GENERAL MEETING - Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership - Charity Number 1112151
Tuesday 18 July 2017 from 6.00pm
Present M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey (Until 6.40), B Bulmol, J Carpenter, M Carpenter, R
Cowen, R Davison, J Fuller, J Geyer, K Griffiths, M McKeon, G Parker, S Raine, J Richardson, F
Salisbury, M Syer, S Walworth. In
attendance: S Dunn, C Fletcher
1.Apologies:M Ridley, D Paget, C Parker
2. Declarations of interest: Declarations of interests would be made as required throughout this
agenda.
3. Security (i) Police: no police report this month. The new sergeant for the area is Sgt Kevin Hall.
3 (ii) PACT 3 (iii) Neighbourhood Wardens: Wardens contact 03000 261000 to report environment
offences or to DCC or to your local County Councillors Jan Blakey (03000 268685), Stuart Dunn
(03000 264342) and Maura McKeon (03000 268789).
4. Beat the scammers: Christine Fletcher, Age Concern, gave a presentation to help older people
protect themselves from telephone fraud. Older people are targeted ruthlessly resulting in millions of
pounds being obtained. DCC Beat the Scammers project gives practical advice and support for older
people to increase their confidence and knowledge in dealing with telephone scams. Through AAP
funding, call blockers are available free of charge to vulnerable people who are being targeted.
Once a large quantity of calls is stopped, older people can feel lonely; information is available to
avoid this.
Chris was thanked for her information and left the meeting at 6.30pm
5. Minutes: Minutes of the General Meeting 20 June: The minutes were approved and agreed by
members.
Partnership website: Thanks to Mike for organising the Partnership website. He has left the older
minutes from 2004 on the original site, and put those from 2016 and 2017 on a new one with a link
from bowburn.net
6. Finances: Income: £5 Fun Day stall fee; £9.52 refund of postage paid twice
Expenditure: £1536 to ERJ Plumbing for changing the gas boxes in Durham Road
Total funds are £7644.32 (Restricted funds £5924.95; Unrestricted funds £1719.37)
Endowment Fund:
The Partnership encourages contributions into the Bowburn & Parkhill Community Fund for future
applications. Such contributions should be made to Count Durham Community Fund and are eligible
for Gift Aid. ALL
History book: In progress.
MIKE
6ii) Raffle prize: S Walworth won the prize kindly donated by M Ridley; Mike Syer will donate a prize
in July.
6iii) Quiz: The new quiz ‘Pretty as a Picture’ is on sale at £1 with a closing date of 12 August 2017.
7. Item for Any Other Business: None
8. Current Masterplan:
8A Regeneration Fund: The railings along the C12A have been installed.
Project
Notes
Prince Bishop B&B corner
Point houses Durham Rd
DCC conservation does not recommend raking out pointing which is satisfactory as it could harm the
bricks and allow water to seep in.
Grass strimming and weed strimming
Check with DCC; Pay Parish Council to do this.
Weeds growing in front houses look unsightly and blight the area; with the help of the Parish litter
pickers it is proposed to strim the weeds.
20/09/16 There was to be a site meeting in Durham Road with Jimmy Bennett and Martin Briscoe on
21 September to discuss the strimming.
18/10/16 The Partnership was given permission from DCC to strim the grass verge from the
Methodist Chapel to the bus stand opposite the Hare & Greyhound, and advised to write to Ogden to
ask them to cut back the hedges to make the highway safe and tidy up the area. Awaiting a reply.
18/04/17 Spruce Up works: Opposite Community Centre – Strimmed, raked and re-seeded. Edged
paths in front of Community Centre and Shops; Pruned shrubs next to library. Grass cut next to
Tattoo shop; Pruned shrubs at side of Chemist. Tided area opposite Slater Place – Cut back verge
and strimmed. Removed tree post next to pit memorial; Weeded Memorial area; Planted 5 Birch
either side of the two memorials. General road sweeping of all paths and channels; General litter pick
and cleaning of public open space. Checked and cleaned DCC bus stops; Pavings washed where
required. Replaced/installed bins at: Bus stop opposite the Hair Hut & Business Centre, Community
Centre, Traffic Lights, Carpet Shop, Mary Terrace , Main road bus stops x2.
