Durham County Council

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

Only one week to go until Seaham Food Festival takes place as excitement builds for thousands of people to flock to the seaside town once again for two fun-packed days of great food, cookery demonstrations and live entertainment. 🧑‍🍳🥘🏖️

👇Opening times of #SeahamFoodFest:
🔸Saturday 1 August - 10am to 5pm
🔸Sunday 2 August - 10am to 4pm

With so many local and regional food & drink traders, you will be spoilt for choice! Check out the A-Z Traders list and get planning for next weekend now: https://t.co/qlywsw6p7s

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

We’re helping to create a litter-free County Durham. Find out more about the new measures that we’ll be rolling out across County Durham.

A series of measures aimed at tackling littering will be rolled out across County Durham:
https://t.co/SdwAxZuHrh

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

Please note due to the high winds across County Durham, our HWRC sites could be affected.

If you are visiting them, make sure you check our website to find the ones that are open and available for business. https://t.co/GvQyKvemKO

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

The weather might be glorious and it might be tempting to cool off in the sea, rivers, lakes or reservoirs.

But do you know the risks?
•The water could be deeper than you think.
•You might not know how strong the currents are until you’re in.
•The water temperature could cause you to go into cold water shock.
•There could be rocks and other objects under water which may not be visible from land.

Recent figures showed seventeen 17 people – including 11 teenagers - have lost their lives to drowning across the country in recent months.

Today is #WorldDrowningPreventionDay so please make sure you, and your children if you have any, are aware of the risks.

There’s plenty of advice available online on how to stay safe and what to do if you see someone in difficulty, including at https://t.co/lWGguqW5Xo

A reminder that we’re offering free swims at participating leisure centres today to anyone under 18 who lives in County Durham.

These are available at Chester-le-Street, Consett, Freeman’s Quay, The Louisa Centre, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, Teesdale, Wolsingham and Woodhouse Close Leisure Centres.

A thrive card is needed to get the free swim.

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

We are aware of plastic pellets, known as nurdles, appearing along the North East coastline this week following a vessel collision on Tyneside.

The nurdles have been reported in the Sunderland City Council area in recent days and there is the potential that tides could bring them to our coastline in due course.

We are monitoring the situation and ready to respond if needed with partner agencies.

The public health risk associated with nurdles is considered to be very low. The plastic pellets are not toxic, but they can pose a risk to wildlife and other animals if ingested.

The region’s coastline and its beaches remain very much open for business but people are asked to be mindful of clean-ups in some locations.

If you do find nurdles anywhere:
🔹Do not handle them.
🔹Avoid stepping on them or – if on a beach, pushing them deeper into the sand.
🔹In locations where nurdles are present, dogs should be kept on leads.
🔹Check the latest Environment Agency bathing water advice before entering the water, at https://t.co/ubGBH1OF00
🔹Report sightings to us by email at [email protected] and we will respond as soon we can.

When reporting a sighting, please include: the location (using what3words if possible); date and time seen; a photo where possible and approximate amount of pellets seen.

[Visit County Durham @VCDBusiness]

As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, we hear from Cllr Karen Allison, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tourism, Regeneration, and High Streets at @DurhamCouncil, on how the visitor economy has changed over the last two decades.

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

We’ll be rolling out a series of measures aimed at tackling littering across County Durham.

These include an Autumn Big Clean, trial of ‘litter cams’ and changes to the Fixed Penalty Notice system.

We currently invest £6 million in responding to littering through street cleaning, enforcement activity and community engagement but, we want these new measures to modernise how littering is prevented and improve outcomes.

The new Autumn Big Clean will build on the significant success of our Big Spring Clean campaign, which last year saw 2,700 volunteers give up more than 5,500 hours of their time to collect almost 4,000 bags of rubbish across the county.

A trial of a ‘litter cam’ will also be introduced using AI technology to identify anyone throwing litter from a vehicle. And, changes to our Fixed Penalty Notice system will see the standard fine for littering go up to £500.

Enforcement officers will also be given the power to hand out a restorative justice option, where those caught littering will be required to take part in a community clean up activity, such as a litter picking session.

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

Do your kids love meeting animals? Then you can’t miss this wholesome event at @TheStoryDurham this summer! 🐢🐑

This ticketed session includes your child meeting and interacting with animals, as they learn about life on the farm from staff at County Durham’s ‘Animals about Town’.
All children need to be accompanied by an adult.
📍The Story
📅Wednesday 5 August
⏲️Several times including a SEND adapted session
🎟️£6 per child (includes ONE accompanying adult aged 18+)
💻https://t.co/mokp6UNdsd

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

The city is looking absolutely incredible thanks to a fantastic partnership with the Durham Parish Council! 🌸🌿

A huge thank you to our Clean and Green team. Your hard work and pride in our communities are making such a visible difference. 👏💚

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

🚍 Bus routes. Ticket prices. Reliability. Connections.

