Review of the year: April-June

April

A GANG of up to 40 teenagers in Evenwood stirred up a flood of complaints to police.

Reports included the yobs taking hacksaws and axes to the village play area, abusing residents, climbing on properties and staring into people’s homes.

The problem was discussed by the parish council who said the problem area was Bank Top where the youngsters gather.

There were 21 complaints about the yobs in March.

Outdoor enthusiast Abi Atkinson, who runs the Kingsway Adventure Centre in Middleton-in-Teesdale, was one of 26 lucky explorers from 15 countries to be chosen to the Fjallraven Polar expedition.

The expedition included a week-long dog sled across 200 miles of the Arctic tundra.

She said: “It exceeded my expectations in every way. It was a lot more physical than thought it would be. We had some really full-on intense days.

“We learned so much there. It really tested your resilience and your capabilities. I came home buzzing.”

The final phase of Staindrop playground was completed to the delight of the village’s children.

The second phase included equipment for children up to the age of 12.

A parents group which was affiliated to the parish council spent several years raising money and planning the new playground to replace the one that had to be closed because of vandalism.

A new maypole was put up in Ovington ahead of the village's annual May Day celebration. The event was cancelled in 2016 after the previous Grade II listed structure was blown down in a storm.




May

THE Labour Party lost 20 seats in the local elections, but maintained their County Durham majority. The Conservative Party strengthened their grip on Teesdale increasing from four to five county councillors for the area.

Labour’s Andy Turner lost his Evenwood seat to the Conservatives’ Stephen Hugill. Labour’s Heather Smith was re-elected.

Plans were announced to convert the old Field Studies Centre in Middleton-in-Teesdale into a retail and business park.

The building had stood empty since the county council closed it in 2013.

Evenwood enjoyed a major spruce up after the county council launched a “deep clean” of the village.

This involved sweeping, clearing and edging with weeds and chewing gum being removed and jet washed out.

The areas targeted included Swan Street, Jubilee Terrace, Raby Street, Evenwood Lane, Chapel Street and Copeland Lane.

Bollards, railings, tubs and benches were cleaned and painted, and channels and gullies were cleared.

Old bins were replaced, weeds removed from green spaces, shrub beds taken out, pruned and replanted, and street markings renewed.

A new brewery in Evenwood began producing its first beers. Experienced brewer Danny McColl, from Middleton-in-Teesdale is producing a golden ale, a best bitter, a pale ale and an IPA. He hopes to supply most pubs in Teesdale.




June

WYCLIFFE Church’s congregation celebrated after their medieval stained glass windows were fully restored.

The windows were on the way to disintegration after years of moisture and lichen had taken their toll.

A combination of grants and fundraising ensured that the seven month restoration programme by expert Jonathan Cooke could go ahead.

A new emergency service “quad hub” opened in Barnard Castle, the first of its kind in the country.

The centre, in Wilson Street, now houses the town’s police, fire crew, ambulance service and fell rescue team under one roof.

Inspector Kevin Tuck said: For me it gives the force the opportunity to release the asset of the old police station – it was a sizeable site with trees and grass which had to be maintained. Now we are in a modern energy efficient building. “It safeguards neighbourhood policing for the next 50 years.”

Teesdale MP Helen Goodman held on to her parliamentary seat during the national election. The labour candidate beat Conservative challenger Christopher Adams by 502 votes to return to the seat she has held for the past 12 years.