Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership
Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 21 October 2008
Present: W Bates, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Calvert, S Colquhoun, R Cowen, P Dawe, A Gregory, K Griffiths,
R Jackson, J Kane, G Kitson, L Purvis, S Raine, A Richardson, V Richardson, Maggie Robinson, J Shields, A Shutt,
M Syer, S Thompson, R Walsh, S Walworth, D Whittaker, Jack Wilson
In Attendance: P Henderson, Ian Hunter Smart, G Marsden, M Ridley
1. Apologies for absence: J Anson, B Cockburn, N Dixon, B Gregory, G Hutchinson, R Millerchip, G Parle,
Maureen Robinson, M Williams
2. Police Report: PC Cockburn sent the following report:–
Cassop 2 Burglaries, 1 Criminal Damage; Parkhill 1 Burglary, 2 Thefts; Bowburn 1 Burglary, 1 Assault,
5 Thefts, 4 Criminal Damage.
3. Masterplan Updates – Community Development Officer and Project Leaders
Highways: The paved area for the noticeboard was completed as part of the URRI scheme; The Wheatley Hill link
road is due to be officially opened on 30 October however the road is already partially open for quarry traffic.
At Parkhill the bus company has reverted to picking up school children at the bus stops on the main road. Had the
arrangement to pick up children through the estate worked it would have continued but parked cars have cause
difficulties. No complaints have been received from parents re the revised pick up points.
The funding has come through for the Minibus Driver Training; MR and JK to arrange.
Parkhill: The mayor opened both play areas in Parkhill. The consultation for the community hall should be complete
at the end of October.
Heritage Room: The windows have been measured for the grilles.
Community Centre: A meeting is due to take place on 22 October where three quotations for the electrical
specification for the community centre will be discussed. A meeting will also be taking place on 23 October to
discuss the Draft Project Development Study for the Community Sustainable Energy Programme, which outlines
suggestions for sustainable energy measures in the centre.
The ‘On Broadway’ concert was a great success which was enjoyed by everyone.
Youth Centre: The club is closed because the access is blocked after the path was dug up to allow the County
Council to repair the drains. Tendering is now complete for the access works.
Church: A meeting with representatives of the group and the City Council has taken place to discuss funding and
progress various applications for internal equipment and furniture. Unfortunately the noticeboard has been
damaged.
Centenary – Bowburn School: The harvest festival on 22 October is the first event of the centenary year.
Unadopted Roads: Officers from the County Council should attend the partnership meeting in November to give an
update on possible funding for Lansdowne/Neville/Grangepark Crescent.
Park Project: The PARC group have attended a site visit with Stephen Hawley and the contractors to view the
progress of the play area. A further £20 000.00 has been secured towards the MUGA. This application was
prepared and submitted with the assistance of Bowburn Youth FC to the Youth Opportunities Capital Fund.
It was reported that two areas of hard stand had been holding water but this has now been corrected.
A member felt that CCTV cameras should be installed to protect the current works, but it was said that this was
programmed for Phase Two and the contractors are responsible for supervising the site. Another member advised
that talking to the young people should get a favourable response.
A member asked if the track would be made good but it was said that could wait to a later stage as it would be used
again and there are ‘No Entry’ signs.
Environment:
(i) Possible Projects:
The projects were selected because they gave a quick gain and make a difference to the village.1A member noted that there may need to be 100% funding from the Regeneration Pot or some possible funding
through the local council(s). It was queried who would be making the application(s).
It was suggested that this would be done with the help of JA as in the case of the URRI scheme.
> Project 2 – Street lighting from Broadmeadows to Hallgarth: The project was supported unanimously.
The land belongs to the County Council. The cost of £18 000.00 is for one street light for every 200 yards in a
40mph speed limit, which may be possible in the future.
> Project 24 – Wooden roadside fencing: The project was supported unanimously.
The land belongs to the County Council. It was said that if accidental damage had taken place it should be repaired
with an insurance claim; Ask for a new fence on safety grounds.
> Project 25 – Roadside verge south of motorway bridge: The project was supported unanimously.
This land is owned by the County Council but the owner and tenant of the adjacent field would need to be consulted
as vehicles use this area is to attend to the horses.
> Project 35 – Runcie Road footpath: The project was supported unanimously.
The land is owned by the City Council but there are possible problems with CISWO.
> Project 37 – Newburn Avenue footpath: The project was supported unanimously.
The land could be owned by the City Council. Making up only the unmade ground should cost less than the £15 700
for the original project. This area would complete a path from Stevenson Street to Dallymore Drive.
