Members of North Yorkshire Council’s Richmond area committee will debate a petition calling for measures to tackle congestion on the A6136 through the military town next week.

More than 1,000 people have signed the petition which was launched by Hipswell and Colburn division councillor, Kevin Foster.

But a report prepared ahead of the meeting concludes that most trips on the road are to destinations along the route.

Nicki Lishman, senior democratic services officer, said in the report: “Consequently, a relief road or bypass would have limited impact in reducing perceived network strain.

“The modelling shows that, at best, a bypass would displace that traffic to other access routes towards the town.”

Instead, the report says motorists should be encouraged to move toward “walking, wheeling and cycling” for short journeys as a way of reducing trips at busier times.

“Infrastructure is available on the route to support the switch to walking, wheeling and cycling for shorter journeys, though we recognise that, in places, improvements could be made or new links delivered which would ease the strain on the network at busier times,” the officer says.

The road was last surveyed by Richmondshire District Council between 2018 and 2020 amid fears the route could reach capacity due to the number of new homes being built in the area.

This led to improvements at several junctions in a bid to improve traffic flow.

The officer adds: “Notwithstanding this, it is acknowledged that the lived-in experience is that at times, the network in Catterick is under strain but this is exacerbated at peak times and associated with specific events in the vicinity.”

Cllr Foster said he and “thousands of residents” did not agree with the report’s findings

He added: “This effectively expects people to walk or cycle to adult education and key services, which is unrealistic and excludes our disabled community.

“This route is part of the designated key road network and I do not agree with this report.

“I will be asking questions and expect evidence to support these claims. With major housing growth now underway, we must be proactive and address capacity now.”

The petition will be discussed by councillors at a meeting on Monday next week.

Low Tide Coffee House on North Terrace in Seaham will be ready to welcome in customers from Saturday (February 28) after more than a month of work.

Husband and wife duo Sarah and Garry Jeffrey from Seaham took over the unit, formerly known as The Featherbed Café in December and since then have poured their life savings into renovating and making it their own.

Low Tide Coffee House, North Terrace, Seaham. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Pictures show the outside of the café, including its door, has been painted a light green colour and black signage has been put up.

Sarah, a British Army veteran, previously told The Northern Echo that she’s hoping the café can become a “lifeline” for the community.

The 46-year-old said: “We just said right, let’s go for it. We’ve poured our life savings into it.

“It’s a big leap, a massive step and a massive hole in our pockets but I want to give back to the community.

“I would like it to become a safe place for the elderly to come and see a smiling face and have a cup of coffee.

“It can be a lifeline where people can meet friends.”

Sarah and Garry Jeffrey from Seaham. (Image: SARAH JEFFREY)

She added: “So many people have been looking through the window at what we are doing and have said they are glad we are opening.

“I feel like I’m bursting with pride, it makes me feel so warm and nice inside.”

But that’s not all the building is being utilised for – as well as the café, Sarah’s other passion, pole fitness, is represented by High Tide Fitness, which is already up and running.

The mum-of-one added: “My whole thought process when leaving the army was to be a mum to my son, but I also really wanted to teach pole fitness.

“I opened up a studio in Skelton and then one in Sunderland but it burned down after a fire at a nearby business in December.

“It was two doors up from us – on December 3, my son’s 17th birthday, we got a call that everything had burned, just before Christmas.

“There is a lot of stigma around pole fitness. I know where it originated from but we don’t do any of the heel work. I don’t teach any of that.

“My teaching is more about empowerment which is a massive thing especially with women.”

The three-bedroom, terraced property is located on Wharton Street and is in need of some improvement.

The three-storey house comprises of an entrance hall, living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom on the ground floor.

Photos show that the property is currently in need of some maintenance. (Image: Auction House South Yorkshire)

On the first floor, there are two bedrooms with a third located in the attic.

Externally, the property has a rear yard and there is on-street parking available nearby.

However, potential buyers should be aware of the current condition of the house and the maintenance work required.

Rear yard. (Image: Auction House South Yorkshire)

Photographs show that the property is currently in need of some maintenance, with holes in some walls and signs of damp.

Despite this, the listing highlights that once the renovation work is complete, the property could potentially offer a monthly rental income of £750 per month, or an annual rental income of £9,000.

Situated on Wharton Street, it provides convenient access to the town centre and its amenities, not to mention the attractions of Hartlepool’s seafront and the North East coastline.

Ground floor bathroom. (Image: Auction House South Yorkshire)

The property is also located just 0.3 miles from Hartlepool’s train station.

Also pointed out in the listing is the house’s proximity to other significant places.

The historic city of Durham is easily accessible, as are Middlesborough, Darlington, and Newcastle upon Tyne.

The third bedroom is located on the top floor. (Image: Auction House South Yorkshire)

This might add to the property appeal for those who value connectivity and accessibility.

Last sold in 2025, the house went for £39,500 in May of that year.

Ultimately, this property seems like an opportunity for developers or first-time buyers who are open to undertaking a renovation project and are looking for an affordable start, though it is worth noting one more fact.

The listing also states that there were 8,843 reported crimes in the area in the last 12 months, earning it a ‘very high crime’ tag.

For more information, you can contact Auction House South Yorkshire on 01144462621.

Fire crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough say that they were called to the A658, south of Knaresborough, at 7.52am this morning (February 23) after a crash involving two vehicles.

One person became trapped inside their vehicle in the crash.

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“Crews released the occupant using driver side door removal and they were then transported to hospital via air ambulance. Crews then carried out scene safety and disconnected the batteries from both vehicles,” said a spokesperson for the force.

