Jim Wilson obituary
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/21/jim-wilson-obituary Version 0 of 1. My colleague and friend Jim Wilson, who has died aged 82, was a former county planning officer for County Durham. Over the 30 years from 1956, he helped guide Durham’s environmental and economic transformation. Jim worked on plans for the renewal of the old county, which then stretched between the Tyne and the Tees. Under his stewardship, derelict land from the closure of coalmines, coke works, heavy industry and railways was transformed into industrial estates, country parks, picnic areas, farmland and wildlife sites. In all, 44 square miles of land, including some of the country’s largest pit heaps, were levelled, covered with topsoil and planted with more than 2.5m trees. This is one of the most beneficial landscape improvements in Europe of modern times, as was recognised later by the accolade of a Europa Nostra award. Even so, the landscape had to be protected from opencast coal mining, and Jim fought battles over the impact and restoration of these sites. At the same time, neglect and disrepair of town and village centres was tackled through conservation and improvement schemes in the city of Durham, Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, Consett, Seaham and villages in Weardale and Teesdale. Jim also led the way on developing industrial estates, and setting up an industrial bureau and a grants scheme for incoming companies. Jim derived great satisfaction from restoration work and one project in particular. The A1 (now A167) between Darlington and Birtley was surrounded by hoardings, broken signage and general dereliction. Jim was unremitting in removing it all, and used this scheme as evidence of the commitment needed to transform the environment. His determination to get things done was clear to his interdisciplinary department, which he led by example. Jim was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. His father, James, was a signalman on the railways, and his mother, Theresa, ran the family home. Jim, a bright boy, went straight into the second year at Barnsley Holgate grammar school, completing his studies at 17. He then went to King’s College London, where he gained a degree in geography. During two years of national service in the army, he was kitted out for Suez but the crisis was over before he was needed. Jim was demobbed in September 1956 and started to look for work. He was greatly attracted to the idea of town planning and responded to an advertisement for a research assistant in Durham County Planning Department. His contribution to planning, development and improvement in Durham was immense. Jim always said that the achievements were not his alone. This, of course, is true but it was his leadership and strength of purpose that made them possible. In 1988, Jim moved on to a new challenge in the national Planning Inspectorate where his experience and clarity was greatly valued. He retired in 2003. He is survived by his wife, Rita (nee Gough), whom he married in 1957, his children, Helen and Stephen, and four grandchildren. |