Staindrop Parish Council

Welcome to our website


The Parish Council serves the villages and surroundings of the village Staindrop, in beautiful Teesdale, in south west County Durham.


There are just under 1,000 electors in the Parish Council area.

We hope you find what you're looking for on this website — whether that's information about the parish councillors, what they do, how they spend the money they raise, what projects they're working on etc.


You'll find details of all Parish Council meetings, which are open to the public, and can see the agenda for forthcoming meetings and the minutes of previous meetings.


If there's something you'd like to know about the Council and can't find it here, then do please ask! Telephone and email contact details for the Council appear at the bottom of the menu and in the footer at the bottom of every page of the website.

Road safety and traffic calming measures in Staindrop

- a position statement from the Parish Council, March 2023


Staindrop Parish Council knows that many residents have serious concerns about the dangers caused by traffic speeds, congestion, lack of a crossing place and inconsiderate parking in the village. 


The Parish Council has very little power to do anything to directly improve matters, but it is determined to influence those who can do something. 


Over the past many months, the Parish Council has tried to persuade various bodies to take this matter seriously, and to work together to introduce measures which will holistically address, if not completely solve, our problems. At the same time the Highway Code has been revised to underline that the hierarchy of road users places pedestrians and not vehicles at the top. The Parish Council believes that improvements to highway arrangements in Staindrop must recognise this.


A Community Speedwatch group has been out measuring the speed of traffic through the village. Their findings are reporting to the police, and the registered owners of vehicles being driven at more than 10% over the speed limit, are issued with a letter advising them to moderate their speed in future. More volunteers for the group are always welcome.

The police are able to deploy an enforcement van and will do this if certain patterns of speed can be identified as causing a problem. Drivers exceeding the speed limit and caught in this way would be issued with a fine, and possibly penalty points on their licence. 

The Parish Council has attempted to persuade the Highways Authority, Durham County Council, to introduce ‘buffer zones’ of 40mph on all approaches to Staindrop, and even to introduce a 20mph limit through the village, however, the highways officers don’t believe that this is justified or necessary. Some councillors find this hard to accept, given that such measures are commonplace elsewhere; indeed many regions are introducing reduced maximum limits as a default position.  A temporary vehicle-activated-sign has occasionally been used in Staindrop, however there is no hard evidence as to its effectiveness. The Parish Council requested a permanent speed-activated-sign which flashes up an approaching vehicle’s speed and perhaps also a smiley or a sad face. Eventually, Durham County Council has agreed to provide this, subject to a funding application (it costs £10,800) and we hope this will soon be in place. As part of a wider traffic calming scheme, the County Council is also renewing the ‘gateway’ entrance features at the Barnard Castle and Raby Castle ends of the village. New road markings (cross-carriageway markings, and ‘SLOW’ markings) will also be put down. The Parish Council has agreed to contribute £3,400 to the full package. It took many months for a traffic calming scheme to be designed by the County Council and throughout the process the Parish Council has tried hard to engage with the engineers about the best design. Councillors have differing views about the efficacy of Durham County Council’s ‘final offer’, but they are all agreed that the lack of engagement  and then pressure for a decision without the opportunity for meaningful dialogue has been very disappointing.


HOWEVER, parish councillors believe that there is still more than could be done – if only those in power would appreciate how busy, how congested the village is at times, and how difficult it is for people to cross the road. The situation seems to be getting worse and it really is affecting many people’s quality of life. A pedestrian crossing has been requested, on several occasions, but Durham County Council has repeatedly turned down this suggestion. 


The Parish Council has, with Raby Estates’ permission, installed on the Village Green an AutoSpeedWatch device which will measure the volume, and speed of traffic through the village (in effect it’s an automated version of the Community Speedwatch volunteers). Data from the device will NOT be used for prosecutions, but used as aggregated data to build a picture and evidence which will then be presented to both the police and the Highways Authority. The Parish Council’s hope is that when faced with evidence of what’s happening along the A688 in the village, it will be harder for those responsible for highways safety and for enforcement of speed limits, to dismiss the case for urgent and maybe radical improvements to help protect lives.



Could you become a councillor?


Do you have a bit of time to spare?

Do you care about your local community?

Do you get on well with people and are willing to speak at a meeting?

There are currently three vacancies on Staindrop Parish Council.


If you're interested in finding out more about what being a councillor involves, then please ask one of the existing councillors, or contact the Clerk to set the ball rolling ...


Parish Council objectives, 2024-25

Agreed March 2024


The Parish Council has six objectives:

  1. To ensure that the Council carries out its responsibilities effectively and acts lawfully and within its powers.
  2. Where appropriate, to act as a focal point and spokesperson for parishioners in the discussion and consideration of matters of general importance to the village.
  3. To improve relations with Durham County Council in order to achieve better outcomes for the village and its residents.
  4. To continue to work with Raby Estates in order to achieve better outcomes for the village and its residents.
  5. To conserve and enhance the physical environment of the village, in particular, the village greens and public footpaths.
  6. To maintain good relations with parishioners and community groups through support (financial or otherwise) where appropriate; transparency in decision-making; and effective communication.

Statement about bullying, harassment or intimidation


We treat everyone with courtesy and respect and ask for the same in return. We ask that you treat your councillors and council staff courteously without violence, abuse or harassment. 


Councillors and council staff have the right to carry out their civic duties and work without fear of being attacked or abused. Any behaviour whether that be verbal, physical or in writing, which causes either councillors or council staff to feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or threatened, is totally unacceptable.


The zero tolerance policy includes abuse, aggression or threats made in person, over the telephone or in written communication, including on social media. The council considers threatening behaviour to be: 


Attempted or actual aggressive, or physical actions made towards any councillor or member of staff.

The use of aggressive, or abusive language, (including raising of the voice, swearing, shouting or in writing) which threatens or intimidates councillors or council staff.


North Green footpaths

Statement issued 17 October 2020



Staindrop Parish Council is well aware that the footpaths crossing North Green are in a very poor condition. 

For a considerable time, the Parish Council has been working hard to persuade Durham County Council to repair the footpaths. The Parish Council firmly believes that the County Council, as Highway Authority, has a legal responsibility to maintain the footpaths in question. The County Council disputes this and has opened negotiations with Raby Estates (the landowner) to agree responsibility going forwards. The Parish Council has been told that these negotiations are nearing completion. 

In case these negotiations don’t reach a conclusion in the near future, Staindrop Parish Council is taking legal advice on the possibility of taking legal action against the County Council over the matter. 


Contacts:

Staindrop Parish Clerk: 

Judith Mashiter, clerk@staindropparishcouncil.org (01833 640893)

Durham County Councillors for Staindrop:

Cllr George Richardson, George.richardson@durham.gov.uk (03000 268 763)

Cllr James Rowlandson, james.rowlandson@durham.gov.uk (03000 268 766)


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