General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 15 December 2009 From 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Calvert, S Colquhoun, R Cowen, K Haigh, R Jackson, G Kitson, S Raine,
S Thompson, R Walsh
In Attendance: PC Cockburn, M Ridley
1. Apologies for absence: J Anson, B Bates, A Gregory, P Henderson, A Richardson, Maggie Robinson, M Syer, M Williams
2. P.C. Cockburn: The report is for the last 4 weeks:
Parkhill – 2 Thefts, 1 Criminal Damage; Cassop – 1 Theft; Bowburn – 1 Burglary from a shed, 4 Thefts, 7 Criminal
Damage of cars
A walkabout took place in Phillip Avenue/Griffiths Court to consider ways to deter young children causing a
nuisance; 150 letters were sent out to nearby residents for comments – disappointingly there was only one reply.
PC Cockburn will try to give feedback on previous incidents – but this could be some time after the incident..
It was asked if any cases of racial abuse had been reported, but PC Cockburn was not aware of any.
A member reported incidents of anti-social behaviour on the Hallgarth Estate and they were noted.
PC Cockburn was thanked for attending the meeting on his day off, and left at 7.00pm.
3. Masterplan Updates – Community Development Officer and Project Leaders:
(i) Highways: Limestone Linx Cycle Way: The Limestone LinX group have created a large circular route, with the
advice of LEADER, for Phase 3, and there is a need to measure an increase in employment to achieve the
outcomes for LEADER funding. The project went through to stage two of LEADER, and has already secured
£30,000 from the AAP, and funding from English Nature.
Footpath 29 is in the digitised map but in the wrong location. It was suggested that it could be re-directed around
the edge of the field by an application from the landowner – subject to the usual public objections.
The dog bin at Old Quarrington has unfortunately been put near the seat.
A resident of Lansdowne Crescent has shown Cllr Blakey that the silt in the beck outside his house is several feet
deep. Cllr Blakey hopes to have ‘danger’ signs put up whilst plans go ahead to clear the beck.
(ii) Parkhill: AR sent an email to say that she met with J Anson and P Henderson to discuss the lighting project. This
now has to go back to the Parkhill Residents’ meeting in January for a final discussion with the committee.
1(iii) Heritage Room: No updates
(iv) Community Centre: The following funding applications are being completed: Biffaward – windows, doors and an
element of the electrical re-wire: Sherburn House Charity – ventilation and catering equipment hood; County
Durham Foundation – industrial catering gas cooker; Neighbourhood Budget – towards kitchen equipment; CISWO
– towards a contribution for Phase 1.
It was said that the contractor had been able to hold the price for the start date of March 2010.
The ‘On Broadway’ concert was enjoyed - by a small audience. The proceeds are not known to date.
(v) Youth Centre: There is an invitation to the opening and presentation night on 18 January, from 4.45 to 6.00pm.
Please let the Youth Club know if you are attending - to give an indication of numbers.
(vi) Church: No report.
(vii) Unadopted Roads: No progress.
Three Streets Xmas hamper draw – 1st G Lynch, 2nd A&D Hindshaw, 3rd G Lynch, 4th P Mold.
(viii) Park Project: Phase 2 Project has a budget of £288 848.34
The main drainage installation works are now complete.
The main footpath works have been undertaken to the following areas; allotments to Park, all link pathways to lower
park, allotments to bungalow, however, due to weather temporary pathways have been installed from the bungalow
to the Junior School and a stone based pathway is installed at present.
Ductwork has been installed ready for the Street Lighting & CCTV installations are to be erected. A date for the
street lighting installation is yet to be confirmed by Direct Services.
BT has confirmed a date for the network connection as 23/2/10.
Landscape works will start on completion of the above; with final grass seeding being completed in early April.
Additional/extra works instructions authorised to date include – additional field drainage works (uncovered during
excavations) & upgraded specification, resurfacing works to rear haul road (to the back of Broadmeadows) and
footpaths. The current cost of these is £8450.33, which is within the contract contingencies sum of £15 576.47.
The bottom path in the Park has been top dressed to be retained as part of the cycle way.
It was hoped that funding for phase 3 would be available from the AAP budget.
The Parish litter pick needed to clear the gulley to the attenuation tank of various pieces of rubbish plus a T-shirt.
(ix) Environment and URRI: Durham Road: The bollards should be installed in the New Year.
(x) (a) Regeneration Working Group: No meeting, however Cllr Blakey has expressed concerns about inconsiderate
parking at the Tail-upon-End site, and problems with the drains in David Terrace.
(b) Walkabout: None since the last meeting.
(c) Housing: Cllr Blakey had asked for the roads to be cleaned on Tail-upon-End Lane.
A member asked that the Esh Group be contacted to clean mud from the road outside the Cape site. (Action Janet)
There was also concern about mud from the park entrance being left on the c12a leading to Grangepark Crescent.
It was suggested that the ‘Industrial Highway’ should be highlighted in the feasibility study for the proposed
Houghall Theme Park as this scheme will increase the traffic flow through Bowburn. (Action Janet)
Cllr Blakey declared an interest in the above scheme – from a planning point of view.
