Residents will be aware that Durham County Council charge for garden waste collections. If you subscribe to the scheme you will get 17 fortnightly collections between April and November 2020.

The annual subscription fee is £35. This is for one garden waste bin to be collected. If you want extra bins, you also need to pay for them and the collection of them.

If you do not want to subscribe and pay for garden waste collections, or your property is no longer eligible for the service, you can get a garden waste bin removed.

For more information on the scheme and details of how to register telephone 03000 251 000 or go to www.durham.gov.uk/gardenwaste

Potholes can occur at any time of the year, however they tend to be more of a problem during the winter months. Severe prolonged winters can lead to more potholes in the roads. Durham County Council have an inspection and maintenance system, however if you want to report any road damage please call the County Council on 03000 261 000 or visit the Durham County Council website.

A new fund aimed at tackling food poverty in East Durham has launched.

The Access to Food in the Community Fund, launched by The East Durham Area Action Partnership, supports groups providing vital healthy eating services.

Lunch clubs, breakfast clubs and community cafes can apply for funding to set up new clubs or improve existing ones by replacing kitchen equipment.

For more information call 03000 262 054 or email eastdurhamaap@durham.gov.uk.

Neighbourhood Wardens in the East Durham area can be contacted on 03000 261 000 up to 5pm after that ring 101.

Wheatley Hill History Club have launched a new microsite on their website.

Funding from the County Durham Foundation has allowed the Club to create a new microsite within their website which contains research on the people involved in the First World War from Wheatley Hill.

The benefits of having this information on the website is that it can be updated with new information very easily. If you have information on somebody involved in WW1 from Wheatley Hill and would like it adding to the website please contact Wheatley Hill History Club.

The Meals on Wheels service, provided by Wheatley Hill Community Association was established in 2011 and is a lifeline to those, who for various reasons may not otherwise have access to a daily hot meal. It also provides a vital service to isolated individuals who look forward to the social interaction or the sight of a “friendly face”. The service coupled with the Luncheon Club at the Centre ensures that the elderly and less mobile in our community can receive a hot meal seven days a week.

Meals are freshly prepared each day at the Greenhills Centre. The service operates Monday to Friday delivering hot meals from a choice of menu, with fresh chilled meals available for weekends and Bank Holidays.

If you are interested in receiving a meal, would like more information about the service or would like to become a volunteer driver please contact Hilary Jamieson on 01429 820 0214.

To vote at an election you must be on the electoral register and electoral registration is changing. In the past the “head of the household” registered everyone who lived at that address. Now individuals must register themselves.

Over the summer Durham County Council wrote to people to tell them of this change. If you received a letter saying you were not automatically transferred; or you have not registered before; or have just turned 18, visit Gov.uk to register to vote online.

If you didn’t receive a letter, contact 03000 261 212 or email electoralservices@durham.gov.uk.

Are you confused by benefit changes? Unsure about Universal Credit? Baffled by Bedroom Tax? Do not despair!

Welfare Champions are now available in local communities to help answer some of your questions and point you in the direction of further support and guidance. Welfare Champions are volunteers who have been trained to help local people who may have questions about changes to the Welfare system.

If you need help and guidance contact your local Welfare Champion; Evelyn Robson at the Greenhills Centre, Wheatley Hill on a Wednesday between 10.00am – 12 noon.

Between 1 October and 31 March, household waste recycling centres will operate winter opening times. Residents are advised to check site opening times before they visit.

Household waste recycling centres are for household waste only and businesses and landlords are not permitted to take rubbish to these sites. Residents who own a van, minibus, trailer or pick up will also need to apply for a waste permit to access the site or if they need to dispose of hazardous household waste.

If you need any further information please telephone 03000 261 000 or visit the Household Waste Recycling Centre section of the Durham County Council website.