Latest news with #DarlingtonBoroughCouncil
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Signs ahead of Darlington pigeon feeding ban
Signs have been put up around a town centre warning people not to feed pigeons, ahead of new Borough Council is set to release an updated version of its Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) following health and safety concerns from residents and opposing the council's plans to ban bird feeding in the town centre have said the pigeons should be "embraced".Several people commenting on the issue called on the Labour-led council to create a designated bird feeding zone. "Birds have never been an issue and should not be included in this," one person said. "Pigeons are the descendants of birds we bred and used. They were vital during the world wars. We domesticated them and we have a responsibility to continue to care for them."They said pigeons brought "a sense of life to the town centre" and without them "the streets will start to feel lifeless and cold". "Please remove the signs and consider embracing our pigeon population," the respondee disputed whether feeding the birds was a widespread issue or constituted a criminal offence, the Local Democracy Reporting Service another response, published by the council, read: "Pigeon feeding could easily have designated zones so that the birds are all over town. Stopping people feeding will mean more begging behaviour, and birds will go into shops to look for food."Despite the opposition to the proposal, 56 people supported the local authority's plans to ban bird feeding compared to 28 updated PSPO is set to be approved by councillors on 10 June and includes stricter measures on anti-social behaviour and officials have also vowed to toughen their stance on the anti-social use of bicycles, scooters, skates and skateboards in the town centre. People using street furniture and steps to perform stunts and tricks have been blamed for causing damage and endangering public safety. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Council urged to stop 'uncontrolled transformation'
A petition is calling on a council to stop the "uncontrolled transformation" of a neighbourhood. Residents of Greenbank Road in Darlington want measures to be put in place to stop landlords turning properties into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). "Darlington Borough Council has lost control of the HMO situation in our neighbourhood," a letter to residents said. The authority said it was looking into measures it could implement to address the concerns. There are about 400 HMOs in Darlington, according to the council. HMOs are used by residents, often students or young professionals, who rent their bedrooms and share living facilities. Current rules mean that planning permission for an HMO is only needed when it will house more than five people. Specific measures – called an Article Four direction – can be implemented to require the landlord to seek permission for smaller HMOs. The Greenbank Road residents' petition said the council had "no way" of knowing how many houses had already been turned into HMOs and called for the Article Four direction to be made in their area. "[The council] cannot make reasonable planning decisions by assessing the impact of new, large HMOs on our local streets if they don't know the scale of the local problem," it said. A spokesman at Darlington Borough Council said HMOs provided "a valuable contribution to housing provision for people who could not access the housing market through home ownership or rental. They added: "We also recognise that a concentration of unregulated HMOs can cause issues for neighbouring residents." The authority said while its own policies provided guidance for considering applications for larger HMOs, it did not cover those with fewer than five occupants. "We have been working hard to look into measures, such as an Article Four direction, that can be introduced at the earliest opportunity to help control those smaller HMOs." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Council to demand planning permission for all HMOs HMO petition calls for council to extend curbs Darlington Borough Council
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Businesses react to parking charge increase
Business owners have warned increased parking charges could impact how long shoppers stay in a town centre. After free parking was scrapped in 2023, Darlington Borough Council is increasing fees again on Monday, raising the charge for a one-hour stay from £1 to £1.20. Store owner Karen Holmes said: "Rather than not come in at all, I think people are very wary of how much time they spend here, so that might affect it again." The Labour-led authority said it was aware of the concerns around the increase, but it was needed due to financial pressures. Ms Holmes, who runs Refrill Vintage on Bondgate, said: "It's only 20p at the end of the day, but if you want to stay all day, it's a pound." "If they made a couple of hours free, that would be great to bring people in," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. A £5 cap will be enforced in short stay car parks. In the council's long stay car parks, charges will also increase to £1.20 per hour for up to three hours, £5 per day, or £20 for a weekly ticket. Victoria Slack from the Emporium, on Grange Road, also warned that business owners relied on parking bays for accessibility. Ms Slack said: "If we park for a few hours a day to load stock into the shop, that is £3 and £60 a month to park in front of your own shop." Despite parking charges being reinforced and rising in recent years, Joseph Baggaley at Earth Warriors on Skinnergate said his business had not suffered. "After the charges came in last time, I saw a big increase in trade, and I've only ever seen an improvement," he said. Mr Baggaley said an increased turnover of cars would be beneficial as more people would find somewhere to park. He added: "It is unfortunate that the prices are rising, but the council has to raise money. It's a hard situation." The new fares are estimated to generate an additional £500,000 for the council. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. What are Darlington's new parking fares? Price hike for town centre car parks approved Darlington Borough Council
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Darlington businesses react to parking charge increase
Business owners have warned increased parking charges could impact how long shoppers stay in a town free parking was scrapped in 2023, Darlington Borough Council is increasing fees again on Monday, raising the charge for a one-hour stay from £1 to £1.20. Store owner Karen Holmes said: "Rather than not come in at all, I think people are very wary of how much time they spend here, so that might affect it again."The Labour-led authority said it was aware of the concerns around the increase, but it was needed due to financial pressures. Ms Holmes, who runs Refrill Vintage on Bondgate, said: "It's only 20p at the end of the day, but if you want to stay all day, it's a pound.""If they made a couple of hours free, that would be great to bring people in," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.A £5 cap will be enforced in short stay car parks. In the council's long stay car parks, charges will also increase to £1.20 per hour for up to three hours, £5 per day, or £20 for a weekly ticket. Victoria Slack from the Emporium, on Grange Road, also warned that business owners relied on parking bays for Slack said: "If we park for a few hours a day to load stock into the shop, that is £3 and £60 a month to park in front of your own shop." Despite parking charges being reinforced and rising in recent years, Joseph Baggaley at Earth Warriors on Skinnergate said his business had not suffered."After the charges came in last time, I saw a big increase in trade, and I've only ever seen an improvement," he Baggaley said an increased turnover of cars would be beneficial as more people would find somewhere to added: "It is unfortunate that the prices are rising, but the council has to raise money. It's a hard situation."The new fares are estimated to generate an additional £500,000 for the council. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Darlington Brick Train to be cleaned up after vandalism
A train sculpture which has become the target of vandals is to be Brick Train was unveiled in 1997 as a tribute to Darlington's proud railway heritage, but vandalism and fly-tipping has seen its condition town's Labour MP Lola McEvoy is working with Darlington Borough Council to improve the site, near Morton Park, after recent public concerns."To see it in such poor condition was heartbreaking – but I'm thrilled to see great progress now being made to restore it in time for such a significant moment in our town's history," the MP said. Renovation work to improve the Brick Train will take place over the summer in time for the 200th bicentenary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in September. Improvements include replacing missing bricks, reinstating fencing and signage, landscaping the surrounding area, and creating a long-term maintenance is hoped the latest round of works will help deter people from using the site as a dumping ground in the future, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Stories of pride Ms McEvoy said: "I was here at the opening when I was 10 years old, and it was a big deal then. "But if you're trying to find it as a tourist, you would struggle. We need to see more signage."It puts the area on the map and the town's railway heritage really matters. "This generation need stories of aspiration, hope, and pride of what we've done well in the past."Site managers Equation Properties and landowners BGO Logistics will also work with the council and MP to deliver the Libby McCollom, cabinet member for local services, said: "The Brick Train is a Darlington icon, and I'm proud of the collaborative effort that's gone into revitalising this site."With 2025 marking 200 years since the world's first passenger railway journey began here, it's only right that this sculpture stands proud once again – a testament to our past and a beacon for our future." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