(xi) East Durham Rural Corridor (AAP):
At the Board meeting on 18 November a vote was taken to spend the first £100 000 of the AAP budget.
At the Forum meeting on 10 December a vote was taken for the remaining £50 000 of the budget.
The next Board meeting is on 20 January at 6.30pm venue to be confirmed.
Pass on questions to the Board by email or telephone: jane.bellis@durham.gov.uk Tel 0191 527 4764
4. Minutes of last General Meeting and: 17 November 2009
When the typo ‘Bemco’ for the History report (Item 10) was corrected, the minutes were approved as a true record.
Matters arising:
Item 3; (ii) Julie had met with AR to discuss the lighting scheme.
(iv) The £180,000 was later reduced to £80,000 because £100,000 had been spent on ‘acquisition and demolition’.
(ix) Awaiting arrival of bollards.
Item 4; It was agreed that there was no extra money at this stage for the Community Centre.
Item 5; The suggestions for the Core Strategy had been acknowledged.
Item 6; It was said that an interested party in the planning application for Robson Crescent had not been given an
update on the timing of the committee meeting.
It was asked if the meeting could be informed if no contact had been made 5 working days before the meeting.
Item 11; Cllr Blakey has asked for the vans to be moved away from the entrance to Kirby’s Drive.
25. Report – Trustees’ meeting: 1 December 2009
The reduction of the £180 000 was queried. Re – Transit 15; It was agreed to ask if the County Council had
considered a further Park and Ride scheme as an alternative; if the bus lane could be restricted to peak times;
where are the other four schemes on the route.
An article in the Interchange asks for those interested in the minibus driver training to contact the secretary.
6. Correspondence:
> The comments on the Core Strategy have been acknowledged.
> H Harvey, Strategic Transport Planning Manager, sent an explanation of the benefits of Transit 15 – to slow down
the use of single occupancy cars and relieve congestion; quicker journey times for all buses, not just the X1, in peak
hours.
> The Taekwondo Club in Bowburn were grateful for the ‘generous offer of the use of the mats’ and agreed to the
conditions.
> P Herbert, principal planner, explained that the Cape site was a delegated item because there was no specific
request for it to go to committee. However that did not mean that objections were not carefully considered.
7. Items of Any Other Business: Get well card.
8. Treasurer’s Report and Fundraising:
Treasurers update: The secretary emailed a report and set of accounts to Members.
The current balance is £5209.12, of which £2359.92 is restricted (Training and Projects). An uncleared cheque for
£20 and £8.20 cash are yet to show in the accounts.
Raffle for Fundraising: The raffle was won by R Cowen. With thanks to K Haigh for donating the prizes.
Quiz – Round Objects: Quizzes are available at £1, and the final date for returns is 15 January 2010.
9. Reports and matters arising:
Mabey housing: Nothing new to report.
Parish Council: The next meeting is Wednesday 16 December at Cassop from 7pm.
The Parish Litter Pick collected 18 Bags of litter, 1 Wheelbarrow, and 1 cover net from a wagon.
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS): The Core Strategy is ongoing.
Quarry Liaison Committee: Awaiting an update of the applications re Cold Knuckles Quarry, ROMP and others. At
the Liaison meeting, 11 Dec, it was said there should be a biodiversity meeting in January.
12 Villages Representative: No report.
10. Group Noticeboard:
Banner (Mal Bell, Martin Ridley): No meeting.
BVC: The next edition of the Interchange is now being delivered around the village by a group of loyal volunteers.
Church: There is a musical evening tonight.
Football Teams:
> Bowburn Youth (G Hutchinson): The Xmas party on 19 December has - Santa, buffet, raffle of a bike and hamper.
Teams are getting better with more qualified coaches; there are more children wanting to join.
The club is also buying new jackets and strips for everyone
There will a question night for parents at Bowburn Community Centre - 7.15pm, 26th January; put questions in
writing; or email bowburnyouthfc@aol.com.
> Cooperage (G Hutchinson) After a poor start to the season the club is now winning more than they losing and are
moving up the table but its future is still in doubt with the manager leaving at the end of the season.
A meeting will take place in the New Year – if anyone is interested in being manager email cooperagefc@aol.com.
> History (M Bell): The talk on the excavation of the Bemco site was very interesting. The Calendar is on sale at £3.
> Website (G Hutchinson): Total figures: Members 925, Posts 1308, Topics 201, Categories 8, Boards 15.
November summary: Topics 3, Posts 11, Members 69, Most Online 6, Hits 4900.
The website is growing daily and there is a request for news on events that are taking place over Xmas.
11. Any Other Business: It was agreed to send MR a get well card and wish her a speedy recovery.
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month is 19 January 2010 at 6.30pm:
Future meetings: 16 Feb, 16 Mar, 20 April, 18 May (AGM), 15 Jun, 20 Jul, 17 Aug, 21 Sept,19 Oct, 16 Nov, 21 Dec
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