Crossgate Community Partnership: Minutes

Minutes of the meeting, 6th December 2022

1. Attendance

Roger Cornwell (in the Chair): Joan Adams, Lesley Aers, Robert Banks, Cathie Draycott, Ann Evans, Chris Hugill, John Knowles, Brendan McKeown, Pat Mussett, Simon Priestley, Jean Rogers, Ann Stokes, Joe Witherspoon,
Cllr Victoria Ashfield, Cllr Carole Lattin.

2. Apologies for absence

were received from: Emma Backhouse, Gillian Banks, Morag E. Crichton, Vicky Mattless, David Ramsden, Malcolm Reed,
Cllr Liz Brown,
Cllr Esther Ashby, Cllr Alan Doig, Cllr Grenville Holland.

3. The minutes of the November meeting:

were approved as a correct record.

4. Update from Rushford Court

No update had been received from Rushford Court

5. Serviced apartments at The Funky Monk, 1 Victoria Terrace

1 Victoria Terrace had applied for planning permission for changes which had been generally seen as improvements; the applicant's statement included "It is also confirmed that the apartments within the property are occupied by a mixture of professionals and families; as such it is and will remain in Use Class C3." With this reassurance, the Planning Committee granted the application. However, it was now being advertised as serviced apartments. Cllr Liz Brown's report mentions that DCC's Enforcement and Environmental Health staff are looking very closely at this, and that she and Cllr Elizabeth Scott are keeping up the pressure. Simon Priestley had heard complaints from residents of Western Hill (about flashing lights and loud music from the hot tubs, and about the installation od stained glass). The meeting felt that enforcement action was overdue, and it was agreed that Roger Cornwell should write to Enforcement (after consulting Simon about details of complaints) .

6. Parking.

a) Proposal to reconfigure parking in Crossgate Cathie Draycott's paper on this topic had previously been circulated: residents at the top of Crossgate are unable to find parking for themselves or visitors (including tradesmen), because there are too few parking spaces (18 spaces for 20 properties). Multiple car HMOs and free parking after 2.00 pm increase the pressure. Suggestions included reconfiguring the parking to the far side of the street, which would also have a traffic-calming effect. The meeting agreed that the proposals deserved consideration, and that we should ask Cllr Richard Ormerod to approach council officers about it.

b) Parking permits for HMOs: John Knowles had, a year ago, asked Durham County Council to look at properties converted to multiple occupation since 2000: these should not qualify for residents' parking permits, yet some appeared to have been issued. Liz, as she reported, had supplied parking services with a number of addresses, and received a reply telling her that these all had legal parking permits. She had written back asking what criteria they had used. She was awaiting a reply.
Cllr Victoria Ashfield thought that permits might have been granted in error, but that the Council was now reluctant to withdraw them; the Parish Council was investigating. She suggested that permits could be limited to those properties on which Council Tax was paid. The meeting welcomed the Parish Council's action on this issue, and it was agreed that we should write to the Parish Clerk, thanking him for pursuing an issue which causes great concern in our area.

c) Parking permits for holiday accommodation: Joe Witherspoon spoke of his difficulties over a property in Gilesgate, where a parking permit is required between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm: permits are only issued to people living in the property. He argued that since visitors to Durham are beneficial to the local economy, DCC should regularise the situation by granting permits which would allow parking by guests as well as by owners maintaining their property. Cllr Carole Lattin, who represents the Gilesgate area, would follow this up with him.

7. Licensing application for STACK in Silver Street

A licensing application, which will go to committee, has been received in respect of the former Marks & Spencer store in Silver Street. It will contain at least 6 bars, and also include food outlets. It is described as a "family friendly" venue by day, but has applied for late night opening. Points raised include:

Jean Rogers asked whether the future of city centres will inevitably see the spaces left by the departure of retail filled with service (including hospitality and leisure) outlets?
Cathie asked whether this is the right business for the historic city centre? It might be a good fit for Walkergate or Riverwalk, but is it right for Silver Street?
Simon Priestley added that the move over recent years to convert the upper storeys of shops to residential use has made the city centre increasingly a residential area. Meanwhile, there continue to be vacancies in the leisure / hospitality developments of Riverwalk and the new Milburngate quarter.
Chris Hugill had visited the Newcastle STACK with his family, and the younger members had liked it; some people will welcome this.
Regardless of the merits of this type of business in this location, there were serious defects in the precise terms of the licence, such as the opening hours, the open air area, the numbers of customers.

Roger would report on the points raised in this discussion to the next meeting of the Parish Council Licensing Committee. In addition, it was agreed by an overwhelming majority vote that, as a community group whose route home from the city centre leads past the premises, we should also express our opposition to the DCC Licensing Committee. Roger would write this letter (and would consult Ann Evans).

8. Planning application for Tower Cottage

It sounded as if DCC were minded to refuse this, despite their attempting to backtrack on its heritage asset status.

9. Disabled access to WH Smiths / basement Post Office

Ann Evans, together with Barry Gower (Access for All) and Adam Shanley (Parish Clerk) had made an extensive visit to to the Post Office, and Adam is preparing a report for the CEO of Smiths. Barry had said that he does not use this Post Office, as he does not find the Emergency Exit reassuring, and access to the lift is so constricted as to be difficult for his mobility vehicle. In addition, the automatic machines are rarely in use, because staff cannot be spared to assist customers using them. Ann added that the staff are wonderful. but that they should not need to be.

10. Reports from County Councillors

A written report from Cllr Liz Brown had been circulated.

11. Reports from Parish Councillors

a) Victoria reported that since our last meeting the Neighbourhood Wardens had spent five days on the streets of Crossgate; she was very impressed with their passion for Durham.
The planters have been replaced; if you see any that are looking sad, contact her, and she will ensure they are refreshed.
Terracycle bins are being placed in schools, to encourage the recycling of items not included in domestic recycling; a blister pack collection point will be installed in the Library.

b) Carole reported that the Parish Clerk's portfolio has been accepted, and he has now been awarded the qualification he was working towards: the meeting expressed its congratulations to Adam.

12. Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be our AGM on January 12 2023.