Present: MINUTES
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership
Charity Number 1112151
GENERAL MEETING
Tuesday 16 January 2007 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm
W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Calvert, S Colquhoun, R Cowen, P Dawe, M Dee, N Dixon,
J Elder, R Ferguson, J Geyer, K Haigh, R Jackson, J Kane, R Millerchip, R Mulkerrin, Maggie Robinson, S Raine,
S Robinson, W Stainthorpe, M Syer, S Thompson, R Walsh, D Whittaker, A Wilson, J Wilson
In Attendance: M Williams (left 6.50pm)
J Anson (left 7.20pm), P Cockburn (left 6.50pm), P Nixon (left 7.20pm), G Marsden, M Ridley,
1. Apologies for absence: S Walworth
K Griffiths, Angela Richardson, Maureen Robinson, A Shutt, P Sinclair, J Tindale,
2. PC Cockburn: Bruce reported on crime in the area.
Parkhill – One criminal damage; Cassop – None; Bowburn – Two thefts and Eight criminal damage several of which
were broken wing mirrors which were probably thought of as a prank by young people but are a serious nuisance.
Young people had been using a disused garage as a meeting place but now that has been removed they have
stopped going there.
A member asked if dispersal orders were in place but Bruce informed that there are none. However the police are
looking at the evidence of nuisance over 6 months and making a decision on that. A questionnaire is being studied
as to whether the youth were seen as a problem or not.
Members were informed that a quad bike causing a nuisance in the Park had been confiscated and crushed.
Bruce was informed of criminal damage inside a house in Philip Avenue, and also in David Terrace.
PC Cockburn finished his report and left the meeting.
The chair asked Mac Williams if there was a start date for the Wheatley Hill Bowburn Link Road and was told that
he would inform as soon as possible.
Mac Williams then left the meeting.
3. Masterplan: The chair asked for this item to be brought forward, and welcomed the new officers.
Julie Anson (Community Development Officer) and Paula Nixon (Bowburn Settlement Renewal Co-ordinator).
Julie gave an update of the projects.
Environment: Details of the projects and costings were handed out and a meeting is to be arranged.
Park: After the consultation in November concerns are being looked into to take to the meeting on 29 January. The
County Council are supportive of adopting the footpath through the allotments, and gave advice. The City Council
await a response from the Parish Council on the allotment owners agreeing to the adoption of paths.
Community Centre: Plans and costing will go to the meeting on 23 January.
Parkhill: There is to be an update on funding for the play area.
Youth Centre: Plans are being drawn up and funds have been secured to bring the entrance up to standard.
Julie distributed an application form to the Regeneration Fund for the Park Project and sought agreement from
members for the chair to sign off this application.
MR asked that the application be checked with ideas/changes taken to the City Council on 29 January, and then
brought to the next Partnership meeting for agreement.
It was agreed by members to bring back the application to the February meeting for final agreement.
Project Leaders’ update of each project and group news.
Highways: A meeting will be organised for February.
Environment: Arranging a meeting,
Unadopted Roads: Almost all the residents have sent in replies.
Church: Draft plans and costings are with the Bishop.
Youth Centre: The staff hope to open the Centre next Tuesday, 22 January.
Heritage Room: The group will meet with Wendy Lavelle, Community Support Officer, on Thursday 18 January for
information on funding.
1Centenary: The centenary year has now ended. There were, however, medals left over partly because last year’s
Year 11 pupils have not claimed medals. If you know any of these young people let Janet know.
It was agreed that the other medals could be given out to children of reception age living in the area of benefit.
Paula Nixon gave a resume of her experience with the City Council.
As this section of business was complete both Julie and Paula left the meeting.
4. Minutes of last meeting and matters arising: 19 December 2006:
Item11 ‘Group Noticeboard: History’ should have read “Meeting … every third Thursday”. When this correction was
made the minutes were taken as a true record: proposed by K Calvert and seconded by S Thompson.
In matters arising:
There was concern over further clearance of the scrubland in the local Nature Reserve, plus a request for an
indication of when it is to be done and a meeting with those concerned. Action Janet.
A member queried whether there had been any information about the noticeboards from the Parish.
The secretary said there had been no communication from the Parish Clerk on this matter.
5. Correspondence:
>Email from J Anson, informing that 1-22 Lansdowne Crescent were sent a letter regards the consultation event.
Walker St. had not been included as they do not directly adjoin the Park.
A request was made to add Walker Street to the mailing list for the Park. Action Janet.
>Email from P Sinclair, informing that she had done the walkabout with Carol and two residents did not want the
road adopted because they felt that they can move cars on if there is unwanted parking.
>Email from J Tindale, informing of the appointment of Paula Nixon to Bowburn.
A member explained that the unadopted road in Westlands at Parkhill was a Public Byway and residents may not
be able to stop parking.
MR asked for the names of the people in Parkhill who did not want the road adopted. As she did not have that
information, the secretary will pass on this request to P Sinclair.
6. Items of Any Other Business: Register title of issue for item 12:
> Information about the Regional Spatial Strategy in reference to the Freight Terminal.
> To highlight the possible end of Durham City Council.
> Query the Environment document.
> Roads and lack of Lighting on Philip Avenue.
