The Background to Horden Parish Council

Horden Parish Council was formed in 1947, the village which was created around the colliery in 1900 was originally under the parish of Shotton until the creation of Peterlee as a new town.

The Council bought the Social Welfare Centre and the Welfare Park from the Horden Miners Welfare Trust in 1991 in order to ensure their continuing use after the demise of the colliery.

The main aim of the Parish Council has always been to provide good quality services, particularly in recreational facilities for local people. They own, manage and maintain two parks, 4 small play areas, playing fields and sports pitches as well as a cemetery and the Social Welfare Centre.

Each of the 15 councillors who serve the Parish live in Horden and know many of the local people, they provide a point of contact to local government and can help raise and deal with issues facing the community. The council have, and will continue, to support local people in setting up and running community based groups. The Parish Council values it’s role in providing of services and facilities for local people. The council now employs more staff than ever and aims to grow and progress as a service provider in the local community.

In recent years the Parish Council has undergone many changes, due primarily to the closure of the coalmine in 1986 and the subsequent regeneration measures. Horden Revival Partnership was set up in 1996 by the District of Easington, Horden Parish Council and Groundwork East Durham to co-ordinate the regeneration of the village. This group has been replaced by the Horden Regeneration Partnership.

The Social Welfare Centre, which is home to the Parish Council offices, was refurbished in 2000. This work refurbished two impressive function rooms upstairs as well as a large meeting room, two back offices and a training room downstairs. All of the rooms are rented weekly to local clubs, organisations and members of the public.

The Parish Council transformed two areas of derelict land in the Welfare Park, with help from the District of Easington, in 2000. The unused tennis courts were reclaimed to create an all-weather, multi sports pitch with floodlighting, there is also a teen shelter. This has proved a popular area for young people. Young people in the village were involved in the design of a teen shelter and a mosaic adjacent to the area, resulting in a respect for the area and meaning that it is well utilised. The other area is the former reservoir or swimming pool. This was closed for public use in the sixties and was backfilled several years later, however, the changing room block remained and the area was unsightly and not suitable for use in that state. In 1998 the building was removed and the whole site was surveyed and top soiled.

Whilst these areas have had work done on them, the rest of the park remained virtually unchanged and the facilities for younger children in the village were poor, a fact highlighted in the village appraisal of 1999. This was one of several factors that led to the decision to restore the Welfare Park.

The restoration project cost a total of £1,8m. With funding from CDENT, Europen Regional Development Fund, NE Mineworkers Trust Fund, The Children’s Fund, Horden Parish Council and Sure Start. The Heritage Lottery Fund contributed 75% of the overall cost, £1,36m. The project main objectives included:

Entrances - Replacing gates, based on original design, upgrading the entrances and controlling access to the park. The original brick wall, which runs along two sides of the park, has been rebuilt with existing and matching brick with formal park railings on top to upgrade the boundary and control access to the park.

Footpaths - Principal routes have been re-surfaced and drainage problems have been addressed to improve safe access around the park. Lighting has been placed along North-South Avenue for the safety of users and to enable access the Multi-sports pitch area on an evening. New footpaths have been introduced for access to the new play areas.

Park Features - The bandstand and rockery were restored to original design. The rockery has been reinstated with alpine plants. The perimeter, which was surfaced with tarmac, was re-surfaced with a gravel to replicate the original wooden dancefloor. A flower sculpture has been erected where the three main avenues meet, it forms a central feature for the park.

Park Facilities - The paths around the bowling greens and the wheelchair ramp to the area have been upgraded, for safer access. Two new play areas were created, to provide up to date play for different age groups, with the help of local children and parents who were involved with the play area design. Seating was replaced with serpentine seats to original design. Ambulance House has been refurbished to provide toilets and first aid facilities. There is a cafe area available for the public, this is run as a community business, there are small training rooms upstairs, which St John Ambulance Brigade use as a base. There is a new work/staff area to improve maintenance procedures.

Soft Landscape - Tree and shrubs restored to fulfil original design intentions. Extensive arboricultural works carried out, including removal and replanting, and management of the trees in the park. Bedding displays have been reinstated and upgraded.

In 2005 the Welfare Park won a County Durham Environment Award, the Natural Environment Award and Craft Award. In 2006 & 2007 the park was awarded the Green Flag Award in recognition of achieving the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The Park was also awarded the Green Heritage Site Award in recognition of achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a site with local or national historic importance.