Historic County Durham village gets conservation status (From The Northern Echo)

Historic County Durham village gets conservation status

12:10pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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AN HISTORIC village has been granted conservation area status.

Proposals to designate Bolam, near West Auckland, County Durham, as a conservation area were approved by Durham County Council's executive cabinet today.

Residents hope the move will strengthen their campaign against RWE Npower Renewables' plans to build a seven-turbine wind farm at Stobhill, on the outskirts of the village.

The protected status means future planning decisions would have to preserve or enhance the area's character and appearance.

Developments will also have to be sympathetic to landscape features, views and the village's undeveloped areas.

Coun Bob Young, Durham County Council's cabinet member for strategic environment, said: "I've had the opportunity to visit Bolam many times, particularly over the last few months, and enjoyed an introduction to the local village pub. If anything deserves conservation area status, Bolam does.

"I'd just like to remind the people of Bolam along with this conservation status brings a lot more duties. It can be quite frustrating."

Bolam has just 63 residents. Its layout has changed little since 1856.