GENERAL MEETING
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 15 February 2011 from 6.30pm
Present: W Bates, J Blackburn, J Blakey, S Colquhoun, R Cowen, J Geyer, Griffiths, K Haigh, D Paget, G
Kitson, S Raine, S Thompson, R Walsh, S Walworth
In attendance: G Marsden, M Ridley, M Williams
1, Apologies: B Cockburn, M Syer
2, Police: Thanks to PC Cockburn for emailing the following report. Parkhill – Nil; Cassop – 1 Theft; Bowburn –
4 Burglaries (Other), 6 Theft, 2 Making off (Driving off from a petrol station), 3 Damage.
A local youth has been arrested recently who admitted to 9 offences which could include the 4 Burglaries (Other)
above.
There was concern at this meeting that three girls of possibly teenage years are targeting older people and
asking them to give to a variety of charities. Remember ‘If in doubt – keep them out’.
3, Masterplan Updates – Economic Regeneration Team Leader and Project Leaders:
i) Highways: The group will make enquiries about restricting the speed of traffic along Prince Charles Avenue;
and the timetable for the Puffin crossing at the former Cape site; and enforcing the ‘no parking’ by residents on
Tail-upon-End Lane. There is no timetable for the construction of the bus lanes. The group would support the
Western Highway on Durham Green to safeguard jobs as a priority. Through the AAP the street lights have been
connected on Newburn Avenue and the footpath plus lights at Parkhill are to be finished before the end of March
without the charge of VAT. It was agreed to check with County the method used to take away the right of way on
Bridleway 29 so as to create a new footpath. If opencast mining is agreed at Pittington the group will suggest
that mining traffic does not come down the C12a to Bowburn but uses the A688.
ii) Parkhill: No Update.
iii) Community Centre: The working group has prioritised repairs to the roof at the front of the building and will
renew the whole of the area to safeguard the computer room and foyer, once quotes are confirmed.
Quotes are being found for the Servery so that work can start as soon as possible.
iv) Youth Centre: An application is being prepared for the AAPs Small Grants Fund to create a useable outdoor
recreation area next to the Youth Centre.
v) Unadopted Roads and Environment: There is a meeting with Terry Collins and Bob Young to update on the
report to cabinet about Unadopted Roads and the Equity Share Scheme; the ‘100 Square’ draw was won by D
Morgan; the Quiz Night is 18 February; a fundraising clothes collection takes place in March and if anyone would
like to help the 3 Streets Group they could bring useable clothes, shoes, bags, bedding (not duvets) to the next
meeting.vi) Park Project: The steering group met today. The snagging list has been passed on to S Hawley – 2 kerbs to
be removed, gate to fix, leaks near the cottage, spoil heap to be removed, Broadmeadows access footpath link
to be made good.
Information is being sought about removing the metal cabin, the cost of which would come out of the Park funds.
‘Leisure’ will confirm the corporate signage for the play area, and extra signs are needed for the football area.
Julie Anson has sought advice about and guidance in relation to the purchase and installation of a CCTV
camera at the Co-op in Bowburn. DCC are undergoing a review on all CCTV cameras and unfortunately they
could not commit to any new revenue costs for the on-going maintenance and monitoring. With this in mind the
Park Group are proposing that they do not progress with the purchase of a CCTV camera at a cost of £25 000.
The members present at this Partnership meeting agreed with this proposal as the cameras could be fitted and
not switched on.
It is proposed that the £25 000 be used to buy ‘Green Gym’ equipment and to improve the two areas next to the
Bowling Green to compliment the much improved work in the park and finally complete the scheme. Prices will
be found over the next four weeks.
vii) a) Regeneration Working Group: No update.
b) Walkabout and housing Issues:
There have been problems in George Street with the contractors parking on both sides of the street.
A member was under the impression that these houses were to be knocked down, but this is not the case.
It was asked if the houses in Prince Charles Avenue are to be connected to the sewage system.
It was thought that would be the case but there was a need to find out what planning conditions were in place.
viii) East Durham Rural Corridor AAP: The next meeting is on 2 March at 5pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
ix) Future Plans for the Partnership:
>Open Spaces: It was agreed to update the Open Space Plan at the next meeting, 1 March. It was noted that
the ‘Open Space Society’ gives advice on protecting land by registering it as ‘a green’.
> Lighting: The local councillors have applied for further lighting along the C12a and are to have a meeting to
agree on the form of lighting.
> Funding: The AAP Small Grants Fund has been re-opened. Applications up to a maximum of £2000 are invited
from any constituted group within the East Durham Rural Corridor area. Funding can cover running costs, events
etc. To obtain the application pack contact CAVOS on 01388 811115 or email enquiries@cavos.org.uk quoting
East Durham Rural Corridor AAP Small Grants Pot. Closing date for applications is 21 March 2011.