At the time of writing (5.15pm), the road is still closed at the junction with the B6163 at Thistle Hill whilst investigation work is carried out.

As reported by The Press this morning, North Yorkshire Police advised all road users in the area to find alternative routes for their journey.

The Press will update the story as we receive more.

“You didn’t have to look like the 18th century, you didn’t have to dress like a hamburger, you didn’t have to arrive in a van where you were standing up because you couldn’t sit down because you wore a chandelier.” (Ford’s comments appear to reference two looks worn by American singer Katy Perry in 2019).

Pippa McClounan, communications manager of Tourette’s Action, told BBC News: “As much as these words do cause hurt and shock in people, it’s really vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette’s syndrome, that the tics are involuntary, and they are in no way reflection of what that person is thinking and their beliefs.

The scheme, a 70-home project by Gleeson Homes, will be built on land near Buckingham Terrace in Leeholme, Durham.

It will include a mix of bungalows, and two, three, and four-bedroom houses, with seven homes designated as affordable.

Objections centred on issues such as infrastructure, accessibility to services, highway safety, flooding, contamination, tree loss, and the impact on wildlife.

Traffic and infrastructure concerns

One resident said: “The potential 180 extra vehicles will have such a significant impact to cause extreme concern and high risk to all through the added congestion.”

Another said: “There is no infrastructure to support the existing residents of Leeholme, nevermind to support the application for a further 70 houses.”

Loss of green space

A resident wrote: “I am writing to formally object to the proposed development of 70 dwellings on the greenfield space.”

They said the site “functions as a community green space used daily by local residents—dog walkers, families, and children.”

Environmental impact

Concerns about wildlife and the natural environment were also raised.

A resident said: “The relatively high percentage of trees to be removed on the proposed site would have a huge impact to the visual aesthetics and character of the location.”

Flooding and contamination

Other objections highlighted historical issues with flooding and ground contamination.

One resident said: “There is a history of flooding at the south of the proposed development.”

Another raised health concerns, saying: “The houses that were demolished on site in the late 80s contained asbestos that was never removed from the site.”

“This will lead not only to significant and widespread contamination within the houses, but also presents significant long term health hazards…”

Ground instability and sustainability

Residents questioned the suitability of the land, with one noting: “Local knowledge indicates that temporary properties built here in the 1970s were removed due to ground instability.”

Others said the development was unsustainable.

One objection stated: “Leeholme itself has no employment and basic facilities… Its simply not sustainable.”

Education and services

Concerns were also raised about pressure on schools and other services.

One resident said: “The nearest secondary school is King James in Bishop Auckland, last year it was 150 over capacity and this year 173 with literally no space for one more chair.”

Councillor James Stephenson, of Reform Shildon and Dene Valley, supported residents’ concerns.

He said: “Leeholme does not offer the range of services, employment opportunities or public transport links required to support an additional 70 dwellings.”

“The impacts of safety and congestion are likely to be significant.”

However, not all councillors were opposed.

Councillor Michael Ramage, Independent member for Shildon and Dene Valley, supported the development.

He said: “The development will be for the greater good and of benefit to a significant number of constituents, who have not voiced objections, and in my view, would be for the economic good of the area.”

Dr. Peter Attia, a medical influencer whose emails with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were revealed in the latest U.S. Justice Department release of files, has resigned a post with CBS News.

Attia, podcast host and author of “Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity,” was one of a group of people named last month by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss as a contributor to network programming. He was the subject of a “60 Minutes” profile that ran on the network last October.

But shortly after the appointment, Attia’s name surfaced in hundreds of Epstein documents. While Attia said he was guilty of no wrongdoing and did not attend any of Epstein’s sex parties, he admitted in an apology earlier this month that some of his emails were “embarrassing, tasteless and indefensible.”

Despite some public pressure, CBS News did not cut ties with Attia after the documents surfaced. Instead, Attia resigned from the network on his own, according to published reports confirmed by CBS News on Monday.

Attia is one of several public figures, including some in the corporate and public sectors, whose relationships with Epstein have surfaced in recent weeks, causing resignations.

This group of talented musicians played several innovative and energetic sets of Scottish Dance Music during their first spot featuring a few of John’s own compositions including Linsey and Troy’s Wedding March.

Biggar Accordion & Fiddle Club members met on Sunday, February 8, with guests the John Burns Scottish Dance Band.

But before that members were entertained by local musicians, with accordionists Andrea Balderson, Adam Gibb, Jim Gold, Sam Gray, Marshall Harkness, Fin Hope, James Milner, James Watson and Scott Wilson.

On fiddle were Gilbert Logan and Sarah Wilson and on piano Keith Dickson, Jim Gold and Dorothy Lawson. On drums were Andrew Barrie, Fin Hope, Tom Hope and Alex Lyall.

Guest bandleader, accordionist John Burns, who now stays in Shotts, was ably accompanied by Stuart Cameron on second accordion, Neil Ferguson on fiddle, Craig Paton on piano and Alan Sutherland on drums.

This group of talented musicians played several innovative and energetic sets of Scottish Dance Music during their first spot featuring a few of John’s own compositions including Linsey and Troy’s Wedding March.

During the second half, this well-organised band performed Jean Peyronnin’s Marche Aux Etoiles (March to the Stars), as a Boston Two-Step, which was well received by the club’s attentive audience.

As always, thanks to the ladies who provided the half time buffet and to Andrew Barrie on the bar. On Sunday, March 8, the club will meet again at Biggar Bowling Club at 2pm with guests Rory Matheson and his Scottish Dance Band from Glasgow.

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