General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership: Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 17 June 2008
From 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Present: K Barber, W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, S Broadbent, K Calvert, R Cowen, P Dawe,
M Dee, N Dixon, J Geyer, A Gregory, B Gregory, K Haigh, R Jackson, G Kitson, P McGrath, J Miller,
R Millerchip, S Raine, V Richardson, Maggie Robinson, Maureen Robinson, R Walsh, D Whittaker, J Wilson,
In Attendance: P Collings, I Hunter Smart, G Marsden, G Woodcock
1. Apologies for absence: J Anson, PC Cockburn, K Griffiths, M Malek, A Richardson, M Ridley,
W Rumney, J Shields, M Syer, S Walworth, M Williams, A Wilson,
2. Sirius – Clearance of the Cape site:
The Chair delayed the start of the presentation because the Parish Councillors from Shincliffe, who had
requested attending the meeting, did not arrive.
He then introduced Geoff Woodcock, Operations Director of Esh Group, and Phill Collings Director of Sirius.
G Woodcock explained that the Esh Group had bought the Cape site from Hallam Land and once the site was
safely cleared of all contaminants, in approximately 6 months time, house building would start. However it may
be social housing that is built first, because of the current financial situation.
P Collings explained the areas of clearance on the site and the methods of removing materials. It was stressed
that dust levels are monitored on the men, within the site and at the site boundary so that the whole operation
is absolutely safe. Dust suppression methods include dowsing the ground with water and a mist curtain round
the edge of the site. If it is too windy operations stop and the working area is covered, as it is during the
weekend when work does not take place. Contaminated material is taken to Hartlepool for disposal in wagons
with electronically controlled covers. The clearance is monitored by Esh, an independent observer, also the
local council, and Health & Safety Executive are involved in the scrutiny. Security is a high priority on the site
which will be guarded and patrolled 24 hours a day. Information notices will update the progress of the
clearance on a regular basis.
P Collings and G Woodcock took questions from the members as follows:
Q. Were there plans for an archaeological survey?
A. Yes but there are questions of safety because of the contamination. Only once the contamination has been
removed will any archaeological investigation be permitted.
Q. Were there plans to inform the local schoolchildren of the dangers on site?
A. Yes there will be a briefing to the schools.
Q. How many wagons would there be?
A. There would be in the order of 50 to 80 loads per day. (The actual numbers will be driven by the pace of the
excavation).
Q. What route would the wagons take?
A. There are 2 preferred routes.
(i) Right through Durham Road to the Link Road; (ii) Left to Shincliffe then right to access the A181 to
Hartlepool.
By having these two options traffic can be moved off site even if there is a problem on one or other of the
roads. Also a circular route can be planned by travelling through Shincliffe to Hartlepool and coming back to
Bowburn via the Link Road thereby preventing any right hand turns to and from the site.
A member suggested going via Tail-upon-End Lane at the filling station but another member objected, saying
there were more dwellings along that route.
Q. (i) Could a traffic route be put into the planning conditions; (ii) Could you enter into a 106 agreement; (iii)
What category of risk was the asbestos on the Cape site?
A. (i) No, as planning conditions have already been determined; (ii) A 106 agreement was not in the planning
conditions; (iii) The site contains white asbestos, chrysotile predominantly in a cement mix, which is classed as
the ‘safest form’ of asbestos. It was advised that it is possible that there may be other brown and blue
asbestos on site and Sirius are prepared to handle all.
1Q. What are the site times?
A. Monday – Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm; Saturday 8.00 am to 1.00pm
Q. When would house building start on the site?
A. Construction should begin when the site is cleared, possibly by January 2009. Because of the downturn in
the financial markets, the first houses could be social housing built by ISOS.
Q. Would the roads and pathways be repaired, if necessary, after the works were finished?
A. An upgrade of the roads is not part of the planning conditions; however a dilapidation survey would be
carried out on the state of the roads to compare their condition before and after the works.
Q. What were the results of the ecological survey?
A. Orchid plants were found, but to overcome the problems of health and safety their seeds will be collected
and replanted rather than transplanting the flowers.
Q. Were any greater crested newts found?
A. One was found. Traps will be set and their habitat will be protected if any further newts are found.
With no further questions the members thanked G Woodcock and P Collings for their most informative
presentation.
