A partnership environmental scheme is making a difference to a County Durham village.
Teams from Durham County Council have joined forces with Wingate Parish Council to improve areas of an East Durham village this month.
The old level crossing gates, and railway signal in Wingate will be replaced using funding secured by the parish council, and the council’s teams will be sprucing up the surrounding area by installing a fence around a grassed area planted with bulbs.
Durham County Cllr, Leo Taylor will also be funding the repositioning of a nearby bus shelter which will make the new gates more visible
The project, which started in March, is the follow-up to a previous partnership environment drive that took place last September.
Eighteen pupils from Wellfield Community School litter picked 18 bags of rubbish from the old pit site, the Probation Service and the council’s Clean and Green team removed a tonne and a half of rubbish from the site, eleven untidy yards were also tackled and 13 dogs were microchipped.
Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “This environmental partnership scheme is an excellent example of the council working together with communities to improve local areas.
“The clean-up project back in September not only helped to improve the area by removing rubbish, it also brought the community together and engaged with young people to care for their environment.
“The second part of the scheme will see a piece of Wingate’s heritage sensitively replaced and surrounding areas improved.”
Kevin McGonnell, Chair of Wingate Parish Council adds: “The former crossing gates along with the railway signals form part of the history of Wingate. Sadly the gates particularly have deteriorated to such an extent that they need to be replaced as they are unsightly and a bit of hazard.
“The Parish Council considered that it was important not to lose part of Wingate’s heritage and so agreed to fund the construction of new gates as well as other restoration works to the signals.
“This is one of a number of environmental schemes in the village we have funded including the installation of hanging baskets and flower tubs. We are committed to continuing to do what we can to improve Wingate.