> Project 46 – Park Avenue footpath: The project was supported unanimously.
This land belongs to the City Council and this scheme is not included in the plans for the community centre.
> Project 46c – C12a pavement: The project was supported unanimously.
This land belongs to the County Council. The pavement is overgrown with grass, obstructed by overhanging bushes
and damaged above the Daisy Field.
Members voiced their displeasure at the unsightly state of the hedges around the village, but it was said that no
hedges were cut between April and October, the nesting season, which coincided with the growing season.
Members asked that Crowtrees Lane, Dallymore Drive, Ogden’s industrial estate and the allotment opposite the
Community Centre be included in this clear up It was agreed to ask JA to give a list to the County Council with a
view to them enforcing owners to cut back overhanging shrubbery.
> Project 19 – Railings and fences around the motorway roundabout: The project was supported unanimously.
It was agreed to add this project to the funding application as it is the gateway to the village even though there may
be problems with the Highway Agency.
A member asked that dropped kerbs be put into the pavements on the slip roads to allow powered scooters to drive
over them rather than taking a long route via the cemetery to get to Coxhoe from Bowburn.
Enquire if there is a legal obligation to have dropped kerbs installed. (Action Janet)
(ii) URRI
Plans for the Co-op area are still waiting to be finalised by the Highway Design department. However the Area
Office Highway Maintenance department have agreed to take ownership and future maintenance of the land outside
the Co-op.
There have been cars parked on the new paving in Durham Road which the County are aware of and they are
looking to put in additional bollards to resolve this matter.
(iii) Trees
Haslam homes have agreed to transplant the trees from the Tail-upon-End site and a discussion took place as to
where to plant them eg along Prince Charles Avenue, along the A177 in front of Mary Terrace; in the cemetery; on
the verge at Parkhill.
It was agreed, once again, to buy a tree through the National Tree Week scheme and plant it opposite the
Centenary Oak tree. (Action Janet)
4. Minutes of last General meeting and matters arising: 16 September 2008
The minutes were taken as a true record by K Calvert and R Jackson, and the meeting agreed them unanimously.
Matters arising: G Woodcock of Esh Developments has arranged a meeting on Thursday 23 October at 7pm in
Lawson Road Centre to discuss Affordable Housing.
The Old Quarrington road sign needs to be re-installed and it may have to go on the right hand side of the road for
safety reasons. (Action RC)25. Report - Trustees’ meeting: 23 September 2008
A discussion took place on the return of football equipment to Bowburn Youth FC and it was agreed that the
equipment will be left with each club and no further action would be taken, for the sake of the children.
It was asked if the conditions for the clawback clause had been changed in the Community Chest grant.
A member explained that one football application to the community Chest was made before the clawback clause
was introduced and it was agreed not to apply the clawback clause to the second application.
And it was also agreed not to involve the partnership in disputes between any organisations.
MR’s information concerning a police investigation was noted at the meeting.
The Trustees felt it was essential to co-ordinate the 5 year plans of B&PCP to run parallel to the parish plans.
There is a need to:- Update the Masterplan; Know what funding is available to B&PCP; Be a consultative body; Be
a Forum; Be able to lobby elected representatives; Gather background information from the local councils and other
bodies.
It was agreed that the Environment Group meet to recommend on projects up to £100 000.00 which were prioritised
earlier in the year. The funding would be taken from the Regeneration Pot.
Following the offer of funding for an art project from G Woodcock of Esh Group suggestions were a geo column in
Mary Terrace, a pit wheel, and village entrance posts, and further suggestions will come from members of the
Partnership. A stained glass window in the Community Centre was dismissed on safety grounds.
6. Correspondence: Email from Athletic FC saying that if equipment had to be returned then Athletic must have
some equipment returned from Bowburn Youth FC.
Letter to Bowburn Youth FC, Bowburn Athletic FC and Durham FA saying that the partnership would not exercise
its right to claw back any equipment bought by Bowburn Youth FC with a Community Chest grant and so will not
require any equipment to be returned to it from either Bowburn Athletic FC or Bowburn Youth FC.
7. Items of Any Other Business: (i) Parking in Marlene Avenue. (ii) Flooding in Tail upon End Lane.
8. Treasurer’s Report: No payments were made in September, but £55 was deposited from the tea monies and
raffles. £8727.85 remains in the funds; Made up of Restricted funds - £6008.29 and Unrestricted funds - £2719.56.
