MINUTES
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
GENERAL MEETING
Tuesday 17 April 2007. From 6.30pm to 9.10pm
Present: K Barber, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Calvert, S Colquhoun, M Coultas, R Cowen, P Dawe, M Dee,
N Dixon, J Geyer, K Griffiths, K Haigh, I Hoggett, R Jackson, J Kane, J Kushnirenko, R Millerchip, S Millerchip,
D Paget, S Raine, A Richardson, Maggie Robinson, Maureen Robinson, S Robinson, M Shaw, A Shutt, G Stoker,
M Syer, W Temporal, S Thompson, S Walworth, D Whittaker, A Wilson, J Wilson
Attending: B Cockburn, M Ogilvie, G Marsden, M Ridley, I Hunter Smart, M Williams (from 7.50).
1. Apologies: J Anson, B Bates, J Beck, Dennis Pilmoor. Doris Pilmoor, P Sinclair, R Walsh
2. Police Report:
PC Cockburn reported on the following incidents: Cassop – 2 criminal damage; Tursdale (Parkhill region) – 1 theft;
Bowburn – 3 burglary, 2 theft, 2 racial aggravation, 8 criminal damage.
There had been increased youth nuisance because of the good weather and the Easter holidays. 2 young people
had been spoken to in front of their parents, which proved to be effective.
Sgt Ogilvie reported that Insp Dodds will meet with relevant agencies to discuss problems in Bowburn and a mini
Street Safe Initiative will put extra resources into the village. It is hoped that the community of Bowburn will support
the police if they have evidence of crimes.
The police officers were happy to take questions from the members as follows:
Question: Why were no assaults registered?
Answer: None had been reported.
Question: Are sales of alcohol being checked?
Answer: They are, but a determined young person will acquire alcohol.
Bruce is to check all licensees who are involved in the Over 21 Scheme to ensure that they are complying with the
scheme to restrict sales of alcohol on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Question: Could Bowburn be made into an alcohol free zone?
Answer: There must be strong justification for doing this.
Question: Why is there still no Dispersal Order?
Answer: Again this must be justified and this order could be seen as a stigma on the community.
Question: Motor bikes continue to drive along the bridle paths.
Answer: Police and motor bike teams have had some success in the Durham area after a three day programme.
However only motor bikes can travel along the bridle paths which is frustrating, and the police cannot pursue for
health and safety reasons.
The Chair of the Parish Council asked members to contact their Parish and City Councillors with complaints and
reminded everyone to make use of the secure Police Post Box in the Community Centre.
Question: Why can’t eviction orders be used for persistent offenders?
Answer: Each incident is taken on merit and it would be the Council who would seek to take possession of a house.
This could only be done, of course, in the case of a Council House.
Question: Which police telephone number should be used?
Answer: For nuisance use 0845 but if you feel that the incident is more serious then call 999.
Question Apparently young people have been encouraged to move to the park by police to disperse them from
other areas in the village.
Answer: It is hoped that it is not being said by core officers.
Question: When children are out of school parents can be prosecuted can this not happen with repeat
nuisance/criminal offenders of school age?
Answer: Not by the police but it is hoped that the mini Street Safe Initiative may help.
Comment: Three calls have been made about youth nuisance on the Bowburn South Industrial Estate but there has
been no response.
Answer: When the team is off, as in the holidays, the Core team is used.
Comment: If Bowburn has a police presence it is effective. When young people saw a police car parked at the Park
they ran away even though there were no police in the car at the time!
Answer: The police work as a neighbourhood team, which has the benefit of bringing in a sergeant and 6 officers
into a given region of the area, and this method has proved to be successful.
Question: If the youngsters play football in Bowburn again will the police support them?
Answer: The young people would most certainly be encouraged and supported to play football.
As there were no more questions the police were thanked for their attendance, and left for another appointment.13. Masterplan Report: J Blackburn read out the reports from J Anson on behalf of the City Council.
>Highways: (J Blackburn 2 April): Wheatley Hill Link Road - full approval has been granted. The stopping-up of
footpaths and bridleways are under discussion with the police and engineers, but all closures are temporary and
when the highway is complete they will be reinstated. The highway should be completed in 2008.
Western Spine Road: Encourage this route to be in Local Transport Plan 3 (2009/10).
Unadopted roads: It was agreed to meet reps from the County and City Councils, Tarmac, Community, and
Councillors to investigate the feasibility, cost and payment of the scheme.
Safe Crossing Points: The speed limit at Parkhill will be reduced to 30mph when the Link Road is under
construction, and probably after completion, plus the road will become a single carriageway which should create a
safer crossing area. It was agreed to investigate the possibility of increasing the safety of the crossing at the PO.