> Planning applications: Kirby’s Drive to prune trees, Griffiths Court to erect a conservatory, and Ogden’s Group
to extend planning permission for retail development – it was noted that care should be taken with the extent of
pruning trees; the trustees would like to see progress on confirming a developer for the retail land at Ogden’s.
> Housing for our area through SHLAA: RC reported that Bowburn was given a high score under the Settlement
Study to build more houses, a figure of 200 extra houses was quoted, which are those on the Grange Estate
(former Cape site). Durham Green did not feature as a housing development in the Settlement Study. Any
housing on Durham Green could be a windfall towards meeting the Durham City area criteria and could be
looked on favourably. The Partnership would need to consider what view it should take about extra housing in
Bowburn compared to creating jobs in Bowburn.
4, Minutes of General meeting and matters arising 18 January 2011:
The minutes of the January meeting were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Item 3 Walkabout/Housing: Mud is cleared from the A177 as and when necessary.
Janet has been in touch with First Industrial, agent for Durham Green, who said that plans are in the very early
stages and to contact them again for a possible meeting with the General Partnership in April. It was agreed to
notify DCC that we would be inviting one of their planners along with First Industrial the meeting and of our
concern about possible housing on Durham Green and to ask them to keep the Partnership informed at the
planning stage.
Future Plans: A plan of Open Spaces will be updated at the Trustees’ meeting in March.
5. Trustees meeting 1 February 2011
See Item 3(ix) for Future Plans. Each member of the Policies’ sub-group agreed to take one policy to adapt to
the Partnership’s needs and discuss at the next meeting. RW visited an anaerobic digester owned by Newcastle
University, in Morpeth. He felt it was informative and the Partnership could arrange a visit if it was thought useful.
RC gave an update on the Old Quarrington digester which has not started yet. It was agreed that groups
affiliated to the Partnership can advertise their events in the 3 Partnership noticeboards.6. Correspondence:
> ‘Women Stronger Together’, event for women at St Cuthbert’s Hospice on 27 February.
> ‘New Health Structures in Co Durham’ - NHS White Paper, GP Commissioning Consortia etc, Xcel Centre
Newton Aycliffe, 15 March 9.30am – 2.10pm.
> County Durham Settlement Study: Questionnaires were given out for the study which closes on 11 March.
7. Items of Any Other Business: i) Tail-upon-End Lane ii) Digester
8. Treasurer’s Report: Raffle Draw:
Finances: The Partnership computer is damaged beyond reasonable repair and it was agreed that Janet should
put the funds for upgrading the computer into buying a new computer.
Raffle prize: It was won by B Bates with thanks to G Kitson for the prize.
Quiz: The new quiz will be on sale in early March.
9. Reports and matters arising:
i) Parish Council: The next meeting is on 16 February at 7pm.
ii) County Durham Plan and Big Society: There should be no extra traffic through Bowburn from the Thrislington
Quarry.
iii) Quarry Liaison Committee: The Partnership will enquire into the possible loss of a circular bridleway as
County are satisfied with a new ‘bottom’ path, and how County will legally deal with the closure of the original
path.
iv) 12 Villages Representative: At the AGM all the committee was voted back in.
10. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
Banner: Eve of Gala concert is on 8 July. The group will use Durham City Coaches for transport into Durham.
BVC: Articles, Adverts and Photographs should be sent into Mike at the end of February/beginning of March.
Church: Nothing to report.
Football Teams
>Bowburn Athletic: (A Wilson) U8s finished the League 2 months late because of the bad weather; Cup games
start in early March; U14s played only 1 game this year but are up to full strength; U16s have gone 7 games
unbeaten and hope to get promotion – but have 8 away games.
>Bowburn Youth: (M Ridley) The teams have started playing again; U9s have a competition game in Skegness;
Teams are still using the Junior School pitch and Youth club for training.
>Bowburn Cooperage: (G Hutchinson) The team is 4th in the league and still in two cups - so are doing well.
Unfortunately the number of players is dropping, but we are hopeful of attracting new players. However these
will be from outside the village.
A concern for next season is that people are taking dogs on the field and not everyone is cleaning up after them.
Also talks are still on-going about a new manager and trying to attract sponsors
History: The group are sorting out the computers.
Website: (G Hutchinson) The website was quiet last month and this could be because of lack of news going on
due to my computer giving up on me. Hopefully I can resolve this; and I have borrowed one for the time being .
11. Any Other Business:
Tail-upon-End Lane: After an accident on the corner of Henry Avenue near the filling station Dave Wilcox has
been contacted to have traffic calming installed. A consultation will take place from 'old' Henry Avenue to the
filling station.
Digester: Old Quarrington Association had a meeting with the planners and learnt that if the proposed digester at
Old Quarrington Farm is within the footprint of the building and does not exceed 50TH tonnes it can go ahead.
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting: 15 March 2011 at 6.30pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
Dates for your diary in 2011: 19 Apr, 17 May, 21 Jun, 19 Jul, 16 Aug, 20 Sep, 18 Oct, 15 Nov, 20 Dec