GENERAL MEETING
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 20 September 2011 from 6.30pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey (Chair), S Colquhoun, J Geyer, K Haigh, G Kitson, D Paget, S Raine,
A Richardson, M Syer, S Thompson
In Attendance: G Marsden, M Ridley
1. Apologies for absence: J Anson, PC Cockburn, R Cowen, K Griffiths, R Walsh, S Walworth, M Williams
2. Police: Crime figures since last month, sent by PC Cockburn via email: Parkhill - nil, Cassop - Theft of sim card
from mast at Hill Top Farm, Bowburn - 2 Burglaries in unoccupied council premises; 8 assorted thefts; 2 minor
assaults in a local care home; 4 assorted criminal damages.
Neighbourhood Watch: The modern scheme is about local people working together to create safe and friendly
places to live, places where crime is less likely to happen. It’s about you looking out for your neighbours and them
looking out for you. The slogan is “Our Neighbourhood - Our Watch”. For details contact Tim Thompson 375 2814;
email timothy.thompson@durham.pnn.police.uk
3. Masterplan Updates – Project Leaders along with a report from Julie Anson, Regeneration Team Leader:
(i)Highways: A consultation process has been authorised for the turning point at the top of the Old Quarrington road.
The consultation process about the speed calming measures on Tail-upon-|end Lane at the corner off the filling
station is finished.
J Brain, County Council officer, has not had any responses about the Wheels to Work section of the CycleWalkway.
Work should start in October.
The second Speedwatch Unit has been delivered to Trimdon.
At this meeting it was asked if the materials being tipped in the lay-by on the road to Sherburn could be checked.
(Cllr
Blakey)
For information the meeting was told that Transit 15 is checking the bus shelters for a possible upgrade.
ii) Parkhill: Redscape Ltd, interested in developing land at Parkhill, attended the Parkhill residents’ meeting in
September. Everyone at that meeting objected to the new development and voiced their worries about the increase
in traffic and the danger of the entrance on the bend. Redscape suggested a buffer zone of trees to screen the new
houses and they could produce a plan for residents to comment on. There was no support for any business links.
1iii) Community Centre: The new roof is currently underway; the servery units are almost complete; the water boiler
has been installed and the dishwasher will soon be connected; the games room has been decorated; privacy blinds
have been fitted in the computer room and small kitchen.
It was said that doors will be fitted under the counter in the servery and pipes for the bar equipment will be re-
positioned.
A member had helped at an event and had been impressed by the lovely kitchen.
iv) Youth Centre: The garden programme has started and landscape works began last week. An Open Day will be
held in the spring; youth activities are going well; at the AGM on 7 September Jan Blakey was elected chair.
At this meeting it was disappointing to report that a workman had spoilt the work being done by throwing litter from
the Youth Club garden into an area which had been freshly litter picked. (M Syer)
v) Environment:
The paperwork for the lighting schemes is being finalised, and a start date has yet to be confirmed.
Three Streets Meeting
27 properties were represented at the meeting held on 8 September. It was agreed at that meeting, in order to
progress this scheme, all properties need to confirm whether they agree to make a financial contribution of up to
£2,267. The residents agreed that Julie would write to all properties and include a reply slip to discover the true
support for the scheme.
The 3 Streets are seeking quotes from other contractors for the upgrade of Lansdowne, Neville and Grangepark.
Fundraising continues with: A Quiz Night on Friday at 7.30pm in Bowburn Club; a clothes collection in the first week
of November; the York trip on 12 November for £11.50 leaving Bowburn at 8.30am - contact 377 2802.
vi) Park Project:
Tenders for the outdoor gym equipment and benches have been received by DCC – the successful contractor will
be informed later today. It is hoped works will commence in September.
At this meeting it was said that there were two areas of vandalism in the protective matting to the teenage area. The
football pitch still requires attention but pitch drains exceptionally well – otherwise work is complete; the soakaway is
working well behind Broadmeadows; one snagging job has not been done – on the path at the bottom of the park.
It was asked if the ‘kissing gates’ could be replaced to discourage vehicles from driving through the park; a tree has
been uprooted in the sensory garden and needs attention. (Cllr Blakey)
vii) Regeneration:
a) Fund: Nothing to report.
b) Working Group: No questions.
c) Walkabout/Housing Issues: >Prince Charles Avenue has been re-surfaced.
