We would like to say the biggest thank you to everyone who has helped others or brightened someone’s day this year, and a special thank you from the Parish Council to all our volunteers who have done so much. It has been a pleasure to get to know and to assist the volunteers and those who have received some support.

It is no understatement to say this has been a difficult year and our thoughts are with everyone who has found it so. Our support and our volunteers’ efforts continue for those in our villages who have struggled due to the pandemic.

For the Parish Council, the year ended with offering a helping hand through Secret Santa hampers. Thank you to all those who donated and the people who sorted, wrapped and delivered the hampers. They have been much appreciated.

The picture above is our socially distanced Elves helping with wrapping. It was more fun than it looks!

Everyone at Coxhoe Parish Council would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and all best wishes for the New Year.

The Parish Council are to hold a ‘virtual’ Parish Council Meeting on Wednesday 2 December 2020 at 6.30pm.

The Press and Public are very welcome to ‘attend’ this meeting. However, due to the current Government measures for Covid-19 the Parish Council will meet virtually using ‘Zoom’ as this meeting cannot be held in public.

If members of the press or public wish to attend to make a statement or raise a question, the meeting can be accessed through the link in the agenda.

You can access a copy of the agenda from the following link:

Agenda for the Monthly Meeting of Coxhoe Parish Council on 2 December 2020

A copy of the public report for the Monthly Meeting on 2 December 2020 is available.

Help us cover Coxhoe and Quarrington Hill in colour  this Spring Bank Holiday.

Working with Coxhoe Village Hall and Quarrington Hill Community Centre we have received a small grant from East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership (AAP) . This grant is part of the AAP’s Holiday Activities with Healthy Food (HAWHF) project.

We are delivering packs of a pot, soil and seeds to grow your own sunflowers for children. We are including a treat pack with fruit and sweets. The delivery is planned to take place in half term week.

Would your child like a pack? Let us know by emailing clerk@coxhoeparishcouncil.gov.uk or text or call 07988 283287.  We will do the rest. Packs are available on a first come first served so please let us know as quickly as possible to avoid disappointment. We will have a cut off time of  5.00 pm on  Wednesday 27 May. Please do not message us or comment on facebook as we do not monitor facebook on a 24 hour 7 day a week basis. Any requests through messenger or facebook comments will not be accepted we are afraid..

We will  let you know roughly when to expect us. The packs will be delivered by our Corona Virus response volunteers. The packs are possible through funding from East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership and also Coxhoe United.

We are sorry but this offer is only available to residents of the Parish of Coxhoe Parish Council. If you live outside the parish, including, for example, Parkhill, check with your own Parish Council to see what they have available.

Works at J61 Bowburn are progressing ahead of schedule and the first phase of the work programme is now expected to be completed on Tuesday 19 May. Phase 2 of the works, which was originally programmed to commence from Tuesday 26 May, has now been brought forward to start on Wednesday 20 May with day times closures until the work is complete on Sunday 31 May. Full details are available on the  Junction 61 Page of the Durham County Council Website

Owing to an unsafe carriageway surface it has been necessary to temporarily close to vehicular traffic a 130 metre length of A688 between its junctions with A688 and B6291 Roundabout at Coxhoe and the circulatory carriageway of A1(M) Junction 61 Interchange.

The closure, which is being effected by means of Notice under Section 14(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is necessary by reason of likelihood of danger to the public or further damage to the highway and to permit carriageway resurfacing works to be carried out.

The alternative route for vehicular traffic is from the south eastern side of the closure from B6291 and A688 Coxhoe Roundabout northerly on A688 to A181 Roundabout at Byers Garth then westerly on A181 to Sherburn House and continuing on B1198 Shincliffe Lane to Mill Lane to A177 junction at Shincliffe then:

1. Turning south on A177 through High Shincliffe to Bowburn and Junction 61 to the north western side of the closure and vice versa
2. Turning north westerly, westerly and south westerly on A177 to A167 Cock O’The North Roundabout then southwards on A167 to Thinford then

Firstly, Continuing southwards on A167 to Rushyford then easterly on A689 to A1(M) Junction 60 Bradbury

Then secondly Eastwards, toward Durham Services

To the western side of the closure and vice versa.

There will be associated restrictions on exit from the A1 (M)

The southbound entrance and exit on the A1(M) Bowburn will be closed with no access to the B6291 towards Coxhoe and A177 towards Bowburn from the southbound entrance from today for eight days until Wednesday 20 May while work is undertaken.

The Northbound entrance and exit on the A1(M) Bowburn will be closed with no access to the A177 towards Bowburn or Roadchef services on the A688 from Thursday 21 May until Sunday 7 June while work is undertaken. There will also be no east to west access from Coxhoe to Bowburn during this period.

Diversions will be in place throughout the duration of these works and those making essential journeys that would ordinarily take them along these roads are advised to take account of possible delays to their journeys.

The maximum duration of the closure under this Notice is 21 days. However, it is anticipated that the closure will be effective from for an anticipated period of 10 days between 6.00 am and 6.00 pm per day unless government guidelines change in which case the working hours will be 8.00 pm to 6.00 am.

The community is advised that following completion of this there will be a second phase of work which will significantly affect the A1 (m) interchange. Further information on this will be provided in due course.

If you have any issues regarding this please contact Durham County Council Highways.

In celebration of St Georges  Day we are flying the Flag of St. George

We are living in difficult time and we understand that some people will not be able to get to see the flag today.

April 23rd is the Anniversary of the Death of our patron Saint. According to legend he rescued a Princess and killed a dragon in the process. The day is also known as the Feast of St.George.

Keep up to date with what is going on in the Parish

The Spring edition of the Chronicle with lots of news is now available on line.

This includes an accessible version of the March 2020 Chronicle. The usual magazine version is available on our The Chronicle page