GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 16 October 2012 from 6.30pm
Present: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, J Geyer, G Kitson, D Paget, M Syer, Sam Thompson, S Walworth,
In Attendance: M Ridley
1.Apologies for absence: B Bates, PC Cockburn, K Haigh, G Hutchinson, K Griffiths, S Raine, A Richardson, J Sudder, S Sudder, S Thompson, M Williams
2. Police: These are following statistics since the last meeting, which were passed on to the secretary thanks to PCSO C Dunn.
Parkhill – Nil. Cassop – 1 Theft of a vehicle from a haulage compound.
Bowburn – 5 Criminal Damage to (A lorry petrol cap at Durham Services but 2 males disturbed and ran off; a front door in Clarence St with 1 male arrested; 2 vehicles in Durham Rd - 1 having 2 tyres slashed, 1 being scratched; a door in Burn St whilst people on holiday but no entry gained; a vehicle in Durham Rd West had wipers pulled off):
5 Theft of (2 conifer trees in Kirbys Drive; shoplifting in the Co-op, awaiting CCTV; 6 conifers from 2 gardens in Horton Cresc; ladders from a garden in Charlton Court; petrol syphoned from a lorry in the South Industrial Estate):
2 Burglary from (Clever Cloggs office; a house in Ash Terr of car keys left near the front door; the car was stolen)
3. Masterplan Updates – Project Leaders:
Ai) Highways: The next meeting of the partnership’s Highway Committee is in November.
ii) Parkhill: There was no report this month.
iii) Community Centre: The architect’s plans for the outside area are at the completion stage, ready for the necessary permissions.
iv) Youth Centre: The Under 13’s sessions are very successful with a need for more staff. There is funding for 1 year, and at the end of this term there will be an evaluation to support funding for future years.
v) Environment:
> Street Lighting from Broadmeadows: The columns have been fitted with lamp heads which are now lit.
> The Parkhill footpath and lighting plus lights to Mary Terrace has now been invoiced and paid – see Item 7
vi) Park Project: The surface of the play area has been repaired.
However there is no communication on the maintenance of the Bowling Green, and the contract to the football pitch.
Members were also concerned that there seems to be no action on the state of the Bungalow.
vii) Regeneration Fund: The final balance of Regeneration monies should be available when the invoice for Broadmeadows is received.
viii) Planning: Cllr Blakey did not take part in the following discussion:
An anemometer is proposed in an area between Bowburn and Shincliffe.
After discussion it was agreed that if this was not in a sensitive area there would be no comment, but if it was in connection with the wind turbine application for Croxdale Farm then we would express concern. (Janet)
ix) Housing: 23 October in Coxhoe Active Life Centre, 10.30am – 2.30pm, Stock Options Appraisal.
x) Integrate new residents: The ‘Bowburn Village Information Leaflet’ is going out to estate agents.
3b) Future Masterplan/County Durham Plan/Big Society:
DURHAM LOCAL PLAN – PREFERRED OPTIONS – Issues for Bowburn.
Issues that have an impact on Bowburn were discussed and decisions taken as follows:
Policy 5 and 6: Consider Durham Green as a site for the development of Aykley Heads including County Hall.
Agreed - To object to the proposal at Aykley Heads and, subject to Policy 48 below, propose that the Durham Green site at Bowburn should be considered as an alternative to it.
Policy 4: Allocates of 320 houses for Bowburn but does not allocate any sites.
Agreed – That we understand all the housing sites have already been allocated and developed in Bowburn but should be grateful if it was confirmed and the sites identified.
So far as employment land is concerned, the Plan makes no reference to the Cape Site in the proposed Policy 23, below, and members would like to know what exactly is intended in respect of this site?
EDUCATION: There is no policy to safeguard land for education purposes anywhere in the county, even though a need has been identified.
Agreed – That consideration should be given to including a policy to safeguard land for this purpose and, so far as Bowburn is concerned, the land known as the Daisy Field adjacent to the Junior School should be reserved for this purpose.
It was agreed to inform the local schools, Mrs Lyons in particular, about this proposal. (Action Richard)
Policy 20: New developments need a certain amount of green space.
Agreed: That this proposed Policy should also aim to protect Green Infrastructure in existing settlements such as Bowburn so that they can keep at least the same level of such infrastructure as would be expected in new developments.
Policy 23: There is no reference to the Cape Site.
Agreed: To ask for confirmation as to the intention with respect to the Cape site?
That it should be included in this policy.
Policy 24: We note the provision of two rail freight sites reasonably close to each other - at Tursdale and Newton Aycliffe.
Agreed: To propose that Tursdale, within the area covered by the Partnership, being so close to the MW junction 62 and the junction of two railway lines needs to be emphasised.
Policy 26: Members did not feel that Bowburn should be restricted regarding retail to ‘local and not perform a wider function’.
Agreed: That Bowburn should be able to perform a wider retail function and request amendment of this proposed Policy to reflect this.
Policy 48: To safeguard some non-strategic highway schemes. Bowburn has been asking for a diversion of the A177 out of the centre of the village on land already allocated for commercial purposes at Durham Green and the Cape Site.