18/07/17 Continue ‘sprucing up’: C Hindmarch informed that schools could encourage both
children and carers to pick up litter in the future. It was suggested that an incentive scheme in
the schools could help encourage the children. JANET
Gas meter boxes in Durham Road
After agreeing that the Partnership could contribute a reasonable sum towards improving this
problem, it was agreed to contact all residents in Durham Road to gain ideas as to how to smarten up
the gas boxes.
18/07/17 The gas boxes were fitted between 28 and 30 June, and painted by 17/07/2017
PLEASE SUGGEST OTHER ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS.
ALL
8B Reports:
8Bi) Planning issues:
Surtees Avenue: Residents put their objections to the meeting concerning the building of ten houses
by County Durham Homes on the green in Surtees Avenue.
The residents of Surtees Avenue were told that if or when there is an application the Partnership
could object on planning issues such as privacy.
It was also explained that the Neighbourhood Plan (NP) being developed by the Parish may protect
the green if the residents explained why it is important to them. They were invited to put their views to
the NP working group on Monday 24 July at 3pm. This meeting was cancelled and a revised date is
to be arranged.
Councillors put forward the suggestions to County Durham Homes that land owned by them at Albert
Court in Bowburn or in Croxdale could be possible alternative sites for the 10 houses.
Residents of Surtees Avenue thanked the meeting for their advice and left at 7.00pm
Carlin Close: Ian Heginbottom of Keepmoat has been contacted about repairing the original mesh
boundary fence, the groove in the footpath, and replacing the poor finish to the tarmac at the steps to
the site.
Awaiting a reply.
JANET
Hill Top View: The Partnership objected to the issue of a new certificate to remove any pedestrian
access to Durham Road from the Hill Top View site.
RICHARD
Park bungalow: It was noted, but there were no objections to an application to demolition the park
bungalow.
Bowburn Hall extension: It was noted, but there no objections to the application to extend the
ballroom, build new toilets and a pergola at the rear of Bowburn Hall.
Coop Licence for Bowburn south: Noted that the new Coop at Bowburn South had applied for a
licence from 06.00 to 23.00.
Maiden Castle: Noted that Durham University has applied for planning permission to build indoor
tennis courts at Maiden Castle sports centre have applied to build indoor tennis courts adjacent to the
A177.
8Bii) Bowling green: The concrete post will be made safe when the height barrier is installed.
MARTIN
8Biii) Bowburn Industrial Relief Road: Mr Taylor, DCC, has been contacted to express the
Partnership’s surprise that buyers of properties on the ‘Cape’ site have not been made aware of the
Bowburn industrial relief road, which has always been a priority project for the Partnership. It was not
considered that there would be an issue about including the relief road in the “refreshed” Durham
Plan. Mr Taylor has replied that as there is no draft Local Plan yet in existence, the relief road is not a
matter that the Council should reveal on local searches unless there is a specific question in relation
to it. RICHARD
Air quality on A177: Mr Gribben, DCC, will establish a monitoring site at the southern end of Durham
Road beginning in September for one year. If the results show a pollution of over 40 micrograms per
m3 DCC must take measures to reduce the levels of air pollutant.
JANET
8Biv) MW A1(M) junction 61: A site visit at the MW roundabout took place with Mr McGargill
concerning the future lane markings. In the new three-lane system from the A177 at Bowburn the lefthand
lane will be signed A1M North; the middle lane Peterlee; the right-hand lane A1M South and
Spennymoor. It is possible that Coxhoe will not be signed approaching the roundabout and not
marked on the ground of the roundabout. (NB I have checked the last couple of times I have
approached the roundabout from Bowburn and Coxhoe is NOT named in the approach, but is once
you are on the roundabout. Don’t know why but I had always thought it was also in the approach lane
as well as on the roundabout)
8Bv) Community Centre: All going well.
8Bvi) Youth Club: A programme of summer activities will take place in the Youth Centre during the
holidays.
Visit any time; Contact the Youth Club on 07788277321 and Facebook.
