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We've been listening to the people

Ian McArdle | Published on 12/9/2024

In November, Majority members held two public meetings in South Durham, in Coundon and Shildon.  Jamie Driscoll spoke at both meetings, with local Majority members Lynn O'Neill and Fred Langley.  The main purpose was to hear from residents about issues that concerned them, and how they thought these should be addressed. 

The main concerns that people raised were -

  • Drugs and other Anti-Social Behaviour including off-road and quad bikes.
  • Quality of the environment – litter, broken footpaths, empty board-up houses, neglected gardens.
  • "Wretched" bus services and their impact on access to jobs.

    Together these have led to a lack of motivation, loss of hope, and "despair".

    But there were also positive trends and ambitions -

  • Tackle litter by making skips available, resurface footpaths, plant trees.
  • Find ways of supporting and keeping young people living locally, building support for teams run by the football club, campaigning for a secondary SEND school.
  • Provide quality jobs and skills training.
  • Better buses!
  • There was a wish to create community groups e.g. neighbourhood forums, to campaign and focus improvement actions, and to present a more positive impression of both places.
Some of these hopes are ambitious, but people believed that if they aim for improvements that are pragmatic, achievable, and desirable, success will come.

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