12th June, 1991 Wednesday, 12th June, 1991 THE MERCURY

A Under £40,000 B £40,000-£52,000 c £52,000-£68,000 D £68,000-£88,000 E £88,000-£l20,000 F £120,000-£160,000 G Over £160,000 oured by someii 32% of Tfeesdale houses are in 21% of Tfeesdale houses are in 13% of Ifeesdale houses are in 12% of Tfeesdale houses are in 11% of Teesdale houses are in 6% of the houses in Teesdale 5% of the houses in Teesdale County Council this price band, compared with this price band, compared with this category compared with this price band along with 5% this section along with 10% in are in this band, while there are in this price group, com­ i control but that 64% in , 65% 16% in Wear Valley and 15% each in le Street, in Easington, 6% Wear Valley, Darlington and , 7% are 4% in Sedgefield, 2% each pered with 2% in Sedgefield, rils like Tfeesdak Easington, 55% Chester le Sedgefield, 19% Chester le and Sedgefield, 8% in both Chester le Street in Durham, and only 3% in in Darlington and Durham, 1% 1% in Darlington and a negli- sh, with mon Street, 47% Darlington, 57% Street and Darlington, 18% 11% Darlington, 16% Durham, and Derwentside, 10% in each of Chester le Street. in Wear Valley and less than 'ble total in Chester le Street, y being handej Derwentside, 50% Durham Derwentside, 15% Durham 12% in Easington and 10% Darlington and Durham, and Derwentside, Easington ana 1% in both Derwentside and Serwentside, Durham, Eas­ fi councils, and 43% Sedgefield. and Easington. Wear Valley. 11% Sedgefield. Wear Valley. Easington. ington and Wear Valley. ds excellent ii Current poll tax for two: £345 Current Poll tax for two: £345 Current Poll Tax for two: £345 Current Poll Tax for two: £345 Current Poll Tax for two: £345 C urrent Poll Tfex for tw o: £345 Current Poll Tax for two: £345 id could be feai Council tax for two: £238 Council tax for two: £277 Council tax for two: £317 Council tax for two: £357 Council tax for two: £436 Council tax for two: £515 Council tax for two: £594 Current poll tax for one: £173 Current poll tax for one: £173 Current poll tax for one: £173 Current poll tax for one: £173 rd Castle. But if Current poll tax for one: £173 Current poll tax for one: £173 Current poll tax for one: £173 Council tax for one: £178 Council tax for one: £208 Council tax for one: £238 Council tax for one: £267 Council tax for one: £327 Council tax for one: £386 Council tax for one: £446 ; had to assume il and take on do routine wort ie great difficul- ter expense, H igh house prices m ean dale w ill be h it hard by new tax ch an ges in the •ought in nation, Residents of Teesdale harder than any other district the county — Chester le Street, responsible for paying his or schemes to help them, but terraced houses were being on people's ability to pay. will be vast, and will suffer m ore than in Co Durham. Derwentside, Durham, Easing­ her own bill, the new system such schemes had caused offered at £500 and could Coun Newton Wood said he must be wonder- those in most other It has the lowest proportion ton and Wear Valley — are will have one bill per house­ problems in the past. hardly be sold. Now they were could see some blood and >enefit could be. of houses in Band A, but the places under the new shown as having less than 1% hold. Each house will be "This government seems to valued at £40,000. Some peo- feathers flying in cases where ment's aim is to highest proportion in each of or a negligible number of hous­ charged for two adults, no work on the principle that if pie would get the shock of heads of household had to get :iency, value for Council Tax due to start the four most expensive bands. es in this high price bracket. tnatter how many more than you rob someone of £1,000 and their lives when they saw their others, such as grown up sons, lirness - but in in tw o years9 tim e. Our table above shows what Council members felt the that live in it, except where give them back £500 they bills. It was one of the most pay their share of the tax. 