Transport to employment: Car Pooling has been deferred until 2008.
Mini-roundabouts to improve traffic flow on A177: It was suggested that the junction at the Cooperage requires a
mini-roundabout to allow safe access from the C12a to the A177.
Freight transport – Road and Rail link at Tursdale: GONE will not have the Regional Strategic Strategy proposed
modifications published until possibly May.
>Environment: No update. The next subgroup meeting has since been arranged to take place on 8 May.
>Unadopted Roads: See Highways
>Park Project: An update of the Park Report from the Working Group (26 March) was distributed to members.
JA: The possibility of moving the car park adjacent to Broadmeadows was discussed at the Working Group.
Residents will be contacted by letter. J Anson and P Nixon will meet with Mrs Lyons to discuss projects in the Park.
A member wondered if the problems on the football ground could affect the funding and a representative of the
Youth Football Club said it would until the teams came back to play in Bowburn because the 5 year development
plan has stopped. However a member of the PARC group stressed that the Park is not just the football ground or
sensory garden etc and the PARC group will not allow the additional facilities to hold things up.
For information the application goes to cabinet on 18 April.
It was asked if under the Lease extension ‘exclusion of … livestock’ meant the removal of chickens and pigeons in
the allotments but PD explained that it meant in the area of the Park.
Another member asked if the interest accrued will be paid into the ‘pot’ in case of inflated prices, but PD said that
this may not be a problem because the manufacturers had held the costs at last year’s prices as long as there was
a letter of intent from the city Council, and the car park may not be an additional cost.
>Community Centre: The AGM will be held on 23 April from 7pm in the Community Centre.
JA: At the Consultation Event (28 Mar) the display showed options for the Community and Youth Centre, which are
in both centres for people to comment on who may have missed the event.
68 people signed the attendance sheet and 67 people completed comments sheets.
Members were shown the result of the options from that meeting.
Certain members queried why the consultation had been extended. MS said that the application was at very short
notice but the views give some evidence of the feelings of the village and could be a guide to a possible outcome.
A discussion took place on the advantages of a combined application for either a new build or refurbishment
A member asked if the Consultation could be put on the website without the results being duplicated and GS
explained that it was possible.
>Church: The building has been checked for asbestos; they are waiting for the report. The utility services will be
disconnected and a tender put out for the demolition. Then the building will be demolished by, at the latest, July 07.
>Parkhill: The new plans are available but need not be discussed. There are no costings as yet.
>Youth: See ‘Community Centre’
>Heritage Room: No change, but they note the issues around the Community Centre. AfA application is ongoing.
>Centenary: No change.
4. Tail-upon-End Site:
The planning application is on the City Council website ref. 07/00311/FPA. Objections can be made online.
A member asked why there was no agreement to a change of use from a green field site before submitting the
planning application. It was explained that if the City Council was minded to approve the application GONE would
make the final decision on its merits.
Another member asked if this was the final plan and was told ‘Yes’. If it was approved.
2It was asked if there would be a consultation process and it was said that this would be through the planning
process, which had now started. Discussion took place about the width of roads within the area of the site, and
concern was expressed about the expected increase in the number of children to gain places in the village schools.
It was stated that the capacity of the Primary Schools was adequate, but the Johnson School had a finite number of
places.
5. Minutes of last meeting and matters arising 20 March 2007:
When the typing error in Item 6, ‘site’ for ‘sit’, was corrected the minutes were passed by the meeting unanimously.
AW said that the matter of the Easter Football Scheme had been sorted and the City Council had already given
permission to hold the event.
6. Minutes and Matters Arising from last Trustees’ meeting 27 March 2007:
Trustees discussed the Park meeting and agreed that members should have copies of the summary at the next
general meeting. PD and MS reported on the Walkabout and the Regeneration Working Group.
7. Announcement of Annual General Meeting – 15 May 2007:
Nomination forms and any resolutions for the AGM should be returned by 1 May 2007. The current officers and
trustees, except N Dixon and D Whittaker are willing to be re-elected.
8. Correspondence:
>Email from G Hutchinson – apologies for meeting on 20.03.07 and report from Crowtrees FC.
>Emails to & from P Nixon re Easter Holiday football scheme.
>Email from J Anson re potential apprentice joiners from Bowburn.
>Email to PC Cockburn re lack of incidents being reported by the police relating to the Haslam site even though
members thought there had been recordable offences.
>Email from PC Cockburn – there have been numerous reports of youth nuisance but this is recorded as anti-social
behaviour.
>Email from P Dobbie re press release to publicise funds from DVRC for the Park.
