Debbie Maben opening the carnival

Jazz Band Parade

      After a evening of family fun, dancing the night away Sarah Goodfellow saw off the competition to be crowned West Auckland carnival queen 2002. Her Matron will be Stacy Bradwell, followed by the three princesses Chantelle Cliffe, Shelby Cliffe and Laura Wright and not to mention the carnival prince Kieran Mcgee.

  Don't forget forthcoming attractions

1. Darts marathon comprising of 8 players at the Queens Head on August 1st 7pm - 01:00am.  

2. Stars in your eyes, organised by the football club to be held at W/Auck WMC on Sunday August 4th between 2pm - 7pm. Enter on the day, but be dressed up as your star. Only £1 Entry.

     The West Auckland Village partnership is restoring a West Auckland tradition " The West Auckland Carnival" after many years of absence it will return this year on Monday 26th of August starting on the village green at 1 pm.  For further details about our fundraising efforts and carnival attractions click the above carnival link.

Family Fun Disco- Monday 22 July West Auckland WMC

Carnival queen to be judged and chosen on Monday 22 July at West Auckland WMC, during the Family Fun Disco 7 PM - 10 PM. Judging will take place on the evening for the carnival celebrities. Make sure you fill in your slip and get your number on the night.£1 entry or £3 max per family, all proceeds to carnival funds 

• One Carnival Queen and one Matron, One Carnival Princess under and One Carnival Prince

Parish council one step closer.

   A petition signed by 13 percent of West Aucklands population has been handed in to Wear Valley Council with the aim of setting up our own Parish Council.  The proposal will be put out to consultation and people will be given the opportunity to comment or object before it goes to the relevant government department for consideration. It is hoped that it could be set up by May next year with 12 councilors having more of a say in the future of West Auckland   

   A public meeting has been called next Wednesday (20th, Feb) at the Memorial hall at 7pm to allow villages a chance to ask questions and an opportunity to sign a petition which will be submitted to Wear Valley Council with the aim of setting up a parish council.  The petition states: " West Auckland has a long history being noted in the Bolden Book 1183 and has been developed around the largest green in England. It is a conservation area that enjoys many local facilities, two schools, a Methodist church and memorial hall together with over 35 other businesses and commercial establishments, we feel that we should have more say over our affairs than we do under our present administrative structure based at Crook".   There are approx 1,200 householders in West Auckland and some 3000 people, 10% or no less than 250 of the electorate must sign this petition if not then we do not deserve our own council. Collection boxes for the petition forms are located at the post office, the save store, and the late shopper until February the 28th.

 

25/06/02 West Auckland Flood Defense Scheme update. Work for the construction of the dam to be built in spring gardens will start in September. It will consist of a 15 meter earth dam, 250 meters wide. more

11.05.02 - West Auckland Bypass.

Residents in West Auckland and St Helens should have received Durham County Councils public information leaflet no. 1 regarding the bypass scheme. the leaflet gives info about the plan and details of an exhibition to get your questions answered.  Also inside the leaflet is a questionnaire to get feedback on your thoughts. Full Text Click Here

13/04/02  Parish council one step closer.

A petition signed by 13 percent of West Aucklands population has been handed in to Wear Valley Council with the aim of setting up our own Parish Council.  The proposal will be put out to consultation and people will be given the opportunity to comment or object before it goes to the relevant government department for consideration. It is hoped that it could be set up by May next year with 12 councilors having more of a say in the future of West Auckland  

14/02/02  Campaign for a Parish Council.

A public meeting has been called next Wednesday (20th, Feb) at the Memorial hall at 7pm to allow villages a chance to ask questions and an opportunity to sign a petition which will be submitted to Wear Valley Council with the aim of setting up a parish council.  The petition states: " West Auckland has a long history being noted in the Bolden Book 1183 and has been developed around the largest green in England. It is a conservation area that enjoys many local facilities, two schools, a Methodist church and memorial hall together with over 35 other businesses and commercial establishments, we feel that we should have more say over our affairs than we do under our present administrative structure based at Crook".   There are approx 1,200 householders in West Auckland and some 3000 people, 10% or no less than 250 of the electorate must sign this petition if not then we do not deserve our own council. Collection boxes for the petition forms are located at the post office, the save store, and the late shopper until February the 28th.    

24/01/02  Drive Inn Motel Burns Down.

