General Meeting
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 18 May 2010 From 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Present: W Bates, J Blackburn, J Blakey, K Calvert, S. Colquhoun, J Geyer, K Griffiths. K Haigh, R Jackson,
D Paget, S Raine, J Shields, M Syer, S Thompson, R Walsh, S Walworth
1. Apologies for absence: M Bell, PC Cockburn, R Cowen, G Kitson, V Richardson, M Ridley, M Williams
2. P.C. Cockburn: Report sent by email.
Please find below the stats for the period 21/04/2010 to 19/05/2010
CASSOP 1 Burglary; PARKHILL 1 Burglary, 2 Theft, 1 Damage; BOWBURN 6 Burglaries, 12 Theft, 3 Damage
3. Masterplan Updates – Economic Regeneration Team Leader and Project Leaders:
(i) Highways: The group contacted Mr P Gallagher about the speed of heavy traffic along Tail-upon-End Lane
causing vibration in houses on Henry Avenue (awaiting a reply), Mr G Jones was asked about extending the 30mph
limit on the A177 at the former Cape site, and he informed that it was unlikely as there will be a light controlled
crossing. Suggestions were made for training in lieu of the minibus driver training.
Re – a shortfall in the lighting scheme at Fishburn - an elected member for Coxhoe offered to split the difference in
cost with the elected member for Fishburn. This matter will be dealt with at the next AAP meeting.
(ii) Parkhill: The AGM is on Tuesday 8 June at 7pm in Brown’s Close, Coxhoe.
(iii) Community Centre: Funding has been received from DVRC, Awards for All, Sherburn House Charity, Parish
Council, CISWO, Neighbourhood Budget, and DUCK. A decision is awaited from the Biffaward. The refurbishment
will consist of a re-wire, new boiler, kitchen upgrade, and accessible toilet. Subject to funding, renewal works to the
windows and external doors, kitchen equipment, and ceilings in the entrance and foyer will take place.
(iv) Youth Centre: The youth club has been very well attended over recent weeks with the gym session being
particularly popular. It will open during the England world cup games when the game will be shown live on the big
screen. The summer programme is being planned by the young people with trips, residentials, and the centre is
open both during the day and evening during the summer holidays.
Mon. 6.00 – 8.00pm Lads group with gym instructor: Tuesday 6.30 – 8.30pm Mixed session with gym instructor.
Wednesday 2pm-3pm Not in Education, Employment or Training: Wednesday 4.30 – 6.00 Girls planning group.
We are hoping to open on Friday evenings after half term. All young people 13-19 years are welcome.1(v) Church:
It was agreed for the chair to contact the churchwarden to ask for monthly information for the Group Noticeboard.
(vi) Unadopted Roads It was explained that: There was 96% agreement from the residents in the Three Streets for
the Equity Share scheme; ONE were to action the scheme.
(vii) Park Project: BT has connected the cables in readiness for Baydales to connect and install the CCTV cameras.
Football pitch: Orders have been placed with the contractors for Phase 3 which will include new drainage, pitches,
fence and gate to access the road running adjacent to the pitch. The agreed start date is 7 June 2010, when the site
will be sprayed with weedkiller and after two weeks groundworks will start.
It was asked when the lights are to be switched on. There had been a problem about missing safety fencing, and work has now started on the lighting columns.
(Action Janet)
(Actioned Cllr Blakey)
A member reported that dog waste bags are being thrown from the ‘Bowls’ path in the top park into her garden.
(viii) Environment and URRI: There is still a missing bollard at the bottom of Durham Road which, unfortunately,
allows vehicles to park on the new paving. (Action Cllr Blakey)
(ix) (a) Regeneration Working Group: No meeting.
(b) Walkabout: Cllr Blakey reported the following:
The interruption of the telephone service was due to BT. The path opposite Robson Crescent is being damaged by
the turning of heavy works traffic. Residents have complained: Of sewage smells on Tail-upon-End Lane, and the
height of the base of the buildings behind Robert Terrace for fear of flooding.
After a query about new sewerage pipes being connected to the main system, Cllr Blakey assured the meeting that
this was not happening. New pipes are being laid but not as yet connected. Sewage is tankered from the estate.
(c) Housing: There was concern that the resurfacing in the ‘colliery rows’ would cover the drains.
However a member said that that had started to be corrected that day.
(x) East Durham Rural Corridor (AAP):
The next meeting is on Wednesday 19 May from 6pm – 8pm at Sedgefield Parish Hall.
Contact: jane.bellis@durham.gov.uk OR Tel 0191 527 4764. Website: www.durham.gov.uk/eastdurhamruralaap
(xi) Future Plans of Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership (B&PCP)
Members took decisions on the following suggestions from the meeting of the Trustees on 4 May.
