GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 17 February 2015 6.30pm to 8.00pm
Present: W Bates, M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, S Featherstone, J Geyer, K Griffiths, K Haigh, D Jolly, G Kitson, B Little, D Paget, M Ridley, F Salisbury, S Walworth
1.Apologies: PC Cockburn, S Raine, M Syer, M Williams
In attendance: J Taylor, G Woodcock
2. Declarations of interest: There were no declarations of interest on this agenda.
3. CAPE site planning application: James Taylor (Associate director Nathaniel Litchfield) and Geoff Woodcock (Managing director Esh Developments):
Geoff Woodcock described the history of the Esh parent company establishing a depot for Lumsden & Carroll who supported Dunelm Homes from the 1990’s in Esh Winning to their move to Bowburn and a proposal to build a headquarters in their base of Esh House at Bowburn to act as a hub for their offices in Leeds, Carlisle and Edinburgh. The Newton Aycliffe premises would close and Dunelm Homes plus the Training facility for engineers and site staff would transfer to new facilities in the grounds of Esh House, to be known as The Esh Academy.
James Taylor explained that the application would include a development of 63 houses on land previously designated for industrial use because the negotiations with the NHS did not get the necessary funding; the Free School had shown an interest for a secondary school, but the area was not suitable to bring in school buses or for the employment category designated for this land. There is an over-supply of land for offices which is not being taken up. The plans show a stand-alone facility to train 150 apprentices over 3 years from a radius of 25 miles of Esh House; two office buildings speculatively built to market; an extension to Esh House to accommodate 50 new office employees, plus the 30 who are relocating from Newton Aycliffe; 50 new office employees at Esh will, in turn, generate up to 250 construction workers on sites throughout the North East; the land is safeguarded for the industrial highway.
A Q&A session followed.
A member felt that the industrial land was included in the original application only to gain planning permission for the housing development.
GW strongly denied this claim as negotiations started 5 years ago to base the Primary Care trust on that land, but a political change ended these plans.
JT thought that there may have been the demand for office employment 5 years ago but that is not the case now.
A member asked how aggressively the land had been marketed.
JT said that knight Frank had marketed this land to all interested parties in the North East without success.
A member asked if the 2 classrooms would be built at the local schools. Can the environment monies be used for art as well as environmental projects?
JT is to ask the council how 63 houses can generate enough children to fill 2 classrooms; 1% of the costs can be used for either, but in this case it may all have to go to the proposed art work for Bowburn.
GW said that preliminary talks had taken place with Colin Rose the artist about the proposed Art Column and residents would be consulted about it. He would like the partnership to take the lead on this project and James would be able to help, if needed. (Officers)
A member asked if Esh had considered how the whole of the estate would influence numbers in the school.
JT said they had.
A member asked about facilities for cyclists.
GW could not recall if there were facilities but emailed the following explanation:
“I have attached an internal layout plan dated April 2014, which does include for a new shower on the ground floor of the office extension, my apologies for not recalling that amendment to our plans; covered cycle storage is already catered for in the design of the Esh House extension, there are 4No cycle stands that are covered by the overhang of the 1st floor balcony and also the roof structure which is shown dotted on the plan. Esh are in the process of rolling out the Governments “Cycle to Work” scheme amongst their staff, this has recently been a subject on our “Think Change” website.”
When the Q&A session had ended Geoff and James were thanked for their attendance.
RC summarised the application as follows – there could be no objection to the offices, but there is a strong case to object to the housing as the land is allocated for employment. Members should ask themselves if they are happy to lose this land to housing. Opinions could be expressed at the next meeting. (ALL)
Before the general business of the meeting resumed members remembered the lives of Ken Calvert and Jimmy Shields who sadly died last month and were committed members of the Partnership – they will be sadly missed.
Ken’s family sent a message saying that their dad enjoyed coming down to the Partnership meetings.
3(i). Police: PC Cockburn sent the report via email because he is on restricted duties.
Parkhill – Nil; Cassop – Nil; Bowburn 1 Burglary. Unknown persons have entered PC Henderson Unit via an insecure door and taken boxes of smoothie makers and blenders; 2 separate incidents of damage to vehicles at the same address in Runcie Road; 1 vehicle damaged at Bowburn Services; Damage to fencing in Surtees Avenue; Damage to a door in Prince Charles Avenue.
2 Shoplifting: A male stole alcohol from Bowburn Co-op; A male stole foodstuff from Bowburn Co-op; A male has been detained and dealt with.
PC Cockburn has checked the incident in Mary Terrace and according to the information the car was parked on the owner’s driveway and not on the grass. There had a problem a while ago with youths in the wooded area opposite the carpet shop and attention is being given to that area.
3(ii) PACT meetings: 2015 – 18 March at 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
A member was disappointed that a different CPSO was sent to each of the PACT meetings because there was no continuity between meetings.
It was felt that if a record was kept of each meeting; the subsequent CPSO should seek to answer queries and this would assist in residents’ concerns. (Janet)
3(iii) Neighbourhood Wardens: The new contact number for the wardens is 03000 261 000
A member expressed concern that the response time to reported issues was unsatisfactory. (Janet)
Cllr Blakey explained that the wardens have a large area to monitor on a reduced number of staff. She felt that they reacted as fast as they could.
