GENERAL MEETING
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 16 August 2011 from 6.30pm
Present: B Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, S Colquhoun, S Featherstone, K Griffiths, D Hindshaw,
S Johnson, G Kitson, R Millerchip, A Richardson, Maggie Robinson, S Robinson, C Robson, S Sudder,
S Thompson, R Walsh (Chair), S Walworth
In Attendance: None
1. Apologies for absence: M Williams, C Zand
J Anson, PC Cockburn, R Cowen, K Haigh, D Paget, S Raine, W Rumney, M Syer,
2. Police: Report for the last month – Parkhill 1 Garage break-in; Cassop no reported crime; Bowburn 1 Break-in at
the filling station, 9 Theft – diesel from tankers(3), vehicles stolen(2), garden furniture(2), lead off roof(1), shop
lifting(1 arrest); 2 Assault; 3 Criminal damage – windows(2), gate(1).
Cllr Jan Blakey left the meeting before the start of the next item and took no part in the discussion.
Richard Walsh declared an interest, in that the company he works for has been asked to provide cost advice to
construct the digester: the meeting agreed that this did not prohibit RW from chairing this part of the meeting.
3. Anaerobic Digester
Claire Teasdale on behalf of the County Council sent the following statement. The Council are aware of the
intended planning application; have attended an exhibition of the proposals; and have spoken to Mr Johnson and
his agent. The Council have not yet received the planning application for the revised schemes, and when they do
all the necessary consultation and publicity will take place. The Environment Agency will also be a key consultant.
Mrs Sally Johnson, Quarrington Farm, Old Quarrington gave an overview of the anaerobic digester scheme.
Before construction begins the owners will apply for changes to the original planning application, and are
working towards the revised schemes through pre-consultation with the Council, Parish, Residents and Partnership.
The digester takes in waste slurry and agricultural waste; bacteria do their work to produce biogas. A
combined heat & power plant would result in a majority of energy being wasted and 35% being useable, in contrast
processing the gas and feeding it into the gas network generates 99% useful energy. The latest scheme is for
feeding the gas into the gas network.
Vehicle access would be via the Quarry road mostly screened by hedges, and round the site by trees. The
reception building would be slightly larger; the biogas upgrade would require propane stored in an underground
tank, and there would never be a visible flame from the flare; there is to be an increase in lorry roads to 3 per hour
both into and out of the site; a bund would surround the site stopping the contents from seeping into watercourses.
From earlier consultations: the preferred route for the gas pipeline is through the village rather than via the
Quarry road; there was agreement for the new bridleway; the turning circle was not acceptable and an alternative
solution could be found.Questions were taken from the members as follows:
Member: Was concerned about the smell that would come from the waste.
SJ: There could potentially be a smell from the food waste and slurry but plans were in place to lessen the
possibility using: the quarry road to transport the materials; automatic doors on the collection building; underground
storage for the waste; an odour control unit; two changes of air per hour. The end product, a liquid fertiliser, would
be injected into the ground, and is a digestate that smells less.
Member: Where would the waste collected from, and would it mean that there would be another household bin
where food waste had to be collected?
SJ: The waste would come from food factories, although it is government policy to encourage food waste collection.
Member: The original plans have been enlarged – why is this? And will it mean that there is the possibility for future
enlargements which would involve a lot more lorry loads?
SJ: The compound is bigger to cater for the biogas to the grid; there are no plans for further enlargement but it
could not be ruled out; there is no planning reason to put a limit on traffic as it goes straight to the plant.
Member: Why was there an increase in throughput from the original planning application, and would this increase
the amount of liquid?
SJ: The threshold of 49,999 tons of waste is in line with the Environment Agency’s limit. The amount of water
depends on the feedstock eg dry bakery waste is lacking in water, but dairy waste is essentially all water. The
tankers would be the same and with a 25 year project there is flexibility in the scheme.
Member: Does the fertilizer have to be injected into a specific type of land, and how would it be transported to other
farms?
SJ: The fertiliser can be put on any type of land, although it is easier on grassland. There would be a group of
farmers working together but 3 loads per hour is the worst case scenario, and haulage tankers would be used for all
loads.
