Crossgate Village
Notes of meeting held on 27 th June 2005
7.30 p.m. at Waddington Street Church Hall
Danielle Hartley (Neighbourhood Warden) Carl Marshall (Community Development Officer) and Joe Peat (Streetscene Officer) attended the meeting and feedback was provided on the progress being made on issues that were previously raised:
• Repairs at Peskies Park will be carried out
• Any extension to the park would need to be put forward as a planning application
• Rubble to the rear of May Street is being dealt with
• Missing and inadequate street signs to be reported to Danielle
• The stolen mirror opposite the Colpitts has been reported
• There will be additional waste collections to deal with the end-of-term accumulation. This will include loose bags and large household items
• If rubbish is left in back yards of student houses this should be reported to the University as well as the City Council
• Street sweeping is less frequent that it could be because of the volume of parked cars
• On paving and road repairs – Nigel Martin is provided with a list of work to be done
• Jason Turnough at the County Council could be contacted on pavement repairs
• It would be helpful if residents report problems with pavements and roads to the Highways Action Line. Pre-printed postcards are available or telephone 370 6000 or email hal@ durham.gov.uk.
• The Notice Board could by located near to the North Road Methodist Church where pedestrian routes into town converge.
• The bus services using Allergate and Crossgate are complicated to understand. A proper bus stop with bus times would not be unreasonable to expect.
• Nigel Martin to look into Notice Board and Bus Stop issues. It may be possible to use some of his local budget on these items
• Problems in the Blind Lane area were reported:
• Needs cleaning
• Falling tree to be dealt with
• Railings are regularly destroyed
• Path to the traffic lights is very slippery
This is about to be opened up to public consultation. There will be a meeting on Wednesday 27 th July at the Gala theatre. It will be important to put across our views in order to help to achieve our aims for Crossgate Village, such as improved local facilities.
The formal consultation for the proposed parking control scheme ends on 30 th June, and will be discussed by the Highways Committee on 8 th July. As a result of residents' suggestions, the area covered was increased to include more of the Avenue. The status of the top of the Avenue will be kept under review.
Residents of Western Hill are requesting a ‘residents only' area. Objectors may speak at the Highways Committee if they wish to.
If approved, it is hoped that the scheme can be implemented before the start of the new University term.
Concerns were expressed that the on-street parking charges will be too low as compared with the central car parks. The failure to protect residential areas from traffic using the town centre could be helping to drive residents away from the affected areas, adding to the problems of community imbalance.
Representation on this committee would enable us to have an input into improving the student code and the way in which it is publicised. The committee meets once a term. Mike Costello agreed to be the rep for Crossgate Village.
Several Crossgate Village members had attended the guided walk around the Crossgate area led by David Butler. We could invite David or other local historians to future meetings and/or ask them to lead local walks.
Mike Costello is hoping to organise a local history group via the Workers Educational Association. This is likely to be on Wednesday afternoons.
Members were urged to get involved in the Visioning Meeting on the 27 th July (Gala theatre), and to complete the questionnaire.
The result of the appeal on the Ainsley Street proposed development is still awaited.
Monday July 25th