General Meeting B&PCP Charity No 1112151 Tuesday 15 March 2022 from 6.00pm
PRESENT: J Blackburn, K Bowman, A Dolan, M McKeon, S Raine, J Richardson, N Ridley
1 APOLOGIES: M Bell, J Blakey, R Cowen, G Hutchinson, G Parker, C Styles
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FOR THIS MEETING: Declare interests when appropriate.
3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: The minutes of 15 February were agreed.
MATTERS ARISING: i) Joint meetings with the Parish Council, and Councillors to discuss S106 monies. And a further joint meeting including Coxhoe Parish Council with the PCC Joy Allen to discuss traffic issues in the Ward.
A request has been made to the Parish Council for the joint meetings above.
At this meeting Cllr McKeon informed members that drainage of the football field has been put forward as a project for S106 monies
ii) Solar panels at Amazon
It was agreed that in all the circumstances this application should be granted planning permission.
4. POLICE: Crime statistics for January 2022: Violence and Sexual Assault 21, Criminal Damage 15,
Anti-social Behaviour 11; Vehicle Crime 2; Other Theft 2; Drugs 1
5. FINANCES:
i) TREASURER’S REPORT: Unrestricted income is £87 quiz money, and £10 tea & raffle money.
This year income totals £379.50 with £327.28 expended. Finances total £4,896.68.
Expenditure is £32 Room Hire, £15 prize money, and £10 tea money leaving £831.26 in unrestricted funds.
FUN DAY: Awaiting a donation of £1000 from Integra61. The balance is £2726.33.
Committed expenditure totals £2292: Nobles (balance) £1332, Climbing Wall £810, Crazy Creatures £150.
A quote is awaited for a possible bungee jumper.
STALLS: Tabletops for groups or individuals will be available for £5; book at the Community Centre.
ii) QUIZ FOR FUNDRAISING: New quiz is ‘In one’s element’ for £1, to return by Saturday 14 May 2022
iii) TEA/RAFFLE PRIZE: 1st S Raine, 2nd M McKeon, 3rd A Dolan - prizes kindly donated by J Blackburn
19 April 2022 Mal Bell to donate a prize for the raffle.
6. ITEMS FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS: None
7. LOCAL REPORTS:
i)PLANNING ISSUES AND UPDATES:
a) Bus Stop Crowtrees Lane:
Cllr Hutchinson Emailed that there were no updates, but it was unlikely that the bus stop would be moved to the former bakery as it would be too close to next junction. However, it would be looked at again.
b Tursdale Lay-by: When Richard had looked at the layby, the workmen asked why the road had not been covered with soil as happens elsewhere, and why widen the junction.
At this meeting it was said that the layby will be used by traffic police and the Highways Agency.
The remaining entrance is a sharp right-hand corner and requires widening.
c) 5G Mast:
The application is to replace an existing mast at Bowburn that is 15m high with a 5G mast 20m high on the A688 opposite the Services. There are 2x15m masts, one green - one white; the mast to be replaced is the green one. The new mast will be sited to the North of these boxes, closer to the existing white mast.
The new residential development on Integra61 is closest to the site with quite a gap between the housing and the mast. On the other side of the A688 is the car park to the Services. This is, in general, an employment area and there is a need for improved telecommunications.
Richard does not believe an objection is appropriate in this case. It may be worth asking if there is any proposal regarding replacing the white mast.
This is different from usual planning applications. If the Council do not approve it within the time limit, then unless they have agreed an extension in time, it is a deemed approval as opposed to the usual deemed refusal. This should be mentioned to the council, as they missed this point when dealing with an application for a mast on Stockton Road opposite the University.
Members at this meeting agreed to replace the existing mast with the extended mast.
d) 3 Storey extension 34 Cavell Drive: Although this is described as a 3-storey extension, the proposal looks like a 2-storey extension but with living space in the roof. The existing layout includes a dormer window in the roof so this would in effect be an extension of that.
The garage is to be demolished to accommodate this extension. The garage is detached from the house but attached to the garage of the neighbouring property.
This development does not appear to have an undue detrimental effect of the environment. Currently, there was no objection from the neighbours. In addition, if there is any objection from them, it is not advisable to get involved in "neighbour disputes" but look at the wider picture.
Informed by the above this meeting had no objections to the planning application for 34 Cavell Drive.
ii) PARKHILL: a) The Resident’s Association now have a bank account.
The uprooted bushes need to be cleared completely and the area levelled off.
It was questioned why the newly planted trees have been planted towards the Southlands end of Parkhill Estate, and that the Xmas tree appears to be planted in the wrong place adjacent to the A177. JANET
Cllr McKeon added that she hopes to have a land survey machine which will indicate an appropriate place to plant trees to screen the noise from the residential area on Integra61
iii) YOUTH CENTRE Joanne Eden: All sessions centre around community cohesion and a sense of belonging. Involving young people in the Fun Day will enhance this and be an opportunity for the whole village to come together. AAP funding for half term provided packed lunches and activity packs to all Children and Young People. An application for funding at Easter should provide an activity hour each day for 25 Children and Young People. In addition, we will continue to offer packed lunches and activity packs.
