The Bishop Press

Issue 74

Bishop Press — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:29:34 +0000

Read Issue 74 (PDF) – Saturday , 21st January, 2012

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St. John’s to become Academy

bishoppress — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:01:22 +0000

An outstanding Catholic school and sixth form college has become the first for the Newcastle and Hexham Diocese in Durham to convert to an academy.
St John’s in Bishop Auckland, which has 1,400 students, aims to continue its work as a National Support School, sharing its best practice in teaching and learning, behaviour and leadership across the region.
Now known as St John’s School and Sixth Form College, a Catholic Academy, it has also played a role in laying new ground for the transfer of land from local authority ownership when schools convert.
Elaine McLaine, a solicitor with regional firm BHP Law who specialises in academy conversions, explained: “Land owned by the local authority, which has buildings on it for voluntary aided schools for sport, has to transfer to the academy trust as part of the conversion process.
“The seamless way in which we were able to negotiate this with the local authority has shown the Secretary of State that they do not need to give consent in such cases. In this sense, St John’s has provided a model for the Department for Education for future conversions.”
Gerard Moran, executive principal at St John’s and a National Leader of Education, said greater freedoms over the curriculum and resources would allow the academy to continue providing the best education for young people.
He explained: “Our aim was to go through the conversion process making the most important decisions for the future but also continuing as an outstanding, outward looking school.
“The professional advisors we employed, BHP Law and Avec, have been superb. We were attracted to the fact that we would get people who not only had experience of working with schools but would also support us by working in partnership with the school and its governors.
“We work to the principle of employing local firms when we can so we were delighted to find local partners who had the competencies we needed.”
Principal Frank O’Neill added: “The governors took a very careful approach to the process with a view to accountability and enhancing our ability to participate in the partnerships we already have.
“We look forward to continue working collaboratively with our partners. It’s a very exciting development for us and for the other schools in the area that we support.”
St John’s was built in 1967 and extended in the 1970s, including the addition of a swimming pool. It underwent a £9m refurbishment between 2003-05.

Free courses for customers

bishoppress — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:55:12 +0000

Bishop Auckland company Dale & Valley Homes is giving its customers the chance to study free of charge.
The company, which manages council homes in the Wear Valley area, is offering courses in everything from running a committee to computing and GCSE maths and English.
Sam Brennand, customer involvement team leader, said: “These courses are for all our customers who want to be involved with the company.
“We have many ways that customers can be involved and help us develop better services from joining the board to filling in surveys.
“Many people would like to do more but feel they don’t have the skills so we have put together a whole range of courses to help them, and we can offer these free of charge to involved customers.
“As well as helping us with consultation the courses will give people valuable skills and experience they could use in other areas of their lives, such as applying for jobs or running voluntary organisations.
“The courses were advertised in our customer newsletter at the end of last year and we are waiting to see how popular they are.”
Customers of Dale & Valley Homes can find out more about the courses by contacting the customer involvement team on 0800 0830 333.

Events at Bishop libraries

bishoppress — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:53:30 +0000

After the Christmas break the libraries are now back in action. W.o.W. (Woodhouse on Wednesday’s), talk and activities sessions recommence on Wednesday 11th January from 1pm till 2.30pm. The first session is card making with Isabel Hamilton. Advance booking is advisable on 01388 604612.
On Wednesday 18th January there is an illustrated travelogue talk by John Bennington.
Also on Wednesday 11th January Woodhouse Close library have a Bowel Cancer Awareness session from 10am till 11.30am.
At the Town Hall library ‘Story Time starts again from 10th January from 10.30am till 11.30am during term time. Why not take your child along and become a member of the under 5’s Story Time Club? Have fun, make friends, collect stars and certificates with crafts and stories. The cost is only £1.
Also starting again at the Town Hall library on Thursday 12th January from 5pm till 6pm and alternate Thursdays is the Book Buddies, which is a reading group aimed at children aged 8+ years.
Reading champion Sharon Carrick will inspire children to have fun with quizzes, library activities, reading, creative writing and of course books. They have their own ‘Library Shelf’ and special visitors, parties and special events. Why not come along and join in the fun?. This event is free. For more information call 01388 602610.

End of the line

bishoppress — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:50:56 +0000

The Weardale Railway launched a community service between Stanhope and Bishop Auckland in May 2010 but unfortunately the service ran its last train last week-end due to a poor take up of passengers.
Over the last 19 months very few people have used the train for commuting to work or even for pleasure.
It has therefore been decided to expand and improve the heritage railway services, catering specifically for the leisure and heritage market, utilising both steam and diesel vintage locomotives.
It is planned to make a series of improvements including a new platform at Bishop Auckland and improve access to connecting trains. There will be a new track loop and upgrades to Stanhope Station.

