A COUNCILLOR has raised concerns about changes to the number of Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings in Weardale.

Councillor John Hart, Durham County Councillor for Tow Law Sunniside, Stanley, Billy Row, Roddymoor and Thornley, said he was furious that the number of PACT meetings in the Three Towns Area Action Partnership (Three Towns AAP) area would be reduced to a monthly meeting in Howden-le-Wear and a second monthly meeting alternating between Crook and Willington.

Cllr Hart said the changes would mean an end to meetings, which are held to identify and discuss local problems, in Tow Law and Billy Row.

Cllr Hart was responding to a letter from Neighbourhood Inspector for Weardale and Teesdale, Kevin Tuck.

In his letter, Insp Tuck said the system “is resource heavy and does not always offer the public good value for money” while meetings were “poorly attended” meaning policing priorities chosen were not reflective of the whole community.

He said: “In Weardale our desire is to merge five poorly attended bimonthly meetings in to one central regular PACT meeting to accommodate anyone who still wants to talk to us in that way; but in a modern world of communication most people don’t want to have to travel to a central venue on a future date and favour contact via email, telephone, text or other available social media or even letter.

“We also believe there is great potential in simply talking to people where they are at community events, key locations and peak times or simply in the street.”

However, Cllr Hart, along with the vice chairman of the Three Towns AAP and Billy Row PACT chairman, Peter Irving, has now written to Insp Tuck, as well as County Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Ron Hogg, AAP Co-ordinator Sandy Denny and Councillor Joy Allen, cabinet member for safer communities, urging him to reconsider.

Instead Cllr Hart is calling for a wider rotation of monthly PACT meetings throughout the area.

He said: “I accept that with poor attendances and the Durham Constabulary being forced to operate with 300 fewer officers because of government cuts that is impossible for PACT meetings to continue as they are.

“What I cannot accept is the meetings continuing with the people of Tow Law, Sunniside, Billy Row, Stanley Crook and Roddymoor excluded.”