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Minutes March 2017

WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF    MEETING  HELD

TUESDAY 14TH MARCH  2017  

7.00 PM  

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

PRESENT: Chair   D. Sugden, Mrs. J. Henderson,, G. Price ,  Mrs. A. Savory, M. Bell

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

PUBLIC:                   S. Hogarth

 

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: J. Wilson, D.C. Pattison
  2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
  3. POLICE REPORT: None present
  4. MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD 14TH FEBRUARY 2017 confirmed and agreed as a true record and signed as such
  5. MATTERS ARISING :

Recreation Ground : Tree works complete

Bowling Green : Work nearing completion

  1. MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING HELD 7TH MARCH 2017 RE SKATE PARK

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr A. Savory declared an interest regarding the possibility of using the Wolsingham School site as a location for siting the skate park and abstained from voting, and took no part in the discussion pertaining to the school site.

Mr David Sugden chaired the meeting and briefly introduced and outlined  the history so far of the possibility of creating a skate park in Wolsingham,

Certain members of those present expressed concern at the various locations mentioned,

Recreation Ground, Demesne Mill, The Willows, Lynndale and the old school site

Would the site be floodlit and gated off at night were concerns.

The design of the skate park depended on the amount of finances available ranging from £85k - £150k or even £200k for a one recently installed in Bp. Auckland.

A perceived problem was noise , but as the new generation of skate parks were constructed of concrete , the noise factor had greatly reduced, as well as lower maintenance costs.

Would the construction of a skate park attract the wrong type of youngsters to the area and create more ASB and drug abuse, litter , loud music.

 These were matters for the local police to monitor, but this has not happened at other sites.

Suitable signage was requested advising users to wear suitable protective clothing and to be aware of sustaining injuries.

Financing the project: initially monies would be provided by Wolsingham Parish Council, Weardale Area Action Partnership , other funding streams ie Scotto Foundation , Community Asset Fund run by Sport England and other sources.

Concern was raised at the possibility of increasing the precept to cover such a venture and there was a request that the precept should be reduced and that members of the public should be consulted more on how the precept was raised. As there is an impending election , then this would be an opportunity for those concerned to join the Parish Council.

On a show of hands the majority of those present wanted the possibility of a skate park taken further.

The location of the siting of the skate park had to be decided and would only be confirmed when a pre application advice was obtained from the local planning authority.

Sites identified: The Willows 0 votes Demesne Mill  0 votes Lynndale  0 votes

School site 18 votes    Recreation Ground  12 votes

As the school site was not in the ownership of the Parish Council this may or may not go ahead.

As a compromise those residents from the West End and adjacent to the recreation ground would be in favour of the recreation ground site as long as the location was beyond the tree  line to the south and west of the park This being the case , upon another show of hands the recreation ground was the preferred location.

 

  1. MATTERS ARISING: The location needed to be confirmed, pre application advice would be obtained from the local authority, when location confirmed. Funding and design  options would then be explored.

 

Clock :  Now installed , one power outage, clock reset automatically.

 

THORNLEY WOOD  Planting Day Saturday 11th March 10.30 am – 3.00 pm

     Car park works to commence when result of  grant application to Carriers for Causes is known.

Employment Business Opportunity :Former School Buildings

Contacted Stuart Timmiss Head of Planning & Assets

Jill Parker Business Durham

John Parnell Business Development Manager South Durham

 

 

 

  1. CORRESPONDENCE:  
  2. RECREATION GROUND: Car parking permits and tickets would be checked from Easter weekend.

It was reported that an amount of litter was accumulating in the play area, clerk to speak to contractor.

  1. ST. ANNE’S CENTRE:  
  2. ALLOTMENTS
  3. TOWN HALL:    Painting Quotations. Three quotations had been received :

It was agreed to accept the lowest tender from C. Docherty , workmanship to be monitored and inspected throughout the duration of the contract.

  1. MARKET PLACE: Several electricity outages had occurred recently and it was reported that overhead cables would be renewed and raised higher, to meet new standards.
  2. ANGATE STREET TOILETS :
  3. DEMESNE MILL:  
  4. THORNLEY WOOD The open day for planting had been a success , albeit the weather had deteriorated in the afternoon. Planting is now complete for this year and would resume in the autumn/winter , when additional Woodland grants would be applied for.
  5. FOOTPATHS  : The Principal rights of Way officer had contacted the clerk , wanting a retraction that the footpath at New Bridge had been diverted as a permissive footpath through the adjoining caravan site , in fact negotiations are still ongoing.

Some concern was raised that waste food was being dumped at the Station bridge and dogs which were eating the waste food had been ill.

  1. CLOSED CHURCHYARD:
  2. NEWSLETTER: Skatepark , Northern Powergrid renewal of overhead power cables.

April meeting to be held Tuesday 4th April

  1. CLERKS BUSINESS: Leave of absence agreed from 10th April 2017

Nomination packs for the Parish Council elections to be held Thursday 4th May were to hand and distributed as requested.

  1. MEMBERS REQUEST: Cllr. A. Savory asked for permission to Cornerstone Group use of the Market Place , date to be confirmed.

 

 

20 .PLANNING: 

20.01  The following applications have been approved:

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

DM/16/04049/FPA    Tanners Mill, 10, The Causeway, extension to existing agricultural building

DM/16/03753/FPA    garage between and opposite 13/ 15 Silver St. demolition of garage , construction of two new dwellings and formation of parking area.

  The following applications have been notified

DM/17/00106/FPA    land to the east of Durham Road, construction of 13 dwellings  with live/work space and associated development

DM/17/00447/FPA    34, Lydgate Lane, two storey side extension, single storey rear extension, dormer to rear rood and alterations to fenestration

DM/17/00688/FPA    12, Meadhope Street, proposed change of 4 no window frames on front elevation

DM/17/00615/FPA     Spar 1 - 2 Market Place Wolsingham Bishop Auckland County Durham DL13 3AF Remove existing step to front door and replace with ramp and replacement of existing timber door with new power

DM/17/00762/TPO     14 Leazes Lane Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3DP T1 and T2 Sycamore - fell trees protected by a tree preservation order

DM/17/00560/FPA     Redgate Villa Low Redgate Bank Wolsingham Bishop Auckland DL13 3HG Erection of machinery store and workshop

  1. 21.0         Finance Reports FEBRUARY 2017 . agred and accepted
  2.                Fixed Asset Register distributed for information
  3.                Funding Request Library  events 2017 – 18  agreed to grant £500 Under powers from Localism Act 2011, cultural donations.
  4.               Community Group Ladies Hockey equipment / funds needed An application pack had been obtained from WAAP , so that WRECASS could apply for a grant on behalf of the group.