Billingham

Billingham is a town in Teesside in the unitary authority of Stockton on Tees, in North East England, with a population of 35,765 (2006),decreasing slightly to 35,165 at the 2011 Census. It was founded circa 650 by a group of Saxons known as Billa's people, which is where the name Billingham is thought to have originated. In modern history, the chemical industry, and in particular the company ICI, has played an important role in the growth of Billingham.

Today ICI no longer operates in Billingham, although other chemical companies are working in the area. Following the fragmentation and ultimate loss of the chemicals conglomerate, ICI, the Billingham Chemical Industrial park became a multi-company facility. The chemical,biotechnology and engineering companies that continue to operate at Billingham are members of the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC). They include GrowHow, Johnson Matthey, FujiFilm Diosynth Biologics and Fruitarom. Other members of the NEPIC Cluster operate from the 62 acre Belasis Business Park in Billingham such as Cambridge Research Biochemicals, ABB Group and Biochemica. Growhow not only manufacture fertilisers & industrial chemicals in Bilingham they also capture the CO2 for use in the food & drink industry. Tomatoes are grown in Billingham by North Bank Growers using the recoverable energy from the Billingham complex, which further reduces the area's carbon footprint.

History

Early centuries

A clue to Billingham's early origins is seen in the prominent Anglo-Saxon tower of St Cuthbert's Parish Church. The tower was built c. AD 1000, but elements of a late-7th/early-8th-century Nave also remain, and there is a 7th-century grave-marker from the church in the British Museum.

Chemical industry and ICI

With the declaration of the First World War, a high demand for explosives led to a massive expansion of Billingham. In 1917, Billingham was chosen to be the site of a new chemical works supplying ammonia for the war. However, the plant was completed in 1920, after the war had ended. The Brunner Mond Company took over the site, and converted it to manufacture fertilisers. In December 1926, Brunner Mond merged with three other chemical companies to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), who took control of the plant. ICI began to produce plastics at Billingham in 1966.

Aldous Huxley visited the newly opened and technologically advanced Brunner and Mond plant at ICI and gave a detailed account of the processes he saw. The introduction to the most recent print of Brave New World states that Huxley was inspired to write the novel by this Billingham visit. Henry Thorold in the Shell Guide to County Durham states:

From 1971 to 1988 ICI operated a small General Atomics TRIGA Mark I nuclear reactor at its Billingham factory to produce radio-isotopes for use in process instrumentation such as level measurement devices. In addition to its own on-site coal-fired power station, ICI also operated the coal-fired North Tees Power Station, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, on the banks of the Tees to provide electricity for its plants. The latter was eventually decommissioned and demolished (at a ceremony attended by Environment Secretary Nicholas Ridley) in 1987. The site of the power station is now Billingham Reach Industrial Estate, an international wharf owned by Able UK Ltd. ICI no longer operates in Billingham, having sold many of its businesses during the restructuring of the company in the 1990s. Some of the company's former manufacturing plants are still in operation, run by other chemical companies.

Anhydrite Mine

In 1983, NIREX announced a proposal to use the now-disused anhydrite mine as a site for the disposal of intermediate level nuclear waste. There was a huge public outcry led by BAND (Billingham Against Nuclear Dumping) Chairman Reverend Peter Hirst, since despite the suitability of the site in geological terms, it was very close to a large population centre. Subsequently, in 1985, the plans were dropped. More recent plans in 2007 to re-open the mines for "use as a long-term disposal facility for low hazard waste" were met with similar opposition, and a petition of 3,200 signatures against the mine's opening was presented to the local authority.

In March 2011 Stockton Council's planning committee accepted an application from NPL Waste Management to reopen the mine for the disposal of hazardous waste. NPL plans to convert the mine to a 4,000,000 cubic metre waste storage facility, receiving over 100,000 tonnes of waste annually.

Politics

Between 1923 and 1968, Billingham had its own urban district council which built, among other things, the Billingham Forum, Kennedy Gardens and Billingham Golf Club (the UK's first municipally-owned club). It was absorbed into the County Borough of Teesside in 1968. In 1974 Teesside County Borugh Council was abolished being replaced by the County of Cleveland which had four districts, Hartlepool, Langbaurgh-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Stockton on Tees. Billingham was then part of Stockton on Tees. In 1996 Cleveland County Council was abolished with Billingham being part of a new unitary (single tier) council for all of Stockton and Billingham.

In February 2007, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Electoral Commission issued orders for the creation of a Billingham Parish and the setting up of a new town council. Billingham Town Council is the largest in the Borough of Stockton. It is funded by a precept of £80,000. Elections for the new Town Council were held on 3 May 2007, a petition to Stockton Borough Council and referendum held in 2003 having both given assent to the proposal.

Several chemical plants close to the town were subject to explosions and leaks in 2006 and 2007.

Structure

The town is effectively split into two separate areas by name, Old Billingham (the area around the village green adjacent to St Cuthbert's church and built up around the ICI works) and the more planned estates that have spread out since the 1950s, increasing the town's size and borders towards the villages of Wolviston and Cowpen Bewley, to the point of almost incorporating them.

