Hero ship returns

Aug 17 2006 By The Journal

County Durham's adopted warship HMS Bulwark has returned home to Britain after relief work in war-torn Lebanon.

HMS Bulwark was part of the UK's response to the Israeli-Lebanese conflict helping evacuate 1,300 citizens out of Beirut last month.

Many of the crew on board gave up their cabins to cater for more than 300 children, including babies only weeks old.

Plans road map

A NEW planning "road map" setting out how Durham County Council intends to involve local people, organisations and developers in planning matters comes into effect next week.

Called a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), it identifies how local communities and stakeholders will be informed and consulted on new minerals and waste planning documents and on all planning applications determined by the council.

Copies of the SCI are available for reference purposes at the Help Desk at County Hall, Durham, or at district council planning offices, parish councils and local county libraries.

Birds display

BIRDS of prey including owls and buzzards will be in flight over a rare County Durham heathland on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Durham County Council's countryside rangers are holding an environmental fun day at Waldridge Fell Country Park, near Chester-le-Street, on Bank Holiday Monday. Hawks, eagles, falcons, buzzards, owls and, possibly, a vulture will be put through their paces by their handlers in an arena.