Edition 8, December 2020
For regular news and updates find us online at www.wcng.org
Light up the Dale brings Christmas cheer to Weardale VOLUNTEERS at local community group Light up the Dale, have been hard at work to bring some much needed Christmas cheer to Weardale. Stanhope’s tree was donated by Stanhope Estates and put in position at the end of November. Light up the Dale have been busy throughout Weardale and this year have also managed to set up a tree in Westgate. Thank you for all your hard work!
Stanhope’s Christmas tree is put into position
Rescue team called to Hamsterley Forest
One of the team’s rescue dogs
ON Sunday 29th November, Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team (TWSMRT) were contacted by Durham Constabulary to help locate Dawn Teesdale, from Barnard Castle, who had been reported missing in the Hamsterley Forest area. TWSMRT team members, working with search dogs from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England, the Police and members of the local community, searched
extensively through woodland and open ground to find Dawn. Fortunately, as the team were about to deploy for a second day of searching the area, Dawn managed to find her way to a relative’s house and was confirmed as being safe and well. To find out more about the work of the TWSMRT, find them on Facebook at facebook.com/twsmrt and online at www.twsmrt.org. uk.
Credit: Light up the Dale
New carriages for Weardale Railway
Diesel engine 50007 Hercules in Bishop Auckland
MONDAY the 30th November saw train spotters from all over the country travel to Bishop Auckland to watch GBRF liveried Class 50 diesels 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance deliver six former Great Anglia Mark 3 coaches to their new home on the Weardale Railway. One of the coaches being delivered is a buffet, which raises the possibility of extra services when the line starts running again under
ownership of Weardale Railways Limited, part of the Auckland Project. These Mark 3 coaches would still grace any mainline in the country and ensure that passengers on the Weardale Railway will travel in style and comfort on their journeys in 2021. Entering service in 1975, the Mark 3 carriages were built until 1988, with designs based on the Mark 3 made until the early 1990’s.
Free in Weardale
Speeding concerns raised in Hamsterley
Speed awareness posters made by local chilrden
HAMSTERLEY residents have complained at the large amount of traffic speeding through the village. Concerns had been raised with the local police earlier in the year, who started a volunteer led speed awareness project, but sadly the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have put a stop to this. Hamsterley Parish Council have been in contact with Durham County Council to make them aware of the ongoing issue of speeding in the area. Residents, along with the parish council and local councillor, Heather Smith are now campaigning for a traffic management programme to put in place
speed bumps or other traffic calming measures. Local children have also designed their own ‘slow down’ posters, which will now be displayed around the village. Unfortunately, there have been several near misses recently, involving a young girl on a horse that was very nearly hit, and a boy riding a bike who was run off the road. Both incidents were reported to the police. Residents are concerned that, unless something is done soon, there will be a fatal accident. The Weardale Community News contacted Durham County Council and spoke with Brian Buckley, the Strategic Highways Continued on page 9
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“Merry Christmas” from the Weardale Community News