>The pathway from Horton Crescent to the new houses has been re-opened but there will be a consultation to
determine if this footpath through to Prince Charles Avenue should be permanently closed.
At this meeting it was asked when the willow trees in Robson Crescent will be checked because they have grown
tremendously and are blocking the solar panels on the new houses. Also the parking needs to be assessed
because the road is badly obstructed by vehicles.
viii) East Durham Rural Corridor AAP:
The following key messages are from the Board Meeting held on 7 September, A Thompson chaired the meeting.
J Bellis welcomed Katrina Bage who has replaced Wendy Bagnall as Health Representative on the Board.
A letter of resignation had been received from Sue Hannan (Public Representative); an advert would be widely
publicised and a process would be followed to fill the vacancy.
Kelly Mason and Malcolm Gray from Sedgefield Borough Homes updated the Board on the developing
Neighbourhood Plans. A question and answer session followed.
Various local neighbourhood issues were raised. The question and answer document can be viewed on the
Durham County Council AAP website (hard copies can be provided upon request).
J Bellis delivered a presentation to update the Board on progress with projects in 09/10, 10/11 and 11/12.
The Small Grants Pot was discussed and it was decided to discuss this further at the next Chair/Vice Chair meeting.
Rick Long (DCC - Planning) gave a detailed presentation on windfarms. A question and answer session
followed.
The Forum Event will be held on Tuesday 15 November 2011 at Coxhoe Village Hall from 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm.
2J Bellis is arranging weekly drop in sessions in the AAP office based at 15a Church Road, Trimdon Village from
10am to 12noon.
ix) Future Plans for the Partnership:
>Masterplan: Trustees met with John Tindale (Area Regeneration Manager) and Julie Anson (Economic
Regeneration Team Leader) to discuss the Masterplan of 2008.
J Tindale noted that it was three years since the last Masterplan update and the village had changed tremendously
since the original writing of the plan, and a discussion would have to take place as to how the update should be
organised.
He also explained that a decision would have to be made as to who would deliver and fund the exercise. It would no
longer be Halsall Lloyd Partnership the original producer of the document, which puts the onus on Durham County
Council and Durham Villages Regeneration Company (DVRC) to decide.
He suggested the need for an update be taken to the next meeting of the DVRC and Durham County Council for
their opinion, and a decision would then have to be made as to the type of consultation needed, with the help of the
Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership. (J Tindale and J Anson)
> Durham Green: First International said that it was still premature to come and talk through proposals as they are
still formulating an approach. At the appropriate time they will be delighted to provide all the information we require.
> Integrate new housing: With thanks to the CVS and M Syer the Partnership has now acquired the necessary
software required for the IT training classes at a reasonable rate. J Gray will install the software.
Email message from J Gray: Please relay mine and the Community Centre's thanks to the Partnership for the
Photoshop elements and Desktop publishing software which they have funded and is now installed on the
computers in the Centre’s computer suite in time for the Partnership’s sponsored course. The software will benefit
many people for some time to come as it will remain installed for the Community Centre to use at the Computer
Club and to enable the Centre to offer better facilities when hiring out the computer room.
>Supermarket: There is a planning application for an increase in size to the supermarket in Bowburn - to attract a
prospective retailer.
>Provide ‘green development’ plan to protect open spaces from housing:
Suggestions were made of – toddler play areas; plant trees (Action All)
5. Minutes:
Minutes of the General meeting, 16 August 2011, were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matter Arising:
Item 3: In response to a member’s question, S Johnson emailed to say that there will be two jobs on the site plus at
least another two driving jobs.
>A start date is yet to be confirmed for the crossing point at the Cape site. > Janet was advised to contact PC Cockburn about the officer who deals with horses. > Rubbish bin at Hare & Greyhound bus stand to Durham – the Green Team has been informed. > A report on the tree trunk causing problems at the Junior School will be brought to the next meeting. (Cllr Blakey)
(Action Janet)
(Cllr Blakey)
(R Walsh)
6. Trustees meeting 2 August 2011:
> AAP Logo: It was agreed to use the AAP logo for newsletters etc, as all of the Community Partnerships within
East Durham Rural Corridor AAP have now received Partnership Development Funding.
