COCKFIELD residents are being urged to have their say on whether the village should have a new miners’ banner.

Durham County Councillors, Heather Smith and Andy Turner, organised a public meeting in the church hall last night (July 1) to see how much public support there was for the potential project, which had been something the late councillor, Pauline Charlton, had been considering.

Cllr Smith gave a presentation explaining how the old banner has been lost and attempts to find it had been fruitless.

She said a new banner, which could cost about £30,000, could be made by a specialist company and while it would be unlikely the village could raise the funds itself, there was a trust they could apply to if they had community support.

She also said possible designs could feature the local Gordon House Colliery, which closed in the 1960s, as well as famous faces associated with the village including the surveyor and astronomer, Jeremiah Dixon, or Arthur Henderson, who was the Barnard Castle MP from 1903 to 1918 and three-time leader of the Labour Party.

She said: “This has been something that’s been floating around in the air for a while – it’s something Pauline Charlton had thought about and there was also talk about what else could be done to commemorate Jeremiah Dixon as well because that’s another one that was close to Pauline’s heart.”

However, despite their efforts to advertise the event, only five people turned up with mixed views on the project.

Resident Carol West queried whether any of the two proposed ‘homes’ for the banner would be suitable – the school or the working men’s club – as she said it would affect insurance premiums and would not be easily accessible to everyone.

She also questioned whether it would be worth paying so much for a banner that might only be seen once a year.

Meanwhile, Cllr Turner said the banner would be a good way to keep the village’s heritage alive.

“We should remember the heritage of the mines not just here and if no one stands up and does something about it, our heritage goes down the drain,” he said.

Cllr Smith added: “Unless a few more enthusiastic people come forward then the project won’t go any further.”

To get involved contact Cllr Smith by calling 03000-268695 or emailing heather.smith@durham.gov.uk