After much thought and reflection, I have decided not to stand for re-election as a Town Councillor. This was not a decision I made lightly, but one I feel is necessary under the current circumstances.

Currently, Sedgefield’s Town Councillors, including myself, are not elected by the people of Sedgefield but are co-opted when a vacancy arises. At this election, although two new people are standing, there will also be two councillors stepping down, not including myself. Personally, I believe that until the people of Sedgefield can vote directly for their Town Councillors, things will not change in a meaningful way.

One of the main issues that pushed me to make this decision is the Town Council’s handling of the recent increase in hall hire fees and booking changes. I understand the need for price increases, but the way this has been handled is deeply concerning.

In 2024, the Council set out a 25% rise in fees for April 2025, followed by further 25% increase in 2026 and another in 2027 – although the amount has yet to be agreed. Despite this, regular users of the hall weren’t informed until January 2025, just months before the rise.

This delayed communication has caused significant hardship, with many long-standing groups now having to consider leaving due to the unaffordable costs. The Town Council have changed their pricing policy so those holding ticketed events are paying more for hall hire. The WI often have events where other members are welcome as guests but need to pay an additional fee – this is now classed as a ticketed event. The WI have been meeting in the hall for over 100 years and members have now reluctantly made the decision to leave and meet elsewhere.

To make matters worse, the council has also imposed additional charges for storage, with one group being asked to pay £900 for cupboards that they built and paid for years ago. The lack of transparency around these price hikes and the council’s refusal to provide a breakdown of costs to user groups, about running the hall is deeply frustrating. They are also imposing a £25 charge for anyone that uses the bar – a charge the Sedgefield Players will also have to pay despite finding funding to refurbish it.

The Parish Hall is a vital part of our community and has been used by many groups for decades. Yet, many Town Councillors rarely attend events at the hall and seem disconnected from the needs of the people who rely on it. I believe that if we want to protect and preserve this essential asset, the people of Sedgefield must have a say in who represents them on the Town Council.

I urge the people of Sedgefield to get involved in local governance, especially when vacancies arise. We need more transparency, more community involvement, and more Councillors who are truly invested in the wellbeing of the people they represent.

Together, we can make a difference. Elizabeth Flanagan

Many thanks to local photographer Caitlin Ally Penning for this beautiful image.

Sedgefield in Bloom would like to thank everyone involved in the planning and construction of the new footpath on Wykes Close, opposite Sedgefield Social Club. We are especially grateful to local councillors Chris Lines and David Brown, Andrew Coulthard from Livin’ and Durham County Council for their support and funding of the project.

The path has transformed the area, which is one of the many green spaces in the town tended by Sedgefield in Bloom volunteers. It is becoming increasingly popular with residents and visitors to the locality.
Marie Etherington

The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw with Cancer Research UK is an annual event that takes place in Slimming World groups across the UK. It sees members donating good quality clothes, shoes, and accessories that no longer fit – and they’re confident they will never need again.

Slimming World members in Newton Aycliffe and Sedgefield have raised £3,300 for Cancer Research UK by donating the clothes they’ve slimmed out of to the charity’s shops.

Slimming World Consultant Sam Hudson, who runs the groups, says she’s proud of how her members came together to support the charity, as well as to celebrate how far they’ve come on their own weight loss journeys.

“Being overweight doesn’t necessarily mean that a person will develop cancer, but we know that losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent a number of health conditions, including some types of cancer.

I’m proud to host The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw at my Slimming World group to help Cancer Research UK continue its vital work.”

The Sedgefield Slimming World group is held at Sedgefield Methodist Church every Tuesday. For more information or to join Sam’s group either pop along or call her on 07970 451284.

The Parish of the Upper Skerne which extends from Bradbury and Mordon in the South to Deaf Hill and the Trimdons in the North, is this year celebrating twenty years since its formation to incorporate the churches of
St Alban's, Trimdon Grange
St Catherine's, Fishburn
St Edmund's, Sedgefield
St Mary Magdalene's, Trimdon Village
St Michael's, Bishop Middleham

A wide ranging and varied series of events are planned across the Parish starting at Easter when the children from all the Primary Schools will be decorating eggs for display between 1pm and 3pm in their local churches on 19, 20 and 21 April.

On 11 May there is a Choral Evensong in St Michael's. Followed by a talk on Sunday 25 May at St Alban's Church in Trimdon Grange on the Lindisfarne Gospels by Michele Brown, the acknowledged expert on the subject, when a facsimile of the Gospels will be available to view.

Later in the year will be a Parish Eucharist on 15 June at St Edmund's Sedgefield celebrating the twenty year anniversary.

Later still are concerts by the Lyric Singers, Songs of Praise, Murder Mystery Night, a possible visit by Hartlepool Male Voice Choir and much, much more.

ALL ARE WELCOME AT ALL EVENTS. Further information is available from John Burrows on 07870 210269 or jandeburrows@gmail.com. Alternatively visit upperskerne.org.uk.

The Thorpe Thewles History Group (TTHG) are planning to produce and showcase a documentary film based on their recent discovery of a set of diaries written between 1911 and 1913 by the teenage son of a farmer in the village.

These diaries present a young man’s stories of life in rural south east Durham and beyond in the years leading up to the Great War. TTHG will invite local people of all ages to act, read extracts of the diaries for the camera and to work behind the scenes.

This is one of a number of exciting projects that the group are undertaking with funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund and the Lambs Hill Wind Farm Community Fund.

Other projects include creating a replica of the Thorpe Cross, a drone based survey of Grindon Church and a series of public engagement workshops.

Thorpe Thewles History Group (TTHG) carries out research as well as holding monthly talks. TTHG are always happy to welcome new members. You can find out more on Facebook or get in touch at tthg@outlook.com.