Horden Colliery Heritage Centre

The Heritage Centre showcasing local memorabilia is now up and running (August 2009) and is housed in Horden Social Welfare Centre in Seventh Street.  At present the centre is open for one session per week - Thursdays 10.00am til 2.00pm or by appointment: contact Billy Hill 0191 586 9909

This is a trial project to find to gauge the public response. It is hoped that local people will donate memorabilia and that there will be visitor interest.  If this project is successful it is hoped to access grant funding in order to open a permanent centre in its own building.

Horden Youth and Community Centre renovation

Members are working in Partnership with Horden Youth and Community Centre Management Committee and Durham County Council to restore the exterior of the building to its former glory.

The project plans to replace windows and remove boarding to echo the original 1914 design.  Replace guttering and downcomers.  Replace iron railings.  Remove masonry paint, install seating and large metal planters complete with shrubs.

Funding has been committed by Durham County Council with the Partnership seeking match grant funding.  The cost of the Youth and Community Centre project phase is estimated at £82,000.  Work to replace windows is anticpated to start later in 2008.

The project is part of a wider Urban Rural Rennaisance Initiative which will benefit the Blackhills Road area, Horden. 

Paint Your Street  2007/2008

Manager, Michael Fishwick has supported Horden Colliery Residents Association to deliver this pilot project to paint the doors, sills and lintels of over 50 properties in Seventh Street Horden.  Michael got almost £3,000 from Pride in Easington and the District Council for insurance costs and to employ Seddons and Action for Employment to carry out the work of painting and cleaning at no cost to property tenants and owners.

 It is hoped that the project can be rolled out on a big scale to all streets in Horden which will benefit everyone and the community as a whole.  The Partnership is supporting the Residents Association in a bid to employ a development worker with a view to working on Paint Your Street full time.

For more information on Horden Colliery Residents Association (formerly Seventh Street Residents Association) check out their website → www.hordencra.co.uk

Drop kerbs 2007/2008

The Partnership won over £2000 to install pavement drop-kerbs in Thompson Street and Cotsford Lane Horden following consultation with local residents.  The dropped kerbs will allow residents in wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs to easily and safely access the shops and school.

County Councillor Paul Stradling has given £1000 for a further three drop kerbs identified by the Partnership on Thirteenth Street and Shotton Road.

The Partnership has secured funding of £2,340 from Horden Parish Council for another 9 drop kerbs to be installed before the Summer 2008.  Access will be created from Sunderland Road roundabout up to Thorpe Road cemetery and two kerbs outside Top Gym will be dropped to provide better access to health services on Thirteenth Street.

This latest phase regarding cemetery and the gym is almost now completed - June 2008 - with a survey currently being undertaken to assess further needs for drop kerbs.

Cotsford Park Estate footpath

Partnership members put together a £44,544 project and secured grant funding to improve the unadopted footpath between Cotsford Park Estate and the Coast Road. 

A new wider footpath has been installed  (September 2008) along with lighting to improve both access and security.  The embankment has also been tidied with trees brashed up and dead wood removed.  Street security fencing at the Coast Road entrance and bollards at the Cotsford Park Estate entrance have also been installed.

 Fingerpost

Horden Social Welfare Centre and Welfare Park, Horden Surestart , Library and St Mary's Church are now featured on an attractive fingerpost located outside Memorial Park to point visitors in the right direction. 

Funding was secured - June 2008 - planning permission agreed to by the District of Easington before installation in September 2008.

Salvation Army Citadel grounds improvements 2007

Partnership member Joan Zettle led the way in working with Positive Futures to remove van loads of rubbish from the Citadel grounds from flytipping which had overwhelmed Salvation Army volunteers.  Since then the Probation Service has painted the fence with paint donated by Craigside Paints.

A very successful family funday organised by the Partnership with the support of Pride in Easington's Michelle morton and the Salvation Army raised funds which will pay for further improvements.

Robinson House

Michael Fishwick has supported Partnership member and recognised Community Champion, Billy Hill to get £2000 from the Scarman Trust for a community garden at Robinson House, the sheltered housing complex in Horden.

Together with a donation from Cllr Paul Stradling and favours from other agencies, Billy has worked with residents to turn an unused flat space into a garden with bedding, planters, bulbs and garden furniture.  The £2,000 will pay for a summer house, garden shed , tools and planters.

June 2008 - Above works have been completed.  The Partnership continue to support the project extension regarding installation of a greenhouse and raised beds.

National Tree Week 2007

Six Silver Birch Trees were planted at Cotsford Junior School on Friday 30th November.  Horden Regeneration Partnership financed the project and were then able to recoup the money from Durham County Council.  Partnership member and Disctrict Councillor Dennis Maddison was on hand to show the children how to plant the trees.  Please see photograph below.