The Gym is popular particularly in the evening and is now open on Saturdays 5-7pm. We are struggling for volunteers during morning sessions to keep the Gym open. The shortage will be advertised on Facebook.
iv) SCHOOLS: a) Bowburn Primary School – no update this month
b) Former Junior School: The ground is cleared in preparation for the sports area.
c) Former Infant Schools: Talks continue for a change of use for the school but keep the building.
vi) ENVIRONMENT: a) Trees at Parkhill: See 7ii Parkhill
b) Fence in Coxhoe Ponds Wildlife Area: No update
c) Motorway underpass ‘feature mural’: Cllr Hutchinson told the gentleman in question that he would need to ask Highways England if he was allowed to paint a mural, and nothing has been heard since.
d) Leamside Line: No further update.
vii) HIGHWAYS: a) Relief Road - Levelling Up money – Cllr McKeon gave an update that there is a possibility of a relief road but cautioned the meeting on its final distance and shape.
viii) FUN DAY: 2 May, Poster competition for Under 12’s with a closing date of 11 April and a £20 prize, Stalls to book for £5 at the Community Centre.
8. CORRESPONDENCE: i) LIBRARY CONSULTATION: This is for individuals to answer rather than organisations to recognise their value for the community. Members may want to respond to show how services can best be provided. It does not appear to be considering any closures, at least at the moment, but is looking at ways of providing services.
ii) BELLWAY HOMES: The Partnership agreed with the response from the Parish Council to the planning application and added: In addition, the Neighbourhood Plan does provide for achieving a beautiful and successful development. The Partnership represents that this should be on each development individually rather than sharing with another one. Therefore, re the play park - If there is no legal requirement in respect of the neighbouring development to permit its use to residents of the Bellway estate, this Policy may not be complied with. There is little information relating to active travel, and how walking/cycling will be encouraged, or reference to the Co. Durham Strategic Walking and Cycling Delivery Plan 2019.
Finally it was questioned what maintenance arrangements will be made for the wildflower meadow and some indication as to what flowers will be planted would be useful.
9. REPORTS IN THE WIDER AREA:
i)EAST DURHAM RURAL CORRIDOR AAP: Next meeting 30 March at 9.30am via Teams.
Task Group meeting 17 March 10.00am. Opening for a Public Rep is available
ii) BOUNDARY CHANGES: It seems likely that the renewed boundary change will be unaltered which keeps Bowburn within County Durham, but outside the City of Durham.
The meeting was informed that there will also be Council Ward reforms held by the Boundary Commission.
ii) COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROUNDUP: See reports above
iii) Cassop cum Quarrington PARISH: 16 February 2022.
Two prospective Parish Councillors had come forward, and after a statement by each, they were co-opted onto the Parish Council: Alfred Dolan and Raymond Ralph are now Parish Councillors for the East and West Wards respectively of CcQ Parish Council.
James Taylor (Citrus) attended the meeting, to discuss the proposed diversion of Footpath 10. Members were broadly satisfied with the proposal though there was some disappointment that it would not be routed along the Beck corridor however that is to protect the existing wildlife along the Beck. It was suggested that the developer could show commitment to the route by showing it on future planning applications and DCC by adding to the definitive map. James agreed this could be added to DC5 application.
The Parish and Partnership met with representatives of Bellway and Citrus to discuss the reserved matters application, ie appearance, layout, and other details, of the Bellway development on Integra 61. Members were disappointed with certain environmental matters of the development, specifically solar panel provision and electric car charging points. It was felt Bellway was merely following the current regulations but not doing more to promote the low carbon economy. The Clerk was asked to communicate the Parish Council’s opinion to the planning authority and ask DCC to consider the development in the light of the National Planning Policy Framework, and our own Neighbourhood Plan.
Next Meeting 16th March 2022
Next Litter-pick: A final litter pick may be considered at the end of April which would be for both the Big Spring Clean and in preparation for the Dun Day.
iv) QUARRY LIAISON: There is a planning application to extend the current work for three years to 2027.
v) BVC: Interchange 97 – the paper should be ready to go out for delivery at the beginning of April.
vi) BANNER GROUP: No update this month
vii) HISTORY GROUP: 14 March Mike Syer ‘Fatal accidents at Bowburn colliery’ will continue on 21 March; 11 April Jack Turton ‘Winterton hospital’; 9 May AGM followed by a members’ meeting.
10. AOB: None
11. NEXT GENERAL MEETING: 19 April 2022 6.00pm in Bowburn Community Centre