General Meeting B&PCP Charity No 1112151 Tuesday 17 September 2019 From 6.00pm
PRESENT: M Bell, J Blackburn, J Blakey, R Cowen, J Geyer, M McKeon, D Paget, G Parker, S Raine, J Richardson
In Attendance: Cllr Dunn Apologies: None
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR THIS MEETING: Declare interests when appropriate
3. SECURITY: Police: All crime and ASB 56 in Bowburn, Cassop, High Shincliffe, Shincliffe for July.
ASB 10, Burglary 4, Criminal damage and arson 7, Drugs 3, Other crime 1, Other theft 2, Public Order 3,
Shoplifting 3, Theft from person 1, Vehicle crime 3, Violence and sexual offences 19
Pact meeting: No one attended the meeting, but Cllr Blakey was able to discuss local problems with Steph.
If any residents have any information or anything to report, contact Steph via the email
Stephanie.Clarke@durham.pnn.police.uk or contact 101; or 999 in an emergency.
ii) Speedwatch: Cllrs Dunn and McKeon to co-ordinate a timetable. To do. CLLRS DUNN AND McKEON
4. MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING 20 August 2019 agreed.
MATTERS ARISING: Trees at Ogden’s: Mike Syer made enquiries to J Parle, managing Director of
Morbaine, the planning agent for Ogden Properties’. Morbaine can’t see a problem with our request and
Keith Nutter, Planner, has been asked to obtain a Method Statement from the Ecologist in respect of the
saplings and will also speak to the landowners whom J Parle is sure will not object.
5. FINANCES: i) Treasurer’s report:
Since the last meeting income and expenditure has focussed on the Fun Day.
Income: Tea & Raffle £8.50, Quiz £63, Fun Day stalls £80, Fun Day vouchers £244, B&PCP stall £51.20
To be confirmed Community Kitchen donation from the Fun Day.
Expenditure: Quiz prizes £30, Colour toners £133.77, Room hire £44, Gas boxes £432, Noble Brothers
£672, Laser Quest £580, B&PCP stall fee £10, Street Organ £250, Balloons £20, Bouncy slide Creepy
Crawlies Bunting £350
Summary: Fun day fund £2,794.29; Holiday club £3,000.00 ; Bird boxes £48.70; Tree planting project
£477.28; Regeneration fund £1,781.41
Janet will check with the schools and Youth Club if they require more money for the Bird Boxes; if not it was
agreed to add the £48.70 to the tree planting scheme. JANET
Gas boxes: The gas boxes in Durham Road have been repaired and painted.
One resident thanked the Partnership for the work done to repair the gas boxes.
ii) Raffle: J Blackburn won the raffle kindly donated by S Raine. J Richardson to bring the next prize. JACKIE
iii) Quiz: New quiz ‘Buildings’ £1 per copy, return by 16 November 2019.
6. ITEMS FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS: Gas boxes
7. LOCAL REPORTS: i) PLANNING: The Durham Plan: The examination hearing sessions start at the end
of October then over four separate weeks. The Inspector has issued questions to answer and return.
Richard is preparing answers on behalf of the Partnership where appropriate. RICHARD
Hill Top View footpath: Cllr Dunn reported that Dave Wafer, DCC, will not create a footpath from Hill Top
View to the A177 because of land ownership problems.
Discussion at this meeting revealed that certain residents did not think that the footpath would be a benefit
to the estate.
Agreed: To ask the Parish to survey the views of Hill Top Estate for and against the footpath. PARISH
Integra 61: The chair expressed concern that the noise from pile driving is outside permitted hours for DCC
and that this could be allowed in future phases.
Cllr Dunn explained that local members should have a say in future phases as councillors will be notified of
the conditions.
Agreed to write to Planning expressing a strong desire that noise from future phases is restricted to the
permitted hours of DCC. JANET
Parkhill site: Agreed to object to the revised plans to build an additional 21 houses on the site on the
grounds of extra traffic, loss of parking and landscaping. RICHARD
Nature Trail: Geoff Scott will arrange a meeting in October JANET
‘Old’ Coop area: No further update.
OQ Barn: The application is likely to be determined in the next month or so.
ii) Community Centre: The Fun Day was successful. A new carpet has been laid in the main foyer.
