Gymnastic gem gearing up for two big competitions – Northumberland Gazette

A talented gymnast from Felton is relishing the prospect of competing at two major events, which will pit him against national and international acrobats.

Finn Gavin will be heading to the British Championships in Liverpool this weekend, before representing Great Britain in the Acrobatic European Championships in Germany in September.

The 13-year-old, who trains at Durham’s Deerness Gymnastics Academy, will be competing in the 12-18 age group for men’s four.

His team will consist of fellow Deerness members Michael Gill, 17, from Ponteland, Nathan Brady, 17, from Durham, and Ryan Dury, 18, of Teesside, for both events.

Last year, Gavin, Gill and Brady won both the British Championship and Word Championship in the 11-16 age group. Dury is a new team member.

Finn says he is looking forward to the challenges of both events.

via Gymnastic gem gearing up for two big competitions – Northumberland Gazette.

Broompark Play area Officialy Opened (From Durham Times)

A CHILDREN’S play area in north Durham has been officially opened following a lengthy campaign by residents.

Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council recently completed the refurbishment of the £45,000 Broompark Play Area, on Broom Lane, near Durham City.

Parish council clerk Susan Carmedy said: “The same play site came up as a community concern and request for refurbishment in 2011 when several young people and residents sent a petition to the local MP Roberta Blackman-Woods.

“This was then looked at by Durham County Council’s outdoor sport and leisure department alongside the area action partnership, however further community consultation led to the play site next to Deerness Gymnastics Academy being refurbished.

“A lack of toddler play was again brought to the attention of the parish councillors and the county councillors for the area during the elections in 2013 and as the county council would not take this forward the parish council decided to take the lead.”

The proposed project went on to win £5,000 at the subsequent Village Vote event in November 2013.

Further funding was found from Durham County Councillors David Bell, Jean Chaplow and Anne Bonner, Mid Durham Area Action partnership and from Section 106 money secured from Gleeson Homes as part of their Ushaw Moor housing development at the former infant school site.

The play area is owned by Durham County Council, but the parish council has secured a 25 year lease.

It will be jointly managed by both authorities with the county cutting the grass and the parish maintaining the equipment.

Children from the St Joseph’s and Silver Trees Primary Schools were consulted on the choice of the final design.

Equipment caters for toddlers up to 11 years old and there are also four pieces of adult outdoor fitness equipment on the site.

Andy Coulthard, coordinator for Mid-Durham Area Action Partnership, said: “This project is real example what people power can achieve.

“Local children and their families have campaigned over many years for new play facilities in this part of the village.

“The refurbishment of the play area has been jointly funded and includes contributions from local county councillors and the AAP.

“We’re delighted to be able to support this project, in partnership with the local parish council.

“The new play area, which features new play and fitness equipment, is already proving popular with families.”

via Play area opened following public campaign (From Durham Times).

Ushaw College buildings and grounds open to public from Saturday (From The Northern Echo)

A FORMER training college for priests for the Roman Catholic church is openings its doors to the public over coming months.

Ushaw College, a Roman Catholic seminary from inception in 1808 until the last trainees were consecrated in 2011, is considered a hidden gem, set in a large expanse countryside four miles west of Durham.

It has been linked with Durham University from 1968 and, since the last trainee priests left, its residential block has been used as overflow accommodation by both the university’s business school and more recently by Josephine Butler College.

Surrounded by 400-acres of picturesque grounds, between the villages of Ushaw Moor, Bearpark and Langley Park, the site includes Grade I and Grade II-listed buildings, including St Margaret’s Chapel and St Cuthbert’s Chapel, as well as an ornate exhibition hall and refectory.

All were built by English architect Augustus Pugin in the classic Gothic Renaissance style.

The charitable trust now running the former seminary was awarded a £3,000 grant towards the enhancement of its herbaceous borders in the formal gardens in front of the college.

Work also began restoring the 19th Century gardens last autumn with initially a 20-strong band of volunteers, swelled on occasions after a call for extra helping hands.

Roger Kelly, chair of the college’s concert and events group, which promotes use of the grounds and buildings, said it was the beginning of a bid to restore the site to its former glory.

“Already, since last September, a transformation has taken place.

“The overgrown borders have been weeded, saplings and briars cleared away, and the gift of 3,000 tulips has resulted in the central borders becoming a blaze of spring colour.”

Both the buildings and gardens are open to the public on Saturdays, from 12-noon to 5pm, with a gift shop and cafe running during those hours.

It includes entry to the chapels, refectory and exhibition hall, with admission free.

Over the next four weeks visitors will also have the chance to view the medieval chasuble, a vestment worn by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, during the recent funeral ceremonies for King Richard III in Leicester.

Tickets are available for a concert featuring the Durham-founded singing ensemble Renaissance in St Cuthbert’s College, at Ushaw, on Saturday, at 7.30pm.

They are available for £10 each from the box office at Durham’s Gala Theatre, but can also be bought on the door on the night.

via College buildings and grounds open to public from Saturday (From The Northern Echo).

