The County Durham Plan sets the planning policy framework up to 2035 to support the development of a thriving economy in County Durham, while at the same time protecting those things that are important to us all. It identifies a number of sites for new employment, new housing and new infrastructure to accommodate the growth needed to achieve these ambitions.

The Pre-Submission Draft of the Plan is the final consultation stage. It is an important stage as it is an opportunity for you to make comments on the Plan before it is submitted for examination by an independent Inspector. Find our more about the consultation here.

The agenda for the forthcoming Youth Strategy Group committee taking place on 29th January 2019 is now available online. You can access the agenda here.

You can access a copy of the draft minutes of the meeting on 13th December 2018 from the link below:

Draft Youth Strategy Group Minutes 13th December 2018

Wheels for Work County Durham are offering low mileage mopeds for a modest weekly free to help people get to work and reach training opportunities.

Find out more about Wheels to Work here.

This offer is the first feature on our new Employment Support Opportunities page. We will be communicating any such offer or facility on this page when we find out about them. If you have any contributions or suggestions for this page please let us know.

Coxhoe Scouts have issued a massive thank you to all those who supported the Scout Fundraising Event on Saturday the 8th December at the Village Hall in Coxhoe.

The Scouts raised  £538 on the day at event – and thank you for all your support!  Prior to the event Scouts used their creative skills to design Christmas Cards and Christmas Crafts, design and develop games and activities for the event.  They also developed their customer service skills selling their activities and crafts on their stalls.  Well done Scouts!

All raffle prizes have now been claimed.  The scouts would like to thank  local businesses for their support in providing raffle prizes and donations.  These include:

Adore
AWC Insurance Services Limited
Bonsai BonBons
Clems Fish Restaurant
Coates Butchers
Coxhoe Club
Coxhoe Co-op
Coxhoe Timber Services
Flowers by Michelle
Frank’s Factory Flooring
The Italian Farmhouse
K9 Animal Care (North East) Limited
Lads n Dads
Noah’s Ark Pet Shop
Party Forever
Seventeen Café and Bistro
Signs Man
Sonnet 43
Steven Scarr, and
Wing and a Prayer

The November Website Performance Report is now available on-line.

The report shows a 78% increase in users although decreases in time spent on the site and pages viewed. There were peaks during the first week in November as a result of the firework display and posts relating to the future of the Village Hall.

You can access the report, and previous reports here.

 

The Parish Council’s first firework display was a great event which was well attended and well received by people of our Parish.

Nearly 2,000 people attended the event on the fields adjacent the Active Life Centre on Monday 5th November 2018. Visitors to the event and the wider area were treated to around 20 minutes of fantastic fireworks and associated music. There was food drink and children’s rides available and people had a great time.

The display was slightly delayed because a member of the public was taken ill and needed an ambulance. We are pleased to advise that that individual is okay.

The Parish Council appreciates the support it received on the evening and the feedback it has received. It would like to say a massive thank you to the volunteers that attended to help ensure the event went ahead including Alan Bennett and Neil Prest.

This is the first time the current Parish Council has undertaken a fireworks display. It will consider both the positive and negative feedback it received in respect of the event and its organisation in making decisions about future events.

We have added an album of Community photographs to our Photo Gallery. Thank you to Ben Lyons, Rod Gary Hall, Sandra Baker Duffy and Russell Gow for your excellent photographs and your permission to publish them. The photographs capture what a brilliant display it was.

You can check the album out here. When you enter the album, click on the thumbnail for full size images. From there you can scroll through the photographs.

Worried about the impact of fireworks on your pets this bonfire night?

The Parish Council is aware that fireworks, part of our historical celebration of Guy Fawkes night, can be distressing to pets. There is advice out there for pet owners during the current period. Some of that advice, from Vets Now, can be found by clicking on this link.

 

Free Defibrillator Training Opportunities

Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere…… effective CPR and the use of a defibrillator within the first few minutes of someone’s heart stopping will increase their chance of survival. Now that the new Defibrillators are installed and working in Coxhoe (on the wall outside of the Village Hall), and at Quarrington Hill (on the wall outside of the Club), we have organised for two familiarisation sessions for using them.  One took place in Coxhoe earlier this month and one planned for Quarrington Hill was postponed due to unforseen circumstances. This has been rearranged for Tuesday 27th November in Quarrington Hill Community Centre. Come & learn these lifesaving skills.  The training is open to any residents or businesses who would like to attend and help out should there ever be an incident.  Join us for training at:

• Quarrington Hill Community Centre 6pm – 8pm – Tuesday 9th October 2018 4 Front Street North, Quarrington Hill, DH6 4QD

Places MUST be booked prior to the dates. To book your place please contact Karen at the Parish Council by email karen.williams@coxhoeparishcouncil.gov.uk or ring 0191 377 3658

A huge thank you to Coxhoe History Group for organising the Suffragette Rally event to mark the Centenary of women getting the Right to vote. Coxhoe Women young and old marched from The Clarence Railway crossings Gate to the Miner’s Wheel where they heard speeches from Durham’s first and only woman MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, Parish Councillor Barbara Hepplewhite and Durham County Councillor Maura McKeon. A good time was had by all, followed by splendid refreshments at Coxhoe Village Hall. Thank you to so many residents for coming out and supporting this fabulous event.

A Coxhoe tale, told and acted by Coxhoe people is coming to the Village Hall this October.

Coxhoe Local History Group is bringing to life Coxhoe’s Great War stories as part of a range of events remembering the First World War. The event will take place on 11th October between 7-9pm. Admission is free and is billed as a Welcome Home Music Hall with Hildy Harland playing Miss Marie Lloyd. Please come along the invitation is open to everyone.

The History group needs your help and is looking for some amateur  budding actors and actresses to take part. few acting skills are needed just a willingness to dress up and be prepared to undertake actions rather than words. You will need to be available for rehearsals as well as the evening.

If you are interested please contact John Hepplewhite on 0191 3771366