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Minutes January 2020

WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF  MEETING  HELD

TUESDAY 14TH  JANUARY   2020  

6.30 PM

TOWN HALL, WOLSINGHAM

PRESENT:    Chair: D. Sugden, John Norman, Yvonne Bell, Anita Savory, Rob George,

                        David Jones, Ian Hirst

PUBLIC:       MERRION /BXB Mr. Dougal Paver, Gary Goodman, Steve MacQuarrie

                   EXPLORAR UK. :   Richard Fletcher

          Mr. & Mrs. K. Emerson, Angelina Maddison (WAAP) Mr. T. Buckle, Mr. J. Stephenson

PUBLIC BRIEFING RE: DEVELOPMENT OF FORMER STEELWORKS SITE

Mr. Dougal Paver BXB Ltd introduced himself and colleagues Mr.Gary Goodman and Steve Macquarrie and proceeded to outline the proposed development of the former steelworks site which had laid dormant for some time, and proceeded with his slide show.

Phase one consultation completed, baseline site surveys were underway. viability clearly a major issue, cost of remediation, set against local market values for commercial and residential uses.

Almost universal support for the site regeneration;

Key issues /opportunities identified, houses that people can afford, an expanded medical centre, employment space, extra elderly housing, additional retail provision- convenience store. Potential new residents will support school rolls and local businesses.

Viability Governs Use: Potentially viable employment uses are retail, leisure and healthcare, there has been informal market interest from both retailers and healthcare providers, viability of these options driven by housing values and quantum.

Key issues for housing is absorption rate: other Wolsingham schemes being brought forward on less challenging sites, how many new homes can the market absorb in a given year?

Constraints: The cost of bringing the site back to a developable standard, together with market appetite, will govern ultimate uses . A housing-led scheme is the most likely outcome.

Current Planning Status, deemed to be in the defined settlement boundary, the emerging Co. Durham Plan supports site redevelopment, the local plan to be adopted 2020

Section 106 aspirations are likely to be challenging, values don’t support a commercial only approach, employment uses next to housing diminishes housing values, challenging viability.

Next Steps : Pre application discussions with local planning authority end January 2020, 2nd stage consultation end February 2020 Full Planning application end March 2020

The housing plan was thought to be in the region of 150 – 200 houses, 20- 25 being built each year and the site would take 6 – 8 years to complete.

When full planning application to hand a full 2 day consultation will be held in the Town Hall, one afternoon and 1 evening session.. End summer / autumn marketing the site.

It was hoped that Homes England and Environment Agency would help with the de contamination issues, mainly concrete underground.

WALKING TOUR OF WOLSINGHAM MR. RICHARD FLETCHER( Brief Enclosed)

Mr. Fletcher gave an app presentation on the proposed walking tour of Wolsingham, known as Wolsingham Heritage App –Proposal  ExplorAr.co.uk The demonstration was in the form of a recently created app for Durham City  with images of how parts of Durham Cathedral looked now and by “rubbing” the image how it would have looked in the past. The question was asked if Wolsingham had sufficient houses or places of interest to create a worthwhile app, Richard and some of the audience thought there was , and the theme of the app could take the form of a heritage trail, treasure hunt and quiz. The app was a web based app rather than a download app for  ease of use, and when a point of interest was reached the app would identify and give a summary of what was there .

 

 

1.                  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: , Alison Nelson, Alan Vipond, , Joby Wilson

2.                  TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None

3.                  DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr. Mrs. Savory declared an interest in planning matters regarding BXB Ltd. Presentation

4.                  MINUTES OF  MEETING HELD 10TH DECEMBER  2019 , moved as a true record and signed as such.

5.                  MATTERS ARISING:

A)  VE DAY 8TH – 10TH May , preliminary talks had taken place with DCC  for a road closure , as the event was a national celebration the charge could be waived. DCC Safety Advisory Group had been involved, and a road management and traffic lights may be needed.