3. Police Report by Email from Sgt Turner: Criminal damage – nil; Burglary – 1; Thefts – 3 (plus 3 thefts of
fuel from the motorway service station); Rowdy nuisance – 17.
4. Masterplan Updates – Community Development Officer and Project Leaders
Highways: The roadworks on the A688 Link are ahead of time and it should open in August. However there
are still problems with speeding traffic along the C12a and a request has been made for an extension to the
30mph speed limit from Broadmeadows to the junction with Tail-upon-End Lane.
The City would like to know the amount of interest there is for training to be a minibus driver and what use
would be made of a minibus. Costings and availability of training will then be checked by the CDO office.
Parkhill: Work on the first stage of the park should be completed within the next three to four weeks; stage two,
in the bullring, should also take approximately three to four weeks to complete.
Heritage Room: The room has been cleared and is ready to decorate.
Community Centre: With Community Chest money and a further grant of £3412.00 means that the
sustainability study can go ahead.
Youth Centre: There are 15 young people interested in a Food Hygiene course for which the City Council has
provided a list of possible training agencies.
Church: The building of the Community Worship centre is in danger of coming to a halt because the grant has
not been paid by Keepmoat. The builder is funding the project until the cheque comes through on 19 June and
is cleared. JA is not to blame because she has done everything asked of her, but has now to write yet another
letter to release the funds.
Members were concerned that this problem could happen on all other projects.
It was agreed to write to Keepmoat requesting the full £100K if the promised cheque did not arrive. (Action Janet)
Centenary – Bowburn School: No update.
Unadopted Roads: An officer from the County Council attended the last meeting to explain the schemes
proposed; nationally, regionally, and in County Durham. It is hoped that money can be found within the next
two years to fund the upgrading, with the 3 Streets being the pilot project. The group continues to fundraise
towards the scheme.
Park Project: Bowburn Youth Football Club have a new committee. There is to be a meeting with J Topping of
the FA on Thursday to finalise the changeover. The Park Working Group meets on Friday.
Environment and URRI: A meeting took place concerning the flooding issues within Bowburn beck where all
the relevant parties were brought together. A thorough survey has been done on the beck and the information
will tell the relevant parties of the next steps to take. An environmental survey had found vole habitats and
these must be protected by law during any of the works that take place.2Cllr Robinson reported that garden rubbish was causing a blockage in front of Lansdowne Crescent.
Work on the URRI scheme had started in Durham Road.
A member thanked Service Direct for ceasing work and tidying the area when a funeral was being held in the
Methodist Chapel.
IHS informed the meeting that there was a display plus questionnaires in the foyer of the Community Centre
showing the URRI plans for the Co-op area, Romaine Square and the CCTV cameras for the Co-op.
It was agreed to enter the Calor Village of the Year competition in 2009.
5. Minutes of last General meeting and matters arising 20 May 2008: The minutes were proposed as a
true record by K Haigh, seconded by G Kitson, and the meeting agreed them unanimously.
JB explained that she did not give a report for 12 Villages at the last meeting because she was at Shincliffe.
She was still committed to the project because there is still a need for the network.
6. Report - Trustees’ meeting 3 June 2008:
Discussion took place on enforcing correct working practises on the new housing sites. It was suggested that
the City Planning Officers should be informed, and the Considerate Constructors Scheme of any concerns.
It was agreed that Jan Blakey should replace MS on the Regeneration Committee.
Thanks were extended to MS for his attendance at the Regeneration meetings.
Walkabout: It was agreed that Jan Blakey should attend future Walkabouts.
The trustees were pleased to see that a majority of the changes requested in the Masterplan Executive
Summary had been included, and agreed to accept the Masterplan with reservations, so that it can be ratified.
It would then be up to the Partnership to be involved with the Unitary Council to take the Masterplan forward.
With reference to the school requesting cycling in the park as part of a travel plan the chair could not find any
ban on cycling and rights of way that could be claimed in the Bowburn Park lease .
A member pointed out that rights of way covered a 20 year use by the public without force or trickery; the
lease may not prevent anyone from cycling, but the park is someone else’s land and the owner has the right to
stop cycling.
Four people are trained in PAT testing; they have met to suggest an action plan for use of the equipment.
The following timetable was agreed to prepare for a 5 year plan for the Partnership: July – collate ideas and
form a sub-group; August – sub-group meets.
