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Wearside stories you may have missed this week

BBC Sarah Farrell-Forster (left) is sitting at a wooden table with Councillor Beth Jones. They both have a selection of cakes and a hot drink and are smiling as they look into the camera. They are with two of the cafe workers, who also have items of food and drink and are smiling towards the camera.BBC
Sarah Farrell-Forster (left) and the cafe's staff were joined by Councillor Beth Jones

A new cafe offering roles to disabled people opens its doors, moves to deter vandals from a historic railway viaduct and proposals for lower speed limits in two villages.

Here are some stories you may have missed on Wearside this week.

Second cafe staffed by disabled workers opens

Sarah Farrell-Forster smiling into the camera as she holds a cake decorated with pink icing. She has long black hair and is wearing a black dress.
The cafe will serve pink slices - a popular treat in the area

A cafe staffed by people with autism and learning difficulties has opened after the "success" of another venue.

Sea Change, which is based in South Shields, South Tyneside, has expanded to the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

The organisation was flooded with donations after it received a £20,000 energy bill last year. The charge was later scrapped with the cash instead used to open a second site.

Sarah Farrell-Forster, who set up the community interest charity (CIC) six years ago to offer jobs to people with disabilities, said there was "incredible support" to "continue our mission".

Anti-vandal measures proposed for listed viaduct

Google Victoria Viaduct - a large stone-built structure with several arches. Fencing runs along the top.Google
The Victoria Viaduct has been mothballed since the 1990s

Plans to install new "trespass and vandalism-prevention measures" at a 19th-Century railway viaduct have been submitted.

Network Rail is seeking permission to install new bollards and fencing at Sunderland's Grade II* listed Victoria Viaduct, which crosses the River Wear between Fatfield and Penshaw.

The proposals will be considered by Sunderland City Council's planning department, as listed building consent is required for the works.

A decision will be made by April 14.

Work begins on mine water heating system

Durham County Council Eleven people standing in a line in hi-vis clothing. A man in the middle is holding a shovel. Behind them is a large digger and the brown earth they are standing on is flat and covered in small partially buried rocks.Durham County Council
Durham County Council said the project would have "significant environmental benefits"

Work is under way to create a mine water heating system which will supply hundreds of homes.

Water from disused mines will eventually be used to heat houses in a new community near Seaham, County Durham.

Half the 1,500 homes on the Seaham Garden Village development, which will be built over the next 10 years, will be heated through an ultra-low carbon district heat network.

Councillor Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said the project will have "significant environmental benefits".

Final deadline for stalled homes plan

Supplied A CGI image shows what one of the buildings might look like. It is three-storey and T- shaped, with sections of white render between brown brick walls. The area in front of the building contains a ground level car park and manicured lawns with a few trees and low bushes. A road runs past the building into the distance. Supplied
Work on the development should have started almost two years ago

Plans for an extra care housing scheme could be refused if a legal agreement is not completed next month.

Sunderland City Council first approved the proposals for 84 apartments and 13 bungalows at Moorway, Washington, in October 2022.

Applicants Esh Construction and Gladglider Projects had hoped to start building in summer 2023, but work has not yet taken place because of the lack of a legal agreement.

Planning officers said progress had "not been particularly forthcoming" and developers have been given a final deadline of 25 April to complete the document, or risk the plans being refused.

Reduced speed limits proposed for villages

Google High Street in Shincliffe. It is a narrow two-lane road, with cars parked on each side. The street is lined with trees and houses on both sides.Google
A consultation on the plans is expected in the coming weeks

A 20mph speed limit should be introduced across two villages, a parish council has said.

The measure would be brought to residential streets in Shincliffe and High Shincliffe, County Durham, which are currently 30mph.

The A177, which goes through both villages, would not be affected and there would be no changes to the High Street and Avenue Street area of High Shincliffe as it was a bus route.

Stephen Ashfield, chairman of Shincliffe Parish Council, said the scheme would make the streets safer and discourage people from using the village as a "rat run".

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