Elections

Durham County Council elections, 2021: Deerness

Summary: Elections to Durham County Council in May 2021
Polling date: Thursday 6th May 2021
Division:
Candidates
(by surname):
  • Jean Kathleen CHAPLOW  (Labour Party)
  • John Joseph KELLEY  (Liberal Democrat)
  • Richard LAWRIE  (Conservative Party)
  • Fleur Elizabeth MESTON  (Conservative Party)
  • Dan NICHOLLS  (Labour Party)
  • Alan OSTLE  (Green Party)
  • Florence Diana SIMPSON  (Liberal Democrat)
  • Katie TUCKER  (Liberal Democrat)
  • Matthew Alexander VICKERS  (Conservative Party)
  • Marion WILSON  (Labour Party)

Candidates who have not yet responded are welcome to contact us with their replies to the questions for us to publish.

Questions for Deerness division candidates (5 questions)

Jump to question:  1   2   3   4   5 

# Question 1

What experiences do you or your family members have of cycling for either transport or leisure? Bearing in mind that e-bikes can now make County Durham's hills easy, what would you consider to be the main barriers which prevent more people from cycling in your area, and how would you tackle these?

Jean Kathleen CHAPLOW
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
John Joseph KELLEY
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard LAWRIE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Fleur Elizabeth MESTON
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Dan NICHOLLS
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Alan OSTLE
(Green Party)

I am a regular leisure cyclist, as are members of my immediate family, and the Deerness Valley Railway Walk is a favourite route. For leisure purposes an ordinary bike is great for keeping fit, enjoying the local environment and cycling is an activity where all the members of the family can join in and enjoy the experience together. However, for commuting or going a distance with a load an e-bike opens up new opportunities. Hills are easy to climb and the bikes can carry books or shopping in panniers. These bike routes need to be direct, continuous and safe, and for daily use they need to have all-weather surfaces. Protection from traffic is a major concern and I want to see more separated bike lanes on clearly signed routes between the villages and City and to schools and shops. Venues need secure storage for bikes and e-bikes in particular. These could also offer charging ports.

Florence Diana SIMPSON
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Katie TUCKER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Matthew Alexander VICKERS
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Marion WILSON
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 2

Schools in County Durham have bike shelters but they are often empty. Children who might like to cycle are often driven to school because parents don't consider our streets safe enough for children to walk or cycle. What are your views about cycling as a travel option for children? What practical changes would you like to see in your area to enable children to cycle?

Jean Kathleen CHAPLOW
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
John Joseph KELLEY
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard LAWRIE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Fleur Elizabeth MESTON
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Dan NICHOLLS
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Alan OSTLE
(Green Party)

Cycling is a healthy option for children travelling to school and when parents accompany them they get the same benefits. Safety is the key priority and I would look to designate safer cycling routes with appropriate speed limits and clear signage. Hazards created by inconsiderate parking can force cyclists onto roads or in conflict with vehicles or pedestrians. I would work with residents to identify parking options which balance the needs of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Speed moderation including physical restrictions and lower speed limits (20 is Plenty) during school travel times helps to demonstrate that roads are shared use. In some locations this could involve removing traffic signage altogether to create a distinctive shared access space for all users causing vehicles to use great care in moving around.

Florence Diana SIMPSON
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Katie TUCKER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Matthew Alexander VICKERS
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Marion WILSON
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 3

The surge in cycling during the Covid 19 lockdowns showed how quieter and safer conditions encourage people to cycle. Cycling can help address many issues:

* the climate emergency, if people cycle instead of making shorter journeys by car
* social inclusion, because cycling is affordable and enables those on low incomes to access employment and other opportunities
* the health crisis, as exercise incorporated into journeys is very effective

How big a role do you think cycling can play in tackling these urgent issues? How can Durham County Council increase investment in cycling and quickly deliver safe, complete cycle routes to key destinations?

Jean Kathleen CHAPLOW
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
John Joseph KELLEY
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard LAWRIE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Fleur Elizabeth MESTON
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Dan NICHOLLS
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Alan OSTLE
(Green Party)

Investing in cycling is good for people and good for the planet. I have outlined above some physical improvements that could be made to encourage cycling. Promoting cycling needs community involvement so that changes are seen to benefit people locally and to take into account health, education, early years support, employment, mobility and environmental improvement.
In addition to existing cycle riding training at primary schools, the Council could offer cyclists basic maintenance skills, potentially with the involvement of local bike shops, so that bikes are kept in good condition and are a reliable form of transport leading to regular use. Bus-and-cycle options where buses carry bikes would enable longer and more flexible journeys.
It is key to effective investing in cycling that the Council consults and coordinates with other interested parties including for instance Transition Durham and Trust Pathways. Cycling must be given the political and officer recognition to ensure cycling is front and centre of all transport initiatives, housing and commercial development and I would support the appointment of a council officer at a senior level to advocate and support cycling provision together with a nominated Member role.

Florence Diana SIMPSON
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Katie TUCKER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Matthew Alexander VICKERS
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Marion WILSON
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 4

Deerness has some great off-road routes but they don't connect with Durham City, being blocked by the A167, and there is no provision on Neville's Cross Bank & Lowes Barn Bank. What would you do to connect villages like Bearpark, Ushaw Moor and Broompark to enable cycling to the city?

Jean Kathleen CHAPLOW
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
John Joseph KELLEY
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard LAWRIE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Fleur Elizabeth MESTON
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Dan NICHOLLS
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Alan OSTLE
(Green Party)

The Esh Winning to Durham B6302 road is the most direct route to the City and could become the arterial cycle route with the provision of protected cycle/pedestrian lanes together with designated feeder links from the villages utilising and improving existing surfaces. Working with other councillors I would wish to see the development of the cycle route to the City centre via Lowes Barn Bank. This could link with a similar arterial cycle route through Brandon and Langley Moor.

Florence Diana SIMPSON
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Katie TUCKER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Matthew Alexander VICKERS
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Marion WILSON
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 5

The off-road cycle routes in Deerness are not practical for many journeys, especially in the winter when there is little daylight at commuting times. What would be your priorities for investing in safe cycle routes alongside the main roads in this division?

Jean Kathleen CHAPLOW
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
John Joseph KELLEY
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard LAWRIE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Fleur Elizabeth MESTON
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Dan NICHOLLS
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Alan OSTLE
(Green Party)

Key priorities would be signage, separation and improved lighting, in particular at junctions. Changes to road layout and the potential knock-on effect of reducing road width would require a review of safe speed limits.

Florence Diana SIMPSON
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Katie TUCKER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Matthew Alexander VICKERS
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Marion WILSON
(Labour Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

SPACE for Durham is a non-partisan body. All candidates are given an equal opportunity to submit their views. Information published by SPACE for Durham, c/o 35 Archery Rise, Durham, DH1 4LA.