Crossgate Community Partnership: Minutes

Minutes of the meeting, 1st May 2025

1. Attendance

Roger Cornwell (in the Chair), Joan Adams, Lesley Aers, Robert Banks, Gillian Banks, Ann Evans, Chris Hugill, Margaret Jefferson, Pat Mussett, Simon Priestley, David Ramsden, Jean Rogers, Ann Stokes, Nicholas Toes, David Toll, Sarah Wilkinson,
Cllr Liz Brown
Dinah Patt, Scott Phillops (Hild / Bede),
Claire Skinner (Student Community Warden  Cllr Esther Ashby.

2. Apologies for absence

were received from: Morag Crichton, Martin Hiles, Joe Witherspoon,
Cllr Carole Lattin, Cllr Susan Walker.

3. Minutes

The minutes of the April meeting were approved as a correct record.

4. Hild / Bede College update

Dinah Patt had little to report, as term had just started. Moreover, this term is dominated by exams. There would be a College Day on Saturday, with a number of events including a service in the cathedral: there would be outdoor entertainment in the afternoon, but moving indoors in the evening. There will be more events in June.
Landscaping and decorating were still in progress: suggestions were welcomed. The new path, giving pedestrian access from Waddington Street was now usable, though it may not be officially open.

5. Update from Student Community Wardens

Claire Skinner introduced her rôle as one of four Student Community Wardens employed by the University to foster student / community liaison. They have met with residents to discover their concerns, and how best to communicate them to students: the two major issues were parking and waste management. As a result, they were conducting litter picks, and were also carrying out a survey to discover why students decide to bring cars to Durham, and how use of public transport can be increased. They will shortly be involved with the Green Move Out.
Ann Evans drew attention to the accumulation of waste in the garden of 24 The Avenue.

6. Proposed Street Party, Hawthorn Terrace.

DCC had received an application for a traffic order concerning the whole of Hawthorn Terrace from 12.00 noon to 8.00 pm on 31st May: the details were unclear, but it appeared to be to suspend parking, rather than to close the street to through traffic. The applicant / organiser had been invited to this meeting, but had not responded, so it was not possible to clarify all details; however both Durham Police and DCC's Public Protection team were known to be unhappy about it. Red Bull were believed to be involved, possibly as sponsors, and the intention was to bring in a Red Bull vehicle. No application had yet been received for a TEN: would one be necessary if there was music? or if only non-alcoholic drinks were provided?
It was noted that the question on the application form about neighbour consultation had been answered with an expression of intent to circulate a letter: the CCP did not regard this as consultation.
Liz Brown, as Ward Councillor, had already objected to the street closure.
Roger Cornwell would write again, saying that the CCP agreed with her, summarising our reasons. Dasha Murphy, the University's Community Liaison Manager, was aware of the issue. and Chris Hugill would raise it at the following day's meeting.

7. Tower Cottage Planning Application.

Simon Priestley reported that the revised application which had been submitted with reference to this property was the fifth in five years. It was not clear from the application what the applicant was trying to achieve: for example, there was no sign of access to the garden. The removal of the proposed carport was an improvement, but the CCP maintains its objection, and Simon will write formally to say this.

8. Reports from Councillors

Since polling was still on progress at the time of the meeting, councillors standing for re-election were not able to report. However, this did not apply to Cllr Esther Ashby, who had prepared a farewell letter, which had previously been circulated: this contained thanks to a number of people (including the CCP) and three wishes for the new Council:

1. That the 15 members elected were ALL able to commit faithfully to Parish duties.
2. That all Committees would return to live meetings wherever possible instead of only Full Council being live once a month.
3. That the Parish would, as soon as possible, have its own home in the city centre.

9 Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 3rd June 2025.