Cllr Robinson informed the meeting that the Parish Council was preparing a Parish Plan
7. Correspondence:
> Letter from the County Council asking for views on a proposed new secondary school in Spennymoor.
> Poster advertising A Race Equality event at Peterlee on 26 June.
> Information on Food Safety/Health & Training Providers in County Durham.
8. Items of Any Other Business: None
9. Treasurer’s Report:
> £300 was received from the City Council for running costs. Thanks were extended for this payment.
After payments for the Community Chest and room hire a balance of £2129.20 remains in the funds; made up
of Restricted funds of £1278.64 and Unrestricted funds of £850.56.
> The raffle for fundraising was won by J Blakey. With thanks to M Williams for donating the prize.
> Quiz – Link the Number to the Letters – Closing Date is 11 July: There are still quizzes available.
10. Community Chest:
(1) The Cooperage FC emailed to explain that the club had taken all their equipment from the Hare &
Greyhounds, but do need new strips, uniforms, and footballs to represent Bowburn in a professional manner
next season.
Members were satisfied with this explanation.
Funding of £2225.00 was granted without any further objections.
3(2) Bowburn Athletic FC are a newly established children’s football club, with ten teams, which requires funds
to kit out seven of these teams, five of which play 11 a-side football. The application was for £2959.00.
The chair explained that the recommendation from the City of Durham Council was to defer the application as
there is no confirmation that Bowburn Athletic FC is to be allocated playing places in Bowburn.
The members felt that in this time of transition for the youth football teams the details of the new Bowburn
Athletic Football Club need to be verified, and the club’s playing arrangements need to be endorsed before
funding can be released. This decision was agreed by the members of the Partnership.
The application will be reconsidered as soon as the relevant information has been confirmed.
(3) The Church of Christ the King requested funding for chairs in the new Worship Centre.
Funding of £2395.00 was granted without any objection.
11. Reports and matters arising:
Regeneration Working Group/Walkabout: The next Regeneration meeting is on 9 July when Cllr J Blakey will
represent the Partnership in place of M Syer. The meeting thanked MS for his contribution to these meetings.
Cllr J Blakey will also represent the Partnership along with PD on the Walkabouts.
Prince Charles/Horton Crescent: The east of Horton Crescent has been fenced off in preparation for the start
of the site. The first houses to be built will be social housing.
Tail-upon-End Lane Site: No update.
Parish Council: The AGM was held in May and A Richardson of Tursdale is the new Chair, and S Raine is the
Vice Chair; Maggie Robinson was thanked for all her years of service; Sirius gave the same presentation as
seen by the Partnership tonight; Plaques were presented to the winners of the Village in Bloom competition.
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS): Publication is imminent for the final version.
Noticeboard: There was a further delay because a decision was required concerning the ownership of the land
in Tursdale.
Quarry Liaison Committee: There have been no meetings. There could be plans within the next 6 weeks.
LSP: The community representatives had attended a Scrutiny Training meeting at the Fire Headquarters. It
had been interesting to hear of the community work done by the fire service.
12 Villages Representative: There is a Mental Health NE conference on Friday; E Winning – demonstration
against the 102 council homes to be demolished; U Moor – Petitioned, and won, to prevent a second off-
licence; N Brancepeth – Community event on Saturday; Ludworth – Community Centre has a new committee,
and are organising training events; S Hill – are still awaiting a new community centre; W Rainton – still
awaiting agreements; Q Hill – new plants have been received for the community centre, and the colliery
banner is to be restored; Bearpark – had a successful Fun Day; Brandon – still discussing their Masterplan.
12. Group Noticeboard:
Banner (Mal Bell): Arrangements are on schedule for the Gala; there is to be a free concert on 11 July with
admission by ticket, available at the door, bar opens 7.00pm, and the concert starts at 7.45pm.
BVC (Maureen Robinson): The current Interchange is being distributed. The next meeting is 17 July; Please
send in your articles for the September interchange.
Football Teams: No reports
History (Mal Bell): The members researched photos for an exhibition and the calendar; Paint had been bought
for the Resource Centre.
Website: No report.
13. Any Other Business: None.
14. Date and Time of Meetings: General Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month.
Next meeting is on 15 July 2008 at 6.30pm
Date of future meetings in 2008: 19 Aug, 16 Sept, 21 Oct, 18 Nov, 16 Dec