May 9, 2008

3:52pm Friday 9th May 2008

From the Durham County Advertiser 50 years ago. - The small, straggling village of Pittington (pop. 900), one of the prettiest in the county, is waiting for a "life or death" decision.

It will soon know whether or not it is to continue to be a "dying" village or be given a "shot in the arm" to make it once again a bustling community.

The answer lies with the County Planning authority who are now deciding whether or not 73 acres of Hallgarth Farm land should be developed for housing. If they say "no" the village will gradually fade away and become a "ghost" community, for already a third of the villagers are over 60 and there are about 150 in the old people's fund for over-65s. But if they say "yes" it will mean another 730 houses in the village and more than triple the present population.

The decision now rests with the planning authority after Durham Rural District Council last month refused to approve plans put before their planning committee by the firm of Northern builders who wish to build the houses. They deferred the plans, but not before a Pittington member, the Rev A W Allen, had asked the council to keep the plans before them for consideration.

The population of the village has gone down considerably in recent years because the council have moved tenants to more modern houses in Sherburn.

Eating Out