On Thursday the 24th of January the former Drive Inn Motel in St Helen Auckland caught fire. The main area of damage was in the former Jousters restaurant end, gutting both floors. Police and Fire Brigade suspect arson. 

24/09/2001  

Tintern road on the Leazers Council Estate in St Helen Auckland has finally been wiped off the map,   It is part of the councils master plan to improve the area. The estate has 221 houses on it of which one third stand empty had been a problem for the last few years with drugs, crime and anti social behaviour leaving remaining residents in fear to venture out.

24/09/01 UPDATED 

 1. Environmental Agency- West Auckland Flood Defences update no. 5 click here
 2. More photos and new look to virtual tour page click here
 3. Have your Vote using West Auckland Webs Ballot Box Below Right

17/08/01 Planning Application deferred until after Site Visit. 

There was a good turn out to the planning application meeting at the Wear Valley Council Offices where residents are fighting to block , permission for loading bays and a  turning point in the hope of stopping HDV Food Ltd opening a meat processing plant on the Aptec industrial estate.

It was Mr. Hutchinson former postmaster and magistrate who presented the case on behalf of the  residents to reject the application followed by Councilor John Ferguson. During the representation photos were distributed of the companies current manufacturing area with a skip full of bones and meat which was stood outside on the companies forecourt.  Mr. Speed when pressed by residents has spoke of nothing but contempt to residents and the council, stating that he can do whatever he wants with with the units in the industrial park and nothing the residents or the council can do anything about it. He also said that he would also not like to live near anywhere near a meat processing plant himself and he is going to West Auckland because the units are cheap.

The planning committee are now destined to make a site visit and then conduct another meeting to decide whether permission should be granted or declined, however this meeting will  be done in private and nobody can represent the residents. Wear Valley Council claim it is the rules (anything that has to be decided upon in privacy only creates suspicion .) 

10/07/01 - anger at public meeting

 A heated public meeting took place on Wednesday 18/07/01 at the West Auckland Memorial hall over the plans for Meat Processing Plant applied for by HDV Food Limited currently of Chilton.  At the forefront of the debate were the environmental issues, of pollution, noise, and traffic.  Just under a 90 residents attended.  

It is speculated that a  large number of 32 tonne articulated lorries would be arriving from all over Europe from 5am in the morning till 10 pm at night using all 4 major routes into West Auckland adding to an already congested road system.  These times may be expanded to 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Whilst the parked  lorries emit an unacceptable amount of noise due to the refrigeration units they carry.  The wagons transport raw meat from all over the world.  De-boning will then be carried out at the factory where the meat will then be processed for delivery to various places.

 Other sources of noise pollution will come from refrigerated units parked outside the factory; it is believed initially there will be five diesel engines units driving the temperature-controlled compressors.    

For anyone interested in statistics a page has been developed on the subject of population in West Auckland and St Helen Auckland based on the 1991 census and adjusted in accordance to recorded deaths and births up to 1997 Click on the bar chart to view.

01/06/01 - Slow Progress being made at Tintern Road

Tintern road on the Leazers Council Estate in St Helen Auckland, is finally being knocked down.  It is part of the councils master plan to improve the area. The estate has 221 houses on it of which one third stand empty had been a problem for the last few years with drugs, crime and anti social behaviour leaving remaining residents in fear to venture out.

10/07/01 - West Auckland History Walk. 

 A tour of the historic buildings around the village green will take place on Tuesday 17/07/01 guided by Mr. Martin Roberts.  Meet at the Village Center at 19:30

 01/06/01 - Village center now open.

 Current times are between 02:00pm till 16:00 pm on Fridays and 10:00 am till 12:00 noon Saturdays.   

Facts about Mary Anne Cotton  Tuesday 12 June 07:30 pm

Local History Group 07:30 Tuesday 05 June

19/05/01 - West Auckland lad victim of road rage                   

In the early hours of Wednesday, at 12:45am a 26 year old man from West Auckland became the victim of a road rage attack, on the A68 between Toytop Farm and Sunnydale Farm. The assailant believed to be a man in his mid thirties, white with a stocky build, short dark hair, with 2 or three hooped earrings in each ear drove a small whitish Peugeot style vehicle. He overtook the victim on a dangerous bend in the road, the victim then flashed his lights at him in anger due to this dangerous maneuver.  The assailant then  slowed down and pull his car up across the road to prevent the victim from passing. Both men got out their cars, only the assailant clutched  a four inch knife and started beating and slashing the victim leaving him with cuts and bruises. anybody knows anything about the incident phone Darlington Police on 01325 467681.         