4. Minutes:
General Meeting 20 January – The minutes were approved as a true record and agreed by members.
Matters Arising: On the agenda
5. Finances:
Expenditure: Colour toner £178.92, Insurance £164.88 which was a reduction in price from the original quote.
Income: Unrestricted funds £101 (Quiz), £5.60 Tea/Raffle after £1 costs.
Fun Day: 26 September 2015
Raffle prize: D Paget won the prize, kindly donated by J Blackburn; G Kitson won a second prize kindly donated by F Salisbury.
Quiz Prize winners P Salisbury (Parkhill), B Coleman (Spennymoor), P Hutchinson (Durham)
New quiz ‘Movements’ at £1, closes 16 May 2015 in support of the Partnership.
6. Item for Any Other Business: None
7. Current Masterplan:
7A. Regeneration Fund:
Residents in Durham Road have been consulted on the planters; there have been no objections, but one lady would prefer not to have a planter outside her house, and one resident was concerned about vandalism.
The following conditions will be carried out:
“Before any installation of the proposed planters on Durham Road we would need confirmation that the following has been carried out:
· Evidence that a Maintenance Agreement is in place with the Parish Council
· A Highways Risk Assessment had been carried out and they are happy with the proposals
· Designs and sizes of the proposed planter
· Written confirmation who will be responsible for planting up the flower beds i.e. the Parish or yourselves.
· 3 like for like quotations for the planters and plants
Parkhill Association will be getting two planters from their funds and wish to be included in the following list of conditions. (Janet and Sandra)
7B Reports:
7B(i) Planning: Cooperage – County has considered the above application and granted planning permission.
Parkhill - The Local Planning Authority has received notification that the appellant has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against the Local Planning Authority’s decision to refuse planning permission. The appellant has requested that the appeal be heard by the public inquiry procedure.
RC explained that public enquiry is effectively like a courtroom where witnesses can be called and if we choose we would become a Rule 6 party able to give evidence and cross examine Hallam Land. It was asked that members consider contributing costs towards a consultant if he were to provide evidence. (ALL)
It was suggested that the Parish be asked to also contribute and, possibly, funds from the Parkhill Residents Association could be used, if necessary. (Parish Cllrs Blakey and Salisbury)
Daisy field
Julie Anson will look to liaise with Keepmoat to clarify the extent of the railings to be removed and then discuss further with them. However, having looked into the planning approval and works detailed, there is the provision of Section 106 funds to the amount of £29,000 specific to Public Art and or Environmental Improvements. She noted that there is the potential to possibly utilise some of the S106 funds to undertake these works, which were originally prioritised in the Bowburn and Parkhill Masterplan Environmental Schemes. (Janet)
(ii) Highways/Environment:
T Collins - DCC do grit priority footpaths during periods of severe weather. These tend to be the footpaths near to shopping centres, doctors surgeries, hospitals etc. More information can be found by visiting our website using the following link http://www.durham.gov.uk/winterroads. We don’t receive any funding from the NHS and this is one of the few areas that currently had a reduction in funding.
At 8pm it was agreed to end the meeting.
Date and Time of Next Meeting: 6.30pm on Tuesday 17 March 2015
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The following has been added for information.
Shincliffe Peth: The request to reduce the speed limit to 30mph was not supported.
DCC are not able to alter the position of the centreline – this was investigated and declined.
There was not enough room to create a mandatory cycle lane, so an advisory cycle lane was created.
The hatching is to encourage drivers to drive in it where necessary but allowing cyclists their space, and aims to discourage motorists from overtaking cyclists when there is not enough room to safely do so
More cycle symbols have been painted to encourage cyclists to use the lane in an uphill direction only and to discourage pedestrians from using it in either direction and to alert motorists that cyclists are present
We were not able to install the cyclists detection sign we planned to as it was not DfT approved and they will not approve any new signs at present.
The “unaltered” downhill lane enables cyclists to take a wide line to prevent being overtaken as a lane here may cause issues for fast moving cyclists who are forced to hug the kerb who may prefer to be further out in the road.
Next Highways meeting: 23 February at 6pm in Bowburn Community Centre.
7Cii County Durham Plan – Inspector’s Interim report on the County Durham Plan which was released yesterday.
This has stated that many of the proposed Policies are not ‘sound’. These include housing and the proposed relief road around Durham City which are on the green-belt, however the Inspector’s comments may lead to more housing for Bowburn, Parkhill and Coxhoe. It will be necessary to see what impact, if any, this has on the Parkhill appeal.
7Ciii Neighbourhood Plan: A consultation event was held today on 17 February in Bowburn Community Centre to promote the Neighbourhood Plan.
9. Reports and matters arising:
9(i) AAP: East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership
Date and time of next meeting – Wednesday 4 March 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm at Quarrington Hill Community Centre.
9(ii) Parish Council: Next meetings 18 March and 15 April (Bowburn); the Parish litter pick is Saturday 7 March from Bowburn Community Centre at 9.30am, weather permitting. All are welcome.
9(iii) Quarry Liaison – The next meeting will be on 5 March 2015.
10. Group Noticeboard:
(ii) BVC Interchange: The next paper is due out in March, please send articles and photographs during February. The next Quiz Night is Friday 6 March to support the printing of the Interchange. Thank you to everyone who donated raffle prizes and refreshments.