The outbreak of the coronavius and its development into a pandemic is affecting everyone’s lives and it is appears that it will be with us for some time.
Government advice on trying to stop the spread and deal with its consequences is changing on a daily basis. The main thrust of current advice is for social isolation to avoid the spread of the disease.
If you need information on the virus please make sure you look at official, reputable websites for information. We suggest the following:
The Coxhoe Community are mobilising to celebrate Victory in Europe Day.
As the community cannot come together as planned, social isolation street parties are being arranged. Houses will be decorated and householders will stay in their own gardens. This will ensure we celebrate the 75th anniversary end of War in Europe the best we are able.
Some local businesses have had the idea of a Union Jack Poster Competition which they have now launched.
This is open to absolutely everybody of all ages. They are asking the community to go to town use your imagination. They are asking a poster to be created on A4 size paper create anything you like but it must be of a Union Jack theme. On the back of your design please put your full name and age and a contact number.
Very importantly entries need to be put into an envelope or plastic sleeve and posted through the Letterbox of 22A Church Street ( blue door ) next door to Wing and a Prayer. Use gloves when posting. Please do not deliver to any other shops. Please also only deliver them when you are out on other essential trips including your daily exercise. The shops taking part will take appropriate handing measures and then decorate their windows with your creations. There will be Numerous Prizes given out for the best designs. Good luck to you all let’s make this a truly special occasion.
The Draft Minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 23 March 2020 are now available online. Please click on the link to view and download them.
The Spring edition of the Coxhoe Chronicle featured an article on Coxhoe’s ‘magic mile’.
The article was written just as the lockdown hit us. Some businesses have been forced to close as a result of the virus lockdown. Others are continuing to provide goods and services even, in some cases, with reduced capacity.
We know businesses are working together and evolving in efforts to provide for the community and in some cases to survive difficult times. Seventeen, for example, is doing a takeaway service and are working with ‘Wing and a Prayer.’ The latter is providing cards with Seventeen’s take away afternoon teas and lunches, while preparing for reopening with a mail ordering service which has achieved 1,000 orders for their base of 38 local businesses. Adore is doing a postal service. Our food shops, including Coates butchers are keeping us fed in difficult circumstances. Keep it green are still looking after lawns, Bonsai Bon Bon’s are delivering our sweets and Platinum Physiotherapy are providing online classes, some free. These are just some examples of our businesses responding at a time of lockdown.
As a Parish Council we are unable to advertise individual businesses although we celebrate them in our Local Business and Traders page. Many businesses have their own websites or business pages. If you want to find out what they are offering look there.
Coxhoe Parish Council is proud of and salutes our local businesses! We encourage everyone to shop local where you can.
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.
The Parish Council’s volunteer website and social media administrator has advised the Parish Council of his intention to retire from his role. This is after over 10 years voluntary service.
Ian Forster began volunteering with the Parish Council in 2009 as Assistant Parish Clerk when his wife, Margaret, was Parish Clerk. In 2010 he set up a new Parish Council website with the help and support of Durham County Council who host it. In the same year he set up the Parish Facebook and Twitter accounts.
In 2016, Ian worked with the County Council to switch the site from a Microsoft to WordPress based system. This resulted in a bigger, brighter website. Since October last year, on top of his normal administration duties, Ian has spent many hours to ensure that the Parish Council website meets new accessibility legislation. This work has included reducing the number of Portable Document Format (PDF) documents on the site. These have now been replaced with text on pages instead . Ian has ensured that every photograph on our site, and there are many, all have alternative text embedded. This enables electronic readers to communicate what the photographs show to people with sight impairments.
The website and social media is now at the centre of Parish Council communications. Ian has always tried to ensure that the website and social media has been of true community value and not just promoting parish council business.
The website and social media has benefitted from his own photography and the council from his planning knowledge. He has led a range of social media campaigns in his time such as encouraging votes for grant aid and community issues such as dog fouling.
In developing the website, Ian has worked with local businesses personally to set up our business directory on our website. This has resulted in over 50 businesses being represented and having their own webpage. Ian has continued to work with businesses to update their pages when necessary. More recently, Ian’s focus has been on ensuring Coronavirus information is available locally.
Last year the Parish website had 25,000 hits which is an excellent achievement for a Parish Council site. The Parish Facebook page has over 1700 followers and nearly 1700 likes.
As the Parish Council’s ambition, workload, governance and administration has grown so has the time required to undertake website and social media duties. This has ultimately led Ian to reach his decision.
Currently, Ian will assist the Parish until the end of lockdown or 1 July whichever is later.
Coxhoe Parish Council Youth Team are running an Easter Egg Competition.
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
Chatting to the local community and Businesses they told us that Coxhoe has a “Magic Mile”.
They said if you walked down one side of our front street and back up the other you could get almost anything you needed on ‘The Magic Mile’.
While the virus is having a hopefully Coxhoe is normally a thriving village. It an Aladdin’s cave of shops and bursting with businesses and community facilities. Lunchtime is a veritable feast, with a quick stop at Andersons Bakers or Coates Butchers, Bacon Butty at Gem Café or Coxhoe Café or lunch or afternoon tea at Seventeen. We even have Chinese food, Indian food and a Fish shop.
Choosing a special gift has never been easier! Bonsai Bon Bons has the best sweets, Flowers and candles from Michell, Wing and a Prayer for local crafts, beautiful clothes and nick-nacks from Adore. Visit Opal for furniture, gifts and their brilliant Christmas shop and Haunting Heaven is a recent addition if you fancy something quirky.
When it comes to your home improvements Franks will replace your carpets and Coxhoe Paving can upgrade your garden and for all other DIY projects Coxhoe Timber can provide all you need.
Coxhoe can even alter your clothes and curtains at All Sewn Up and Opal. Specialist Businesses include wedding dresses by Alice Elizabeth Creations, and Party Forever catering for your every celebration. The Coronation Press is a long established printers, Talbots Taxi’s and AWC Insurance Services and The Signs Man, not forgetting the Post Office, Coxhoe Club and The Village Tavern.
All your beauty needs are catered for by Chic, Scissorhands by Nicola, Stephen Scarr’s, Lads n Dads, Bishops Barbers, Turkish Barbers, Esprit and CoCo Beauty and even your pets can be looked after in the village at The Groom Room.
If that wasn’t enough then:
Food shopping won’t be a problem with Cost Cutter, Best One and the Coop and we can even provide everything you need for your pets at Noah’s Ark.
The coronavirus and the current lockdown have led to the temporary closure of a lot of business. However, we are looking forward to the time they all reopen and thrive once more
Coxhoe is a thriving Village with lots of other businesses in other parts of the village. Many businesses have signed up to our business directory. You can find many of them listed on our Local Business and Traders pages
Please shop local and support your local traders when they reopen.
Coxhoe Parish Council’s Community Website achieved over 25,000 hits last year.
This is a 25 per cent increase on last years 20,000 hits. This shows how popular and useful this local website, and associated social media is. facebook has nearly 1700 followers.
The Parish Council wishes to thank all our service users for your support.
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