- Facebook event
Friday 27 July 2018
Upcoming event: Picnic in the park, 12th August
Picnic in Stanhope Park. Bring your own picnic, or sample the food available for a small donation. All welcome to attend. Sunday 12th August starting at 12pm.
- Facebook event
- Facebook event
Wednesday 25 July 2018
Newsquest redundancy announcement
At a time when transparency in local government is needed most, the announcement of further redundancies at the Northern Echo should set alarm bells ringing.
It is said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. While this might not strictly apply to disease control it is most certainly the case when it comes to politics.
There is growing concern among Darlington people that decisions taken in their name are not always in their best interests. More concerningly, there is a spreading feeling that consultations with residents have become merely paper exercises with decisions having already been taken behind closed doors.
The Northern Echo has a proud heritage of serving the people of Darlington and beyond and while they cannot please all of the people all of the time they have undertaken journalistic investigations of significant importance. The bungling of the pedestrian heart contract and the Crown Street Library campaign being just two that spring to mind.
There is hope that independent, citizen journalism may fill the void left as regional papers shrink but unless that enthusiasm is coupled with professionalism and resources the scrutiny required to keep civic society honest will be missing.
Newsquest has been honest in saying these redundancies are down to cost cutting and shrinking of print circulation is not news. However, Darlington people should ask themselves, who do you trust to supply you with balanced information about your home town? Does billionaire Mark Zuckerberg really have your best interests at heart?
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. When it comes to Darlington, perhaps the price of freedom is an online subscription to this newspaper.
Matthew Snedker
Darlington Green Party
- Nine roles at risk as daily plans to merge district reporting teams
It is said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. While this might not strictly apply to disease control it is most certainly the case when it comes to politics.
There is growing concern among Darlington people that decisions taken in their name are not always in their best interests. More concerningly, there is a spreading feeling that consultations with residents have become merely paper exercises with decisions having already been taken behind closed doors.
The Northern Echo has a proud heritage of serving the people of Darlington and beyond and while they cannot please all of the people all of the time they have undertaken journalistic investigations of significant importance. The bungling of the pedestrian heart contract and the Crown Street Library campaign being just two that spring to mind.
There is hope that independent, citizen journalism may fill the void left as regional papers shrink but unless that enthusiasm is coupled with professionalism and resources the scrutiny required to keep civic society honest will be missing.
Newsquest has been honest in saying these redundancies are down to cost cutting and shrinking of print circulation is not news. However, Darlington people should ask themselves, who do you trust to supply you with balanced information about your home town? Does billionaire Mark Zuckerberg really have your best interests at heart?
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. When it comes to Darlington, perhaps the price of freedom is an online subscription to this newspaper.
Matthew Snedker
Darlington Green Party
- Nine roles at risk as daily plans to merge district reporting teams
Monday 23 July 2018
Green party deputy leader visits tree protest site, dubbed 'Weeping Willows' by campaigners
Amelia Womack was met by a large crowd on visit to Darlington today. She heard about the #lovedarlotrees campaign and is sure that we will Green Party councillors elected in May 2019.
Northern Echo: Green party deputy leader visits tree protest site, dubbed 'Weeping Willows' by campaigners
Northern Echo: Green party deputy leader visits tree protest site, dubbed 'Weeping Willows' by campaigners
Friday 20 July 2018
Green Party Deputy Leader to visit former Blackwell golf course site
Green Party Deputy Leader, Amelia Womack, is making her first visit to darlington on Monday 23rd July, to meet local residents and learn more about the #lovedarlotrees campaign.
Development of the former Blackwell golf course remains as contentious as ever. The shock and distress felt by residents and visitors alike when hundreds of trees were felled is still raw. The sense of anger caused was multiplied by the response from local and Borough councillors who failed to grasp the magnitude of feeling in the town.
Matthew Snedker coordinator of Darlington Green Party said; “The response from councillors seemed off-hand, along the lines of ‘it was voted through the planning committee, so what is all the fuss about’. The disconnection between serving councillor and the people they are supposed to represent was alarming and shows why increasingly people are loosing faith in councillors who are seen to have been in post for too long. I know that Amelia has been following what has been going on in the town to protect our trees and I am delighted that she has made the time to see first hand the work we have been doing.”
After a 3 year planning battle the developers, Storey Homes, cleared the former Blackwell golf course of around 180 trees and dredged two ponds thought to contain Great Crested Newts. There was considerable confusion earlier this year when Natural England initially told campaigners that there was no permission to disturb the site, only for a licence to turn up at the eleventh hour.
Matthew Snedker added, “What is of great concern is that Darlington Councillors may have lost control of their planning process. Either they lack the ability to hold developers to the law or they hope that Darlington residents won’t hold them to account for their actions.”
Members of the public can show that they #lovedarlotrees by gathering at Blackwell Grange Hotel from 11:30 or meeting Amelia at the site on Carmel Road South from 12:20.
Development of the former Blackwell golf course remains as contentious as ever. The shock and distress felt by residents and visitors alike when hundreds of trees were felled is still raw. The sense of anger caused was multiplied by the response from local and Borough councillors who failed to grasp the magnitude of feeling in the town.
Matthew Snedker coordinator of Darlington Green Party said; “The response from councillors seemed off-hand, along the lines of ‘it was voted through the planning committee, so what is all the fuss about’. The disconnection between serving councillor and the people they are supposed to represent was alarming and shows why increasingly people are loosing faith in councillors who are seen to have been in post for too long. I know that Amelia has been following what has been going on in the town to protect our trees and I am delighted that she has made the time to see first hand the work we have been doing.”
After a 3 year planning battle the developers, Storey Homes, cleared the former Blackwell golf course of around 180 trees and dredged two ponds thought to contain Great Crested Newts. There was considerable confusion earlier this year when Natural England initially told campaigners that there was no permission to disturb the site, only for a licence to turn up at the eleventh hour.
Matthew Snedker added, “What is of great concern is that Darlington Councillors may have lost control of their planning process. Either they lack the ability to hold developers to the law or they hope that Darlington residents won’t hold them to account for their actions.”
Members of the public can show that they #lovedarlotrees by gathering at Blackwell Grange Hotel from 11:30 or meeting Amelia at the site on Carmel Road South from 12:20.
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