Billingham Beck Valley Country Park was constructed from a reclaimed industrial waste tip and has steadily grown to include former grazing land to form a site including wetland habitats. Designated as a Local Nature Reserve by English Nature in 1992, in 2005 it won a Green Flag Award. The beck itself is one of the major tributaries of the River Tees and has a tidal reach around the former ICI site.

Demography

The population of Billingham, according to the census of 1801, was 962. This number increased slowly until the beginnings of World War One, in which the need for nitrates, to use in explosives, brought about a significant burst of growth for the town. In 1917, Billingham was chosen as the site for the production of Synthetic Ammonia due to its good transport links and access to the resources needed and the population of the town nearly doubled in just a few years from 4500 to 8000. After the war, the site was bought by Brunner Mond and converted for use in the production of agricultural fertiliser, who soon merged with a number of other companies to form Imperial Chemical Industries. This continued the population expansion of Billingham, reaching nearly 18,000 by 1931. With the onset of World War Two, synthetic ammonia for explosives was once again in demand, further continuing the town's development. During the latter half of the 20th century, the population of Billingham slowed significantly due to the industrial decline of the area.

Education

Billingham is served by three secondary schools: Northfield School, a specialist sports college famous for Jamie Bell and Paul Smith from the band Maximo Park; Northfield, Marsh House Avenue Site, originally Brunner and Furness Comprehensive Schools and now an arts college; and St Michael's Catholic Academy, a specialist Science Catholic academy.

At the moment construction is ongoing for St. Michael's to join the Billingham Campus and New Bede/Riverside College facilities on the Marsh House Avenue site, in a project The Council has published plans for a £40 million investment in Primary Schools which will include some being rebuilt or re-designed and refurbished. Roseberry Primary School and Bewley Infant and Bewley Junior Schools are on the list for action within the next few years.

Bede College has served the town for several years, and attracts students from Hartlepool and Stockton, consistently achieving higher results than nearby colleges in Stockton or Middlesbrough. It was one of the smallest colleges in the UK, with under 400 students, however its recent amalgamation with Stockton Riverside College and its relocation to an adjacent new campus, has seen these numbers increase significantly; as part of the new campus the college has gained its own sports facilities.

Religion

Billingham is home to several religious communities, the largest of which are the Church of England, and the Roman Catholic Church.

The Church of England community is served by a single Team Parish, with five parish churches - St. Cuthbert's, St. Luke's, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Aidan's, and St. Peter's. The parish covers all of Billingham, the Clarences, Cowpen Bewley, Newton Bewley and Wolviston. It is part of the Church of England Deanery of Stockton, in the Archdeaconry of Auckland, which itself is within the Diocese of Durham. The parish is currently served by three clergy, Rev. Laura McWilliams, Rev. Richard Radley and Rev. Bill Braviner.

The Roman Catholic community is served by three parishes, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Billingham, St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph's. Regular mass attendance in the town is around 756, according to figures released by the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. The parish is placed in the episcopal area of Cleveland and South Durham and the deanery of St. Peter, including Stockton and Billingham. The town is served by two Catholic Clergy, Rev J. Butters (also area Episcopal Vicar) is the parish priest, and Rev D. McKie the resident deacon. There is also St Michaels RC Secondary School in Billingham with just under 1000 students.

The Christian community is also served by two Methodist churches, one Baptist church and a Pentecostal Church called "New Life" based on Low Grange Avenue. There is also a Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, and a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Town Centre

Billingham Town Centre provides the town with famous national retail chains such as Asda, Greggs, Iceland and Argos, as well as several charity shops, estate agents and banks, with a market featuring in the centre every Monday and Friday. The town centre lacks some services, but Stockton Town Centre is less than away and Middlesbrough Town Centre is also less than away.

In 1967, Associated Dairies fledgling stores division which it had launched in 1965 opened their first store outside of its Yorkshire heartland in the town centre. Asda Billingham was their first store to open in the North East and is now the oldest continuously trading Asda supermarket in the UK. Although Asda have been trying to find a newer location to build a much bigger store since the late 1990s, the lack of suitable sites have frustrated these proposals. As it stands Asda Billingham is also the smallest branch of the original chain with a sales area of around 7'000 sq.ft. But it is also a highly profitable store and very popular within the local community.

In March 2012, it was confirmed that a Wetherspoons Public House would be opened in the Town Centre, along with a Fulton Frozen Foods superstore, as part of the ongoing regeneration plans.

In August each year the town centre hosts the Billingham International Folklore Festival - now in its 49th year (2013). Dancers and musicians come from around the world to perform traditional and contemporary dance.

