Monk Hesleden Parish Council

02/10/2026

02/10/2026

This week, we said a very heartfelt farewell to our wonderful Parish Clerk, Lynda Wardle as she begins her well-deserved retirement. ❤️💐

For more than two decades, she has been such an important part of Monkhesleden Parish Council and our community.
She has worked tirelessly alongside councillors, past and present, managing the Parish Council with dedication, care and a genuine commitment to making a difference for local residents.

Her most recent achievement will leave a very special and lasting legacy — securing the funding for, and co-designing the installation of the fantastic MUGA and Play Area at Blackhall Welfare Park. Something that will be enjoyed by our community and by generations to come.

On behalf of the Parish Council, our Chairman, our councillors, and all those she has helped and supported over the years, we simply want to say
‘Thank you’ for your 21 years of hard work, dedication, friendship and commendable service. 🙏❤️

We will miss you enormously and wish you every happiness for the next chapter. You have certainly earned it! ❤️🌷

29/09/2026

BLACKHALL COLLIERY:
Cllr Rob Crute met with the neighbourhood wardens, the anti-social behaviour team, community safety officers, Durham constabulary, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, the selective licensing team, officers from the council's empty homes team and other partner organisations for a walk around the numbered streets in Blackhall Colliery yesterday morning.

Lots of issues were raised, including untidy back yards, external damage to a couple of private sector properties, bins left out in the street and one or two incidents of fly-tipping. All issues are being dealt with by the relevant partners, with a full update to follow soon.

Similar walkabouts are planned for Hesleden and Blackhall Rocks and will take place as soon as arrangements to get all the relevant agencies together are finalised.

📍 Blackhall Colliery Partnership Walkabout Today

This morning, Neighbourhood Wardens will be joining colleagues from the ASB Team, Community Safety, Durham Constabulary, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, the Empty Homes Team, local councillors, and other partner agencies for a multi-agency walkabout in Blackhall Colliery.

The purpose of the walkabout is to identify and address issues affecting the local community, including anti-social behaviour, environmental concerns, community safety matters, empty properties, and areas requiring improvement.

By working together and engaging directly with residents, we can better understand local concerns and help make Blackhall Colliery a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming place for everyone.

👋 If you see us out and about this morning, please stop and have a chat. We welcome your feedback and are keen to hear about any issues or concerns in your area.

28/09/2026

Cllr Crute has been urging Durham County Council to address the issue of deep unsightly potholes and the badly corroded road surfaces on both Ninth Street and Tenth Street, Blackhall
Colliery in recent weeks.

We are happy to report another positive result 👍😊

POTHOLE UPDATE:

"Dear Councillor Crute, thank you for reporting this issue. The service area assessed the defect on 23 September and based on the severity of the defect and the road or footpath location, they aim to complete the works within the next 14 days. This timescale meets their statutory duty in line with the Highways Repairs Policy."

26/09/2026

Feeling Autumnal 🍂🍁🧑🏼‍🌾🫕

SCARECROW FESTIVAL 2026

Scarecrow Festival Dates :
26th September - 4th October

If you are struggling for ideas, or items to make your scarecrow, please drop us a message and we can try and help.

All entries will need to be registered. You can register online via this link:
https://forms.gle/iGniGRHESX2z7Ztn9

or call into Hesleden Shop for a physical form. Forms can be returned to the shop also.

Our festival is sponsored by Igomove County Durham, your local estate agent. Please contact them if you thinking of buying or selling and property.

Thank you
THRA

25/09/2026

Thank you to all who volunteered this week at Blackhall Rocks as part the Great British Beach Clean Week 👍

17 large bags of rubbish collected.
A fantastic effort despite the heavy rain. ☔️

A number of our lovely councillors are attending the ‘Coast & Rural Solution Discussion’ next week hosted at Blackhall with Newcastle University’s National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE).
Experts, Practitioners and Community Leaders shall share their local knowledge and experience of the area to discuss what matters most to our residents. This will help identify current issues, develop recommendations and shape future policy to support thriving coastal communities. 🌊 🪨 🏡

07/09/2026

Autumnal replant at Hesleden.

02/04/2026

Spring has officially arrived , just in time for the Easter break 🌸✨