B)   Christmas Tree / Living Tree , the tree at Frosterley green was 3.5m high x 1.5m at the base , the framework was constructed by Gardiners, with delivery paint  and cost of living tree would be Circa £800

C)  High House Chapel, Ireshopeburn would reply with a request for funding end January.

D)  Wildflowers on Parish Council owned land: Cllr. Savory had arranged for Jimmy Bennett DCC and an ecologist to attend the February meeting.

6.                  CORRESPONDENCE:

a)       Mr. Bell re Skatepark Working Group , consultation questionnaire, a reply was agreed and would be forwarded as soon as possible.

b)      Sam  Palombella   Thornley litter bin, dog bags. A dual purpose bin had been provided, if this is proving to be inadequate then a further bin would be asked for by Cllr. A. Savory, who would also address the complaint of late night cars using the car park.

As to provision of free dog bags this was not agreed to.

c)      Request to extend family walk to west end of recreation ground., it was agreed that at times the field path is muddy , but the cost of reinstating as the rest of the Family Walk would be in the region of £5k - £10k , a sum which had not been budgeted for in the current budgetary expenditure requirements for the next financial year.

d)      A further letter had been received regarding the Chairman of the council, a complaints panel would be convened to look at the issues raised in due course. To consist of the vice Chair, plus two other councillors, and the clerk. Cllr. A. Savory declared an interest and took no part in the establishment of a panel.

7.                  RECREATION GROUND:   

8.                  STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN :

Consultation Event 18th January 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm Town Hall.  It was an opportunity to raise the awareness of what the Parish Council long term aims and aspirations were, The notice of the meeting to be placed on the Weardale Noticeboard, with flyers around the village.

Councillors were asked to be mindful to be able to explain, clarify , and comment but not to take any decisions, it was suggested that councillors work in pairs so as to minimise any confusion on issues, and not to promote or defend issues.

An opportunity to emphasise Wolsingham Parish Council responsibilities

9.                  MEMBERS REQUESTS:

A)  Councillors were informed on the progress of the Student Support Fund being set up at Wolsingham School, with a constitution and separate bank account.

B)   A series of consultation events were  being arranged throughout Co. Durham on the  Re-Hab Stroke Unit transfer from Bp. Auckland General to Durham University Hospital, Cllr. Mrs. A. Savory thought that Weardale should be included in the event schedule and Weardale should have its say, on any proposed transfer of services.

 

10.              NEWSLETTER : Moved that residents and business premises be thanked for their combined festive displays and also thanks for the provision of the Christmas tree from Stanhope Moor shooting syndicate.

        11 .         PLANNING:

The following applications have been approved:

 

DM/19/03560/TCA                4, Lea Green,fell T1 Aspen Tree

DM/19/03276/VOC               land to south  3, Orchard View, Variation of condition 2 of planning permission DM/19/00411 to amend design

DRC/19/00154                       Low Harperley Farm, submission of details for phases years 3 – 6 pursuant to conditions 3u (Scheme of Working). 3v (Restoration) and 3w (Aftercare) of Planning Permission no CMA/3/31

11.02                                       The following applications have been notified

DM/19/03780/VOC               Sawmill Depot Durham Road, variation of condition 1 (approved plans) of planning permission DM/19/02349/VOC to extend footprint of proposed building

DM/19/03767/TPO                land East of Mill Race, crown lift to based sucker branches .Partial crown reduction to remove lateral branches overhanging neighbouring garden and roof. Preserve balance of tree by overall crown reduction of 30%.Remove dead wood to T1, mature ash tree, and fell T2 immature ash tree.

DM/19/03534/FPA                25, Rectory Lane, Replace mix of UPVC and timber vertical sash windows with aluminium flush casement windows

12                                            Finance Reports End December 2019, agreed as presented.

 

12.1                                         Setting of Precept 2020/ 2021 Agreed to set a precept of £29080 , being a reduction on previous years and a Band D  property would be charged £29.65, a reduction from £30.22 in 2019/20

12.2                                         Quotations for Works to Skate Park perimeter from D. Jones

                                                Talks on the finished specification were still ongoing.