fouling stencils along the Riverside Walk in Stanhope he was
also going to put them in Frosterley Play Park. - Stanhope Main Street A689 from the Market Place down to the garage will be having roadworks
done commencing the 9th June 2025. The road will be closed from 6pm until midnight for phased
works. Friday 20th and Monday 23rd the road will be closed for line marking. - The Foodie Book Club CIC is a not-for-profit with a social mission, supporting communities by
raising funds and running food-focused projects and events. Lee Majhen-Todd will be attending the
July meeting to explain what they are trying to do. - The Trustees of the Barrington Hall would like to thank the Parish Council for the grant money.
- A tenant from Crosshill would like permission to keep six hens with a hen house measuring L39.3 x
W50 x H42.5 with a fully enclosed run measuring 4×3 meters. Resolved: Agreed - Cllr Turton sent some photographs of the footpath in Shittlehopeburn. These have been sent to
the Footpath Officer. He will go and have a look at the footpath and assess it as the last time he was
there it was usable. - We have been sent details of a Proposed Federation from 1st November 2025 of the Durham
Dales Federation of Hamsterley, St Johns Chapel and Wearhead Primary Schools and the Dales
Partnership of Butterknowle, Frosterley and Woodland Primary Schools. There are consultation
drop-in sessions at Frosterley on 25th June 4.30-5.30 and St Johns Chapel & Wearhead 8th July 4.30 –
5.30. Responses must be received by 10am on Monday 14th July 2025. - St Johns Chapel Town Hall would like to thank the Parish Council for the grant money.
Risk Assessment The Risk Assessment was reviewed and agreed 11087 Appointment of Internal
Auditor – Allen Sykes Allen Sykes is our Internal Auditor and it was agreed for them to be our
Internal Auditor for 25/26
Planning Matters DM/25/01234/FPA The erection of two agricultural buildings (single storey) Jolly
Body Farm Stanhope PLANNING Stanhope
PLANNING REFUSALS DM/24/01797/FPA Erection of a new detached 2-storey dwelling and
associated landscaping and boundary treatment Land and buildings south east of Sycamore House
and west of Bondisle
PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED DM/24/01376/FPA Erection of storage building Greenfoot
Caravan park Stanhope
DM/25/00084/PA56 Prior approval application for the construction of a new road measuring 110m
with a width of 3.7m (relating to previous application DM/24/01641/PNA) (amended 2/5/25) Sunny
Bank St Johns Chapel
DM/25/00290/LB The addition of 8 new roof windows to roof fabric St Michaels and All Angels
Church Church Lane Frosterley
DM/24/03037/LB New windows to the front elevation ground and first floor. New door to replace
the existing door to the rear store building. 2 Butts Crescent Stanhope
Finance 1. The invoices for Npower for the continuous public lighting had not been received so when
a reminder arrived Npower was contacted. The copy invoices arrived by email and as they were
urgent the chair was contacted and the two invoices were paid. There are two late payment invoices
separate to the above but when we return the direct debit mandates then we will receive a credit
back onto the account. Two direct debit mandates need signing and returning. Resolved: It was
agreed to sign the direct mandates - A second quote has been received for the Notice Board at Eastgate which is £850. Resolved: Cllr
Mrs Savory will speak to the company - I have the new bank mandates one to remove Angela Hawkes as a signatory and the second one
to add Cllr Mrs S Thompson. The forms also need signing by Cllr Miss Carrick and the clerk. Resolved:
The changes were agreed and the forms were signed. - The Bank Reconciliation figures for 31st May have been sent to all of the co 4. The Bank
Reconciliation figures for 31st May have been sent to all of the councillors Resolved: agreed
CDALC Mrs Hawkes is still the CDALC representative for a few more months. If there is anything to
report then she will send it to us.
Accounts for Payment County Durham Association of Local Councils £20.00 Scribe Accounts
Renewal £489.60 S Anderson salary £925.81 HM Rev £82.53 S Anderson expenses £50.62 S
Anderson home as office £35.00 Paul Irwin Grass cutting Ashcroft Playpark
Miss J Carrick Chairmans Allowance £250.00 TOTAL £2033.56 ACCOUNTS FOR RECEIPTS DCC S136
£2700.00 Network Rail £2.58 TOTAL £2702.58 DIRECT DEBITS/STANDING ORDERS E-ON Ashcroft
Playpark £23.74 Village Hall Grant Money £5500.00 Churchyard Maintenance £1500.00 BT £84.24
Wave Daddry Shield Toilets £79.66 ICO £47.00 Bank Charges £23.29 Wave Old Cemetery £22.56
Wave Willard Grove Allotments £21.52 Vodafone £47.34 Npower Street Lighting £3232.90 Npower
Street Lighting £802.22 TOTAL £11,384.47
New Matters for Discussion 1. Cllr Mrs Wright mentioned that a resident had a very near collision
with two motorbikes as she turned into her access for her home. The bikes were on the wrong side
of the road and she was really shocked as to what might have happened. The standard of driving in
Weardale is dreadful and this will be mentioned when the Police & Crime Commissioner attends the
August meeting. Cllr Mrs Savory pointed out that to change a speed limit there has to be statistics
and data. The 20mph that Cllr Mrs Savory got at Wolsingham near to the junior school came out of
her Neighbourhood Budget which cost £12,000. Line on the road, speed survey all has to be paid for.
