Crossgate Village

Crossgate Village is an idea that has grown out of the local community in Durham City.

Local people had been meeting for some time, mainly to discuss traffic and parking issues. These meetings began to take on a village feel, with people from parts of the west of Durham City expressing their views and concerns at the regular monthly meetings.

It was decided to build on this sense of local identity by strengthening the village concept, and the idea of Crossgate Village was born.

Crossgate Village has been successful in involving more people and businesses, and gives us a clearer focus and stronger motivation to our efforts to improve the area.

Our launch leaflet provides more information about our philosophy and intentions. We have the great advantage of the village being part of the historic university city of Durham. We intend to play a full part in city-wide issues.

We are very much aware of the need to work in partnership and to co-ordinate our efforts with all others who wish to improve the quality of life in Durham City.

Residents’ Parking Forum

From April 2004 the monthly Residents' Parking Forum meetings have been replaced by Crossgate Village meetings.

The group had expanded in numbers and had begun to cover a broader range of issues. The meetings attracted people who were concerned to improve the quality of life in the terraced areas to west of Durham City.

A village atmosphere developed and it was decided to build on this and to float the idea of Crossgate Village.

Residents’ Parking Forum

The Residents’ Parking Forum normally meets on the last Monday of each month 7.30pm at Waddington Street Church. Our aim is to improve conditions in residential neighbourhoods that are suffering from an excessive amount of traffic and parking.

Many residential streets near to the city centre have been left out of the parking control scheme. This is mainly because these areas were only offered pay and display parking throughout the whole area, and residents have twice voted against this proposal. Most residents, however, are in favour of parking control. In the first phases of consultation a large majority supported the creation of   Areas of Residents’ Parking as suggested by the County Council.

We are now trying to persuade council officers to put forward a new scheme in which residents’ needs are given a higher priority. Contrary to common belief we are not simply interested in restricting parking to residents alone.

You will be very welcome at future meetings. The Forum is run by residents for residents.

If you live in a street that is already in the parking scheme we will be pleased to hear your views. We will also be interested to hear from people whose neighbourhoods will become busier as the scheme is extended. If you wish to contact us please email:

info@localactiondurham.org.uk