Quiz Winners – “Seaside Items”: Ist D Morgan, 2nd J Hutchinson, 3rd M Minto
The raffle for fundraising was won by B Bates. With thanks to P Dawe for donating the prize.
9. Community Chest: Crowtree Ladies Darts and Domino Team requested funding for team shirts and jackets plus
dart boards and darts costing £731.61.
Funding of £731.61 was granted without objection.
Members agreed to ask for more money from the Regeneration Pot to top up the Community Chest. (Action Janet)
10. Reports and matters arising:
Regeneration Working Group/Walkabout – plus questions for next meeting: The maintenance of the new wooden
fences for the bungalows in Horton Crescent and Price Charles Avenue are to be the responsibility of the new land
owners; The City Council is to look into the land ownership for the cleared garage site behind Philip Avenue and
Prince Charles Avenue; The road drains on Tail upon End Lane empty into the field but when the estate is built they
should tie into those drains; When there are six confirmed house buyers on the Tail upon End Lane site, building
will begin; There is no update from NW regarding the update of the sewerage works; The brick wall in Horton
Crescent is to screen the new bungalows; Further work will be done on the blocked drains in Horton Crescent; All
the drains will be tied into the new system in Philip Avenue.
Prince Charles/Horton Crescent: The security light on Horton Crescent is to be adjusted so that it does not shine
directly into the houses.
Tail-upon-End Lane Site: Members commented that there had been complaints about the unsightly state of the Tail
upon End lane site; The ‘top soil’ has not been moved or turned.
Cape Site: Update – Works are now concentrating on areas of the site outlying the main slab and ‘pits’. The last
known areas containing asbestos materials should be removed by week ending 9 October when the orchid seeds
are harvested and the work of the Ecologist is diminishing. A majority of the remaining vegetation and topsoil has
been removed and stockpiled. Validation sampling of the cleared areas shows only 9 failures. Air monitoring shows
no readings above the safety threshold. October works include completion of the asbestos removal, continuing of
the validation testing of the cleared areas and the breaking up of the existing concrete slabs. Archaeological results
show little of interest and DCC has concluded that no trial pitting will be required, however a watching brief will still
be required for intrusive works. 7 existing trees will be incorporated into the proposed landscaping scheme. Areas of
slab have been swab tested and are ready to be lifted and processed in week beginning 6 October.
Art work: It was asked what amount of money is available for the art project; What is the time scale; Would the local
school(s) be involved with the design? (Janet to contact G Woodcock)
3Parish Council: September Meeting – Two picnic tables will be installed at Cassop and Tursdale, and a third is to be
decided as there were complaints from residents in Bow/Burn Street against the Doorstep Green; There was a site
meeting to engage young offenders in community work; Lesley Milgate advised on Parish Plans;
October meeting – Financial donations no. 17 x £100 and 2 x £50 were given to local community groups, including
the Partnership; Repairs are to be done on the West Bowburn Way.
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS): No update
Noticeboard: Awaiting planning permission.
Quarry Liaison Committee: The next meeting is 4 November.
LSP: No update.
12 Villages Representative: AGM is 3 November
11. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
Banner (M Syer): None
BVC (M Syer): Articles are needed for the next issue by the end of November.
K Calvert was thanked for the time he has given to delivering the Interchange over a number of years.
Football Teams (G Hutchinson, J Kushnirenco, G Parle, A Wilson):
The Cooperage FC have not played many games due to lack of referees. They lost 2-1 to Witton Gilbert but won 4-
1 against Framwellgate WMC. There is no fixture next week but a home match the week after to Coxhoe WMC.
Bowburn Athletic FC now have 50 players from Bowburn. The tots’ team of 5/6 year olds have won their first point.
The Girls U 12 team are joint top with Middlesbrough Girls, who are part of Middlesbrough FC. The Boys U 12 are
6th in the First Division. The teams are enjoying playing at Kelloe. Winter training starts at Coxhoe Sports Centre.
History (M Syer): There is an exhibition from the Durham Records Office in County Hall. Calendars are on sale at a
cost of £3.00.
Website (G Hutchinson): Contact the parents of Robbie Jones on gwaynejill@aol.com to buy a raffle ticket for
fundraising. The draw is on 25 October in Ramside Hall.
12. Any Other Business:
Parking is causing an obstruction in Marlene Avenue; Flooding in Tail upon End Lane is unsightly.
RC is organising a walk in Cold Knuckles Quarry on Boxing Day or Saturday 27 December.
13. Date and Time of Meetings: General Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month.
Next meeting is on 18 November 2008 at 6.30pm
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