'antic mixup and This is because many houses proportion of houses the dale whole thing was so unfair that someone living alone claims should be grateful," he added. unfair systems that had ever Coun Jim Barker stated that ey over poll tax, in the dale, which always had has in each of the seven bands, a number of changes should be discount. The head of each been devised. one good point was that the ittle public corifi. low rateable values because of and comparisons with other made before the details are household will be responsible Remember the VAT Mr Bryan Atherton, treasur- council would be expected to 1 outcome on this a lack of local services, will be areas. The figures have been finalised. for paying. Coun Robinson said it had to er, said that under the old rat- raise only 14% of the cost of ;ter. assessed at their current price set by the District Valuer. Administration costs should be remembered that everyone ing system council houses local services. This is the same Duncil mergers on the open market when the The table also shows how More bands wanted be reduced as no register will was paying an extra 2.5% in were charged high rates as as for the current year, though ite s and feuds hew system replaces poll tax. much Teesdale households can They decided to ask the gov­ be required as it is for poll tax, VAT to allow for the £140 poll they were fairly modern and it was 25% in the past, I rumbling on in Some remote properties on expect to pay under the new ernment to include three more and the poorest sections will tax reduction which had been had good amenities, whereas He successfully proposed It would make which hardly any rates were system compared with now. price bands — one for houses be protected by better rebates given this year. many country properties in the that the government should be overnment con- charged in the past will be val­ The new tax, the brainchild under £30,000, one for those and discounts - up to 100% Coun Mrs Judy Le Mare upper dale were rated at an asked to include the three ;hese places and ued at well over £100,000 so of Michael Heseltine as a over £200,000 and one for against the present 80%, with said it seemed Teesdale was extremely low level. But now extra price bands, one at the hem right over the owners will get high bills. means of replacing poll tax, those over £250,000. discounts for students too. being penalised because of its the situation was reversed. bottom of the scale and two at e years, leaving The government proposal is was outlined to the council in a They also opposed a rule Coun Ken Robinson declared high property values, which Council houses, or former the top. Durham, which to split all houses into seven consultation document, which which ensures that the bill for that it was all as clear as mud, came about due to its beautiful council houses, were often val­ Mr Bryan Atherton, treasur­ reasonably well, different price categories or means changes can be made people in the most expensive but it was certain that from scenery and planning restric­ ued at below £40,000 because er, said he would be glad to see >dest internal bands, ranging from A at before it is given final approval houses should be no more than being a lowly-rated area the tions. Further upper and lower of the estates they were on, the end of poll tax, which had dy up some of under £40,000 to G at over nationally. 2.5 times those for residents of dale would change into the price bands were needed to whereas small rural cottages been an administrative night- £160,000. An astonishing 5% of houses the cheapest homes. They sug­ highest rated part of Durham. make it fairer. could be put in the higher mare. But he also had some iping changes Residents will pay the new in Tfeesdale are in band G, and gested the highest bills4should If people living in modest Coun John Armstrong stat­ price ranges. misgivings about the new one. :onsidered later; tax according to which band are thus felt likely to sell for at be 10 times those of the low­ two-up-two-down houses ed that his worry was that he Coun Phil Hughes comment- It is no use anyone contact­ xperience in the they are in — A paying least least £160,000 on the open est. thought they would be in the would have to move house due ed that this was an attempt to ing the council to ask which is. and G paying most. market. This compares with They also asked for dis­ lower price band, they were to not being able to afford the replace the unfair poll tax with band their house is in. "We Figures presented to mem­ only 2% of houses in this class counts for single people to be mistaken. Some widows and council tax, and a lot of other something that was equally don't know about individual ST bers of Teesdale Council on in Sedgefield and 1% in more than the 25% proposed. widowers living alone in these people would be in the same unfair. He felt it would be far cases yet," said Mr Atherton. Wednesday showed that this Darlington. Unlike poll tax, in which houses would be hit hard. position. better to have a form of local "We have just been given over­ method will hit the dale far The other five districts in each adult in a house is There might be