General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 15 June 2010 From 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Griffiths, R Jackson (Chair), J Kane, G Kitson, D Paget,
A Richardson, Maggie Robinson, S Robinson, M Syer, B Temporal, S Thompson, S Walworth
In Attendance: J Anson, PC Cockburn, G Marsden, M Ridley
1. Apologies for absence: R Cowen, K Haigh, S Raine, V Richardson, J Shields, R Walsh, M Williams
2. P.C. Cockburn: Please find below the stats since the last meeting.
PARKHILL 2 Car Theft: CASSOP 1 Burglary; 1 Assault; 1 Theft: BOWBURN 3 Burglaries; 11 Theft – 4 Car, 3 lead
(5 arrested with no further action, but these crimes have lessened), 2 garden and 2 retail premises; 2 Assaults; 5
Criminal Damage.
It was reported that a Sunderland man, who has been arrested, has admitted to 67 different offences of theft from
vehicles, which included those in Parkhill and Bowburn, see below. PC Cockburn is to work a later shift pattern on
Friday and Saturday evenings, but hopes that his work in the Bowburn area will not be reduced on those evenings.
The CPSO’s are aware of Youth Nuisance and the fact that they can and do acquire alcohol as in other areas of
County Durham. The CPSOs have also used the Speedwatch units on: Tail-upon-End Lane over a 2 hour period
and detected 18 speeding cars out of 68 vehicles; Durham Road found 10 speeding vehicles; but Prince Charles
Avenue had no speeding traffic. The detection is followed up with the registered keeper being sent a warning letter
with the hope that education is more effective than prosecution, but 2/3 warning letters could lead to prosecution.
The secretary informed the meeting that the Partnership is buying 2 Speedwatch Units on behalf of the AAP area.
PC Cockburn was thanked for his attendance on his day off, and he left the meeting at 6.50pm.
3. Masterplan Updates – Economic Regeneration Team Leader and Project Leaders:
(i) Highways: The next meeting is 21 June.
(ii) Parkhill: At the AGM on Tuesday 8 June it was agreed to meet every 2 months as there are no projects to take
forward at present. The next meeting is in September.
(ii)Community Centre: A conditional offer has been received from Biffaward for £50,000.00; the conditions will be
dealt with by the funding committee, who were thanked for their success.
An Open Event is planned for 1 October when the refurbishment of the Centre will be celebrated along with the
groups using the Centre who will display their achievements; Also the Parish Plan will be on show that day.1(iv) Youth Centre: A boiler is to be bought thanks to the Neighbourhood Budget from Cllr Blakey.
Report from Joanne Eden: The club opens 4 evenings a week, which includes Friday 4pm to 6pm - Mixed session.
All session are well attended with young people taking part in a variety of activities including – Circuit training,
weights and gym session, cooking, fundraising, arts and crafts, drug and alcohol awareness, and using the
equipment available - badminton, football, pool, bar football, Nintendo Wii, play station, IT room, and table tennis.
We have just purchased a flat screen TV and are open to show the next few England Matches – the first one being
this Friday 18 June where young people will have the opportunity to watch the match with their friends – food and
soft drinks will be provided free on match day evenings.
(v) Church: No report.
(vi) Unadopted Roads: The group continues to fundraise and lobby the County Council to set up an Equity Share
scheme. Officers will meet with Julie to discuss future plans.
(vii) Park Project: Trees have been cut back on the path to the school because they overhang the lights. Flooding
problems at the back of Broadmeadows will stop when the path is put back to its ‘old’ level. New dog waste bins
will be put in the top park. Work starts on the football pitch on 21 June with the removed soil going on the bottom
park to cover stony areas and to level the small football pitch. Protective boards still need to be removed.
(viii) Environment and URRI: The AAP lighting projects in Parkhill and Bowburn have had a conditional offer of
funding. A village sign, funded by Cllr Blakey, is to be put on the C12a at the motorway bridge next to the entrance
to Heugh Hall Farm. The missing bollard, and reflectors on the new bollards in Durham Road are classed as
‘snagging problems’ and should be put in place.
(ix) (a) Regeneration Working Group: Julie agreed to bring the reports from the DVRC meetings. Julie would make enquiries about an update to the Masterplan which was to be reviewed every year. (b) Walkabout: No report.