Next meeting Tuesday 24 September start time 6.30pm.
iii) Youth Centre: The Holiday Scheme went well. There has been a change of timetable for the new term.
iv) Bowburn Primary School: The planning application has been considered by the Planning Committee
who are minded to approve it subject to the application being called in by the Secretary of State. Sport
England’s objection to a loss of playing field was considered but determined that it should not prevent the
proposed development. It should be known by the end of September if the SoS has called in the application
The Head teacher was welcomed to the committee. DCC are in the process of appointing contractors.
8. CORRESPONDENCE: Bridge painting on the motorway.
30 Sept to 5 Oct A1M J61 to 63 (Chester-le-Street) Northbound closed 8pm to 6am
7 Oct to 12 Oct A1M J61 to 63 Southbound closed 8pm to 6am
9. REPORTS IN THE WIDER AREA:
AAP: Next meeting - Monday 23 September from 5.00 pm at Bowburn Community Centre.
Xmas lights: The application for the Xmas Lights is being considered.
ii) COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROUNDUP:
Cllr Blakey: The roadway outside the new houses in Surtees Avenue has been poorly patched. Anti-social
behaviour is being monitored at the old Coop site. The recommended ‘unsuitable for HGV’s’ on Red Brier
Bank is not being followed. The meeting discussed a weight limit to make this recommendation
enforceable. While Cllr Dunn mentioned that DCC had considered and rejected this in the past, it was
believed that there may be merit in asking them to consider a weight restriction along this length of road to
the 688 and then on towards Bowburn.
Cllr Dunn: After discussion at this meeting about the potential problems from construction traffic for building
the new school it was agreed to recommend that construction traffic for the Primary School approach the
school via the A688. Clean & Green have been asked to do a clean-up of our area. CLLR DUNN
The graded colours of grey for the cladding on the first shed on Integra 61 were shown to the meeting.
Cllr McKeon: Bollards will be placed in the green at the old Coop to stop cars driving over the green.
Trees will be replaced on Cavell Drive, and grass cutting will start now that the area has been adopted.
Bus shelters will soon be repaired and replaced in the area.
iii) PARISH: Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council meeting on 14 August in Cassop
Neighbourhood Plan: Shaun Hanson was at the meeting and reported on progress. Shaun and Frank were
due to meet with Stuart Carter on August 30, when it was hoped future action required would be clearer.
Parish Council vacancy: The West Ward vacancy caused by the untimely death of Cllr Alan Richardson had
been advertised in Tursdale, but so far there had been no applications. It was deferred to the next meeting.
Integra 61: Concerns were raised about various issues at the site, including dust, debris on roads, overbright
lights on the roundabout shining into drivers’ eyes, and working hours. Cllr Dunn advised that the
Planning Officer had written to all contractors to remind them of the standards to which they must adhere.
The clerk was asked to communicate these concerns to Lichfields.
The Parish were informed that funding had been secured for the Christmas lights in Bowburn. The revenue
element of the works could not be funded by the AAP/County Councillor Budgets for checking the
installation and taking down the lights each year, at £100 per fixtures. The Parish agreed to pay this cost.
Next meeting Bowburn Community Centre 18 September from 6.30pm
Litter pick: Saturday 5 October – meet at 9.30am in the car park of the Community Centre
Art piece: Groundwork, acting on behalf of the Parish, is awaiting the outcome of an S106 application for
funding to employ an artist to commission a piece of art commemorating Bowburn’s mining heritage.
iv) QUARRY LIAISON: Certain points have been agreed in principle for a path below Cold Knuckles. The
matter is to be discussed at the next Liaison Committee however this route is not as desirable as the ‘blue
route’ and Cllrs Dunn and McKeon informed the meeting that they are to meet with Mr Johnson concerning
that former route. Next Quarry Liaison meeting is 10 October.
10. GROUP NOTICEBOARD:
i) Banner: The banners in the foyer were turned when the new carpet was fitted.
ii) BVC: Issue 92 is ready to go to the printers.
Issue 93: Articles and photos should be sent to interchangebowburn@gmail.com
Quiz night: The next quiz night is 11 October 2019 from 7.30pm in Crowtrees WM Club.
iii) History: The History Room is open on Wednesday’s between 1.00pm and 3.00pm.
Look out for the 2nd Tuesday talks in the future.
11. AOB: Gas boxes: At the trustees meeting it was agreed that the Partnership will no longer be
responsible for the repair of gas boxes in Bowburn. Tonight, the General Meeting agreed with this policy.
12. NEXT GENERAL MEETING: 15 OCTOBER at 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre