Employment

A high proportion of residents felt that there are an inadequate number of local employment opportunities.

Traditional employment opportunities are in decline, and there is currently very little infrastructure for the development of new facilities.

The Weardale Task force have identified that land in the vicinity of the Steelworks is potentially suitable for “high-tech” industrial development, and Wear Valley District Council have responsibility for leading this project.

The residents’ questionnaire showed a small but significant number of respondents interested in forming their own businesses, and the biggest barrier to local establishment is seen as availability of suitable premises. At the time of writing, all light industrial units within the Parish are occupied.

The success of a telemarketing business (which also offers homeworking opportunities to residents) based in the steelworks, and using satellite broadband, shows that such modern industries can be successfully established in the area if suitable premises and infrastructure is available.

Priority should therefore be given to the new industrial development.

The alternative new employment sector is tourism. There is little doubt that tourism is very undeveloped in Wolsingham, but that there is significant potential. Interestingly, over 73% of residents were in favour of the development of tourism in Wolsingham – a substantially larger proportion than other surveys have indicated for Weardale as a whole. New attractions, such as Harperley Prisoner of War Camp, have shown the potential to attract large numbers of visitors and create employment opportunities without adversely affecting local amenity.

Anecdotally, the seasonal re-opening of the Weardale Railway as a Steam Tourist line for part of the summer season in 2004 led to substantial increases in footfall and purchases in local shops, cafes and pubs. Residents showed strong support for its re-opening in the questionnaire. Its continued operation should therefore be supported.

Support should be given to any new tourist development, sympathetic to the local environment. The potential is further discussed in the section on “Tourism”.