Cllr Mrs Smart would have liked a survey done on the Bank Holiday in August instead of it being
done earlier in the year when it was quiet. She has been told that it was her perception that the
vehicles are speeding. - There is a small patch of tarmac needed up Crawleyside at the entrance lane to Snowdrop
Cottage. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC - Cllr Turton mentioned that a group are trying to arrange walks in Stanhope very similar to what
the Wolsingham Wayfarers do. All of the footpaths are on the Durham Definitive Maps at Durham
County Council. - Cllr Blackett brought to the councils attention that a flower bed in Wearhead which is over the
bridge on the right hand side has been grass seeded over without any notification. Resolved: Clerk to
contact DCC - Cllr Mrs Savory mentioned that the road surfacing works in Stanhope are necessary as the road
has been patched numerous times from Dales Terraces to the garage. The money has been allocated
for Stanhope which is a good thing. Works are being carried out on the bridge at Wolsingham to
make it road worthy otherwise it would have been closed. Inspector M Sammut is retiring and
Inspector Andy Reeves is our new Police Inspector. Both Cllr Shuttleworth and Cllr Mrs Savory have
had to fight for plants to be planted in Weardale. Cllr Mrs Wright mentioned that herself and Cllr
Miss Carrick will water and weed the planters in front of the church. Their thoughts are that maybe a
flower group could be started at some point. Frosterley are looking after their plants as well. Cllr Mrs
Savory also mentioned the big event that is held in Stanhope and that it brings many visitors in. The
shops do very well out of it and L Maddison works extremely hard in organising this event. She also
mentioned numerous thefts at Wolsingham from sheds and also at the railway tools and a tipper
truck had been stolen. - Cllr Craig mentioned that the road up to the Manor House at Carter way Heads is dreadful and
that it needs re-surfacing. This road is not the responsibility of Durham County Council it is in
Northumberland. - Cllr Brewin wondered who owns the land down The Batts facing Gardiners. Apparently, the Police
have recovered some quad bikes. Resolved: Clerk to find out more information - Cllr Lawrie mentioned that the Weardale Museum were looking into the possibility of taking on
the Westgate Chapel and would like residents’ thoughts on this. It was felt that would the Museum
be overstretched and that someone else should take it on but not in competition with existing
organisations in Westgate. - Cllr Mrs Thompson mentioned that the Stoney Path Road has been tarmaced but no run off drains
have been put in. Also, there is grass covering some of the drains which needs removing. Resolved:
Clerk to report to DCC - The toilets at Daddry Shield need remedial works doing such as painting inside and out, a new
toilet seat and a toilet roll holder. Resolved: Clerk to contact S Makepeace - Cllr Mrs Thompson also mentioned the car parking for the Weardale Museum, she felt that it
should have been one of the first things that should have been put in place. She feels that the
parking at the Weardale Adventure Centre is not safe due to the access. Cllr Blackett mentioned that
the height of wall is to be reduced along with reducing some of the trees. An independent report
would have been done highways. - Cllr Mrs Thompson would like the trees inspecting at the cemetery where the limbs are
overhanging the metal fence at Crosshill. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC - The residents enjoyed the Easter Egg that was donated to Crosshill.
- Killhope was mentioned and is anything happening up there. Resolved: Clerk to find out
- The hawthorn tree had Wesley Garth came down in a storm which had a plaque on it. A
councillor was wondering if another tree was going to be planted. It is really up to the owner and
Weardale Museum. Resolved: Clerk to write to the Weardale Museum - Cllr Blackett would like a letter to go to Northumbrian water concerning the state of the
Burnhope Road that it needs repairing again. Resolved: Clerk to write to NW - Cllr Miss Carrick would like to report the Lime Tree at Willard Grove that the suckers need
trimming back so that you can see to pull out onto the main road. Also, the Lime trees down the
main street of Stanhope apart from the suckers on the tree that was felled and the Lime Trees on
the Green at Frosterley all need trimming back. Resolved: Clerk to contact DCC - The planter on Crawleyside needs tidying up and maybe some fresh annuals planting. P
Maddison will water the planter. Resolved: Clerk to contact D Hunt - Cllr Mrs Wright mentioned that there is no water in Stanhope Cemetery and that maybe a Water
Butt could be brought up and filled now and again. It could go under the trees where the well used
to be. Resolved: Clerk to contact D Hunt
Clerks Business Nothing to report Meeting closed at 7.58pm
