Road Safetly Campaign – The Village Gateway Project

Published April 11, 2013

Drivers are being reminded that they need to slow down as part of a road safety campaign involving local residents.

 

People living in Castleside, Lanchester, Maiden Law, Ushaw Moor, Satley, Burnhope, Esh Winning and New Brancepeth are helping to design and promote road safety schemes in their villages.

 

Measures including road markings, signs, speed visors and fencing have been installed, or are being considered, on roads at the entrances to the communities as part of a project being led by Mid Durham Area Action Partnership.

 

Andy Coulthard, co-ordinator of the AAP, said: “The ‘village gateway’ project was set up after the issue of road safety was raised as one of the top three community concerns by residents in the AAP area.”

 

The measures will be monitored for a year to establish their impact on the speed of traffic.

 

To support the scheme a promotional campaign, involving local people, has been launched in partnership with Get Carter Productions.

 

Residents from the areas and students from St Bede’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College are starring in a radio advertising campaign running until June 8 with the key message being the importance of sticking to the correct speed limit.

 

Adverts will also appear on buses travelling on 40 routes in the AAP area between April 15 and June 15, reminding drivers that there are pedestrians and children playing in the village communities.

 

Alan Kennedy, road safety manager at Durham County Council, said: “This campaign is designed to ensure drivers stick to the speed limit to help keep themselves, other road users and pedestrians safe.”

via Press release.

National Success for Next Generation of Gymnasts – Deerness Gymnastics Academy

24 gymnasts from Deerness Gymnastics Academy represented the region last weekend at the NDP British Acrobatic Gymnastic Finals, with 19 returning to the Durham club with a medal – 14 of them gold.

The club took in Gold in five categories – Level 3 Mixed Pair, Level 2 Men’s Pair, Level 1 Women’s Trio and Level 1 Men’s group, and also achieved bronze in two additional categories Level 3 Women’s Pair and Level 2 Women’s Trio.

NDP 1 Women’s Group – Rachel Graham, Amber Robertson & Tatiana Dubov – GOLD

NDP 1 Men’s Group – Maximillian Wolff, Benjamin Duncan, Daniel Rose, Alec Lowes – GOLD

NDP 2 Men’s Pair – Oliver Hillman & Louis Baxter – GOLD

NDP 3 Mixed Pair – Santiago Dubov & Abbie Thompson – GOLD

NDP 4 Women’s Group – Vicky Gargan, Chloe Thompson & Jenny Lawson – GOLD

NDP 2 Women’s Group – Amelia Pamler, Louise Burton & Drew Armstrong –  BRONZE

NDP 3 Women’s Pair – Katerina Dubov & Bethany MacDougall – BRONZE

The Deerness gymnasts qualified for the national finals after all winning gold in the regional finals earlier this year. In total hundreds of gymnasts from across the country thrilled and entertained the judges with their high-quality, artistic routines and choreographed performances showcasing their complex acrobatic skills.

The gymnasts are coached by Katie Lawton and Vicky Copeland. “We are really proud of them all and it’s great to see the hard work that they put into training being rewarded with national success,” said Katie Lawton, Deerness Gymnastics Academy. “These tournaments are a great way of developing gymnastic skills and strengths and will hopefully inspire and encourage more people to get involved with the club.”
“This is fantastic news and a great opportunity for the club. Many of these gymnasts represent the next generation that will hopefully go on to follow in the footsteps of our World and European champions,”  said Karl Wharton, director, Deerness Gymnastics Academy. “As a club we are grateful for the support we receive from parents and volunteers and with the hard work and effort of the gymnasts and coaches, together we can provide many young people throughout Durham and the north east with the opportunity to improve their health and physical development, promote social and emotional skills as well as boost their confidence through gymnastics.”
Deerness Gymnastics Academy, which has Matt Baker as its patron, has become one of Britain’s top gymnastics clubs over the past twenty years, with over 100 international gymnasts with more than sixty World and European medallists, including four World and six European Champions in its roll of honour. It is not only one of the most successful clubs in Great Britain but it is also recognised on the International scene as one of the top clubs in the world.
Recreational classes are available for children from 3 years. To find out more call: 0191 373 9419 or visit  www.deernessgymnastics.org.uk follow on twitter @deernessga or find on Facebook.

via National Success for Next Generation of Gymnasts – Sky Tyne and Wear.

