Villagers take up challenge of rebuilding bus shelter

People living in Binchester, near Spennymoor, were undeterred when Wear Valley District Council said it could not afford to pay for a new shelter.

They volunteered to replace it themselves.

The stone structure, at the corner of Peel Street and the C96 road, was so badly damaged by vandals in March that it had to be demolished for safety reasons.

To rebuild it would have used most of the council's £4,500 annual budget for repairs, because it was not insured for criminal damage.

Binchester Residents' Association is leading the project, for which outline permission has been granted by Wear Valley District Council's community services committee.

Chairwoman Gina Underwood said: "The bus shelter is a necessity for the village as it is a well-used bus route, so we must replace it. The road is very windswept and used by a lot of heavy vehicles, so we hope to build the shelter before the bad winter weather.

"The council has been very supportive, saving most of the materials from the original building, and it will provide a £500 concrete roof.

"We will add windows, to be provided at cost price by Mike O'Connell, of building firm M&M Plasline, whose family is from the village."

Anita Goundry, secretary of the residents' association, said: "Since the shelter was pulled down, some old people have had to pay for taxis to the shops, because standing by the road without shelter is so bad.

"Children get the school bus from there to Byers Green. Parents don't want them standing in the cold, wet windy weather during the winter."

This will not be the first time the villagers have taken on a community challenge.

The community association was launched to raise funds for a community centre. It continues to run the venue for activities including youth clubs and bingo.

In 1991, the village featured on the Challenge Anneka TV series, when a pothole-ridden unadopted road, Granville Terrace, was resurfaced after an appeal from residents