Bishop Middleham Parish Council

01/09/2026

Michaelmas Fair is nearly here! Join us on Saturday 12 September, 1–6pm, for fairground rides, stalls, live music, heritage activities, mini golf and our Family Dog Show. So much going on — come and celebrate with us.

28/08/2026

🌟 Spaces Available – September 2026 🌟

We are delighted to share that we have places available in our Two Year Old Provision and Nursery starting September 2026.

Our early years provision offers a warm, nurturing environment where children can learn, play and thrive as they begin their journey with us.

If you would like to find out more, have a chat or arrange a visit to look around our school, we would love to hear from you:
📧 [email protected]

Please feel free to share this post with family and friends who may be interested. We look forward to welcoming new families to our school community! 😊

Bishop Middleham Village Store and Post Office Bishop Middleham Bishop Middleham Village Hall Bishop Middleham Womens Institute Bishop Middleham Bizzy Bees Bishop Middleham Parish Council

14/08/2026

COUNTY DURHAM LOCAL PLAN SCOPING CONSULTATION.

The Parish Council has now submitted its response to Durham County Council's Local Plan Scoping Consultation.

In summary, we highlighted:

✅ The need for new development to be supported by the infrastructure people rely on, including roads, healthcare, schools and community facilities.

✅ The importance of recognising that rural communities have different needs and opportunities from larger towns, and that a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to work across County Durham.

✅ A preference for making the best use of brownfield land before considering development on greenfield sites.

✅ The need to protect and enhance our landscape, wildlife, heritage assets, trees, hedgerows and green spaces.

✅ The importance of providing the right mix of homes, including affordable housing for young people and families, together with suitable housing for older residents, so that people can remain within their community at all stages of life.

✅ Support for thriving local communities through the protection of community facilities, public rights of way, open spaces and sustainable tourism.

✅ The need for development to be proportionate to the size and capacity of individual settlements, taking account of local services, infrastructure and environmental constraints.

✅ Our view that the assessment of sites submitted through Durham County Council's Call for Sites process should be published for consultation, allowing residents and communities to understand how sites are being assessed and to comment before future allocations are made.

These points reflect the Parish Council's commitment to"Conserving Our Past: Building Our Future" by protecting the character, heritage and environment that make our community special, whilst supporting sustainable growth, appropriate housing and opportunities for future generations.

A copy of the Parish Council's full response is available from the Parish Clerk on request by email -
[email protected]

13/08/2026

Just to keep you updated — additional copies of the Durham County Council Scoping Consultation resident survey are now available at the Post Office, so feel free to pop in and pick one up.

If you prefer to complete it online, you can do so here: https://letstalkcountydurham.co.uk/en-GB/projects/county-durham-plan-scoping-docment-consultation/process

A reminder that the closing date for submissions is Monday 17 August.

11/08/2026

The village comes alive this September as Michaelmas Fair returns to Bishop Middleham for an afternoon of music, entertainment, heritage and family fun. Join us on Saturday 12 September from 1pm to 6pm.

15/07/2026

Following our Parish Council meeting on 8 July — and the fantastic resident turnout — we want to make sure everyone has access to the information on the County Durham Local Plan consultation.

The poster and consultation details attached to this post are being delivered to every household in Mainsforth and Bishop Middleham, as we know not everyone uses online platforms.

We’ve also obtained copies of the residents’ survey and additional information. These are available in the Village Hall and at the Post Office for anyone who would like to read them or complete the survey.

15/07/2026

13/07/2026

We currently have 2 vacancies on Bishop Middleham & Mainsforth Parish Council.

If you care about our villages, want to support local projects, and would like to help shape the future of our community, we’d love to hear from you.

You don’t need previous council experience — just enthusiasm, commitment, and a desire to make a difference.

Take a look at the poster below for full details, including how to apply and the closing date. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Parish Clerk Anne Hall or Chair Harvey Neve.

Together we can conserve our past and build our future.

12/06/2026

Free Talk with Dr David Walsh: Unearthing Roman Sedgefield, History, Life, and New Discoveries