> The minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the Partnership held on 10 August at 6.30pm, to agree the
Environment monies, were corrected to show that the remaining monies were reduced because of a miscalculation.
7. Correspondence:
> Free trees for community groups, are being offered by The Woodland Trust, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her
Majesty the Queen in 2012.
>Houses of Parliament Outreach Service workshop 21 Oct, Durham Amateur Rowing Club 10am – 1pm
Contact James at the CVS 384 4801
>Be a brilliant organisation – free course Wed 12 Oct 9.30 – 12.30 (lunch included) CVS 384 4801
>Student Law Office – Northumbria University – free legal advice service where final year students run cases for
public. Contact Claire Cowell 227 3909
8. Items of Any Other Business:
3Infant School
9. Treasurer’s Report:
> Finances: Expenditure: £620.39 plus £273.60 on software for the IT training and £59.99 on a toner cartridge.
> Raffle prize: S Thompson won the prize donated by J Blackburn.
It was asked - when the training course finished would the software be used on a regular basis.
In reply it was said that the software was available on the Community Centre computers so if anyone wanted to
organise a course they could use it, along with the courses on Mondays and Tuesdays.
10. Reports and matters arising:
i) Parish Council:
A parish councillor has tendered his resignation form the council due to pressure of work. The vacancy has been
advertised and if ten electors ask for an election then one will be held; if no such request is received the vacancy
will be filled by co-option. The Parish discussed damage done by the hard winter and vandalism on the rocks and
mosaics in the doorstep green. It was suggested the boulders should be removed and alternative solutions were
also discussed. The mosaic’s creator, Annette Poulson, was consulted to see if the mosaics could be repaired. The
County Rights of Way Officer and Parish Paths Officer were to attend the next Parish Council meeting on 21
September to discuss matters of concern regarding footpaths/bridleways in the Parish area.
The following meeting is on 19 October in Bowburn Community Centre at 7pm.
It was confirmed that small grants were available from the Parish precept and applications should reach the Parish
clerk in time for the October meeting.
ii) The County Durham Plan re Localism: No update.
iii) Quarry: No update this month.
11. Group Noticeboard: Please contact the representatives after the meeting if you have any questions.
>Banner: The Heritage Open Day event displaying 54 banners was one of the most successful yet. There were at
least 200 visitors with a good proportion of children. Beamish provided two banners and dressing-up equipment.
The centenary banner will be out at Boldon, Heworth and other events but the HOD is the last one because other
Banner groups feel that there are too many events for some precious banners to be transported around the county.
Grateful thanks were given to Mike Syer for co-ordinating this very enjoyable and successful occasion.
>BVC: The September Interchange will be out at the weekend. Please contact M Syer if you are willing to distribute
the paper.
>Football Teams: – Bowburn FC are looking for a sponsor to buy equipment. They already have great help from
Halcyon but at the moment it costs about £1500 per season for insurance and rental. So if anyone can help in
anyway please contact bowburnfc@talktalk.net - even if it’s something as small as a medical spray it would be
much appreciated.
On the field there are more new players who have been playing better; promotion to the second division their target
this season and they are still in two cups. They were beaten in the league on Sunday, because 10 players missing
(some were injured, working, in the Great North Run), but they still managed to turn out a team with the reserves.
Bowburn Youth are playing well and winning by a convincing margin, with the little ones winning more than they are
losing. The Junior School have lost their first game but played well. Winter training starts on 10 October at Ferryhill
and Bowburn Youth Club Thanks were given to the Youth Club for this arrangement, which saves the football club a
significant amount of money.
It was said that it was mutually beneficial because the revenue had gone towards the improvement of the outdoor
garden area at the Youth Club.
The Halloween disco is 28 October with a fancy dress competition.
>History (M Bell): The meeting was cancelled.
>Website: (G Hutchinson) Bowburn website is still quiet regarding reports so please email GH about what’s on,
where and when. On the front screen you will see small reports which can be added quickly, and if necessary a
large report can be put on the normal news page - this is to keep the site up to date.
12. Any Other Business:
4The low bushes hanging over the Infant School railings could injure pedestrians. 13. Date and Time of Next Meetings:
(Action Janet)
18 October 2011 at 6.30pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
Meeting dates for 2011: 15 Nov, 20 Dec
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