WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF   MEETING  HELD

TUESDAY 10TH JANUARY  2017  

7.00 PM TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

 

PRESENT: Chair   D. Sugden, Mrs. J. Henderson,, G. Price , S. Calvert, Mrs. A. Savory

 Mrs. A. Nelson M/s L. Richardson, Mrs. M. Epsly

 

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: M. Bell, , J.Wilson, D.C. Pattison
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
3. POLICE REPORT: P.C.S.O. Liam Morris & P.C.S.O. Chris Elms attended the meeting

PCSO Liam Morris addressed the meeting and informed the meeting that he & PCSO Chris Elms would be the new PCSO’s for Weardale PCSO Morris covering Stanhope & Frosterley & PCSO Elms covering Wolsingham. PCSO’s Burton Pattison & Burnham were currently training to become police constables. P.C. G. Moore gave his apologies .

There would be a PACT meeting at the Town Hall , Wednesday 25th January at 7.00 pm, and future bookings would be forthcoming in due course. Attendance at recent PACT meetings had been poor, Wolsingham 1, Stanhope 2, Ireshopeburn 6

One of the PACT priorities had been speeding motorcycles , a speed check had been set up and the average speed was recorded as 26 mph.

Anti Social Behaviour in Wolsingham had significantly reduced

As in previous winter months caravan’s had been targeted in the region , but some were regarded as opportunist and 1 arrest had been made.

Farm Watch continued with the run up to Christmas, no arrests had been actioned but a lot of intelligence gathering and stop & search of vehicles had taken place.

A member raised the question of parking at Lea Green , which was being used as a “ drop off point “ for pupils attending the school and football matches on a Sunday morning,  when the gates were not being opened. Police agreed to monitor. Other parking issues, particularly inconsiderate parking on disabled crossing points were raised , police agreed to ask Civil Parking Enforcement officers to attend Wolsingham more frequently, to enforce the parking laws.

Agreed to advertise dates of PACT meetings in Town Crier when available.

1. MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD 13TH DECEMBER 2016 agreed as a true record and signed as such.
2. MATTERS ARISING: The idea of a Skate Park had been raised with the School and the head Lee Elliott was quite ambivalent on the issue. It was reported that a number of youths and children had expressed an interest in the project. The clerk was arranging a meeting with the Crook AAP coordinator to visit their recently installed skate park to garner relevant information on the Crook project. Agreed to ask for comments in the Town Crier and website.
3. CORRESPONDENCE:   The Wolsingham Womens Institute had written , offering to donate a hard wood notice board for the Town Hall to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Wolsingham branch in 2018, agreed to accept , depending on the necessary planning permission being approved.
4. RECREATION GROUND:
5. ST. ANNE’S CENTRE:  
6. ALLOTMENTS The former community allotment at the bottom site had been cleared and was ready for letting, there was now 4 on the waiting list.
7. TOWN HALL:   
8. MARKET PLACE: A slimming World A frame had been attached to the Town Hall, agreed to have removed. The meeting was informed of the impending transfer of the Post Office service to the SPAR shop. (15th February 13.00 hrs) and all expressed their gratitude to the post mistress Mrs Jean Kendal for 35 years public service.
9. ANGATE STREET TOILETS : The ladies toilets had been subjected to some appalling , soiling and general mess.
10. DEMESNE MILL:  
11. THORNLEY WOOD Work would commence on Monday / Tuesday on creating  footpaths throughout the wood using chipped bark, a contractor had been hired for both days to supply a wood chipper and help the volunteers from Durham Wildlife Trust. The trees and stakes had arrived from Tilhill and planting was also imminent.
12. FOOTPATHS  The Wolsingham Wayfarers meeting was to be held Wednesday 11th January, of particular concern was the barriers being removed from the footpath diversion at Holbeck Mill, there was serious underlying damage here and the full extent can not be seen easily and an accident could happen if ramblers do not adhere to the detoured route and leave the barriers alone. Durham County Council were working hard with local landowners to resolve the matter, and an easement had been agreed to walk through the adjacent caravan park at Holbeck Mill.
13. CLOSED CHURCHYARD:
14. NEWSLETTER : To include Electric car charging facility, skate park, Post Office, parking on dropped kerbs, new PCSO’s. Parish Council Elections Thursday May 4th.
15. CLERKS BUSINESS:
16. MEMBERS REQUEST

: Information had been requested regarding the installation of an electric car  charging point in Wolsingham/’Weardale ,  the clerk had contacted Weardale Area Action Partnership coordinator Angelina Maddison who had replied with the following points to be considered:

 Reference : Electric car charging points

 

 

Points of Note

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20 .PLANNING: 

20.01  The following applications have been approved:

DM/16/03294/FPA     6, Demesne Court, replace timber windows with UPVC

 

:  20.02      The following applications have been notified

DM/16/03999/FPA     9, Melbourne Place , replace timber windows with timber bespoke windows and door

DM/16/03905/VOC    Former Mill Garage, Variation of conditions  2,3,4,5,7,&8 of approval DM/15/02975/FPA

DM/16/03759VOC     Former builders yard, Lydgate Lane, Plots 1 & 2 approval 3/2012/0532 design change

21.0     Finance Reports December 2016 .Agreed and accepted.