(c) Housing: Concern over a damaged path in Robson Crescent. Concern over a gas leak at a sub-station off the C12a. Concern over the use of Tail-upon-End Lane as a site road. Action Julie
Action Julie
Action Cllr Blakey/Janet
Action Cllr Blakey/Janet
Action Cllr Blakey/Janet
(x) East Durham Rural Corridor (AAP): The AGM was held in Sedgefield Parish Hall where Colin Steel of Sedgefield
Borough Homes was elected Chair, Andrew Thompson and Cllr Jan Blakey were elected as vice chairs. Various
local neighbourhood issues were raised by members of the public. Advice was considered from the County’s Legal
Department about conflicts of interest when dealing with neighbourhood budget applications. The Area Budget
remains at £150,000 for the forthcoming year. A Development Day was arranged on 11 May and it was agreed to
hold a planning day to discuss and agree the values of that event. The AAP’s would be represented at the “14 for
14” World Environment Day. Dave Emmerson, the Council’s Strategic Manager, gave a presentation on “Places to
go, things to do for young people”.
The AAP Forum is on 5 July at Fishburn Community Centre. Market stalls and information on projects funded
through last year’s area budget will be on display from 3pm - 6pm. The main business will follow from 6pm – 8pm.
The next Board meeting is on Wednesday 21 July from 6pm – 8pm.
Email marie.ainscough@durham.gov.uk, Tel 0191 527 4807, Website: www.durham.gov.uk/eastdurhamruralaap
The meeting thanked Julie for her attendance, and she left at 7.10pm
(xi) Future Plans of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership (B&PCP)
Members took decisions on the following suggestions from the meeting of the Trustees on 1 June.
Traffic and Transport
\ Investigate potential for Western Bypass around Bowburn village: Route recognised by Council.
>To lobby to keep this route in the county plans, and see if it is possible to construct the route in Phases. Approved
\ Provision of off-street parking throughout the residential areas within Bowburn and Parkhill: Some parking areas
achieved but not all eg Crowtrees Lane, Robert Terrace, and colliery streets.
>To update parking issues; liaise with local councillors and County on possible parking projects. Approved
X Improve traffic flow through Bowburn on A177: It was felt that the A688 link road had reduced some problems of
blockages on the A177.
> To keep this item on review because of the future developments on the former Cape site and the possible
Supermarket on the Ogden’s site where all exits are on the A177, and the Business Park. Approved
> To forward concerns that the junctions in the middle of Durham Road West are blind spots. Approved
>> To hand over Traffic & Transport issues to the Highways group and report back to the main meetings. Approved
2Environment
X Improve landscaping to perimeter of village: Durham Rd improved by the URRI scheme.
> To bid for URRI monies or other grants to complete the pavement on Durham Road West. Approved
> To follow up the offer from G Woodcock, Esh, of a piece of artwork - as a possible village entrance sign. Approved
> To identify Green Belt land within and around the village with a view to its protection from development and
improvement environmentally. Approved
√ Identify new uses for empty part of the Co-op building: Winwood & Ridley opened a bookies.
It was said that the upstairs of the Co-op building is in a very poor condition.
\ Clean up village and main road: Parish litter picks involve parish councillors and young people.
It was felt that the £10 disposal charge encourages litter such as furniture to be left on the roadside.
> To inform the County Council of fly-tipping which may be as a result of the £10.20 charge for six items AND
advertise the availability of the free permit system. Approved
\ Improve street lighting throughout the village: Environment Group provided a programme to update lighting.
> To apply for funding to continue the lighting scheme from Broadmeadows to Tail-upon-End Lane AND other
outstanding lighting and footpath schemes. Approved
Social and Community – Young People
X One Year Programme of Youth Outreach Projects:- To do
X Youth Project to involve 11 to 13 year olds in new activities:- To do
X Provision of a Meeting Place for young people:- Pursue Youth Shelter which has been successful at Parkhill.
X Provide additional Youthwork sessions over 2 years:- To Do
> To contact the young people to find out what they want, through the Youth Club, FCs and Schools. Approved
Social and Community – Sports and Pastimes
√ Provision of specialist equipment for local Sports Clubs and Groups: Provided by Community Chest.
> To seek grants to fund another Community Chest. Approved
Housing
\ Integrate new housing into existing structure: Agencies have provided new housing with some integration.
> To keep up to date with planning applications through the parish and county councillors. Approved
X Investigate the potential for housing improvement grants in the conservation area:
> To make enquiries about grants to improve the houses in the ‘Colliery Rows’, and liaise with councillors.
There are currently no County Council grants available for improvements.
Jobs and Employment
X Information on local availability of jobs:
> To investigate publicising job vacancies from local businesses in the Interchange and on the website. Approved
X Provision of Transport to Employment:
\ Partly provided by the Limestone Linx cycle way.
