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Edition 10, February 2021
Weardale’s own local newspaper
Free
Our last printed edition
SADLY, we have to announce that this will be the last printed edition of the Weardale Community News. Unfortunately, the challenges of starting a new business and publishing a newspaper during an unprecedented global pandemic have finally overcome us. Whilst we remain optimistic and would like to start printing again at a later date, the current situation makes it almost impossible to plan ahead. With a lack of financial support for new businesses, the future of the paper edition is very much in question. In the interim we intend to remain active on social media and online, so please continue to send your articles and stories to newsdesk@wcng.org, follow us on Facebook and
visit our website. When the idea of a replacement for the immensely popular Weardale Gazette was first discussed, few people had heard of Wuhan and Covid-19. That time seems so long ago now, and over the last year we’ve endured a global pandemic that has left over 100,000 dead in this country alone. Despite assurances that we would beat Covid-19 and get back to normal as soon as possible, this simply hasn’t been the case. Businesses around the country have folded and the Weardale Community News Group CIC, the company set up to publish the paper, has not proven to be immune to this trend. In order to publish a free newspaper, we’ve been reliant on advertising, but the shrinking of the
Search for @weardalenews April 2020
www.wcng.org
The first edition
A new paper for Weardale
One of Aaron Jackson’s 3D printed visors
A view of Weardale taken from Crawleyside Bank by photographer James Prescott
HERE it is, the first edition of the Weardale News, what the team are proudly calling ‘the new voice of Weardale.’ The plan, long in gestation, was to launch the paper at the beginning of May. This would have given us plenty of time to sort out contributors and advertisers and be confident that everything was right before printing the final, polished, paper. However, in the true tradition of ‘best laid plans’ we find ourselves in the
midst of an unprecedented viral outbreak, affecting not just our country, but the whole world. At the time of writing we are all in lockdown to prevent the spread of the disease. As a result of this situation we made the decision to bring the launch of the new paper forward and to get the first edition out as quickly as possible. Now, more than at any other time, there is a need for a local paper in Weardale, a voice to share
news and information. To this end we’ve tried to include as much useful material we could gather about what services and plans have been put in place to help people in Weardale. The paper may be rougher around the edges than we had hoped, but here it is. At this stage it is still very much a work in progress, so please feel free to get in touch with your suggestions and ideas for how it could be improved. We are also looking for
The driver on the roof of his van
Darlington Fire & Rescue Service tweeted: “We’re so proud of our Water Rescue Team & crews from Bishop, Durham, Stanhope, & Middleton, who at 5pm last night responded to a vehicle in
contributions, if you have something to share, be it an article, feature, poem or picture, then get in touch with us at newsdesk@wcng. org. If you have experience in journalism and want to help out then we would love to hear from you. The coming months will be challenging for all of us, as the country strives to overcome the Covid-19 threat. If we work together then we can overcome the virus.
Local help and support for Weardale during the coronavirus pandemic
THERE are now teams of volunteers throughout Weardale who are helping vulnerable residents and those who must self-isolate to obtain essential provisions and prescriptions or providing a telephone contact service. Most of these have a Facebook page and can be easily located using the search facility. • Wolsingham Help and Support Group • Frosterley Help and Support Group • Stanhope and Eastgate Coronavirus Support • Westgate Coronavirus help • Upper Weardale Isolation Support
Group Durham Covid 19 Mutual Aid The North West Durham Constituency Labour Party are also coordinating volunteers to help deliver food, pick up prescriptions and make regular phone calls. They cover North West Durham and have volunteers in Weardale. Contact 07885 695 929 or email nwdclp.campaigns@gmail.com for assistance A number of businesses in Weardale are also providing additional services to help at this time, including delivering meals to those who are self-isolating or arranging for the delivery of shopping. •
Details of the services they offer can be found on the previously mentioned Facebook pages and also on the Weardale Noticeboard Facebook page. If you do not have access to Facebook and would like a different way of contacting the group, either to volunteer or to access the service please contact the Area Action Partnership on the following numbers: 07753 779975 (Angelina), 07747 486733 (Tracy) or 03000 268507 (Fiona) or via email at weardaleaap@ durham.gov.uk and we will do our best to help you.
