Acid Test: ON the eve of the biggest council shake-up for a generation, Local Government Minister John Healey said: “The acid test will be whether these councils deliver their promises including better services, leadership and achieving more for less.”

Three months after the unitary Durham County Council came into being, The Northern Echo continues its year-long series taking an in-depth look at whether the council is passing that test.

IT is more than geography that puts Teesdale on the periphery of the new unitary Durham County Council.

The county’s biggest, yet most sparsely populated district, is represented on the Labour-run authority by only six councillors – five of whom are Conservatives.

Most of the area formerly governed by Teesdale District Council is agricultural, middle class and has virtually no crime.

Not a bad thing, perhaps, but it is the polar opposite of many areas in the north of the county.

These are areas which have a bigger population than Teesdale, so are represented on the new authority by more councillors which, in turn, means more votes on important issues.

If a policy that may have a negative effect on rural areas is discussed at County Hall, no matter how loud the six Teesdale councillors shout, there is a good chance their voices will be drowned out by the number of other members.

Resident Anna Urbanowicz, from Cotherstone, near Barnard Castle, said she is prepared to give the new authority time, but already has reservations.

She said: “With any kind of centralisation, the base will be where there are the most people. But for people who do not have cars, it is half a day on buses to get to Durham from here. If there is any money available, there is the worry that it will go to the places where there are the most chimney pots.

“Some people come to Teesdale and think it is a beautiful place with no problems, but accessibility to services when you are young or old is not very good.”

There is hope, however, that the residents of Teesdale will not be left in the cold by decisions in the committee room.

Earlier this year, the council announced that a travel voucher scheme used by elderly and disabled people would be abolished in favour of a bus pass used successfully elsewhere in the county.

However, residents argued