The next stage is to consider how to prioritise and carry out these suggestions. Action All
4. Minutes of last General Meeting: 18 May 2010
The minutes of the May meeting were approved as a true record.
Matters Arising: Item 3 – A discussion took place about voting rights and the decision was not to change the need to
attend 2 out of the 3 previous meetings to qualify for a vote.
Item 4 (i) ‘Motorway fencing’ – Awaiting a reply from the County Council.
Item 4 (ii) The litter pick took place from the school to the park.
5. Report - Trustees’ meeting on 4 May 2010:
The meeting concentrated on discussing the ‘Future Plans for B&PCP’.
It was agreed to contact Highways to object to the 5 week closure of the road to the tip in Coxhoe. It is hoped that
there could be a partial closure so that cars can travel along that road - as well as pedestrians in this closure period.
7. Correspondence:
> Invitation from Christ the King to attend the licensing of the Rev. Livesley – agreed for the secretary to attend.
> Courses from St John Ambulance.
> Customer Consultation Event – 4 June at Ferryhill Leisure Centre.
> North East Festival of Architecture – Designing out CO2 Exhibition – 17 June in County Hall.
> East Durham LEADER Celebration Event – 17 June in Shotton Hall – Highlights the projects being supported.
> Drop in Road Show 15 July Durham Town Hall – To discuss The County Durham Plan with Council
Officers.
38. Items of Any Other Business: Parking opposite Romaine Square.
9. Treasurers update:
The latest bank statement shows a balance of £10,267.28
The £5000 income is restricted to the Speedwatch Units; £136.30 income was from the April quiz (£125); tea and
raffle (£11.30) at the May meeting; £175 was from a joint fundraising project with another group – using the quiz.
Raffle Draw: The prize was won by R Jackson, with thanks to J Blackburn for the prize.
Quiz – “Transport” at a cost of £1, with prizes of £20, £10, £5 – to be returned by 16 July.
10. Reports and matters arising:
(i) Parish Council – Meetings: 16 June in Cassop Community Centre, 21 July in Bowburn Community Centre, 7pm.
(ii) Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) – nothing to report.
(iii) Quarry Liaison Committee – A meeting was held on 14 June and discussed:
a) The provision of a circular path during the works, which was a very important matter for residents.
b) The current position with the planning application - Claire Teasdale from the County stated that they had asked a
number of questions to clarify the application and were still awaiting a reply. The quarry had agreed an extension of
time for determining the application until the end of July but this was now unlikely now.
c) Generally problems, such as the conflict where quarry traffic and the public met at the quarry entrance had been
resolved but needs to be kept under review. Highway issues had improved since the opening of the A688.
d) The Biodiversity Action Plan was progressing satisfactorily and this would be an agenda item in the future.
The next meeting will be in December
(iv) The 12 Villages – No meeting.
11. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
> Banner: Mike Syer - The Brenda Collins concert goes ahead on 9 July in the Community Centre Doors open 7pm.
Thanks and condolences were expressed - as Brenda had just learnt of the death of her father, Alfie Swainston.
> BVC: Mike Syer – The next edition is due out in the second week of June.
> Church: Cllr Blakey reported that there were 45 objections to a bus stand at the Church on Prince Charles Avenue
so it would not be put in place.
> Football Teams:
Bowburn FC: Gary Hutchinson – The field is being renewed, see Item 3(vii) Park, and pitches are still to be
allocated for next season.
Bowburn Youth: Martin Ridley – The local schools have agreed in principle for the young players to play on their
fields until the new pitch is ready. The U8’s won the Coxhoe Tournament and other Bowburn Youth teams did well.
At the AGM, Joanne Ridley was voted as secretary. The club has 120 members who have decided to play in lime
green and blue strips; the new badge is being designed by local schoolchildren.
Arrangements are being made for the opening of the new pitch in 2011 when it is hoped that the ‘Robbie Jones’
charity match will be played on that day.
Thanks were expressed to the Council for delaying the work on the pitch until after this year’s fundraising match.
> History: No meeting.
> Website: No report.
12. Any Other Business: A member thought that a wagon driver parking on the opposite side of the road from
Romaine Square was being irresponsible.
A pair of child’s ‘Bench’ reading glasses have been found – contact Cllr Blakey.
Suggestions were made to the Thirston drama group to apply for funding through the Education Youth Project.
13. Date and Time of Next Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month is 20 July 2010
Future meetings: 17 August, 21 September, 19 October, 16 November, 21 December
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