VISIT COUNTY DURHAM ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIR
NEWS
Alan Strickland was elected Aycliffe ’ s new MP in the General Election .
JOBS PROMISE
New Aycliffe MP vows to ‘ safeguard ’ 700 Hitachi jobs
The newly-elected MP for Aycliffe says he ’ ll work hard to “ safeguard ” the 700 reportedly threatened jobs at Hitachi Rail .
Alan Strickland was elected as the first MP for the new constituency of Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor in the 2024 General Election .
The Labour candidate won with 18,394 votes , as Conservative Paul Howell came third behind Reform with 8,195 votes – losing more than 11,000 supporters from his 2019 victory .
It has been reported that jobs at Hitachi on Aycliffe Business Park could be under threat , with work drying up for the Japanese rail manufacturer .
Mr Strickland ’ s victory was eventually announced shortly after 3am on Friday , July 5 , after the election count at Spennymoor Leisure Centre .
“ The people of our community and the people of our country have voted for change - for a government powered by public service , for a country where background is no barrier to success , for an NHS back on its feet , and for a country where there is genuine hope for the future .
“ That ’ s why my first priority will be fighting for a step change in the world-class jobs , apprenticeships and opportunities , starting with working hard to safeguard the 700 hitech jobs at Hitachi rail in Newton Aycliffe .
“ Over the last 14 years we ’ ve been neglected as an area . Promises made , promises broken .
“ That ’ s why week after week at door after door people told me they will be voting for change .”
Reform candidate John Grant – who also pitched to become a UKIP MP in 2017 – came second with 9,555 votes , 1,360 more than Mr Howell .
There were 39,925 total applicable votes and a turnout of 55.29 per cent . The 2019 turnout was 41,566 ( 64.6 per cent ).
Aycliffe & Spennymoor General Election 2024 result :
Brian Agar ( Transform ): 264 Anne-Marie Curry ( Lib Dems ): 1,491 John Grant ( Reform ): 9,555 Paul Howell ( Conservative ) 8,195 Jack Hughes ( Green ): 1,701 Alan Strickland ( Labour ): 18,394 Minhajul Suhon ( Workers Party ): 246
VISIT COUNTY DURHAM ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIR
Visit County Durham has announced the formal appointment of its new chair .
Duncan Peake from Raby Estates will take on the role having held the post of interim chair since last June .
Duncan has been on the board of directors at Visit County Durham for six years .
As an experienced chartered surveyor , land manager and rural business leader , Duncan has played a key role in the leadership team since taking over from former chair Ivor Stolliday .
Duncan joined Raby Estates as chief executive in 2017 after a successful track record developing some of the UK ’ s foremost landed estate businesses .
Duncan will be supporting Visit County Durham to achieve its ambitious plans to promote positive economic and social development in County Durham through the successful delivery of Destination Management Plan priorities , that support the growth and impact of the visitor economy following its recent results which show the value of tourism hit £ 1.23bn .
“ I am delighted to be appointed to the role of chair at such an exciting time for the county ’ s visitor economy which has grown significantly in recent years ,” he said .
“ That growth has given businesses in our sector the confidence to invest which means County Durham now has an amazing tourism product .”
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 5