Corner Of Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 FOR SALE £60,000 Under Offer

Prominent corner site available extending to approximately 1300 sqaure meters, suitable for a variety of redevelopment schemes subject to planning approval. The main photograph shows a view from Station Road.Situated 4 miles from Durham City Centre, in a residential area within Ushaw Moor Village close to local shops and amenities.Offers are invited around £60,000

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please note that all sizes have been measured with an electronic measure tape and are approximations only. Under the terms of the Misdescription Act we are obliged to point out that none of these services have been tested by ourselves. We cannot vouch that any of the installations described in these particulars are in perfect working order. We present the details of this property in good faith and they were accurate at the time of which we inspected the property. Stuart Edwards for themselves and for the vendors or lessors of this property whose agents they are, give notice, that: (1) the particulars are in produced in good faith, are set out as a general guide only, and do not constitute any part of a contract; (2) no person in the employment of Stuart Edwards has the authority to make or give any representation or warranty in relation to this property.

via Corner Of Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 FOR SALE £60,000 Under Offer.

Ushaw Moor split over £13m housing scheme (From The Northern Echo)

A MULTI-million pound scheme to build 167 new homes on the edge of a village have met with a mixed response from residents.

Taylor Wimpey has applied for planning permission to construct a £13m housing estate on land north of Ladysmith Terrace, in Ushaw Moor, near Durham.

John Howarth, of Ladysmith Terrace, said the village’s infrastructure was already struggling to cope and the new homes would be at risk of flooding.

However, John Arthurs, of Welby Drive, said it was potentially great news for the village, predicting it would bring infrastructure improvements.

“We need to move away from seeing problems and look to the future with the enthusiasm of our forefathers who founded this village when it was just farmland,” Mr Arthurs said.

Of the 167 homes proposed for the 5.5-hectare Greenfield site, 33 would be “affordable” two or three bedroom homes, while the others would be three or four bedroom detached houses.

Around 1,000 leaflets explaining the plans were sent out and a consultation event was held in January.

Taylor Wimpey says the site has good transport links and amenities and a drainage strategy will reduce the flood risk.

Building would take place over five years, supporting 42 jobs, and new residents would spend up to £6.5m a year, including £1m in the local economy.

Durham County Council would get a £1.4m New Homes Bonus and an extra £2.1m in council tax.

A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: “The consultation process enabled us to involve the local community in shaping our designs to ensure the plans will not only work for current residents, but enhance the area for the long term.

“The consultation informed Taylor Wimpey that our design should feature play space and affordable homes, so we’re proposing a number of green open spaces which link up and lead to a natural play space consisting of boulders and logs at the heart of the project.”

He said he hoped the homes would appeal to people already living in Ushaw Moor and others.

“It is our hope that new residents will bring additional expenditure to help secure a vibrant future for the local area.”

A statutory consultation period has begun and comments can be made until Wednesday, May 7. The council aims to put the scheme before a planning committee in May.

via Ushaw Moor split over £13m housing scheme (From The Northern Echo).

Perfect ten for Deerness Gymnasts From The Northern Echo

 

IT was a perfect ten for a leading North-East gymnastics club, as all ten members returned from a British championship with gold medals.

Deerness Gymnastics Academy, based in Ushaw Moor, County Durham, took gold in the 11-16 Men’s Group, 12-18 Women’s Pair, 12-18 Mixed Pair and Senior Men’s Pair categories at the British Championships, held in Stoke-on-Trent last weekend (April 13-14).

The ten winners were: Alex Houston, 20, from Consett; Tim Pritchard, 17, from Belmont; Abbi Greaves, 12, from Ushaw Moor; Chelsea Fisher, 16, from Darlington; Millie Nesbitt, 14, from Durham; Liam Sneath, 16, from Spennymoor; Michael Gill, 14, from Ponteland; Nathan Brady, 14, from Durham; Stuart Napier, 14, from Durham; and Finn Gavin, 11, from Alnwick.

Stuart Thompson, the academy’s head of acrobatics, said: “I’m really proud of them all and they fully deserve to be British champions.

“It is fantastic to see that all the hard work and the hours of training in the gym has paid off.”

via Perfect ten for Deerness gymnasts From The Northern Echo.

Over-55s homes plan for Oversteads House Ushaw Moor

PLANS to build nearly 40 affordable homes for older people on two former sheltered housing units have been given the go-ahead.

The Vela Group, also known as Housing Hartlepool, wants to build 20 apartments and two bungalows on Brandon House, in Brandon, and 16 apartments on Oversteads House, in Ushaw Moor, both near Durham. All accommodation would be exclusively for the over-55s.

The two 1970s-built sheltered housing units closed in November 2010, despite an outcry from their remaining 26 residents.

Earlier this year, Durham County Council’s cabinet agreed to hand over the two plots, together worth around £285,000, free of charge – allowing the Vela project to access £1.3m from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The council’s central and east area planning committee granted planning permission for the project during a meeting at County Hall, Durham, on Wednesday.

