Notes; 8th April 2025
Notes of Parish Council Meeting held on 8th April 2025.
These notes are taken by the Editor of the Town Crier. The official minutes taken by the Clerk will be published on the council’s website following their approval at the May meeting.
There were eight members of the public in attendance.
To receive questions from members of the public:
Age UK Chapter 50 Future You Project: Katie Corrigan spoke about this initiative which aims to set up community projects to support the elderly. Further information can be found at www.chapter50.org.uk.
Perry Gardner: spoke about several local initiatives that he was involved with and asked whether the parish council were aware of them, and whether they should be getting involved. He asked that the Chair’s annual report at the May meeting be focused on the 10 priorities set out on the council’s website. In response, the Chair advised that it will be up to the new council to agree and to set such objectives and these will be displayed on the new website. Councillors agreed that it was important to engage with the local community over such objectives.
Minutes of the meeting held on 11th March 2025: the minutes were agreed and signed as a true record.
Matters arising:
New toilets: the toilets are now open.
Website: this is currently being set up by the website provider. Artwork from pupils at Wolsingham School will be used for the website. Request made by the Clerk for any photographs taken locally that would be appropriate for the website to be sent to her.
Christmas: a working group will be set up following the May council meeting. This will include the possibility of the up-lighting of trees, and a Christmas tree, at the St Anne’s Centre.
Wear Bridge repairs: these are due to start on 5th May. It was agreed that workers from the Creative World company located at the station will be issued with permits so that they can park at the Recreation Ground when the bridge is closed to traffic. It is understood that pedestrian access across the bridge will be maintained at all times.
Parish Council elections: 8 nominations for parish councillors have been received by DCC and so there are 3 vacancies for the co-option of the remaining councillors. Details of how to apply are on the council’s website. The deadline for applications is noon on 24th April 2025. In the event of there being more than 3 applications, interviews will be held.
Correspondence:
Letters to Heaven post box: Charlotte Lee has asked whether a post box could be located on parish council premises which would be used by residents for letters written about loved ones at times of grief. Letters would eventually be removed and shredded and composted. Councillors expressed concerns over issues of confidentiality and letters being read by a third party, and the potential for the misuse of the post box. They agreed that it would not be appropriate for the siting of such a post box on council land or premises.
Crepe Expectations: Georgia Craggs has written to object to the parking of the Crepe Expectations food trailer in the Market Place due to it blocking parking spaces used by residents living there. Councillors took the view that the food trailer has a permit from the council to park in the Market Place and that residents do not have an automatic right to park in the Market Place overnight. Crepe Expectations will, however, be asked to ensure that they do not park in a place where they block the lowered kerb that is used by disabled persons for crossing the road.
Overnight camping in the Recreation Ground: Mrs Bridget Watt spoke to complain about an overnight camping incident in the Recreation Ground in March next to the Mill Race boundary. Mrs Watt asked whether the gate between the main and overflow car parks be locked overnight so as to deter such an activity happening again. Councillors were sympathetic but acknowledged that it was difficult to enforce such an activity and that they only happened very infrequently. The goodwill of volunteers are relied upon the open and close the main park gates every night and the council could not consider paying someone to carry out such tasks. The Chair agreed to monitor the situation and Councillor Savory undertook to flag up the issue with the police beat officer.
Maintenance works:
Recreation Ground: the skatepark sign needs replacing and an approach will be made to the two schools to involve local pupils in the design of the new sign.
Demesne Mill: Gillian Calvert from the Wolsingham Wayfarers has given the noticeboard a spring clean. A request was made for residents not to put notices or stickers on the outside of the glass as they are very difficult to clean off. A request has been made for a memorial plaque on one of the benches in the Demesne and it was agreed to grant this providing that the plaque is not placed on one of the memorial benches.
Thornley Woods: repairs to the fencing around the car park at Thornley Woods has been carried out.
Allotments: the tap on the Recreation Ground allotments is damaged and will be repaired.
Angate Street toilets: there is a problem with alcohol being drunk in the toilets. This will be monitored with a view to considering revising the opening times for the toilets and for the council to consider charging for their use with the installation of automatic locking doors similar to that installed in the toilets at the Recreation Ground. The council will arrange for a walk around the town with the Police Community Watch officer to look at where issues to anti-social behaviour take place and how to address these.
Finance: Payments/accounts for March were accepted.
Policy reviews: these have been carried out and were agreed. Reviews of the policies will take place on an annual basis.
Planning matters:
No comments were raised about the planning applications on the agenda.
Date of next meeting: the Annual Parish Meeting will take place on Tuesday 13th May 2025 at 6.15pm in the Town Hall followed by the monthly parish council meeting at 7.00pm. All are welcome to attend.