11/04/01 -   Environmental Agency Flood Defence Update NO. 4

Information about the initial findings of the impact of several types of flood defences for West Auckland. Click Here

11/04/01 - Village Center Due to Open- soon

Volunteers are needed to help run a village drop in centre which will be based at the old library on Front St, West Auckland, The drop in centre will be open for a trial period until September. It will hopefully open its doors on Saturday 28th April between 10:00 am and  4:00pm, however there still is some work on refurbishment to do. If anyone would like to volunteer please email me and I will put you in contact with the steering committee. More

09/4.01 - Three Cheers to Red Marauder

Congratulations to Red Marauder (from Brancepeth) for winning the Grand National and bringing a second winning horse back to the North East. The First of course  was Red Alligator owned by a butcher Jack Manners and trained by Denys Smith of Bishop Auckland who in 1968 romped home with a twenty length lead. Former West Auckland Farmer and Jockey Brian Fletcher Rode Red Alligator back in 1968 and then Red Rum in 1973 and 1974.  Brian Left West Auckland approximately  five years ago and is now believed to be farming in Wales. 

09/4/01 -  Store staff threatened during raid

Staff at the Central store Evenwood were threatened with baseball bats during a raid which the thieves stole the the till and headed towards Ramshaw and then towards the outskirts of St Helen Auckland where the car was dumped and the robbers ran off towards the main housing estate. Police believe the Vauxhall nova was stolen from Sunlight Services car park at 16:20 on Friday 6/04/01 before robbing the store at 18:00.

9/4/2001 - House Fire -rescue attempt failed

On Friday the 6th April fire swept through well known Jean Nicholson`s, Bungalow, Neighbors and a Passerby gallantly attempted to break in but without success.  She was brought out by firemen and given ambulance aid by the paramedics and taken to Bishop Auckland hospital where she was transferred to the RVI in Newcastle suffering form extensive burns and smoke inhalation. She sadly died on Saturday Evening.  The fire was thought to be caused by bed linen catching fire whilst smoking in bed. 

16/03/2001 -  20 Jobs to Go

Following a review, Helmsman Cubical Systems parent company WB Bawn-Bawn operations have decided after staff consultation to close the West Auckland plant.  Ten Jobs will be redundant and the remaining ten will transfer to  the plant at  Bury St Edmunds. 

20/03/2001 - Foot and Mouth Cases within 10 Mile Radius of West Auckland

Since the first known case on  February 20th,  there are cases in County Durham,  many within 10 miles of West Auckland. West Auckland Web are in Support of the Farmers and therefore urge the local population and visitors to adhere to the advice of  Wear Valley Council and Ministry of Agriculture.   

http://www.wearvalley.gov.uk/news/article.asp?ID=114 

  Ministry of Agriculture Fishery and Foods  

Frequently asked Questions click here.    

9/03/01 -  Flood Defense Update

The photos  below clearly show and demonstrate that people in West Auckland can sleep in their beds safe and sound armed with the knowledge that the River Gaunless shouldn't strike again (we Hope). Photos taken in December when river levels were high. Left photo taken at the bridge near the Manor House, middle - looking down onto the Nursery, right on the bridge near the Nursery. . 

8/01/01                            Hope for new Village Center

Hopes to convert the old library into a village center became a step closer yesterday, with the help of  a grant, (£5000), which came from the Millennium Festival Organization.  A steering group has now been set up to help get the project off the ground and convert the currently boarded up library into an attractive drop in center..  more

08/01/01                       West Auckland Post Office Robbed

On Friday the 5th of January the West Auckland Post Office above Oakley Green was robbed at 17:15 by three men, they escaped with an undisclosed amount of money after threatening three staff . This is the 8th raid on post offices in the region over Christmas and new year. 

01/01/01                       West Auckland Web Goes Mobile

   West Auckland Web is now available on the Mobile Internet. Point your WAP enabled mobile phone browser to http://www.tagtag.com/westaucklandweb   If you don`t have an Internet Mobile Phone then look further down this page and click on an Internet Mobile Phone Emulator (one of the three links below the other phone picture).   

23/12/00                                 Spot your house

     Follow the links below and see if you can spot your own home. Photographs were taken by www.getmapping.com, they hope to have an aerial view of the whole of Britain by the end of the year.