> That B&PCP should continue - so that when opportunities become available they can be used immediately for the
benefit of the village. Approved
> That the General Meeting continue meeting monthly - on the third Tuesday of each month, Approved
> To plan in advance possible projects which could come from the Masterplan, The Parish Plan, or New Schemes
and consider who should take them on ie B&PCP; assist Others, or Others alone. If necessary funds would be
raised for such schemes. Approved
> To promote Bowburn within the village and further a field. Approved
> To keep B&PCP as an Open Forum where residents can voice their opinions at the meeting. Approved
> To forge links with Others to identify - projects, groups we can help. Approved
> To encourage businesses to back projects channelled through B&PCP e.g. help in kind, finance. Approved
It was decided to bring ideas to the next meeting concerning a possible change in the voting rights so that members
did not feel obliged to attend two out of every three General Meetings to retain their vote e.g. 6 attendances out of
the previous 12. (ACTION ALL)
The Trustees have been through the Masterplan ‘Action Points and Action Plan’ and identified: (i) Projects that had
not been completed; (ii) Projects that have been completed; (iii) Those in progress. (Information is available on
request)
4. Minutes of last General Meeting: 20 April 2010
The minutes of the March meeting were approved as a true record.
Matters Arising: 3(ii) Check on responsibility for the repair of the Motorway Fencing is to do. (Action Janet)
(ii) The parish litter pick hopes to clear rubbish from Lawson Road and the Mabey footpath. (Action Cllr Blakey)
(ii) Middle bollard in Durham Road (See Item 3(viii) Environment)
Item 4: The chair read the letter of acknowledgement from Cllr Joe Armstrong concerning the request for scrutiny
into the missing £100,000 from the Regeneration Fund.
25. Report - Trustees’ meeting on 4 May 2010:
The meeting concentrated on discussing the ‘Future Plans for B&PCP’,
7. Correspondence:
> The LINk News was given out to members. Alcohol Awareness Day, hosted by LINk, takes place on 27 May from
10am to 3pm in Eldon Community Centre, Bishop Auckland.
> Customer Consultation Event to shape and inform future customer services on 4 June from 9.30am to 4pm in
Ferryhill Leisure Centre.
> Congratulations were extended to two of our locally elected members: Cllr Mac Williams who is Chair of the
County Council, and Cllr Dennis Morgan who is Vice Chair of the County Council.
8. Items of Any Other Business: None
9. Treasurers update:
The latest bank statement shows a balance of £5107.18
£13.50 income was from the tea and raffle at the April meeting.
Raffle Draw: The prize was won by R Walsh.
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 – The Black Trod at Parkhill has been made passable; The Beautiful Durham competition,
which is part of the Britain in Bloom competition, will be held again this year. It is hoped that the number of entries
will increase.
Next meetings: 19 May at 7pm in Bowburn Community Centre; 21 June at 7pm in Cassop Community Centre.
(ii) Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) – nothing to report.
(iii) Quarry Liaison Committee – nothing to report.
(iv) The 12 Villages – Have purchased the silk needed for the new WEA banner but they need funding to
decorate.
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
> BVC: Mike Syer – The next edition is in June and the deadline for articles is the end of May.
> Church: Nothing to report
> Football Teams: Gary Hutchinson:
Bowburn Cooperage is now known as Bowburn FC. The club is continuing with Gary Hutchinson as the new
secretary and is looking for a new sponsor and players. We are waiting to hear where we will be playing next
season, 2010/2011, whilst the new pitch is being laid at Bowburn.
Player of the year was Dale Sudder, Players player of the year was Robbie Hurton and joint top goal scorers were
Robbie Hurton and Ray Pirt. Gary’s contacts are 01913771681, email bowburnfc@aol.com
The Robbie Jones Charity match, ‘oldens V younguns’, takes place on 5 June in Bowburn Field – kick off is 2oclock.
Also a disco on the night of 5 June in Bowburn Club – tickets £3.00
> History: Mike Syer
A display of photographs is on show in Bowburn Nursing Home this month. Partnership members are invited to join
members of the Local History Society to discuss the photographs with residents on 26 May at 11am.
> Website: Due to a number of computer problems there were not many updates last month; hopefully this has now
been sorted and updates should improve rapidly so any news events celebrations birthdays weddings etc let Gary
know bowburnnews @aol.com. Posts – 1371, Topics – 212, Categories – 8, Boards – 15.
12. Any Other Business: None
13. Date and Time of Next Meeting on the third Tuesday of the month is 15 June 2010
Future meetings: 20 Jul, 17 Aug, 21 Sept, 19 Oct, 16 Nov, 21 Dec
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