Welcome note to students
Mike would like to do this again for Laburnum. Based on letter Alan & Ann have sent out for years to students in Mistletoe Street
The University Joint Liaison Committee has promised to send out their ‘Community Liaison' letters to students as per previous years.
Colin to be given copy of the text so that group can make sufficient copies for distribution.
May be better to hand letters to students and speak to them.
Information from Nottingham suggest that they are moving toward a system of local street wardens. These could be residents or students. Mike had begun to do this last year in relation to car ownership by students and other matters. University officials seemed to have difficulty in supporting this process, however.
This is a City Council initiative originating from concerns expressed by residents at the Local Area Forum.
Colin had attended a working group meeting, and progress was being made on quantifying the problem and looking for solutions.
In many streets over 50% of properties are now occupied by groups of students. With multiple occupancy this means that in our local area around 75% of the population is made up of students. This is over 90% in some streets.
Nottingham University has similar issues, and a consultant's report has been commissioned. We have access to this report and this could provide some action points that could be adapted to the Durham situation. It is hoped that David Thornborrow (A senior City Council officer) will do a presentation on the Nottingham Report.
Councillor Grenville Holland gave some further information on this issue:
The University offered 300 places over quota – now reduced to about 200 extra places. There are long-term plans to build accommodation for an additional 1,000 students at Howlands Farm but the outcome could be that the University will enrol an additional 1000 students.
The City Council would like to see a balanced housing programme. All rented accommodation for students would be registered with the Council and inspected in terms of both contents and appearance. This is done in Edinburgh. The Housing Minister says that it can be done.
A New Housing Bill expected August next year would hopefully allow the Council to develop a Local Plan for the City Centre, as opposed to the Durham District. The first aim would be to shrink student housing because families are being driven out of the city unable to compete with the financial might of landlords. The Council need to get a grip of this situation.
Short term solutions would be to:
A key problem is that the University has no strategic plan on student numbers – financial pressures to expand, without consideration about where students will live.
Main purpose of our meetings is to find solutions to problems.
Colin had attended a conference at Grey College at which the Community Plan was being constructed via a series of workshops. This enabled the concerns of Durham City residents to be expressed and we will expect these to be reflected in the Community Plan.
In principle the LSP process should be of benefit to our interests. The speaker from the Government Office North East stressed that local government needed to be improved. This would involve improving services, addressing the aspirations of residents, and encouraging more community involvement.
Although Durham City does not qualify for Neighbourhood Renewal or Single Regeneration Fund money, it was pointed out that councils needed to make best use of ‘mainstream' funding.
The Community Plan seems to consist of a long list of desirable aims and objectives. This is all very well, but we need to see action rather than lists of good intentions.
At present it seems to be important to be part of the LSP process in order to take forward our ideas for improving the neighbourhood. There is another conference in November concerned with Community Networks. This could be an important channel for highlighting our aspirations and obtaining support and funding.
The importance of being involved in the LSP and of engaging closely with local Councillors is illustrated by this initiative. A Local Action 21 meeting, attended by Colin, had been told about this:
‘Proposals are being worked up by the LSPs to access up to £12m of One NorthEast funding through the Single Programme plus contributions from the County Council, District Councils, and the private sector. This will fund physical improvements to enhance the vibrancy of the towns and help ensure their long term economic viability.'
Durham City is named as one of six major urban centres to benefit from this programme.
It therefore seems that money is available to fund the sorts of things that we are looking for. We need better support to help us to bring our ideas to fruition. This should not be left to the chance that a member of the group might get to hear about major initiatives such as this.
This looks like it could link up with Home Zones because of the importance of the streetscape etc. This could bring in some fresh thinking on the parking issue and help us to build bridges with both of the local councils.
Colin reminded the meeting that the County Council Highways Department is due to draft out some ideas for the future development of the parking scheme. Hopefully we might end up with a statement that we could all sign up to. This is part of the policy of trying to build bridges with the Highways officers. This initiative was suggested by Nigel Martin at the very useful meeting that we held in May, but nothing has been heard since then.
An email was sent to Councillor Nigel Martin to inform him of tonight's meeting and to obtain an update on this matter. This will now need to be followed up at next month's meeting.
This is not just a local problem – it is citywide, Sands, change of resident only status, etc. Everything seems to hinge on Park & Ride – Wimpey appear to have first claim on Carrville and are reluctant to give it up. Problems with other sites. Weakness of scheme: CPZ put in before P&R sufficiently established.
There has been a lot of disquiet about the scheme. A major impact has been the politicisation of a lot of people. Many different people have tried to bring about changes, the latest effort being a suggestion to restrict parking to permit holders for short periods during the day (e.g. 7a.m. until 10a.m in order to deter commuter parking). This would be a possible compromise, and was in fact suggested in the Buchanan Report. This helpful suggestion from a well-meaning resident received a terse rebuff, however.
