Dear Readers,

Following my last ‘report from the front line’ dated 13th May I wish to offer my apologies in relation to an error I made in which I provided comment on the recent media attention and interest to the Western area of the town and the sensationalist label that had been attached. I mistakenly referred to the area concerned as Horndale and wished to rectify my ‘slip of the tongue’ and acknowledge that the streets to which I referred are not situated within that area of the Ward.

I would also like to correct a comment made by Dorothy Bowman on page 4 of the same edition in which she states that ‘There was going to be a Day Of Action organised towards the end of May but this has been cancelled because the Fire Service could not attend’. This is an incorrect statement which I aim to rectify – a Day Of Action is indeed going ahead involving a number of partners (including County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, Durham Constabulary, Durham County Council, LIVIN, local Councillors, amongst others) and this was provisionally ‘booked’ for a day at the end of May. Owing to operational commitments already in place the day has been put back by one week and is still going ahead on Thursday 2nd June. As I previously reported, there is a multi-agency group who are working together and do mean to make a difference.

Mark J Edwards

Newton Aycliffe Neighbourhood Inspector