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You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports appeared at Newton Aycliffe magistrates’ court on Thursday 13 February for sentencing He had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of operating a waste site without an environmental permit at Whinfield Industrial Estate in Rowlands Gill comprising 26 weeks and a further 18 weeks because the conviction placed him in breach of a suspended sentence imposed for previous environmental offences area environment manager for the Environment Agency in the North East Williams was given ample opportunity to clear the waste and was advised how he could operate within the law But instead he continued to breach the law with no consideration for the environment or community Environmental permits are in place to protect the public and environment and I hope this sentence sends out the message to others that we will take action against those involved in illegal waste activity Image shows mixed waste stored inside one of the sheds at the site in Rowlands Gill The court heard that Williams runs an organisation called the LCA Community Charity It advertises as offering help with clothing The organisation and the defendant both hold waste carrier licences which is a legal requirement to be able to transport waste Environment Agency officers attended the unit they saw a large amount of household waste including more than 50 fridges and fridge freezers with some looking like it had been there for a long time Inside the unit was an office area with some household items for sale the illegally stored waste posed a fire-risk meaning if a fire broke out it would spread quickly and he was requested to remove the waste by 16 January 2023 which allows for low level waste activity without the need for a permit that could allow him to sort recyclable waste for recovery and operate within the law with a noticeable increase in broken wooden furniture Officers expressed concerns about the fire risk Environment Agency officers made numerous visits where they saw waste still on site Williams said half of the fridges had ‘gone to Africa.’ Fridges contain refrigerant gasses and blown foam insulation with old fridges classed as hazardous waste and should be disposed of at an suitably-licensed facility He also told officers he had no waste transfer notes which are a legal requirement to trace the movement of waste between one place and another Officers explained to Williams that the deadline for clearing the site passed in January 2023 officers inspected the site and found it was still operating as an illegal waste facility Williams claimed to still be busy clearing the site Illegal waste activity can be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060 Christopher Williams’ previous court case where the suspended prison sentence was imposed Between 16 November 2022 and 12 July 2023 at unit 13 namely a waste operation for the storage and treatment of waste pending recovery or disposal otherwise than in accordance with an environmental permit Contrary to regulations 12(1)(a) and 38(1) Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details A man in County Durham has been sentenced to 44 weeks in prison for operating an illegal waste site The man had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of operating a waste site without an environmental permit at Whinfield Industrial Estate in Rowlands Gill His sentence was given on 13 February 2025 He was originally given 26 weeks but a further 18 were added as the conviction placed him in breach of a suspended sentence imposed for previous environmental offences In April 2023, the same man was given a suspended sentence for the illegal burning of waste area environment manager for the Environment Agency (EA) in the North East said: “Not only was the waste on site illegal [The man] was given ample opportunity to clear the waste and was advised how he could operate within the law “But instead he continued to breach the law with no consideration for the environment or community “Environmental permits are in place to protect the public and environment and I hope this sentence sends out the message to others that we will take action against those involved in illegal waste activity.”   The man ran an organisation called LCA Community Charity – which the EA noted is not a registered charity Although the organisation and defendant hold waste carrier licenses, EA officers found evidence of waste that they did not have the correct permits for, including fridges.  The officers attended an industrial unit being used by the man in November 2022 and recorded the presence of more than 50 fridges and fridge freezers sink units and toilet bowls and baths and doors Officers requested that the man remove the waste by 16 January 2023 however the waste was not removed as of September 2024 and enforcement action was pursued Full contact information: HERE Get the latest waste and recycling news straight to your inbox We are using cookies to give you the best browsing experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again This website uses cookies to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site Keeping these cookies enabled helps us to fund and improve our website which is free to visit and use All such information remains confidential and we use only to determine which pages are popular with readers Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences More information about our Cookie Policy Win HappyPremiumSearch it was reported that a vehicle struck a pedestrian in the car park of Rowlands Gill Library on Norman Road The vehicle – which was understood to be a grey Ford Mondeo – has then left the scene before police arrived Emergency services attended and woman in her 60s was taken to hospital with serious injuries She remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition Officers from Northumbria Police’s Roads Policing Unit have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision – and have today (Thursday) appealed for witnesses to come forward Anyone with information that could help with the investigation in particular witnesses who may have CCTV or dashcam footage should get in touch by sending us a direct message on social media or by using the live chat function or