Member: What is the size of the plant?
SJ: The Quarrington farm site is 1½ acres. As a comparison, the industrial site in Durham (Newton Aycliffe) is 12½
acres.
It was added that the site is approximately 100m long by 50m wide.
Member: What would be the danger to wildlife?
SJ: The countryside will not change beyond recognition as there has been no vegetation on this land for years, but
she would try to find out more information.
At 7pm Sally Johnson thanked the meeting and added that the secretary, Janet, would forward any queries to her.
Cllr Blakey re-joined the meeting.
4. Masterplan Updates – Project Leaders:
i) Highways sub-group: The bus lane at South Road in Durham City is going ahead, but the one in Shincliffe did not
get permission.
CycleWalkway – There are plans in the village noticeboards and the Community Centre of the Bowburn Cycle link
which links Parkhill to Bowburn Industrial Estate South – please give comments to Mr Joe Brain on 0101 372 5928
ii) Parkhill: The next residents’ meeting is on 13 September.
iii) Community Centre: The right hand games room has been decorated; the servery has been stripped ready for
refurbishment this week; work on the new roof will begin in September.
iv) Youth Centre: After the roof was repaired it was found that the ‘leak’ was in fact condensation and further work is
being done to remedy this, and replace the damaged light.
The young people have confirmed plans for the back garden area, and are making arrangements for an open day
next year to celebrate their achievements when the garden is finished.
*Unfortunately the Fun Day on 24 September has been postponed until further notice.
v) Environment:
Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held on10 August 2011 were distributed to members.
At that meeting it was agreed unanimously:
• To progress the three environment schemes – Newburn Avenue/Mary Terrace footpath, Broadmeadows
lights, and Runcie Road/Mabey lights at the increased costs.
• To allocate the remaining monies in the Environment projects to the last project, The Three Streets.
There was a total of £150,141.00 for Environment projects in the Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership
Regeneration Fund.
£59,113.87 was allocated to the three environmental schemes (with £21,500.00 external funding); leaving
£91,027.13 to be committed to The Three Streets Project. There is £19,318.83 of Three Streets fundraising making
a total of £110,345.95 Confirmed Secured Funding for this last project.
vi) Park Project:The grass is producing a good cover on the levelled works at the old tennis courts.
The additional drainage channel at the rear of Broadmeadows is preventing flooding in the gardens.
vii) Regeneration:
a) Fund: Nothing to report.
b) Working Group: No questions.
c) Walkabout/Housing Issues: When a decision is made about the closure of the road, Prince Charles Avenue will
be re-surfaced.
viii) East Durham Rural Corridor AAP:
The next Board meeting is in Bowburn Community Centre on Wednesday 7 September from 5pm to 7pm.
ix) Future Plans for the Partnership:
Masterplan update – discussions will take place at the next meeting of the Partnership on 20 September with Julie
Anson and John Tindale.
The Masterplan, January 2008, is available via email. (Janet)
Housing – Re Open Spaces: Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council have requested information about
‘Community Green Space Projects’.
At this meeting the chair said that the Partnership has been plotting areas of 'green space' land that have been
allocated to housing and businesses in our area of benefit as well as identifying the remaining green spaces.
He apologised for the breakdown in communications, but the Partnership has no funding at this present time for
possible projects but have been asking for ideas in that respect. (Janet to contact Parish)
A member had got the impression that there had been money available and suggested more street furniture.
The chair said that this idea and others were most welcome.
The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) – T Bennett, Planning Policy Officer explained that
local planning authorities should identify and maintain a rolling supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to
provide five years’ worth of housing against their housing requirements. The supply should include an additional
allowance of at least 20 per cent to ensure choice and competition in the market for land.
In terms of Bowburn, the Document gives the settlement a provisional housing allocation of 400 units up to 2030.
(SHLAA) identifies that the capacity of suitable sites within the settlement is 527 units. Of these, 388 have planning
consent.
