RESIDENTS of an isolated rural community who think their needs have been neglected by their district council have banded together to ensure their voice is heard.

The South Derwentside Rural Partnership was created at a meeting packed by people from Hedleyhope, Cornsay Colliery, Cornsay Village, Satley and Hamsteels estate.

Chairman John Pickersgill said: "We feel we are being ignored by Derwentside District Council.

"We have inadequate public transport, no beat bobby, no youth worker and poor health provision and have no representation on the community network."

Mr Pickersgill said the community was on the fringes of Derwentside and had a Weardale post code and telephone number.

But he added: "We are still part of Derwentside and deserve more that what we are getting."

Mr Pickersgill said theirs was the only district council ward without a beat bobby.

He said: "Hope have problems with speeding in the villages and with off-road motorbikes. On the Hamsteels estate there is trouble with antisocial behaviour and petty crime and criminal damage."

He said the community had no doctor's surgery with poor health care provision compounded by an inadequate transport system.

Mr Pickersgill said: "We have to change buses at Chester-le-Street to get to outpatients at the University Hospital of North Durham.

"Women needing breast screening women have to go to Stanley or Consett and need to get a connecting bus at Durham. And if they need further testing they have to go to Newcastle RVI and not Durham, which is more convenient."

District council leader Alex Watson said: "I understand their feelings. It is certainly an issue that is close to my heart. We must make sure that the rural areas of Derwentside are given a fair crack of the whip and fair treatment."

"I am pleased they have formed a partnership. It is a step in the right direction.

"It will give them representation on the Local Strategic Partnership which is represented by all manner of public service bodies, including the county council, police and health authorities."

The rural partnership will meet again at Satley church hall at 7pm on Tuesday, October 29, to formulate a plan of action.