rebate Not many years ago little income tax, which was based all figures." in was captain n School quiz Suspected boys :ame road safe- G olden G irl in show seen by 10,000 i o f Teesdale, A flashy idea to m ake are too young other schools, We took these pictures of lem bers were to go to court Mrs Margaret Brown ters, Yvonne Boys suspected of smashing before she set off to per­ ih Longstaff, windows on a scout hut at form in front of two audi­ Trotter airf drivers stop speeding Gainford have been spoken to ences of 5,000 enthusiasts by police but are too young to at the Royal Albert Hall in rsago be prosecuted. L o n d o n . Police have set up a though it was pointed out that! incident, with the names or i Fenwick and PC Ted Rowlandson told the She was doing some gentle radar trap several times it can be an offence to flash vehicle numbers of those as o f Barnard parish council that in this sort exercising in the garden of her lately to catch speeders lights as a warning when involved, before action can be i*-School were of case it had to be hoped that home in Sherwood Close, on the straight stretch police are on speed trap duty. taken. perfect heart police could stop any further , in preparation Coun Biddiscombe said he jrown in John into Gainford from trouble by talking to the boys for the big event. hoped a county scheme to put en at Chant* Darlington. Toddling again and their parents. She was one of a 40-strong i. But Coun Fred Blackwell a pedestrian refuge in the mid Boys and girls who attend The window breaking was team called The Golden Girls ank o f Thorn* asked at a parish council meet- die of the road at the cross Kirklands Day Nursery in one of a number of incidents of who travelled from the North ok over as vJ* ing why the officers always roads would go ahead before Barnard Castle are looking vandalism that had been East to take part in the Nat­ jieen from for* point the equipment towards as this could reduce traf- forward to the sponsored tod­ reported in the village. ional Keep Fit Association's i Brown of the the town instead of towards speed as well as helping The others were the cutting festival of movement and jthe village. people to walk over safely. dle they are to hold on the afternoon of Saturday 29th of a lifebelt rope at the river dance. s ago He felt a lot of danger was Th® county council has stafc June in aid of famine relief in and attempted lifting off of a She had to pass an audition s o f Barnard caused by vehicles exceeding that it hopes to do this Africa. It is five years since the new roof on a bus shelter. in Durham before being select­ Table - Tony the 30mph limit in the built up scheme in the current finan Coun Brian Biddiscombe, nursery won a big prize with ed for the show, which she has die Bell and centre of the village, and that Year* chairman, remarked that the taken part in twice before. this needed just as much Coun Ian Cox complainec its first toddle, which received handed over new roof was classed as vandal There were 20 teams of all attention as the road between a^out young drivers speeding a lot of publicity. ph equipment resistant, but this had appar­ ages from all over the country, on roads around the village or the benefit St Peters and the garage. ently acted as a challenge to putting on many splendid green. Some used the public Club gets ready e. Coun Brian Biddiscombe some young people. examples of fitness and danc­ roads as a race track during t minister the agreed that speeders caused for garden party Another incident involved ing routines. retired after most danger on the way evenings, and there was a real The latest two meetings of damage to a wooden barrier Mrs Brown, wife of Ken the the Barnard through the village centre. danger of an accident. put up twice by Teesdale the Dales Friday Club were tailor, teaches keep fit to a from the region went to a 3 and his wife PC Tfed Rowlandson told the He was told that his most interesting and different. Council to fill in a gap in a ladies' class at Newton Aycliffe rehearsal early on Saturday, to Newcastle. council that there could well remarks will be noted by hedge at Balmer Hill. each week, and used to give then performed their routine be some technical reason why police, but that information The Rev Michael Faulkner talked on the problems and Coun Biddiscombe said the regular lessons at Romaldkirk. called Hello Dolly for apprecia­ the motor patrol officers used will he needed about a specific F riends of hunger in the world today. Mr worrying thing about this was She spent two nights in tive audiences