The intervening land is also used primarily for commercial purposes and permission has recently been granted for a small supermarket that could benefit from a diversion of the A177.
The Infrastructure Development Plan mentions this road together with a roundabout at the Services on the A688 which would be required.
Agreed: That this road and roundabout should be protected under the provisions of this policy.
That we strongly support the proposal to protect the Leamside Line under this policy; given our interest in the Tursdale site.
Policy 62: Waste facilities are not to be permitted on the industrial estates at Bowburn North and Tursdale. Members were unsure if this would also apply to the rail/freight proposed facility at Tursdale, and Durham Green, Bowburn South and the Cape Site are not mentioned in Table 18 within this Policy.
Agreed: To ask for confirmation as to exactly what the situation is proposed to be so far as these sites are concerned? At the present time the Partnership would be most concerned about this use at any of these sites, particularly if the A177 is not diverted from the village centre.
Richard Cowen was thanked for the detailed report he provided for this item, and for a report on the provision made for the partnership’s involvement in the Parish Plan which was distributed to members for information.
4. Minutes:
Minutes of the General meeting,
The minutes from 18 September 2012 were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters Arising: 3 (vi) See Item 3(vi) above.
Item 4 (ii) Allotment holders have the right to take vehicles to and from the allotments for delivery e.g. water, but they are not allowed to park for any length of time.
5. Correspondence:
> Planning permission has been refused for the proposed siting of a wind turbine at Heugh Hall Farm.
6. Items of Any Other Business: None
7. Treasurer’s Report:
> Expenditure: Fun Day stall - £5; 2 months Room hire - £34.00; DCC for footpaths and lighting - £13,988.51
Income: Gross income from the Fun Day - £13.63
Bowburn Opencast Action Group (BOAG) has been dissolved and the assets transferred to the Partnership with the condition that they be used only to oppose future opencast proposals prejudicial to the interests of the residents of Bowburn and Park Hill or for similar environmental purposes.
> Raffle prize: R Cowen won the prize kindly donated by J Blackburn.
> Quiz: ‘Going for Gold’ prizewinners First S Walworth, Second C Gibson, Third M Minto. Next quiz is in November.
8. Reports and matters arising:
i) East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership:
A Forum meeting of the East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership will be held on Wednesday 7 November 2012 from 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm at Trimdon Station Community Centre, Station Road East, Trimdon.
Please come along to make sure you have a say in what the priorities will be for your area for 2013/2014.
Please don’t forget to register your attendance with Marie Ainscough if you would like to attend.
ii) Parish Council: > Parish met at Bowburn on 19.09.12
The Clerk had received correspondence from Durham County Council about proposed traffic calming measures on Tail-upon-End Lane: recommendation is for 3 sets of speed cushions along Dallymore Drive and a chicane on Henry Avenue.
The Clerk had received a request from the County Council for a contribution of £2,500 towards the street lighting adjacent to Bowburn Recreation Park, previously agreed by the Parish Council. It was agreed that payment should be made forthwith.
The Clerk had received a request from Bowburn Community Association concerning plans for a new entrance to the Community Centre: since a new notice board would be required to replace the existing Parish one, which was in a poor state of repair, and a board was planned for the Community Association for the other side of the entrance, the CA requested that the Parish should obtain both notice boards, in order to ensure they were of a matching size and design, the cost being reimbursed to the Parish by the Community Association. However, the Parish Council resolved to pay for both boards, as a contribution to the refurbishment scheme.
The Cassop cum Quarrington Parish Plan can be viewed on-line on the Parish website.
Next meetings: 21 November in Bowburn Community Centre, and 19 December in Cassop Community Centre
Litter Pick: Saturday 3 November and 1 December - meet at 9.30am in Bowburn Community Centre Car Park.
iii) Quarry Liaison:Tarmac is in negotiations with Lafarge about their current holdings. The covers have come off the hydrants where the paths join at Quarrington Hill; some temporary work has been done but the paths a quite wet.
9. Group Noticeboard:
>Banner: The Centenary Banner had attended events at Felling, Houghton and Heworth.
>BVC: Interchange 65 is being prepared; articles and photographs should be to Mike for publication by the end of November but the earlier the better.
>Bowburn Men’s team are struggling to get a team because many of the players are in full time work.
Bowburn Athletic: The team is Sponsored by Taylor Wimpey; player numbers are increasing for the U18's and for next Seasons Adult team when we join the Swinburn & Maddison Sunday League; ex Hartlepool United players helping out with coaching; we have had mixed results in our games so far.
>Credit Union Bank: there is still a slow response to members joining at Bowburn on Fridays in Bowburn Community Centre from 11.00 am to 12.00 noon.
>Fun Day: Arrangements will be made to hold a Fun Day in 2013 at the next meeting.
>History: The group is holding a talk on “Buses” on Thursday from 7.00pm.
>Website: No report this month
>Bowburn Radio: No report this month.
11. Any Other Business: None
12. Date and Time of Next Meeting:
20 November 2012 at 6.30pm. in Bowburn Community Centre.