The first edition from April 2020
THE fight against coronavirus has seen an emergence of ingenuity all over the world as people share their skills and experience to help those fighting the virus. One such area is 3D printing, where physical objects are manufactured from plastic by a printer. These devices, once
expensive and limited to industrial production, are now easily available and can be used to manufacture almost anything, even moving parts. Aaron Jackson, who lives locally has been working hard to produce protective equipment for the NHS and shares how he got involved.
Turn to page 7 to read how Aaron is helping the NHS
CORONAVIRUS
STAY HOME TO HELP US SAVE LIVES
ACT LIKE YOU’VE GOT IT,
ANYONE CAN SPREAD IT. economy and the challenges thank everyone who has faced by all businesses, placed an advert with us from declining trade to over the last ten editions, it The new local paper for Weardale furloughed staff, means really has been appreciated. that an advert is often an The pandemic and unaffordable expense. We lockdowns have had a 501470_Stay_at_Home_NEW_A4_v2_a.indd 2
River Wear rescue
COUNTY Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue Service members took part in the daring rescue of a delivery driver from the River Wear on Tuesday 19th January. The Morrisons driver had tried to cross the ford in Westgate, only for his van to be swept away by the strong current. Emergency services were called to Westgate at 5pm, after receiving reports of a van going into the river. Snow melt and heavy rainfall meant that the river was in spate with the current being exceptionally strong. Specialists in water rescues from the fire service used a raft to reach the driver, who had scrambled out of the window onto the side his van. They passed him a life jacket before taking him to safety. County Durham &
Edition 1
Volunteers producing PPE for the NHS
Credit: Scott Bisset
the water at Westgate. On arrival our crews took immediate action, in what was challenging conditions, to ensure the driver was rescued.” Scott Bisset, a member of Continued on page 3
03/04/2020 13:22
Control dogs around sheep LOCAL police have reminded rural residents to ensure that their dogs are under control at all time when around farm animals. Dogs worrying sheep is always a concern for farmers, but the risk increases at this time of year as many of the ewes will be in lamb, making them particularly vulnerable. PCSO Liz Finn, who works in upper Teesdale and has seen first-hand the devastation and impact this can have, said: “We know the majority of dog owners are responsible and considerate when exercising their pets in rural areas but we would like to remind all owners that they must have full and proper control of their animal at all times.” “Don’t take the risk. Put your dog on a lead.”
tremendous impact on our ability to gather news and to interact with our readership. Whereas normally someone from the paper would be out and about, attending events, collecting stories and taking photos, this just hasn’t been possible. Furthermore, local events have been hit hard. None of Weardale’s agricultural shows were able to go ahead in 2020 and the immensely popular Stone Valley and Northern Kin festivals were cancelled. Sports and social clubs have been unable to meet, which has reduced the news and stories that the paper has been able to carry. Over the course of ten
editions, we’ve worked with Weardale’s Area Action Partnership to promote the vital work that they are carrying out in the area during the pandemic, and thank Angelina Maddison for her unwavering support of the newspaper. We have had a fantastic response from the community and it’s been a privilege to receive everyone’s news and stories and to be able to provide a news outlet for Weardale. We hope that we can continue to support the community via social media. Thank you to everyone who has supported the newspaper. The Weardale Community News team
Temporary mobile Post Office for Wolsingham FOLLOWING the closure of Wolsingham’s post office, the town will receive a temporary mobile service from the beginning of February. The existing post office closed on February 1st following the retirement of the owner. The temporary Mobile Post Office will be operated by the Postmaster for Tow Law, whilst a permanent solution in sought. The mobile Post Office will visit Wolsingham twice weekly and park next to the town hall between 4.00pm-
5.30pm on Wednesdays and 2.30pm – 4.00pm on Fridays. A wide range of services will be available, including benefit collections and postal services. Whilst the new SPAR has been built just outside of Wolsingham, it does not offer Post Office facilities. The loss of a permanent Post Office in Wolsingham is a further blow to the town, following the recent closure of the bank. It is hoped that a more permanent solution we be found as soon as possible.
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