report forms on our website For those unable to contact us in those ways Please quote reference number: NP-20250210-0879 First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) We use cookies to help improve our service and give a better experience to you You can agree to cookies or go to the settings and change your preferences You can change or withdraw your consent at any time by following the 'Cookies' link in the footer persecution and extensive poisoning drastically reduced their number By 1850 they had gone from North East England A remnant population survived in mid-Wales a series of re-introductions of Red Kites commenced with our Northern Kites Project being the penultimate one from 2004-2009 involving the release of 94 birds in the Derwent Valley The Friends of Red Kites (FORK) was established in 2009 to continue the conservation of these majestic birds. They have promoted how our Red kites have proved to be both a catalyst for commerce and an inspiration for creative people in Gateshead's Derwent Valley. Friends of Red Kites (opens new window) This project was funded by the Local Community Fund Craig Knowles is a local artist blacksmith sculptor operating out of Simpson Street Studios in Sunderland.  A confirmed case of Avian Flu has been found in a small number of birds at a private premises in the Rowlands Gill area of Gateshead Avian Flu poses an extremely low risk to humans As a number of outbreaks have recently been identified across the UK all bird owners are being asked to register with APHA to ensure the safety of their flocks Suspected cases of Avian Flu in poultry or captive birds must be reported immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. If dead wild waterfowl (swans they should be reported to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find always wash your hands with soap and water UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers Further information about signs and symptoms of bird flu and how it can be transmitted can be found on the NHS website (opens new window) Gateshead Now is a collection of the latest news from Gateshead Council The Pickle Palace describe themselves as makers extraordinaire of chutneys They are a social enterprise that rescues locally sourced fruit and vegetables from landfill and lovingly upcycles them into absolutely fantastic products With an ethos of joining communities together wasting no food and helping others do the same they run "pay as you feel markets" at Strathmore Road Methodist Church Rowlands Gill Chopwell Community Centre and Greenside Cricket Club whether their motivation is to help with the weekly food bill to get out and meet people or to share all of the rescued food (donated from supermarkets) Follow them on Facebook for details of their markets and other events. (opens new window) The Fogoesburn Viaduct is closed for urgent works until 1 February 2025 Part of Route 14 is closed between Rowlands Gill and Hamsterley Mill until 1 February 2025 for urgent repairs to the Fogoesburn Viaduct The Fogoesburn Viaduct is near Hamsterley Mill in County Durham there is no suitable diversion that meets design standards The work can only be done by closing the bridge to all users as we will need full uninterrupted access across the length and width of the viaduct Along with masonry repairs to the arches and piers the Council will be removing the unbound deck surface and renewing it with Bitmac and a positive drainage system The route is described here travelling from Darlington to South Shields but is signposted in both directions The route is entirely open with much of it traffic-free along disused railway paths. A section through Stockton-on-Tees and another section from Wingate to Hasell share the route with National Route 1 Between Stockton-on-Tees and South Shields the route is also known as the Three Rivers Cycle Route Following an old railway line out of Darlington to Middleton St George, the route continues via a combination of on-road and traffic-free sections to Stockton-on-Tees. After a short stretch on National Route 1 through Stockton Over 50% of the route between Stockton and Hartlepool is traffic-free Following a mixture of traffic-free and on-road route through Hartlepool, Route 14 heads away from the coast on a continuous disused railway line, sharing with National Route 1 (also part of EuroVelo 12) for part of the route mainly on-road routes take you west into Durham There is a short gap in the route through Haswell Plough National Route 14 follows the Lanchester Valley Railway Path to Consett continuing on disused railway paths to where it meets the River Derwent and then the south bank of the Tyne towards South Shields Some short sections along the Tyne are on-road but otherwise this whole stretch is a fantastic unbroken traffic-free path Route 14 is part of the National Cycle Network Your donation today will help keep the Network safe and open for everyone to enjoy We have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk Sustrans accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes Walking and cycling routes change over time Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability experience and confidence levels of those in your group Sign up now to hear more about our latest news Sustrans is committed to fundraising in a way which is legal, open, honest and respectful. Read our fundraising promise Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (1797726) at 2 Cathedral Square The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response A village which is believed to have been without a watering hole for 17 years has welcomed the opening of a pint-sized micropub That’s the view of owner Stephen Olver following a successful first month for the Railway Tavern in Rowlands Gill The micropub opened on Station Road in the premises of a former glass art studio last month and former financial advisor Stephen says the new boozer has enjoyed a positive start He said: “It’s been a very successful venture so far the people of the village are really supporting us I’m loving it and it’s nice to meet people “I have lived in the area for about 12 years and people come in who you’ve never seen before and they’re coming in and complimenting us on how nice it is.” Plans for the opening of the micropub - which serves real