7. Treasurer’s Report:
Amount to take forward: General Fund £439.72, Centenary Fund £2009.99, Community Chest Nil
The Centenary Fund is completed within budget even though there are still some bills to settle.
The new quiz is to find a word beginning with the letter ‘U’.
8. Community Chest: The Youth Club application has been withdrawn. See item 3 Youth Centre.
9. Reports and matters arising:
Regeneration Working Group/Walkabout: The next Regeneration meeting is on Thursday 18 January.
A Walkabout in the Philip Avenue/Robert Terrace area will take place every other Monday in the New Year.
Problems are being sorted out and most importantly the officials are now aware of the problems.
Noticeboard from Haslam Homes: after some discussion the decision was taken to place the board at the junction
of Philip Avenue and Prince Charles Avenue.
A member thought this work was badly timed when huge tracked vehicles are still entering the site and will cause
damage to the new surface.
The suggestion was that either Haslam would be responsible for the damage or such vehicles would discontinue
after the road was made up.
Philip Avenue and Robert Terrace will be resurfaced in two sections with a raised traffic calming section in front of
the entrance to ‘Centenary Park’. Lawson road will be resurfaced to an adoptable standard in the area of the ‘new’
estate when the Water Authority signs off the site. There are no plans to resurface the through road connecting the
original bungalows in Lawson Road.
Parish Council: A Xmas Tree outside the Community Centre was shelved. The only Parish interested in joining with
other Parishes in a highways maintenance partnership was Cassop. The joint noticeboard scheme with the
Partnership was shelved. Permission for the coal tub should be decided by March. The suggestion to position the
tub in the Millennium Garden was withdrawn because it would be seen by more people on the main corridor through
the village. Allotment tenants have been asked about the adoption of the footpath and the results will be back from
an independent advisor by February.
2Noticeboard: The Parish Council are not part funding the noticeboards. The chair and a member asked for
confirmation from the Parish.
MR replied that the Partnership secretary would have to write to the Parish Clerk with this request.
Quarry Liaison Committee: No further meeting has taken place. Representatives could be contacted at the end of
January. However a new hedge has been planted.
LSP: No general meeting, but ‘Housing’ meets at Sherburn Road on Friday 19 January.
12 Villages/SRB6 Representative: Bearpark YC – raised £140 for activities; Bowburn – calligraphy course is full;
Brandon – Sure Start in nursery, sensory trail begins; Cassop – good Xmas Party: Kelloe – HLF bid for mining
memorial and banner, Sure Start in school, plans to open swimming baths; Ludworth – opening of play area, tower
tidy, unsure of benefit of alcohol ban: N Brancepeth – good Xmas party even though the entertainer did not arrive;
QH – researching names for miners’ memorial book, calligraphy course early March with 20 places, Saturday early
in March photograph graveyard, 24th 25th 30th March dry stone walling; Sherburn Hill CA – seek funding for centre
and playground; U Moor – new Xmas lights; W Rainton – concern over time received from their Development
worker, and History group seek funding for resource room;
11. Group Noticeboard:
Banner: Arrangements have been made for a concert by the Fishburn Band on 27 April. The same band from
Yorkshire will perform an Eve of Banner Concert and lead the Banner into Durham. The route through Bowburn is
the same as last year as far as Prince Charles Avenue with the addition of a stop at the War Memorial and then
marching up Bede Terrace to George Street and Dallymore Drive to board the buses. There will be a further new
route next year.
BVC: Nothing to report.
Football Teams: The youth teams’ season starts in March. Crowtrees FC have had one win and one defeat and are
in the middle of the table level with the Cooperage with one game in hand.
Both managers complained bitterly that the pitch is regularly covered with dog dirt; damaged by loose dogs, golfers,
quads and motor bikes; unprepared for play during the pre-season. It was felt that signage would help with dog
control.
A member explained that if a loose dog is out of control and the owner is known then the matter should be taken up
with the police as it is a criminal offence.
Another member noted that there had been a promise of wardens patrolling the Park.
A member described himself as a responsible dog owner and felt that all owners cannot be labelled with this slur.
MS/PD would take these concerns to the Regeneration meeting on Thursday, and the Partnership would write a
letter. Action Janet
History: A small number of members attended the last meeting. The History Book is still being worked on. The
unique Bowburn calendar is on sale for £3. The possibility of a Family History Society was discussed.
Website: No report this month.
12. Any Other Business:
A member reported that a panel has recommended to the Government that the Freight Terminal at Tursdale be
removed from the Spatial Strategy and they are likely to support that next month. However, if it is a controversial
topic it could be delayed.
The member also asked members to keep in mind that local government reorganisation may mean that the
Partnership may not be funded by the City Council.
Another member was concerned that residents in Philip Avenue had not been personally informed of the road
closure, 22 January, and some may not even be aware of what is happening on Monday. Also the lighting has still
not been sorted out in Philip Avenue.
An extra question was asked about the future of the Community Centre. Reference was made to Item 3.
With reference to the Environment Report a member felt that too much funding should not be allocated to schemes
that were a County Council responsibility.
It was noted that these were costings and not proposals and all comments would be appreciated.
13. Date and Time of Meetings:
General Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month
Next general meeting is 20 February 2007 at 6.30pm
Dates of meetings in 2007: 20 March, 17 Apr, 15 May, 19 Jun, 17 Jul.
3