during the the radar system in this way. esearch Fund Bill Cummings played his that the barrier was intended London. She and other ladies afternoon and evening. Coun Blackwell reported Restored items on gramophone records of the to stop children running from )RNING that he had heard of a new H A N D M A D E 1930's and tunes of the Second a grassed area onto a road. f fine) way of making drivers reduce show at museum The safety angle was just as GARDEN FURNITURE An exhibition of items which World War. Thanks were ctoria Road, speed. For years motorists important as the damage, he expressed to both for the plea­ Garden Seats, Picnic Tables, Teesdale w Mercury astfe have flashed lights to warn have been restored through felt. sure they gave. Flower Tubs, Troughs, each other of speed traps, but cleaning or repairing has p re s e n t The next meeting is this It was reported that efforts ith June now some who live in Gainford opened in The Bowes Museum Bird Tables. Friday at 2pm in Cotherstone were still being made to trace oon are doing it even when police and will last until the end of Specials to order. Village Hall, when the Rev the youths who damaged the Stalls are not there. A ugust. barrier. They were seen by a Teesdale Garden Crafts Harold Hansen will talk about THE 5 th TEESDALE When this happens traffic Some had been in store­ his visit to Russia. local resident, who gave them Unit 4, Stainton Grove Ind. Est heading for the village from rooms for years, while others The club's garden party will a ticking off before they went Tel. 0833 31772 Darlington suddenly slows had been on display but were be at Balder Grange, by invita­ away. down to 30mph or under. in poor condition. The special BRASS BAND CBNTEST tion of Mr and Mrs T. PC Rowlandson commented exhibition will appeal to many An exhibition of paintings by Boothroyd, on Friday 28th V E R E R O A D that if it persuades drivers to people who are interested in Nicholas Leake will be put on at June at 2pm. stay within the speed limit it craftsmanship as well as in in the Castle Gallery, Barnard FURNISHINGS The club has a problem with Castle, from this Friday until is probably doing some good - works of art. VERE ROAD, BARNARD CASTLE MIDDLETON-IN-TEESDALE SCHOOL transport. The social service Saturday week, 10am-5pm bus which it uses is not able to SECOND-HAND GROUNDS negotiate the drive to Balder VIDEO CAMERA and PERIOD FURNITURE (B6282) Grange, so anyone who could CHINA and CURIOS By kind permission of Community School Association and Village Hall Association help to drive members and HIRE bought and sold for cash No deposit Competitive rates >RTS friends from the Red Lion to on Book early for holidays or commission TRE the grange will be welcomed. Now insured Europe House clearances As this is the only money Contact: J. & S. Deakin Open Saturday 11 a.m. 5 p.m. SUNDAY, 7th JULY, 1991 The Post Office, Mickleton making effort which keeps the Sunday 2—5 p.m. Tuesday 3—6 p.m. club afloat, the members hope Tel. (0833) 40359 Enquiries: ADJUDICATOR: MR. JOHN D. MAINES (British Telecom Band) Garden Shads, Summarhousas, Cadar nner everyone will support it. Gifts Tel. (0833) 690268 COMPERE: MR. GEOFF TEMPEST Greenhouses, Timbar/Concrata Garages, for stalls or tombola will be Codbarvatorlaa, Porchas, Dog Kannala, Pigaon JOHN WILKINSON o r 6 9 0 0 1 2 Lofts, Sports Pavilions, Stablas and Field Shelters. gratefully received by Mrs The event will start at 10-30 a.m. when Thirteen Brass Bands will Sophie Stockdale or any mem­ (PHOTOGRAPHY) each play a March, Hymn and a Selection of their own choice. LARGE DISPLAY CENTRE [FT! ber, Teesdale 50321. Mostly under cover, showing a very comprehensive range of for your Stone Walls and There will be a Junior Soloist Competition. m buildings at ou? factory known for quality, service and reliability Members were asked to take Buildings demolished Phone or send for individual brochure. TM gifts to the next meeting for Wedding Photographs Specialists in Hand or Mechanical REFRESHMENTS AND FOOD AVAILABLE ALL DAY TRADE STANDS ssions Dismantling by courtesy of Friends of Middleton School the tombola. Best wishes were Family Portraits sent to members unable to join Instant Passports FREE CAR PARKING in recently. "We have missed HODGSONS ESTABLISHED Social Occasions MASSED BANDS WILL PLAY AT APPROXIMATELY 4-30 p.m you and hope to see you scon," C0THERST0NE • Nr. BARNARD CASTLE • CO. DURHAM 1906 Entry by Programme £1-50 say officials. Teesdale 27466 anyday. anytime Tel. TEESDALE (0833) 50274 (24 hrs.) or 50591 T e l. TEESDALE 4 0 3 3 2