Unfortunately this is the typical response that we have received. The Highways Department does not appear to be able to modify its position. This brings the scheme into disrepute and increases its opponents.
Household permits might be one solution. Permits for Council Tax payers only is another possibility.
Social consequences are not taken into account. A stretch of road in a densely populated area is treated the same as a stretch of road in a non-residential area. We need a more sophisticated approach.
South Street has short-stay meters There is a good turnover, almost always able to get a space.
Revenue from the scheme was intended for P&R – has almost certainly gone straight into County Hall Coffers.
As priorities for the City change, those who refused the scheme are in a better bargaining position than those who accepted Pay and Display meters.
City Council (Grenville Holland) has asked for account of income received over the 2 years of the scheme.
Massive political tensions because of impending possible change to local government.
P&R is not even on the horizon. University desperate to build on Howlands. Sniperley is Green Belt. Government regards 3 sites as 1 project – permission for all 3 essential before can proceed.
We have a right to information re income from the scheme – Freedom of Information Act.
Councils cannot carry over cash at end of fiscal year. Residual monies are put back into the main pot.
Residents need to know:
The new double yellow lines will result in problems parking once students return as there is likely to be insufficient space for permanent and student residents. the Residents' group needs to repeat 7am & 10am traffic counts.
Mike & Graham have done a fantastic job of clearing the paths and undergrowth on the communal green at the top of Lawson Terrace.
This area can be incorporated within our plans to improve the neighbourhood.
The proposal to build two houses on the site has gone to appeal and any new representations need to be made by tomorrow (30 th September).
It seems, however, that Councillors have only been made aware of the appeal in the last few days. Those residents who made representations against the original application received information of the appeal many weeks ago. Residents have made additional points to put to the inspector, and have been assured that all of the original objections will be taken forward to be considered by the inspector.
Councillor Bob Wynn is enthusiastic about Home Zones – keen to listen to people about what they want. He was not able to come to the meeting, but expressed his support and suggested that this should be a topic for the next but one Local Area Forum.
Councillor John Lightley had contacted Colin to make a brief report of his visit to a Home Zone in Hull. He had concerns over the cost of the scheme, and pointed out that such schemes might work best in areas of low car ownership, multiple deprivation, and a record of child casualties.
Our contacts with the Pedestrians' Association and Transport 2000 show that Home Zones can succeed in a wide variety of contexts. This was demonstrated in the ‘At Home in My Street' video as well. These organisations will provide support if we decide to run a campaign to obtain a Home Zone.
Home Zones are being developed locally. We have already had information on the Thornley scheme. Lee Kirby at the City Council has provided some valuable background on the New Brancepeth scheme.
We would like to work closely with the City Council, especially because of their role in the local community as occupiers of Byland Lodge.
An important step in the process is to carry out a feasibility study. A team from the University of Newcastle had carried out the New Brancepeth study. It may be possible to follow a similar route.
There is still a lot of ‘pre-feasibilty' work to do. Gathering information and support for the idea and adapting it to our local situation.
The support of residents is vital, and this group is keen on the idea. The discussion indicated the main improvements that people would like:
It would be important to do a more detailed survey of support and residents' ideas as the project is developed. It is vital to consult people at all stages.
It is also important to involve the authorities at all stages. This is why we are building up contacts, etc. We need to avoid the situation that occurred with the parking scheme when unwelcome proposals came upon us ‘out of the blue'. We now need to engage with Councillors and officers to persuade them to work with us and not against us.
Untitled land
The Lawson Terrace planning application has highlighted this issue. Can developers simply come along and claim our spare land? There is a lot of untitled land in Durham. City Council is trying to identify it. Vital these areas are kept open. They are informal play areas and provide an amenity for residents going back many years. City Council want to take into common ownership to protect against developers who are trying to take it over by adverse possession.
In the case of Lawson Terrace, residents are taking steps to increase community use of the land. Suggestion for Nov 5 th – barbecue on Lawson Terrace common.
Several comments were made about the delapidated or ramshackle appearance of some properties. There were also concerns about waste issues. Grenville suggested that such matters should be brought top the attention of himself or the other local Councillors (Bob Wynn, Mary Hawgood).
People could also contact Mr Cutter, who is the Enforcement Officer at Byland Lodge. His role includes looking at breaches of building regulations. Should write to him with any complaints. This strengthens hand of councillors. Sensitive issues may need to involve Ethnic Minorities Officer. (i.e possible overcrowding of house in Lawson Terrace).