Temporary Flood Defences

Most of the folk from West,  will have noticed by now  flood defences being built this takes the form of a large embankment running from the just below the bridge at Spring Gardens along the course of the river down to the behind the Manor House. Flood walls are also protecting the nursery, further down stream. It is believed that these defences are not the long term solution  (but are costing just as much) a decision will be taken at a later date once the results of the feasibility studies are complete.  The dyke behind the wall (see picture below), has also been cleared by the owner of the land.  (Environmental Agency Newsletter) 

8/11/00              Severe Flood Alert on the River Gaunless 

Since October 31 Britain has been hit by heavy rainfall causing extensive flooding throughout the country. In over a week the river Gaunless has been placed on severe flood alert by the Environmental Agency approximately  4 times,  Monday 31st October, Thursday 2nd November and Sunday 5th November through to 7 November. Each time the river peaked only a foot and a half lower  from previous river levels  in June.  However this time the authorities were better prepared, handing out sandbags to place against doorways and building blockades to prevent water from flooding  the Nursery. The Blockade across A68 at Toadpool was being controlled by the environmental agency by allowing an orderly amount of water into the drainage system. Nevertheless it is believed that extensive flooding was prevented only by mother nature itself  by peaking below the levels recorded back in June.

Worried About flooding in your area contact 0845 988 1188 - Flood watch information.

Water spilling from the fields onto the A68 near Toadpool

Fire brigade pumping the field water out 

Glenton Hall Flooded Again (Hummerbeck)

Oakley Beck threatening Monteith Close once again

31/10/00                               Tintern road to be Demolished

Over the last eight months Wear Valley District Council and Market Research UK, undertook a study of the views of residence in the St Helens Ward, The results of these were presented at a public meeting held at the local primary school.   The Key problems identified were poor housing, environmental conditions and high crime level, it is believed to be caused by lack of investment by the council, poor policing and a lack of community involvement culture.  The effects this had on the area were migration of residence, surplus housing and a social stigma attached to the area.  The Councils aim from this point forward is to create a Master Plan which is a strategy drawn up by a project team consisting local councillors,  school representatives, police, residents association, a number of residents and other  officials from  various disciplines.  Once this plan is drawn up the council then have a much clearer argument to gain funding to action the proposals for the redevelopment of St Helens.  As a short term measure a proposal was made at the meeting to start the demolition of Tintern Road this was accepted by the majority, although it was stated that there are still 15 houses occupied and would need to be re-housed.    

Proposals from the Environmental Agency

 A follow up meeting to place in the beginning of October at the St Helens School to unveil possibilities that will hopefully prevent a re-occurrence of the June floods .  The Environmental Agency stated that new monitoring systems were in place at Copley and Lowlands, these would give only an hour warning for those who have signed up to the telephone warning system.  River Gaunless is at the moment been cleared of rubbish and in areas dredged. The options available to the Environmental agency are.

• Three Flood Storage Reservoirs- Lowlands, Spring Gardens and Fylands- Spring gardens being largest

• Flood Defences - 1.5 Meter embankment following course of rivers flood plain.

• Alterations to River Channel- Dredge the river so it is deeper and wider.

• Relief Culvert - Water will be diverted away from the South Church River Loop. 

• Each option will cost somewhere in the region of 1.5 Million pounds work will be completed by the  Babtie Group.
  

06/10/00   Crowds Gather to Watch Bungee Jumpers  

On Tuesday the 26th September crowds gathered to watch local residents hurl themselves from a 200ft crane and plummet to the ground on the end of a bungee.  The event organised by Mark Row owner of the new Jousters Restaurant in the grounds of the old drive in motel in St Helens Auckland. Some of the jumpers raised funds for their charities while others jumped for FUN?  For Pics and Full Story Click Here. 

30/09/00          Plans to Demolish Homes

The Leazes Lane Council Estate in St Helen Auckland, has been given the go ahead for a  partial demolishment, in a bid to clean up the area.  The estate of 221 houses of which over a third are lying empty, had been a problem for the last few years with drugs, crime and anti social behaviour leaving remaining residents in fear to venture out.  It hasn't been decided which and how many houses will go until local residents have had their say..  

30/09/00        Safety Measures Demanded By Councillors

The River Gaunless is at the center of another row. The river bank behind Front Street in West Auckland, which was partially eroded in recent floods has prompted Councillors to demand action to improve the safety of that stretch after a seven year old boy fell in and could not climb back out he was rescued by a passerby who heard his cries for help.  Fortunately the boy only suffered cuts and bruises. 

