Barking dogs and school parking issues prompt deferral of County Durham 99 homes plan
Developer Miller Homes applied to build 99 homes and a community park on land west of Gladstone Terrace, Coxhoe.
A mix of bungalows and two, three, four, and five-bedroomed homes is proposed, including several available at an affordable rate.
Miller Homes said the 'much-needed' housing would be built alongside the introduction of a Park and Stride scheme - a suitable parking area to alleviate issues with the nearby Coxhoe Primary School drop off and pick up.
However, residents raised concerns over the impact the new homes would have on local school places, traffic, and the likelihood of locals being disturbed by barking dogs.
Stray Aid, an animal rehoming centre, is located next to the proposed site.
Following a site visit, councillor Kenny Hope told a Durham County Council planning committee: 'Regardless of whatever acoustic blocking system is put in, when the dogs bark in the evening, that will affect the population moving into these properties. If these complaints start coming in, Stray Aid will have to move somewhere, and I don't think that is fair.'
Coxhoe Parish Council said it supports the proposal, but calls for a greater financial contribution towards the local primary school to create additional pupil places. Similar concerns were previously raised last year when 83 homes were approved by the council.
Jan Blakey, county councillor for Bowburn and Coxhoe, told the meeting: 'Access to the school has already created an issue with cars parking on the entrance and the mini roundabout and motorway bridge, with the safety of the children and their carers often hazardous.'
Miller Homes said it altered the proposal in response to residents' comments. Sean Hedley, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said: 'The proposal underpins the applicant's commitment to delivering much-needed, quality homes in the county, providing other significant economic and social benefits directly to the residents of Coxhoe.'
Recommended reading:
Future of County Durham solar farm proposal to be decided at appeal amid concerns
Public asked to share views on Reform's 5 key priorities in County Durham
New rules to curb increase in County Durham HMOs and balance communities
But the local concerns were supported by committee member Cllr Mark Wilkes, who said: 'It's very clear to me that the area is not safe for a load of kids, and potentially nursery children, to be walking across a bus gate with no proper crossing points.
'I envisage that the entrance site will be carnage. You will have huge vehicles driving in and out of an active site for building houses.'
Members agreed to defer a final decision until further information was provided on highways and school issues, as well as the financial contribution from the applicant.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Should Barlinnie become a listed? Most responders had the same thing to say
Hundreds of people responded to the consultation to have Barlinnie listed. The consultation on the proposal has ended with nearly 80% of the 225 responders saying they strongly agreed the prison should become A-listed. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) launched the bid in December last year to preserve parts of the Victorian building with potential plans to create a museum or tourist attraction. Should Barlinnie become a listed building? Glasgow responds (Image: Newsquest) Dara Parsons, head of designations at HES, said at the time: "Listing is a way of ensuring that the importance of Scotland's most historically, culturally and architecturally significant buildings is taken into account in decisions about their future." An overwhelming majority of the responses were in favour of the proposal, mostly citing how integral the jail is to Glasgow. David Docherty said: "The site of Barlinnie plays an important part in Glasgow and its history. The buildings should be protected as they are of a high standard of workmanship from a very long time ago. "I am a stonemason and I appreciate the work that these men gave. It speaks volumes that they still stand the test of time and are still used today." Dr Edward Stewart added: "I think Barlinnie represents an important monument in Glasgow's social history, representing both the city's at times infamous connection to criminal gangs which formed an important aspect of youth culture both in the 1930s, and 60-90s. "Many Glaswegians will have connections to this monument as a notorious prison looming over the east end of the city used to warn children of the dangers of Ill behaviour and a smaller number will have experienced the prison as inmates or visitors (as I have)." Andrew Kelly responded: "Barlinnie is an iconic building for Glasgow and recognised Scotland-wide, we need to retain the buildings considered for listing. "There is much potential to create an experience unique to Scotland, which could incorporate museums, hostels, workspaces, studios, film and TV sets." (Image: Colin Mearns) READ NEXT: Consultation launched on whether to list Glasgow's Barlinnie Update on Barlinnie prison's potential listed status However, 39 people strongly disagreed with the bid. Allan Munro said: "Knock it down. What else are we going to do with a knackered old prison? Listing the building will just create an expensive albatross around society's neck." Others also called it a waste of money and said housing should be built on the empty land instead. Amongst them was the Scottish Prison Service, who argued the listing "would seriously restrict any future use of the site of HMP Barlinnie and limit the positive legacy the regeneration of the site could have for the local community and the city". Glasgow City Council said: "While the site is of architectural, social and historic interest, the Council questions whether Category A listing of the stated extent of buildings and structures is proportionate, particularly when balanced against the practical implications for redevelopment and reuse of the site."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Orkney farmer plans trailer abattoir to end lengthy trips