>Email from J Tindale to confirm that the training budget had been reduced from £1000 to £500.
>Letter from Durham County Council re Unitary local government – stakeholder consultation.
>Email from L Lyons asking for support of a St. George’s Day celebration organised by the Junior School.
Members suggested that the school might increase their revenue by asking the parents to donate a sum of money
for the St. George’s Day occasion. Also members realise it is short notice, but perhaps next year the school may be
able to apply for funding for this event. However a donation of £50 towards the occasion was agreed by members.
>Email from Ian Hunter Smart re post as County Council Development Officer.
Ian Hunter Smart was introduced to the members and explained that his role was to help the way DCC engages,
listens and responds to the people and to support Mac Williams (MP). Also to assist local residents and community
groups to have a better access to the decision making processes.
A member complained that there were no dropped kerbs on the west side of Prince Charles Avenue making it
difficult for disabled access, and it was asked if Bowburn will keep the money promised in the Regeneration pot
under a new council.
MW said it could be a problem.
However PD noted that if the Park application was successful it was thought that it would be difficult to prevent it
going ahead.
9. Items of Any Other Business: Register title of issue for item 13: None
10. Treasurer’s Report:
The balance to the end of March is £2125.06.
The new quiz, “Connecting Words”, is now on sale for £1 with a chance to win £25. The closing date is 31 May.
11. Reports and matters arising:
Regeneration Working Group/Walkabout – plus questions for next meeting:
There had been a discussion on the employer’s initiative for the apprenticeship scheme.
The bungalow in Horton Crescent should be demolished by next week.
On the Walkabout it was pointed out that young people were congregating in one of the bungalows but it had not
been reported – that would be done in future. Haslam will report any damage so that they get a crime number. The
next meeting is in 2 weeks time.
Members reported that - HGV wagons are parking on the footpaths; the tannoy system was frighteningly loud
especially in the middle of the night; on the other hand two members said the tannoy was not going off enough; the
road had collapsed in Prince Charles Avenue.
3Parish Council: Police report has been updated at tonight’s B&PCP meeting.
Winners of the Parish Garden Competition have been announced.
Damaged trees have been replaced in the Doorstep Green. Tubs damaged outside the Community Centre will be
replaced through the insurance.
Money was donated to buy the school children Easter eggs for making an Easter Card.
Awaiting confirmation to hang flower baskets from lamp posts. Tubs will be replanted along the main street.
It is hoped to erect the miner’s tub in May.
Hopefully the footpaths will have a face lift this year.
Noticeboard: No change.
Quarry Liaison Committee: Interesting proposals were shown at a meeting of Tarmac re work in the Old
Quarrington Quarry but there are concerns about the footpath from Old Quarrington to Quarrington Hill being a
problem. The clearance of the scrub unfortunately has the potential to clear out the wildlife and is in danger of
leaving a bland appearance to the nature reserve and not the species rich grassland indicated by the County
Council.
There is a Raisby Quarry visit on 25 April at 1pm.
A member asked if the presentation would be shown in June and the secretary would make enquiries about this.
LSP: No report
12 Villages/SRB6 Representative: The secretary apologised for not changing the name of the group to ‘12 Villages’.
The group is looking for running costs and have approached the City Council.
Ushaw Moor sensory trail opens and the Fun Day is 28 May. W Rainton has had AGM. Bearpark Community
Centre has been refurbished. Brandon is consulting on their Masterplan, and the Salvation Army has money for a
teenage playcentre. QH has continued the dry stone wall and the course has been nominated for an Adult Learners
award.
12. Group Noticeboard:
Banner: Sponsorship of £250 has been received from Travis Perkins. Note, the Fishburn Band now play on 4 May,
tickets £4, £3, £2.
BVC: There is a meeting on Thursday.
Football Teams: The children’s teams are training in Spennymoor, Sedgefield and Parkhill, but it is hoped that it will
be a temporary arrangement.
A member queried why the teams were not playing in the City but it was said that there was nowhere big enough.
History: A trip is being planned to Woodhorn Colliery. It is hoped to arrange a talk from the local archaeology group.
Website: No report.
13. Any Other Business:
A member asked that as it was Mike’s last meeting as a City Councillor he should be thanked for his hard work on
behalf of the area.
The Partnership endorsed these sentiments and gave Mike a round of applause to show their gratitude and
appreciation of his services.
14. Date and Time of Meetings:
General Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month.
Next meeting is the AGM on 15 May 2007 at 6.30pm
To be followed by the General Meeting
Dates of meetings in 2007: 19 June, 17 Jul, 21 Aug, 18 Sep, 16 Oct, 20 Nov, 18 Dec.
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