15/9/00         Woman Stole Pensioners Cash

Police are searching for a women who tricked her way into an elderly residents home in St Helen Auckland, where she stole money, police added that this woman also targeted other properties in the area and are warning people to be cautious about who they let into their homes.  Police issued this photofit  of a woman who tricked the pensioner. Any information contact Bishop Auckland Police.

30/08/00     Council Tenants Go Home

Wear valley district council have promised that all the houses in West Auckland that were flooded in  June  will be completed before Christmas this year, allowing the residents back home, who are currently living with relatives or in temporary accommodation. 

20/08/00         Asda gets go ahead

   Supermarket chain ASDA have been given the go ahead to build their supermarket on the Wilson Forge Site in South Church Bishop Auckland.  ASDA needed planning permission from central government because they were slightly outside of the inner town center development area. ASDA stress that the towns Newgate Center will not go to rack and ruin as they also have plans to develop it

07/08/00      Call For Help For Deprived Council Estate

   Wear Valley and County Councillor Mr. Sonny Douthwaite has spoken out in a desperate plea to get action he says that the Leases Estate in St Helen Auckland is going from bad to worse.  With more than 20% of the homes empty and boarded up.  People living  on the estate are afraid to go out and feel like prisoners in their own homes.  Mr. Douthwaite added that the only thing that can solve this problem is to pull it down of have it completely refurbished. Council Leader Olive Brown said they are in the process of submitting a bid for government cash to improve the estate.  

02/08/00     Agriculture Minister Demands Investigation

     A Presentation  featuring, residents views, video and photographic footage of South Church and West Auckland was presented to the Agriculture Minister Elliot Morley which after learning of the devastation prompted him to call an emergency investigation.  The Environmental Agency claims flood warning systems will be in place by September and Follow up meetings will occur in October.  

 People of West Auckland Have their Say                    

     An Open Forum Meeting took place at the St Helen Auckland Junior And Infant School on Tuesday the 4th of July organised by the Environmental Agency. It was to explain the events leading up to and on the 4th of June with regard to the Floods that occurred and also to gain more information and feedback from residents. 

Saturday the 3rd of June there had been torrential rain in County Durham in fact three inches the equivalent to one months normal rainfall. Heavy rain the previous week meant that the ground was already waterlogged causing the rain to drain into the River Gaunless quickly and could not cope with 70 tonnes a second and burst its banks flooding 133 houses in West and 194 in south Church ( the Actual figure is believed to be rising as more victims come forward.) The Oakley Beck also in West flooded an additional 33 homes. This flooding was worse than those of 1924 and 1979 where the river rose 10 feet above normal.

 Some of the residents who attended the meeting informed West Auckland Web that they are presently moving around and staying with different friends and relatives each week whilst the the council work on repairing the damage to homes. whilst other are forced to live upstairs converting children's bedrooms  into makeshift kitchens and using the parents room as Living/Dining/ Bedroom rolled into one. 
    Questions posed by the residents were- why wasn't an early warning given? Are their any lakes or reservoirs upstream (it is believed that the open cast mining sites have water catchment areas, so is it possible that these may have burst?)  Did the water become contaminated by the Butterknowle  Sewerage Works? Why haven't the rivers been dredged for so long. (one lady river bank owner claimed that the river bed has risen 2 foot in the last 15 years.)  What about the theory that when the land that was used for open casting  initially the land  had say for example 10 foot of top soil which absorbed lots of water and when the mining was finished they only replaced two foot of top soil back which meant it would not absorb so much therefore running off into the rivers much quicker.

     The Environmental agencies suggestions for the way forward- to install a flood warning system before winter, this would involve a telephone warning system and or perhaps a warning siren which may be more effective due to the fact that the river can rise more than 3 feet in one hour and finally a feasibility study will be done for proposed flood walls.  More Details on the Flood Web Page

15/06/00            West Auckland Left out. Locals of  West Auckland are upset at being left out of the District Council  and English Tourist Council official Mini-Guide despite their links with a prolific female murderer who killed up to 20 people including her own children, to put them on the map.
A grisly memorial to the hanged 19 century killer Mary Anne Cotton or a replica of the worlds first metal railway bridge designed by George Stephenson are being considered as attractions by the people of west to help them on the wear valley tourist trail.