Crossgate Village
Notes of meeting held on 30 th January 2006
7.30 p.m. at Waddington Street Church Hall
Focus for 2006 -Overview
For the first meeting of 2006, it was appropriate to review our progress to date and to look at the priorities that were identified in the discussions that took place at our November meeting.
The launch leaflet of April 2004 sets out our broad approach and objectives, and these remain relevant:
• Building a sustainable community
• Creating a vibrant and varied community for people from all backgrounds
• Breathing new life into the area
• Encouraging a full range of facilities within walking distance
• Fostering a living environment, particularly in order to make the area more attractive to families
• Bringing people together
This is a strong and positive approach that was subsequently expressed in more detail in our Agenda for Change document.
During 2005 our meetings concentrated on widening our contacts and giving the group a higher profile. This has been very successful, and a number of key officers have attended our meetings.
We now have the help and support of the Community Development team, and Stephen Light and the students from King's Church have brought their energy and enthusiasm to the group, especially as regards the regeneration of Peskie's Park.
It will now be important to build on these advantages and to encourage and initiate improvements to the area. We need to be making Crossgate Village into an up-and-coming area that will cater for, and attract, people from all walks of life, including families.
There is a lot to do to combat negative perceptions - such as those expressed in a recent Sunday Telegraph article. One of our possible projects could be to produce our own article that would emphasise all the benefits of living in Crossgate Village and Durham City.
We could stress that there is an active community group that aims to improve the area and to deal with the issues and problems that we have identified in our previous meetings. There are already many efforts being made to improve Durham City generally, and Crossgate Village can play an active part in this.
There is a lot to look forward to, but it will be important not to spread our resources too thinly. Our challenge for 2006 will be to focus on positive action. We need to identify some achievable projects that will help us in our efforts to create a sustainable community.
Focus for 2006 -Discussion of possible projects
It will be necessary to become formally constituted in order to obtain funding for projects. One possibility is the B & Q Fund, where £5,000 worth of materials and equipment might be obtained. Andrea Boyd (Development Officer) will follow this up.
We need to have a sense of ownership and it also will be good to work in partnership - e.g. with Durham Johnston School for the underpass area. This could be a history project with murals depicting the Battle of Nevilles Cross.
Youth and community workers could also be involved. A partnership approach will mean that the work is shared out, although willpower is probably more important than manpower at this stage.
Low maintenance options might be adopted, e.g for the community gardens. A number of small projects might be done along or near to the route of the Battle of Neville's Cross walk. The railway underpass could be prioritised as a first project.
Councillor Holland had some important information about the current priorities of the City Council:
• Environmental regeneration will be very important in the next budget round
• Crossgate Village is in a strong position to receive financial support
• Crossgate and North End have been neglected in the past (there being no Parish, or qualification for regeneration funding)
• The three City Councillors will each have £2,000 available to spend
• A bid for funding could be put forward via Councillor Holland to the City Council
• Funding via the Flourishing Communities fund could also be considered
• Normal spending could also be directed toward Crossgate Village aims
Councillor Holland suggested that we should put together a ‘wish list' to include Lawson Terrace Common and the underpass, street furniture, etc. This would have to be with him before the end of the week (3 rd February)
Student Liaison
Mike Costello reported back on a meeting with Alan Pearson (Durham University).
If residents want to be kept informed of the outcome of any complaint that they make to the university, they should ensure that they give their name and address.
Some students appear to be side-stepping the parking scheme by parking on double yellow lines. There is less of a chance of receiving a ticket because the police and Community Wardens are seldom in the area.
Moves are underway to ‘decriminalise' parking enforcement so that NCP will be able to deal with parking on double yellow lines as well as the bays in the parking scheme.
On parking generally, it was noted that the introduction of the new parking controls has caused an increase in parking in the Farnley Hey and upper Avenue areas as well as at the areas around the top of Western Hill. The Highways Officers are aware of this and we hope that they will extend the scheme up to the edge of the built up area.
Planning issues
• 27 Lawson Terrace - windows have now been put in to replace the alcoves for the wheely bins. The Environmental Health Officer could be asked to review the suitability of this accommodation when the Housing Act becomes operational in April.
• 21 to 25 Hawthorn Terrace - this is a worrying development because it includes 5 detached garages with accommodation space above. As with Lawson Terrace, this could result in unsuitable and substandard student accommodation. Other issues include the loss of trees, lack of privacy, noise, and the layout of the interiors which suggest that they might become HMOs rather than the family houses that the developers promise.
Councillor Holland is to request that this application should be brought before the Committee rather than being dealt with under delegated powers. Although the new houses are welcomed as improvements to the streetscape and as potential family homes, conditions can be attached to ensure that they benefit the neighbourhood and avoid the problems that have been pointed out.
As compared to other places, Durham City receive a lot of applications, and this means that officers are under a lot of pressure, and there are Government time targets to be met.
The approval given to the application on the Ice Rink site appears to be a situation where things have gone wrong. A more holistic approach to development is needed, taking a city-wide perspective. It would be a positive move to invite Tracey Ingle along again to a meeting, perhaps in March, so that we can look at this perspective that is emerging from the ‘visioning' exercise.
Street Repairs
Following the contact we made at our October 3 rd meeting, Gordon Wingrove (Deputy Area Engineer) has agreed to carry out a street survey with us on Monday 6 th February (meet at Byland Lodge at 10am). Some residents have already compiled a list of their concerns, and these will be covered in the survey.
It was noted that Margery Lane needed some footpath repairs. This will be reported during the survey.
Proposed Bus Lane on Crossgate Peth
This proposal has caused a great deal of concern, and a meeting to discuss the proposal was recently held at St Margaret's School.
Among the problems are the total width of the carriageway, which may be too narrow to accommodate three lanes, and the safety impacts, particularly as the route is used by, and crossed by, schoolchildren and parents at St Margaret's School.
An action group has been formed, and letters are being sent to the County Council and to the local MP.
Chris Done agreed to write a letter on behalf of the group.
Notice Board
• A £2million investment in Durham Railway Station has recently been announced
• The plans for the new swimming pool are now open to public consultation
• The development proposed for the ice rink site could spoil the setting of the new pool. It would be preferable for this site to be used for a public facility or open space in accordance with the results of the 2020 Vision.
• The Walkergate development seems to be out of line with the photomontage that was used to promote it. People are disappointed with the loss of the view from the Gala balcony, and the development appears to neglect its riverside advantages.
• A new community facility has been opened up by St Margaret's Church at 66 Crossgate (Antioch House). An Open House is being held at 6.45 on Friday 24 th March.
Date of next meeting
Monday 27 th February 2006