An Orkney farmer is part-funding her own abattoir so her rare breed Boreray sheep no longer have to be taken on a seven-hour trip to the mainland for slaughter. The islands have been without a slaughter house since 2018 but Jane Cooper says she hopes to have her Tiny Trailer Abattoir - the first of its kind in the UK - by next year. It will fit on two trailers - one for the humane slaughter of the sheep and the second to store and chill up to 20 carcasses. The trailer system can be operated by one slaughterman. It will be able to move between farms around the islands, but each place it operates will have to comply with all regulations and be licensed separately as if it was a fixed abattoir. Scottish island abattoirs are now able to use local vets to fulfil the role of official veterinarian supervising the process. Rural abattoirs across the UK are shutting down at an alarming rate. According to industry reports, more than a third have closed in the past two decades due to high running costs, retaining skilled staff and increased regulation. Ms Cooper said the ability to slaughter sheep on her own farm would greatly improve animal welfare standards. "At the moment, I have to transport the animals on a ferry and then drive them to Dingwall," she said. "It's a seven-hour trip. I'd rather walk them a few steps from the field and into a trailer." She added that her system would produce almost no waste. "We will be able to use many more byproducts than just the skins and horns that we collect from the abattoir in Dingwall," she said. She is funding up to half the £150,000 herself, with the rest coming from another cooperative. She expects the trailers will be on her farm by springtime next year. Ms Cooper has been farming her distinctive sheep on the Orkney mainland since 2013. The animals are descendants of native sheep from Boreray island in St Kilda. In 2017, they were registered as a distinctive breed in their own right. Several flocks are now established in Orkney which work together through the Orkney Boreray Co-op Ltd. The Tiny Trailer Abattoir will be owned, operated and hired out by the Co-op on a not-for-profit basis. More stories from North East Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Listen to news from Orkney on BBC Sounds Ms Cooper said the design was a new concept in the UK but she was confident it would be a success. "The butchers we already supply are confident their customers will be more than happy to pay an extra premium for our mutton once the sheep are slaughtered on our farm," she said. "We are transitioning our farm business here at Burnside from mostly breeding to bringing in and finishing Orkney Boreray sheep bred and reared by other members of the Co-op."
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Couple caught in YEAR-long mice row 'need to pay thousands' to remove rodents
A couple caught in a row over a mice infestation for over a YEAR say they will have to pay 'thousands' to remove the rodents. The Whalley Range homeowners live next to a house owned by One Manchester, which has been subdivided into flats. Renovations to two of the three flats disturbed a mice's nest in the wall the two buildings share last summer, according to dad-of-three Sham. The infestation was so severe it affected Sham's son, Adam, in his A-level studies. READ MORE: England Euros star fined by Manchester court hours after trophy parade READ MORE: Storm Floris to batter UK with Greater Manchester hit by 24-hour Met Office weather warning 'It was disturbing for my son trying to get his head down,' said Adam's mum and Sham's wife, who asked to stay anonymous. 'It is distressing for him. The mice were eating from next door and working their way under the floorboards. It's disgusting. How is he supposed to study like that?' Sham has shared images of mice he caught beneath floorboards in Adam's bedroom, with 'sticky mats' catching 'three mice per week' at the height of the problem. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here Sham added: 'We ripped up some of his floorboards on one sticky mat. There were four mice dead, and one had decayed so much there was just bones left. The stench…' The couple contacted One Manchester last summer to remedy the issue. Despite frequent contact between the housing association and homeowners, surveyor reports, and smaller fixes, neither side can agree how to fix the issue. The Local Democracy Reporting Service has seen one report, carried out by Manchester council's pest control team, in which a surveyor said: 'I suspect that due to the wiring and piping within the One Manchester block [mice are] maybe migrating easier to the customers house as a result.' However, the report does not definitely identify the source of the infestation. One Manchester said it carried out the recommendations, paying for the homeowners' work too. However, the couple say to truly eradicate the pests, they need to find 'thousands'. 'Pest control said we need to find every entry point so you need to rip up every floorboard touching the neighbouring property, find the holes, and fill them up with cement,' Sham added. 'That would cost thousands of thousands of pounds to do.' It also appears the rodents are now solely in Sham's home. A spokesperson for One Manchester said: "While there's currently no evidence that any infestation originates from one of our homes, we took proactive steps to instruct Manchester City Council to carry out a thorough inspection in the affected home and our adjoining homes. 'This included funding an inspection for the private home and promptly completing all recommendations in the inspection reports. We recognise the impact pest issues can have on residents and the wider community and are committed to working in partnership with our customers, partners, and neighbouring properties to resolve these issues, responding quickly to any concerns within our responsibility."