Next steps in shop demolition

bishoppress — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:21:12 +0000

A high street shop in Bishop Auckland, which suffered a significant roof collapse in the autumn, is to be demolished in the New Year.
Mothercare on Newgate Street has been closed since the incident in September and Durham County Council has been on site to prevent further collapse and protect the public. Now the council, which owns the building, will start a staged and controlled complete demolition of the premises in January, subject to the completion of legal formalities.
Stuart Timmiss, head of planning and assets at Durham County Council, said: “We have worked with local businesses and listened to their concerns and as a result we are waiting until after the busy festive period to start this work.
“A great deal of preparation has taken place on site to make sure that the building’s demolition can be carried out in a controlled way.
“This is important for a number of reasons. Firstly we want to protect the public from any falling debris and secondly it’s crucial that we establish the cause of the initial collapse.
“We can only do this by taking the damaged building apart carefully and experts from a number of parties will be on site to oversee this work.
“I very much hope that, once this task is complete, we will be far better placed to judge why the roof caved in the way it did.”
Structural engineers have been appointed to assess the debris and will be on-site throughout the demolition process in order to establish the cause of the original collapse.
Once the demolition is complete neighbouring shops WH Smith and Phones 4 U will be able to reopen, subject to the required surveys. The council is continuing to work with these businesses in the meantime.

Funding to boost town

bishoppress — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:33:56 +0000

The regeneration of our historic town centre is set to benefit from additional funding. Durham County Council’s Urban Rural Renaissance Initiative (URRI) team has secured £50,000 from the Local Transport Plan 2, to expand the area which is undergoing restoration around the Market Place in Bishop Auckland.
The money means that the final phase of the three year programme of improvements can also take in the area on the edge of the Market Place in front of the Queen’s Head Hotel and Monaco Bar.
Cllr Neil Foster is the Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development: “This is the final piece in the jigsaw for the regeneration of the Market Place and will undoubtedly finish the extensive programme of works off perfectly.
“This additional funding means residents and visitors will be able to enjoy enhanced pedestrian access to this important and historic heart of the town.
“Ensuring this whole area offers an attractive warm welcome to everyone is particularly important, given the exciting visitor opportunities we hope to see linked to the Zurbaran paintings and Auckland Castle.”
This aspect of the works will start on January 9, 2012 and take approximately eight weeks to complete. It will include installing safe crossing points linking the stretch of pavement along North Bondgate and the Market Place to the Town Hall and shops.
As the work falls within the town’s conservation area the improvements will be finished with the same high quality materials as those used in the Market Place, lifting the entire area.
Under this aspect of the programme the loading and parking areas will be reorganised and the footpaths will be widened.
Coinciding with this the bespoke lighting in the Market Place area will also be completed.
The works will be carried out by Durham County Council highways staff and will be overseen by the council’s regeneration team.

Juniors set for superb night

bishoppress — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:30:23 +0000

Bishop Auckland St. Mary’s Juniors Football Club are set to enjoy an excellent evening of entertainment at their upcoming Sportman’s Dinner.
They have secured former Welsh international John Hartson, and John Stiles (son of World Cup winner Nobby) to speak at their sportsman’s night at the end of January.
John Hartson (born 5 April 1975) is a Welsh former international footballer who played as a striker, best known for his spells with West Ham and Celtic. Hartson also featured prominently for Wales, earning 51 caps until his international retirement in 2006. He retired from professional football after being released by West Bromwich Albion in January 2008, ending a
career also spent at Luton Town, Arsenal, Wimbledon, Coventry City and Norwich City. He has since been seen on our television screens as a football pundit.
John Stiles was born in Manchester in 1964. John Stiles spent 5 years as a professional footballer with Leeds United. John, however will always be known as a son of Nobby. His father of course is 1966 World Cup Winning hero and former Man Utd legend Nobby Stiles.
Once his football career was over, finishing with Doncaster Rovers John then moved into the football agency industry, including working for the same Management Company that looked
after the Spice Girls.
John then progressed onto the ‘After Dinner’ Speaker circuit and can also compere and (MC) Master of Ceremonies which then developed into him turning to the world of comedy where he has now established himself as one of the most popular acts on the circuit.
The Sportman’s Dinner will be held on Friday 27th January 2012 at Cockton Hill W.M.C.
Kick Off will be at 7.30pm and admission is priced at £20.00 Per Ticket (tables of 10 preferred) which includes a pie and peas supper. To book your place contact Steve Coulthard on 07968 426817 or Graham Sheldon on 07976 607430. Further information is available online at www.basmj.com.

Issue 73

bishoppress — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:26:31 +0000

Read Issue 73 (PDF) – Saturday , 7th January, 2012

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Issue 72

bishoppress — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:10:52 +0000

Read Issue 72 (PDF) – Saturday , 24th December, 2011

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