It’s one small step for Lindsay… From Ushaw Moor

 

IT’S one small step for Lindsay; one giant leap towards space flight.

North-East woman Lindsay Parkin has moved one step closer to being blasted into space.

The legal advisor. from Ushaw Moor, near Durham, is trying to win a place on the Lynx Space Mission, a private flight to the edge of space.

Miss Parkin has won through the first stage, beating off tens of thousands of rivals to finish in the top 200 in a public vote.

She must now tackle a National Challenge space camp in London, from which four people will be chosen to join a Global Space Camp in Florida, USA.

The top 22 from that will fly 103km above the earth with space tourism company Space XC, in a flight which could take place as early as next year.

via It’s one small step for Lindsay… From The Northern Echo.

Deerness Gymnastics Academy – Summer Fayre 2nd June

Deerness Gymnastics Academy – Summer Fayre – Flyer

 

 

Deerness Gymnastics Academy will be holding a Summer Fayre on Sunday 2nd June, if you would like to have a stall, please get in touch, we already have face painting, nails, tombola and we are hoping to make this a very enjoyable event for all the Ushaw Moor Community and perhaps introduce some new children to the wonderful world of gymnastics.

Any donations for the tombola would be most appreciated, and if any other charities would like to have a presence, that can be arranged.

Deerness Gymnastics Academy Facebook PAGE

Brothers charity golf challenge From The Northern Echo

TWO brothers are doing a marathon golf challenge to raise money for sick children.

 

The One Day, 100 holes is being held at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club, near Durham, to raise money for the Zoe’s Place hospice in Middlesbrough.

 

Stuart and Simon Thompson plan to start playing at 4am and play through until gets dark.

 

Stuart, 29, an IT support worker, from Ushaw Moor, said: “It is for a good cause and it is going to be a tough day but I am confident we can do it.

 

“If we set off early enough we should be ok and hopefully, people will support us.” Mr Thompson, plays with a handicap of ten, while his 26-year-old brother, a CCTV manager, of Willington, has a handicap of 18.

 

The event is being held on June 20.

 

To support the brothers online or by text log on to http://www.justgiving.com/1day100holes

via Brothers charity golf challenge From The Northern Echo.

Family of fatal crash call for law change (From Durham Times)

A FAMILY is calling for the law to be changed after the man who killed a much-loved grandfather walked free from court.

Brian Pattinson, 72, from Durham, died after a collision with 36-year-old Michael Bristow, of South View, Ushaw Moor, in County Durham.

Last month, he escaped jail after being given an 18-month community order with supervision and a 12-month driving ban at Consett Magistrates Court.

He had previously pleaded guilty to careless driving after telling police he was blinded by sunlight and suffered a “momentary lapse in concentration”.

Now Mr Pattinson’s relatives are campaigning for mandatory custodial punishments for motorists who cause fatal accidents on the roads.

Mr Pattinson’s daughter, Kelly, 41, a finance assistant at Durham University, said: “Families like ours are seeking a review of the law, to bring about tougher sentences for drivers who kill. My dad deserved so much better.

“If like us you are disgusted by the lack of justice in this case then can I urge you to sign the online petition.”

Mr Pattinson was travelling west in a Peugeot 205 on the B6302 in Broom Lane, Ushaw Moor, shortly before 9.15am on July 17 last year.

The driver of a Seat Leon, travelling east, had indicated to turn right and had stopped.

via Family of fatal crash call for law change (From Durham Times).

County Council Election Results – Deerness

via County Council Election Results.

Community Conservation – Broompark Tidy Up !

We need your help to do some general jobs around the site.  Everything from litter-picking, bird-box replacing, seat replacement and cleaning and tree guard removal.

Or come and have a chat about the site, give us your suggestions and find out about the latest events, walks and volunteer opportunities.

Broompark Picnic Site – Sun 26th May 10-am 12-noon.

Broompark, ½ mile from  Stonebridge roundabout on B6302 to Ushaw Moor

DOWNLOAD Poster  – Broompark Tidy Up ! May 2013