Circular Cycle Routes from Langley Park

We have created a few Circular Cycle Routes starting from Langley Park on Google maps.

Short URL: http://tinyurl.com/27qfxag


Full URL: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?t=h&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100313294734815353864.000486b16d66ef6d5b8d4&ll=54.75118,-1.755753&spn=0.187045,0.614548&z=11
 

View Cycle Routes from Langley Park in a larger map

Stepping Up a Gear . . .

Langley Park is about to get some staff to work with us to make the village a cleaner, greener and more pleasant place to live, work and visit.

Thanks to Du service design who are providing Employers Insurance, We Are Langley Park is about to become a Placement Provider for BCTV Enterprises. 

We will be recruiting 2 people to work on projects that we in the village identify.

The first activity will be to go for a tour of the village, looking for areas to improve - no matter how big or small, whether it is public, community or privately owned, regardless of who currently is responsible.

This is our village.  And this is a golden oportunity to make a real impression on it.  To get it into shape for the future.

So look out for notices inviting you to come for a walk round Langley with notepads in hand.

A reminder request for patience

Since We Are Langley Park got started 6 months ago a whole bunch of new people have been in contact and got involved.

This is fab - and as a result the group is starting to make a real difference and gain a reputation for action and innovation.

This is also fab - but means a lot of people aren't aware of my original reason for starting it off.   A couple of years ago I had a stroke, which has left part of my brain not functioning (particularly my memory,. attention and concentration) - and litter picking was a suggested activity to help relax my weary broken brain.

I thought it worth raising now for new people to explain why I may not respond, or do the things I say I'll do without prompting.

I have an "assistant" who helps keep me on track - but sometimes I forget to tell her things (well, I would wouldn't I)

So please, if I don't do what I said I would do, I am not disrespecting you, I am not being lazy, or anything else.  I simply will have forgotten about it.

Therefore, please feel free to remind me.  I will not take offence.  Indeed, it will help greatly.

Thanks

Cameron

Council Staff get it . . . so encouraging

This from a Street Lighting Manager at Durham County Council:

"The iniatives setout seem a great idea for the upkeep of the village to combat the grafitti problems to existing street furniture and I certainly welcome your proposals. "

good eh?

Who wants to take up these ideas?

Ideas are now coming from every direction.

Here is a quick list of some ideas people have suggested in the last few days:

• Community Composting
• "The Bridges" Art Gallery
• Photo Competition
• Social Enterprise to Contract to do Grounds Maintenance
• Ecology Garden
• Retailers Association
• Pedestrian Priority in Wallnook
• Pedestrian Priority through Village Centre
• Café
• Flower Beds
• Develop and Maintain Stobilee Wetlands
• Signed Footpath to Ushaw College
• Alternate Cycle Route via Village Centre
• Recycling Centre in Car Park
• History Trail through Wallnook
• Develop River Bank leisure
• Paint Street Furniture
• Develop side Paths along Lanchester Valley Walk

All of these are do-able - all it takes is some people to pick their idea and champion it, drive it and work with others to make it happen.

The rest of us will give all the support you need - so what are you waiting for.

What are you going to make happen?

We Painted a Bridge - and walked back into a Community

On Sat 5th June, a dozen or so of us walked down the Lanchester Valley Walk towards Bearpark and painted a bridge.

The graffiti is now gone after 30 years, and the brambles are cut back to allow people to stop and rest in comfort.

But that is just a small part of the story . . .

Langley Park Profile
In a time of economic recession and the dreadful events in Cumbria, we are delighted Langley Park could provide the good news stories for the local media.
As a result, Langley Park was featured in a full page story in The Sunday Sun; an editorial piece in the Environment Section of The Journal; two picture stories in The Northern Echo and a piece in the Durham Advertiser; not to mention a front page appearance in The Durham Times.
This is in addition to a 3 minute piece on BBC Radio Newcastle repeated several times and mentioned on other BBC local radio stations.

Community Spirit
As a result of the press coverage and poster displays around the village, everyone seems to know what was going on - and almost talk as if they were there.
By citing the story we can show that we are the community - We Are Langley Park.  If we want to do something to improve where we live, we can do it.
And if we do it, others will muck in and help.

Beyond Langley Park
As it was such a glorious day, the Railway Line was busy with people cycling, horse riding and walking - all witnessing a group of locals literally getting their hands (and hair and clothes) dirty.  We made good contacts with "active citizens" in Witton Gilbert and Ushaw Moor - so while we as individuals can encourage each other within Langley Park, we can also encourage other groups to work together across our part of Durham.

A Different Demographic
Perhaps the most striking thing about the day was the type of people that got involved.  They weren't your typical "volunteers".  Indeed,  most were in their 30s, 40s and 50s. The new generation of adults who need to take on responsibility for leading the village into the future.

Political Benefit
One of the many passers by was a new Parish Councillor, who couldn't help be impressed by the turnout, the effort and the result.  He will report on the work to the Parish Council at their next meeting this week.

Relationship with Durham County Council
We have worked closely with various departments of DCC - but this went to a whole new level by actually working together.  They not only provided the paint and brushes, but Mark Oliphant (Countryside Ranger) worked up as much of a sweat as the rest of us.

And Beyond
Once we saw what is possible, the ideas came rushing in for more . . .

The initial Ideas Rush is being written up and will appear here as a new Post.

In the meantime, we have a top coat of paint to put on, so if you want to come down on a more ad hoc basis please get in touch via the main http://www.wearelangleypark.co.uk/ website.

cg

More Media Interest in Bridge Painting Day

Journal have just done an interview on us as a "group" for the Environment Section on Saturday - and BBC Radio Newcastle have just been down with me to the Bridge to record a piece for broadcast for tomorrow.

Now all we need are the people - cos every time I go down the bridge looks bigger!

cg

So who is coming to paint the Bridge then?

The weather forecast looks good - and we have had a good number telling us already they'll be coming on Saturday.

Chris, Jennifer, Vicky, Abbie, Stephen, Ray, Anne Marie, Gary and Mark . . . You?