Cllr Lyndsey Fox - Bishop Auckland Division

19/08/2025

🚨Did anyone see anything yesterday evening in relation to a break in at ASNA groceries (the yellow one on the right?) 🚨

I know there were plenty of people out in the street yesterday after 8pm due to the amount of people who came out to film another incident I had reported to the police and this crime took place at 9pm the report says.

Police are appealing for information following a burglary at a premises on Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland.

The incident occurred shortly after 9pm on Thursday (August 14) at ASNA groceries.

The two suspects are believed to be men; one is believed to have been wearing a grey hoodie and one wearing a red top.

A quantity of cash was taken along with the till.

Officers are now keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or with information.

Please contact Bishop Auckland response on 101 quoting reference CRI00631348 or email [email protected]

18/08/2025

If you’ve been affected by the power cut in the town, or if you have an issue like the Tower is having this evening, then make sure you report it to Northern Power Grid. We’ve reported the market place but not sure who else is affected in the town.

15/08/2025

A beautiful ceremony this morning at the war memorial in town to celebrate 80 years since VJ Day.

I was so proud of our veterans for their dedication and our community who turned out and paid witness to the ceremony.

The service in St Anne’s was incredibly poignant with the Major reading some of the history and context around the date and with highlights from the significant speeches being read.

As always at these events I found myself wishing I’d packed tissues as I always find reflecting upon the sacrifices of our veterans and what they went through to be something that ends with more than a few tears, they truly gave their future for our today.

The whole event was followed by a group of veterans marching down Fore Bondgate to the Bay Horse.

A huge well done to Zara and the shop owners along the street for decorating their shops for VJ Day. It really showcased the community spirit to all who came down today.

15/08/2025

🚧 Temporary Road Closure – Albert Hill / Rear Cockton Hill Road 🚧

From Thursday 21 August 2025, a short section of Albert Hill (north from Albion Terrace) will be closed to vehicles for around 2 days to allow for renewal works on a leaking water pipe.

Diversion route: via Albion Terrace and Albert Hill.
Thank you for your patience while this essential work is completed.

15/08/2025

12/08/2025

🚧 Temporary Road Closure – Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland 🚧

From Wednesday 13 August 2025, a section of Woodhouse Lane (west from Lambton Drive) will be closed to vehicles for up to 3 days between 7 AM and 7 PM each day.

This is to allow essential traffic signal refurbishment works to take place.

Diversion route: via Etherley Lane and Lambton Drive.
Thank you for your patience while these works are carried out.

08/08/2025

Have your say on our plan to impose article 4 directions for HMO’s county wide.

Residents are invited to have their say on proposals to control the number of new Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) across County Durham.

We are proposing to introduce a countywide Article 4 Direction for HMOs, from August next year.

This would mean that all new HMOs would require planning approval, not just larger developments as is currently the case.
Cabinet has already agreed the measure in principle, with residents now being asked to give their views on the plan.

Cllr Lyndsey Fox, Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We understand that an overconcentration of HMOs can have a negative effect on communities. Residents have already expressed concerns around the impact these properties can have on their neighbourhoods.

“Often, this is because of issues such as increased noise, parking, waste disposal and the general appearance of properties, though they can also have more long-term implications, for example, through the loss of family housing.

“As it stands, an HMO for six people or under does not require planning permission, so we often do not know about these until they are established.

“Following a steady increase in HMOs over the past few years, we believe the introduction of an Article 4 Direction is necessary to help to control the number of these properties and help us to maintain a better distribution of mixed and balanced communities across the county.

“We’d therefore encourage as many people as possible to have their say on the proposals and share their views over the coming weeks.”

Residents have until 26 September to have their say either online at www.letstalkcountydurham.co.uk or by picking up a paper copy of the consultation from any of our libraries.

02/08/2025

Food for thought for all those who are leaving our historical and cultural buildings to rot in conservation areas and failing to do repairs both across County Durham and Bishop Auckland.

The owner of a listed church in a conservation area has been hit with our highest ever financial penalty of almost £125,000 for continued failure to carry out repairs.

Purvis Construction NE Ltd – which owns grade two listed St Aidan’s Church at Blackhill – has been ordered to pay £124,800, after being taken to court a second time by us in relation to the condition of the now-closed property.

Magistrates heard the company has failed to start or complete any work to address the state of disrepair the church was found to be in, leading to an enforcement notice being served in November 2023.

This week, the court chose to impose a financial penalty of £500 for each day that has passed since the first prosecution – the maximum amount allowed.

Cllr Lyndsey Fox, our Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “St Aidan’s occupies a prime place in Blackhill and its listed status and the fact it is within the local conservation area add to its importance locally.

“Regrettably over time it has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair and that has upset a lot of people living in the area who regard the old church as an important part of their heritage.

“We share their concerns and that is why we served an enforcement notice compelling the owner to carry out work.

“More than a year and a half later and despite the company being ordered to pay £10,000 following our first prosecution, no work has been started or completed.

“We are really pleased that the court has taken this latest prosecution so seriously and has meted out what amounts to our highest ever financial penalty.

“We hope that penalty might serve as food for thought for any property owners who might not look after important heritage assets as well as they could.”

02/08/2025

A Bishop Auckland business has been closed after searches found more than 400 packets of illegal ci******es, which the owner claimed had been given to him by a stranger.

We executed search warrants at the business known as Newgate Market on Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland as well as an associated vehicle.

A total of 435 packets of illicit ci******es were found in the vehicle and seized, along with 86 pouches of hand rolling to***co.

The premises has been told to close for three months following our successful application at Peterlee Magistrates Court. The business owner, Mohammed Osman Ahmed, contested the order.

Owen Cleugh, our acting head of community protection services, said: "Supplying and selling illicit to***co is an offence and we will not tolerate it. These products can be dangerous to residents and often do not contain the required health warnings.
"We hope this closure order demonstrates how seriously we take these offences and serves as a warning that we will take action whenever we can to stop this illegal activity.”

Ahmed, aged 30 of Brunswick Street, Wakefield, claimed in court that he was approached by a man who gave him the ci******es and then put them in the defendant's car. He argued that his business was legitimate and finished by saying he was sorry for doing anything wrong.

During proceedings £1,384 in costs were awarded by the court against the defendant.