£180,000 renovation aid for old dales buildings

Durham County Council, English Heritage and Wear Valley and Teesdale district councils have joined forces to launch the refurbishment project.

Over the next three years, 28 conservation areas which have buildings dating from the 18th Century, will be able to tap into £60,000 of grants each year.

The money, from a fourth round of Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes, will help to pay for repairs of commercial properties, particularly to roofs.

English Heritage, which has grade-listed more than 1,700 buildings in the area, hopes to improve the appearance of stone-built village properties to help increase tourism and aid local businesses affected by last year's foot-and-mouth epidemic.

Durham county councillor Bob Pendlebury, cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, said: "This scheme continues the good work of previous initiatives by helping to maintain and promote good husbandry of the historic heritage of the Durham dales. It will also give much-needed assistance with the rural recovery of the dales after the awful year of 2001."

Villages eligible in Teesdale are: Barningham, Bowes, Cotherstone, Eggleston, Gainford, Hilton, Ingleton, Lartington, Little Newsham, Mickleton, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Newbiggin, Romaldkirk, Staindrop and Whorlton.

Teesdale District Council chairman, Councillor Newton Wood, said: "We welcome this project as it supports the use of traditional materials and details to preserve our heritage.

"We have about 30 causes already waiting for help."

In Wear Valley, Cowshill, East Blackdene, Eastgate, Edmundbyers, Frosterley, Hunstanworth, Ireshopeburn, St John's Chapel, Stanhope, Thornley, Wearhead, West Blackdene and Westgate can benefit from the scheme.

Councillor Olive Brown, leader of Wear Valley District Council, said: "It will certainly help the recovery of Weardale after the terrible effects of foot-and-mouth."

For details of the grant scheme telephone Durham County Council on 0191-383 3236/7