Site plans were seen at the meeting, and were made available via email. (Janet)
Integrate new residents – Software:
• It was agreed that the training budget should pay for the cost of 12 ‘Office Proplus 2007’ which includes
Publisher at £273.60 inclusive of VAT through a Microsoft charity scheme administered by CTX.
Co Durham Plan: Comment on Waste management been confirmed.
5.Minutes:
Minutes of the General meeting, 19 July 2011, were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matter Arising:
> Parkhill: Mr H Jones, planning officer, emailed to say that at the moment S106 are still being used.
> Minutes: The next phase of the Cape site is deferred until the crossing point is put in place. > Janet reported the ‘horse’ incident to the police, however there is no officer who deals with horses.
> Rubbish bin at Hare & Greyhound bus stand to Durham – has been reported. (Cllr Blakey)
(Cllr Blakey)
>AOB: Keep up with news about Coxhoe Leisure Centre on http://www.futureleisureincoxhoe.org.uk/
6. Trustees meeting 5 July 2011:
>There were no comments about the planning applications for house extensions in Bowburn and Parkhill.
>It was suggested that the Partnership could become a possible vehicle for a Neighbourhood Forum.
After they have been verified, it was agreed that the Trustees’ minutes would be sent out to members
7. Correspondence:
>Care home Durham Road West: The Partnership were informed that a request was made to the Council asking if
the new care home had the relevant planning/care permissions as there had been one incident already. There also
seems to be a lot of staff cars parked in the street which looks to be causing a nuisance to the residents. When a
company bought a house within 100m it had to apply to planning for a change of use - why is it not the same for this
house?A reply was forwarded to the Partnership by the Planning Enforcement Officer that said ‘In respect of the enquiry
regarding an alleged unauthorised use of a property, Hillcrest, at Bowburn, I confirm enquiries are complete and
there was no breach of planning proven.’
It was added at this meeting that this private business is Ofsted monitored.
The secretary suggested that in future members contact their local councillor directly, i.e. Cllr Jan Blakey, on 0191
372 5853 (diverts to mobile) / Mobile 07500 125346. They could then be given a much quicker, immediate response
rather than waiting until a Partnership or Trustees’ meeting to air their concerns.
8. Items of Any Other Business: Hanging baskets, Tail-upon-End road, Trees and hedges
9. Treasurer’s Report:
> Finances: Income: Tea/Raffle in June and July £29.20
Expenditure: £2 for refreshments.
> Raffle prize: G Kitson won the prize donated by M Bell.
> Quiz ‘The Blues’ at £1 per copy; closing date 17 October. This is our main source of income – help to promote it.
10. Reports and matters arising:
i) Parish Council: Next meetings are 17 August in Cassop community centre, and 21 September in Bowburn
community centre at 7pm.
ii) The County Durham Plan re Localism: The Government's National Planning Policy Framework will be a simplified
document that will cover all planning policies and includes issues such as Neighbourhood Forums, their power to
make neighbourhood plans and the requirements they have to comply with.
iii) Quarry: No update this month.
11. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
>Banner: The group are preparing for the Heritage Open Day on 10 September in Bowburn Community Centre.
>BVC: The AGM takes place on Thursday 11 August at 2pm in Bowburn Youth Centre.
The September Interchange is being prepared. Please contact M Syer to contribute to the paper.
>Football Teams: – No update this month.
>History (M Bell): Members viewed software.
>Website: (G Hutchinson) No updates this month.
12. Any Other Business:
>A member felt that the hanging baskets at the north end of Bowburn were a waste because they are hidden
behind the high hedges. It was asked if the hedges could be cut back or the money put into street furniture which
could carry hanging baskets.
>A member felt that the Tail-upon-End speed inhibitors were a waste of funding when the money should be spent
on upgrading the road where it floods.
It was suggested that when the building site is finished the road will be repaired.
>A member thought that the council and land-owners should take responsibility for cutting back the trees and
hedges in the area of benefit.
If the trunk of the tree causing problems at the Junior School is on the school’s land then it is their responsibility and
RW will investigate this.
13. Date and Time of Next Meetings: 20 September 2011 at 6.30pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
Meeting dates for 2011: 18 Oct, 15 Nov, 20 Dec