On 30 November 2013 a time capsule was buried just in front of the statue in Billingham Town centre under a stone with the inscription FOREVER FORWARD 30 11 2013. The capsule will not be unearthed for 65 years. The event was organised by Jayne Taggart and notable residents Ann Ming and Diane Youdale were present, as well as the Silhouettes Jazz band, Sports clubs the Comets, Stars Ice Hockey teams, the Golf Club and the Kings Arms who represented pubs, also one Cub to represent the youth associations plus Singing Sue's Vocal Academy performing a rendition of Katie Perrys Fireworks, alternative band Zeitgeist 77 closed the proceedings with a live performance.

Transport

Road

Billingham is served by the A19 running to Sunderland in the north and Thirsk in the south. The A19 has bypassed Billingham twice. The original route ran through Old Billingham and over a level crossing next to where the old railway station was located and ran through Wolviston in the north. The first bypass was built in the late 1940s with a bridge over the railway line and a roundabout was built to the east of Wolviston in the late 1960s, the roundabout was built as a grade separated junction, the new bypass was already starting to be gridlocked during rush hour and the design did not help as there was too many roundabouts and junctions for the bypass to take effect and the growing number of vehicles using the A19 by the late 1970s. The second bypass was built in the early 1980s to the west of the first bypass and the grade separated junction was demolished on the roundabout of the first bypass with the old northbound carriageway used for farm access. The second bypass is due to be widened to three lanes and the original concrete surface to be resurfaced with tarmac due to residents complaining about excessive noise from the concrete surface, this was announced in 2014 by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government and could be cancelled due to the act not being passed by the government before and after the 2015 general election. Billingham is also served by the A689 to Hartlepool in the east and Bishop Auckland in the west.

Rail

Billingham railway station is on the Durham Coast Line with hourly services provided by Northern Rail to Newcastle and the MetroCentre in the north and to Stockton and Middlesbrough in the south. Grand Central Railway provide an express train from Sunderland to London but the service does not currently serve Billingham. The original Billingham railway station closed in the late 1960s and moved a mile east along the line.

Bus

Stagecoach provides services 35 to Stockton via Norton Glebe & High Grange, 36 Middlesbrough Park end & Hartlepool Marina, 52 Stockton High Street & Low Grange and 34 Middlesbrough & Owington Farm. Leven Valley provides service 45 to Wolviston. Go North East provides X9 & X10 To Newcastle & Middlesbrough. New bus services have also been added.

Sport

The chemical industry's creation of ammonia in the town also led to the formation of one of Billingham's two football teams, Billingham Synthonia, Synthonia being a portmanteau of Synthetic Ammonia, and of similar origins is Billingham Synthonia Cricket Club. Billingham also is the home of Billingham Town F.C.

The town also has its own ice hockey team (the Billingham Stars) in the English National Ice Hockey League, whose home rink is the TFM Radio Ice Arena. There is also an other ice hockey team called the Billingham wildcats which is made up off women aged 16+.

The town has one Rugby Union Club Billingham Rugby Union Football Club which has four senior teams, the 1st XV currently playing in National 3 North, four leagues from the Premiership. The 2nd XV (Lions) currently playing in The "Candy League" Division 1. The 3rd XV currently playing in The "Teesside Merit League". The Colts playing a competitive Saturday Colts League. The club has a promising junior section ranging from u7 minis to u16's with teams winning Durham county cups and leagues. Players who have come through the junior section have gone on to higher levels. Christopher Hyndman, playing for England under-21s and Northampton with Craig Willis currently attached to Newcastle Falcons Academy although he is currently on loan to Blaydon.

Billingham Forum

In 1967, Billingham Forum was opened by Queen Elizabeth II. A sports and leisure complex, it contains a swimming pool, an ice rink, and a number of sports halls. The complex also houses the Forum Theatre. Notable personalities that have performed in the theatre include the late EastEnders icon Wendy Richard, Jimmy Edwards, Eric Sykes, Darren Day, Arthur Lowe, David Jason, Penelope Keith, Terry Scott, Timothy West, Carroll Baker, and Dame Anna Neagle. Roy Chubby Brown performed there for the first time in November 2006; his DVD for 2007 was recorded there as well.

As part of the proposals to regenerate Billingham, a 'Gateway' initiative proposed the construction of a new sports and leisure centre on John Whitehead Park to replace the Forum. This proved highly controversial, particularly as the Forum's would-be-replacement did not contain a theatre. The proposals were abandoned in November 2004, shortly after the Forum Theatre was granted Grade II listed building status.

Following a survey that reported 98% of participants in favour, Stockton Borough Council now intend to submit a bid of £15 - 20 million to refurbish the Forum Complex in partnership with The Billingham Partnership group.

On 2 June 2011, the Billingham Forum returned from its £15m refurbishment, which started in mid-2009. The Billingham Forum now encompasses a theatre, business standard conferencing facilities, a swimming facility, a TFM Radio-sponsored ice rink, a state of the art Active 8 Gym with TechnoGym Digital exercising equipment, a brand new sauna and steam room, a sports injury centre, and dry sports and drama facilities. There was originally a fish pond in the center of Billingham Forum, however this has been removed. The exterior wall panels have also been replenished on a color scheme of Dark Blue, Grey and Yellow.