Wear Valley
Encyclopedia
Wear Valley was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district
in County Durham
, England
. Its council was based in Crook
.
The district covered much of the Weardale
area. In the west it was parished
and rural, whereas in the east it was more urban. Crook and Willington
are unparished.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
, by the merger of the Bishop Auckland
, Crook and Willington
and Tow Law
urban district
s, along with Weardale Rural District
.
The district was abolished as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England
.
After agreeing a new waste collection policy involving fortnightly collections under a Labour majority in 2007, the local elections in 2008 turned the council to Liberal Democrat control, who promptly reversed the policy - resulting in 15,000 of the £560,000 order for new tweenie waste bins sitting in a local farmers field at a cost of £1,000 per week.
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its council was based in Crook
Crook, County Durham
Crook is a market town in County Durham, England. It is situated about 10 miles south-west of Durham.Crook lies a couple of miles north of the River Wear, on the A690 from Durham...
.
The district covered much of the Weardale
Weardale
Weardale is a dale, or valley, of the east side of the Pennines in County Durham, in England. Large parts of Weardale fall within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the second largest AONB in England and Wales. The upper valley is surrounded by high fells and heather grouse...
area. In the west it was parished
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
and rural, whereas in the east it was more urban. Crook and Willington
Willington, County Durham
Willington is a former-pit town in County Durham, England. It is in the foothills of the Pennines and near the River Wear close to Crook and Bishop Auckland. Like many communities in the area, Willington's economy was largely based on coal mining. The closure of the colliery in 1967 therefore hit...
are unparished.
The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, by the merger of the Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...
, Crook and Willington
Crook and Willington
Crook and Willington was an urban district in County Durham, England from 1937 to 1974. It was created by a merger of the previous Crook and Willington urban districts, along with part of the disbanded Auckland Rural District. It later formed part of the Wear Valley district...
and Tow Law
Tow Law
Tow Law is a town and civil parish in County Durham, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,952. It is situated a few miles to the south of Consett. Tow Law Town football team are based in the town. The town constituted an urban district from 1894 until 1974...
urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
s, along with Weardale Rural District
Weardale Rural District
Weardale was a rural district in County Durham, England from 1894 to 1974. It was formed under the Local Government Act 1894 as a successor to the Weardale rural sanitary district....
.
The district was abolished as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England
2009 structural changes to local government in England
Structural changes to local government in England were effected on 1 April 2009, whereby a number of new unitary authorities were created in parts of the country which previously operated a 'two-tier' system of counties and districts...
.
After agreeing a new waste collection policy involving fortnightly collections under a Labour majority in 2007, the local elections in 2008 turned the council to Liberal Democrat control, who promptly reversed the policy - resulting in 15,000 of the £560,000 order for new tweenie waste bins sitting in a local farmers field at a cost of £1,000 per week.
Electoral divisions
- Bishop Auckland Town Bishop Auckland Town ward; Cockton Hill ward
- Coundon Coundon ward; Dene Valley ward
- Crook North and Tow Law Crook North ward; Howden ward; Tow Law and Stanley ward
- Crook South Crook South ward; Wheatbottom and Helmington Row ward
- Weardale St John's Chapel ward; Stanhope ward; Wolsingham and Witton-le-Wear ward
- West Auckland Escomb ward; West Auckland ward
- Willington Hunwick ward; Willington Central ward; Willington West End ward
- Woodhouse Close Henknowle ward; Woodhouse Close ward