The decisions made about our bus network affect how people get to work, education, healthcare, shops, friends and family every day. The North East MSA is asking people across the region to have their say on proposals for bus franchising.

Come along and have your say at one of our face-to-face events taking place across County Durham:

🔹Mayor Meets: The future of bus services in our region. Redhills, Durham
📅Thursday 23 July, 5:30pm - 7.30pm

🔹Spennymoor Library and Leisure Centre
📅Wednesday 29 July, 09:30am - 12:15pm

🔹Durham Bus Station
📅Friday 31 July, 09:30am - 12:30pm

🔹Stanley Library
📅Tuesday 8 September, 10am - 2pm

🔹Barnard Castle Library
📅Wednesday 16th September, 10am - 2pm

🔹Peterlee Library
📅Friday 25 September, 1pm - 4pm

More details: https://t.co/Vssf9tU0Oo

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

@Chrissie13968V Hi there, sorry to hear this could you tell us your address please by DM and we can look into this for you? Thankyou

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

Following a recent survey, 82% of visitors are satisfied with their HWRC experience 📄

Here's what you value most:
🌟 Helpful customer service
😊 Polite staff
🧹 Clean sites
♻️ Easy-to-use facilities

We're also listening to feedback on:
⏱️ Queue times
📍 Site layout
🚛 Site capacity

We are getting involved in lots of new ways to reuse materials too! This includes donated books going to libraries, free paint giveaway and donating things like tyres for school playgrounds.

Planning a trip to one of our HWRC's? Find your nearest site and check the opening times https://t.co/Peqqho6B9s

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

🚨 Don't forget thrive are offering FREE Swimming for Under 18s for World Drowning Prevention Day 🏊

World Drowning Prevention Day is almost here! On Saturday 25 July 2026, County Durham residents aged 18 and under can enjoy FREE swimming at participating leisure centres.

✅ Included sessions:
- General Swim
- Fun Sessions (rafts, floats & inflatables)
- Splashability Sessions

📍 Available at: Chester-le-Street, Consett, Freeman’s Quay, The Louisa Centre, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, Teesdale, Wolsingham and Woodhouse Close Leisure Centres.

Don't forget: All under 18s must have a thrive card to access free swimming. If you haven't got one yet, apply online at: https://t.co/JMe0gFSrhU and collect your card before your visit to save time on the day.

[Raring2go!TeesDurham @R2gTeesDurham]

🌿🦋 Become a Conservation Champion! 🌍
Explore nature, learn about wildlife and discover how to help protect our planet 💚

📍 Hardwick Park, Sedgefield
📅 27-31 July 2026
@DurhamCouncil

#ConservationChampions #NatureFun #FamilyEvent #WhatsOn
https://t.co/04HlfflI7d

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

🚌 Have your say on the future of our buses.

People across the North East are being asked for their views on proposals that could change how local bus services are planned and delivered in the future.

Share your views before 9am on 28 September.

Take part: https://t.co/p64f0HTTsV

@NorthEast_MSA

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

Celebrating 20 years of the festival, a packed programme filled all corners of County Durham, playing to the tune of all music tastes, with unique collaborations, lively street bands and traditional brass for audiences to enjoy.

https://t.co/Oczf62sYqM

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

The last note has been played on a symphony of events at Durham Brass Festival.

This week, the festival has filled all corners of County Durham with music, as brass bands descended to perform across its communities and venues.

Celebrating 20 years of Durham Brass Festival, the packed programme played to the tune of all music tastes, with unique collaborations, lively street bands and traditional brass for audiences to enjoy.

Cllr Karen Allison, Cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: “What a week we have had celebrating the 20th anniversary of Durham Brass Festival.

“From modern to traditional brass, bands of all shapes and sizes have wowed crowds with their musical talent. It’s been fantastic to see audiences of all ages engaging with brass music, which has such a strong connection to our county’s heritage.

“As the curtain closes on another successful year, I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the bands, whose performances have made this an unforgettable festival.”

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

UPDATE - Page Bank Road has now reopened

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

We’ve closed the Page Bank road from Spennymoor to the A690 this afternoon (Sunday 19 July) because of a large, overhanging branch.

We’ll let you know as soon as it’s back open.

Thank you for your patience.

[Durham County Council @DurhamCouncil]

Is someone in your household leaving Year 13 or heading to university this autumn?

Did you know that, for a limited time, they will be eligible for a free MenB vaccine?

MenB is a bacterial infection that can cause serious illnesses, such as meningitis and septicaemia, and the risks increase when mixing and living closely with lots of new people.

2 doses of the vaccine, 4 weeks apart, are needed for the best protection - before the new academic year begins.

Book vaccination appointments at a local community pharmacy today - https://t.co/hUEKZdAjQn