ales fine wines and spirits - initially caused a debate in the village Petitions for and against the opening of the Railway Tavern were launched before Gateshead Council granted owner Stephen a new premises licence Much of the initial opposition stemmed from the perception a long-standing religious covenant on the land prevented the opening of an alehouse or pub said: “Everybody seemed to think there was some sort of bylaw about opening a pub “There was a covenant on the land but that was put on back in 1925 - the chances of people coming along about this covenant from that time is very small.” Stephen says the micropub is the first in Rowlands Gill since 2000 and has received nothing but praise for offering a more relaxed alternative to the village’s social clubs He added: “I have not had any problems with anyone I think they thought it might be a nightclub open till late but it does not attract that type of crowd “People just wanted somewhere to go and sit to have a quiet chat There’s no TV or radio in the background.” A Gateshead Council spokesperson said: “Both planning and licence applications for the premises have been granted it is not within our powers under law to consider covenants when deciding on either planning or licence applications “Covenants are covered by civil law and it would be up to the beneficiary of any covenant to decide whether to take any action.” Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Two Ukrainian teenagers brought to the North East by a Rowlands Gill woman are adjusting to their temporary home but say they are missing their normal lives in the now war-torn country.Daniil Dushaiev arrived in the Gateshead village three weeks after Daniil's sister flew to Poland to bring them to safety in the UK Kate told ITV Tyne Tees there are "very friendly people and it's very nice I like England," whilst Daniil said people here are very kind their arrival has been overshadowed by their concern for their families in Ukraine Daniil said he thinks about his family "all the time because they stayed in Kyiv and I miss here [sic]" who has lived in Rowlands Gill for two years with her husband Oleg had travelled from the UK to collect her younger brother and ended up bringing with her young cousin She was originally going to stay with her parents and older brother in their village outside Kyiv but her parents made the snap decision to evacuate her after the village next to theirs was bombed Slava said: "We were really were worried about their lives because it's like every hour in Ukraine "We just felt better because we knew they were in a safe place and we can take care for them." Daniil travelled eight hours alone by train to reach Lviv where he stayed in a relative's house before Slava arrived to collect him before travelling back to the UK on 31 March Slava and Oleg are also having to adjust and get used to life with two teenagers in their small two-bedroom home - but the pair are adamant they wouldn't have things any other way Slava said: "It's just hard because you never know what will happen in the next minute You just wake up and watch the news trying to understand what has happened "The night is like the period that concerns us the most because we can't do anything; we can't keep in touch with our families." they are still trying to help their friends and relatives in Ukraine by finding homes for those who want to leave but Slava says that most people want to stay "I put out a message asking local people to consider opening their homes to Ukrainians and I was overwhelmed with local support," she said "I got nearly 20 offers from local people in Rowlands Gill and more than 15 from further afield huge support from North East people." saying: "You just want to hug everyone that helps you they don't think they just give it away." Time to 'do everything we can' say North East MPs supporting Ukrainian refugees Teesside joins humanitarian effort to help those caught up in Ukraine conflict stews and walks through the crunch of autumn leaves At long last the weather across all parts of the UK is about to get in tune with the season For many that will mean the arrival of the first frosts Autumn so far has felt more like an extension of summer for many of us. September was the joint warmest on record across the UK, and October has begun in a similar vein especially across much of England and Wales The dominance of warm southerly winds has helped the temperature exceed 20 Celsius on most days of the month so far We even saw a run of four days above 25 Celsius the first time that has happened in October since 1959 following the passage of another rain-bearing low pressure system across the UK on Friday will see our winds switch to the north or north-west and a brief hit of Arctic air heads our way Frost on the ground on Thursday morning at Rowlands Gill Daytime temperatures will take a tumble to levels we've not seen yet this autumn and at just six to 12 Celsius they will be lower than normal for the time of year Strong winds will make it feel even chillier than that for a time too - a shock to the system after seeing a high of 26 Celsius registered in Essex on Tuesday or a morning walk filling your lungs with crisp autumn air is your thing Many parts of the UK will experience their first frost of the season and on Saturday some autumn snow could fall in parts of northern Scotland possibly even on hills as far south as Northern England Forecast temperatures expected in rural areas on Sunday morning The change in conditions should also help enhance the changing colours in our gardens and across the countryside West Dunbartonshire by BBC WeatherWatcher Jules on Loch Lomond reds and browns of autumn should look great under fairly sunny skies early next week too before southerly winds return and temperatures rise later in the week but not back to levels we've seen so far this month The BBC Weather app is only available to download in the UK FeaturesWhat role did weather forecasters play in WW2 victory UV – how to stay safe in the sun Which pollen is making you sneeze Watch: How Turner's masterpieces inspired a BBC Weather forecaster The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived Louis Theroux visits the West Bank to meet Israeli settlers Copyright © 2025 BBC. 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