Gym: New members always welcome. Times: Mon to Sat AM 9.15-11.30am; Evenings Tue to Thur
6-8.30pm
8Bvii) Coal column: Enquiries are being made into the exact location of the column; the depth of the
foundations; services below ground; which will then lead to the terms of the licence.
8Bviii) Primary school: The councillors have held discussions with the head teachers concerning the
requirements for a new primary school. Consultations on the amalgamation should begin in
September 2017 and the school will be finished in 2019. No preferred site has been agreed, but it will
not be on the land opposite Henry Avenue.
School parking: No more enforcement can be issued with the resources available. Cllr McKeon
hopes to gain funding to hire staff to organise a walking bus to both schools to reduce the parking
problems.
8B xi) Shops: Lidl informed the Partnership that Bowburn and the surrounding area is too small to
sustain a store; that being 20 000 residents whereas Bowburn etc is only about half of that.
9. Correspondence: The road from Station Road to the centre of Parkhill will be resurfaced in
August. A detour for Bowburn to/from Coxhoe will be via Tursdale, Cornforth Lane and the Black
Horse.
10. Reports and matters arising:
10i) East Durham Rural Corridor AAP: Next Meeting 19 July from 5.00 pm, Quarrington Hill centre.
10ii) County Councillors:
There will be a new footpath in Castle Street; the road surface of Hollyhock Terrace will be covered
with road planings; litter bins will be installed in Bowburn South estate.
The teaching assistants have rejected the pay offer and more talks will take place; £41M of cuts will
take place over the next ? years; at present a puffin/pelican crossing cannot be agreed for Parkhill.
The problem with surface water at the entrance to Parkhill is under investigation.
A condition has been put to increase the height of the kerbs at the entrance in the plans for the
proposed car park at the present Coop site in the estate.
10iii) Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council meeting 21 June 2017:
Members discussed the proposed Bowburn Relief Road, and were concerned that it did not appear in
any planning searches on the DCC website. The Clerk was asked to write to heads of Planning/
Highways at DCC and ask for the relief road to be included in the new version of the County Durham
Plan. Two Parish Council nominees were selected to sit on Bowburn Youth Centre’s management
board, to protect the Parish Council’s interests, since the Parish was now providing funding for Youth
Services in the Parish. They were Jackie Richardson & John Spoors. Youth Club representatives
were also to be invited to attend Parish meetings. It was agreed that the Neighbourhood Plan
steering group should invite Keepmoat to their next meeting to discuss the Parish’s objections to their
proposed development at Park Hill. (Letter of objection already sent) This would be followed by the
monthly meeting at which Keepmoat could discuss the proposal with the whole Council. Next Parish
Meeting is 19 July; Litterpick 5 August meet at 9.30am in Bowburn Community Centre.
Neighbourhood Plan: A workshop is to be held to discuss topics for the Plan.
10iv) Quarry Liaison: One year on, DCC is still trying to resolve the problem of the illegal road to the
anaerobic digester. Other issues are still under consideration
SYLVIA/RICHARD
11. Group Noticeboard:
(i)Banner: The Eve of Gala concert by Backroom Band was a great success. The bands got through
Old Elvet much quicker this year as only half the bands played at the County Hotel. Gala Day was an
excellent occasion. The Centenary banner is to be repaired and new faces can be added to the
banner.
(ii) BVC Interchange: Issue 83 has been delivered. Two people have responded to the appeal to help
publish the paper, and new volunteers are helping with deliveries.
The next Quiz Night will be held on Friday 15 September in Crowtrees Club at 7.30pm.
(iii) Credit Union Bank: The bank is open on Fridays from 11 am to 12 noon in the Community Centre.
Both schools will be informed that children and family members are able to bank at the Community
Centre and continue saving through the holidays.
(iv) History: The group attended the “Yesterday belongs To You” event at Beamish. On 21 August new
colliery maps will be discussed. The Resources Room is open every Wednesday 1pm till 3pm.
(v) Fun Day: The Fun Day is arranged for Saturday 30 September 2017. The grants will fund the
cheap rides.
12. AOB: None
13. Date/Time of Next Meeting and AGM: 15 AUGUST 2017 at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community
Centre