On the Brandon House plans, Brandon Labour councillor Paul Taylor, who chaired Wednesday’s meeting, said: “I’m very much in favour of this – in fact I’m delighted to see it come about. It’s much needed.
“Unfortunately the former (latterly Liberal Democrat-run Durham) city council allowed Brandon House to fall into disrepair to the point where it couldn’t be brought up to a decent standard.
“Today we’ve got the sun coming out from behind the clouds. I look forward to it being developed and being kept for over-55s for years to come.”

Planning officer James Taylor said: “We think this is a good addition to the area. It’s high-quality housing.
“It’s great it’s HCA funding. It will be available (for over-55s) in perpetuity as a result of that.”

On Oversteads House, Deerness Valley Lib Dem councillor John Wilkinson said: “Oversteads House had built-in redundancy.
“I’m very, very pleased that Oversteads is being demolished and that a fantastic, sustainable development is going to take its place.
“It’s (HCA) money my ward, or any ward, can’t afford to lose.”

There were no objections to the Brandon House scheme and just one regarding Oversteads House. Both schemes were approved unanimously.

The old sheltered housing units will be demolished to make way for the new developments.

via Over-55s homes plan for Durham former sheltered housing units From Durham Times.

“Crazy legs” Thomas leaves hospital bed (From Durham Times)

Five-year-old Thomas Brennan, whose spastic diplegic cerebral palsy leaves him in constant pain and struggling to walk – particularly during cold weather – had a pioneering operation in St Louis, Missouri, on Tuesday.

Yesterday, doctors helped the youngster, from Ushaw Moor, County Durham, out of his hospital bed and took him around ward 12 of the St Louis’ Children’s Hospital in a wheelchair.

Afterwards, from St Louis, Thomas’ mother, Jodie Bussey, told The Northern Echo: “They have had Thomas out of bed briefly in his wheelchair around the ward, but he didn’t like it and only tolerated a short ride due to the pain.”

Doctors were planning to try again late yesterday evening (GMT) and were hoping for more progress.

Earlier this week, staff said Thomas, who calls his condition his “crazy legs”, was making excellent progress and they aid he could be ready to get rid of his wheelchair within six months.

It had previously been thought it could be two years before Thomas would be able to walk freely.

via “Crazy legs” Thomas leaves hospital bed (From Durham Times).

Gleeson Launches New Homes Development in Ushaw Moor | New Homes News

New homes at Gleeson’s latest County Durham development, Temperance Court, are now available to buy.  The brand new 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes on the development are priced from a very affordable £94,995 with the house builder offering their ‘Fantastic Five’ range of scheme to help buyers purchase a new home.
Temperance Court in Ushaw Moor is Gleeson’s third development in County Durham with the Sunderland based housebuilder also selling new homes at developments in Newton Aycliffe & Shildon, which have already proved very popular with buyers looking for spacious, affordable homes in great locations.

Gary Anderson, Sales Manager for Gleeson Homes said, “Temperance Court will be a fantastic place to live as it is close the great local amenities in and around Ushaw Moor and has amazing views over the Deerness Valley.  The development is also close to local transport links making it easy to travel to local towns and cities.

Gary adds, “There seems to be a need for spacious new homes in this area and it is great to think we are transforming what was a derelict piece of land into a development of 29 homes priced to suit local people”.

Gleeson is offering its ‘Fantastic Five’ range of schemes on the new homes at Temperance Court.  The schemes are designed to help buyers purchase a new home whatever their situation.  The Government backed FirstBuy is available as well as ‘Aspire’ whereby Gleeson will contribute 5% towards a first time buyer’s deposit.  Assistance is also available for parents who want to help their kids buy their first home as well as a unique ‘Save & Build’ scheme where a buyer can reserve a home at a fixed price and save their deposit whilst Gleeson build their home.

Gary explains, “FirstBuy is really popular at the moment and I am delighted to announce we can offer this scheme at Temperance Court for a limited time.  Gleeson is one of a select number of housebuilders chosen by the Government to allocate FirstBuy funding on its developments.  FirstBuy is the ideal option for those buyers looking for lower mortgage repayments but I would urge buyers to reserve a new home soon as FirstBuy funding will end this December.”

Gleeson’s Sales Office at Temperance Court is now open 10am to 5pm Thursday to Monday.  For more information please call 07554 415705 or visit www.gleeson-homes.co.uk

via Gleeson Launches New Homes Development in Ushaw Moor | New Homes News.

County Durham Leagues – Cricket – Sport – JournalLive

In the rest of today’s games Brandon have Stephen Parnaby and Stephen Ball back in their team for the visit of Ushaw Moor, who have yet to play a game, both Shildon and Tudhoe are unchanged, and Evenwood include Luke Bannister for the visit of Langley Park, who have Dan Wilkinson in their starting XI.

via County Durham Leagues – Cricket – Sport – JournalLive.