Crossgate Community Partnership: Minutes

Minutes of the meeting, 7th October 2025

1. Attendance

Cllr Roger Cornwell (in the Chair), Lesley Aers, Max Arnold, Ann Evans, Chris Hugill, John Knowles, Sheila Knowles, Simon Priestley, David Ramsden, Jean Rogers, Ann Stokes, David Toll, Sarah Wilkinson, Joe Witherspoon,
Cllr Liz Brown
Cllr Carole Lattin.

2. Apologies for absence

were received from Joan Adams, Eather Ashby, Gillian Banks, Robert Banks, Morag Crichton, Alan Doig, Margaret Jefferson, Paul Jefferson, Pat Mussett, Malcolm Reed, Judi Webb,
Dinah Patt,
Cllr Toria Ashfield, Cllr Grenville Holland, Cllr Susan Walker.

3. Minutes

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

4. Hild / Bede College update

Dinah Patt was still in the US, and had sent apologies; she also said that now Freshers' Week was over meetings were in progress to assess how it had gone, and whether it could be improved next year. She hoped to be able to report on this to our next meeting, which she planned to attend.

5. Drainage at the junction of Waddington Street and Sutton Street

Joe Witherspoon reported that there is a pool of water at this road junction, at the foot of the pedestrian entrance to Rushworth Court, He had reported it to the County Council using their Do It Online form, and had received the reply that it is on their list, and should be fixed within 12 months. Coming that way to the present meeting, he noticed that one of the gates was now missing.
Cllr Liz Brown offered to report the drainage problem, in the hope that councillor intervention might increase the urgency of the repair. Max Arnold argued that the flooding was a result of Brims lorries using the route during contraction, and that they should therefore remedy it. Liz would raise this possibility.
Avenue residents reported the number of blocked drains in the Avenue: maintenance was needed beyond the one case under consideration.

6. Woods at the back of May Street.

Lesley Aers was concerned at the state of woodland behind her house, but did not know who it belonged to. Twenty years ago, the plans for construction of Byland Close had included a provision for the trees to be thinned out, but this had never been done, and was now urgent. Liz confirmed that this is DCC land; she would ask Simon Chivers (DCC Senior Tree & Contracts Officer) to investigate.

7. The Forest Café: update.

According to a report in the Northern Echo, this site is now on the market.

8. Traffic lights at the A690 / Margery Lane junction.

A message had been received from Margaret Jefferson, who suspects that the timings on these lights have been altered, and that there has been an increase in the number of motorists jumping the lights. Liz commented that the lights were now controlled using cameras instead of pressure pads, and this may have affected the counting of traffic flow.
Ann Evans continuers to find the time allowed for pedestrian crossing inadequate, and suspects that the lights turn green while she is on the crossing; Liz has been assured that this should not happen, as lights can sense the presence of a pedestrian. Joe Witherspoon would attempt to video the evidence.

9. Obstructive scaffolding outside the Colpitts.

Ann pointed out that the scaffolding of the Colpitts pub had completely obstructed the pavement for four weeks. The sign instructed pedestrians to use the other footpath, which is not realistic. The meeting did not know whether the work had a permit for the scaffolding, and Liz added the question of whether there was listed building consent for work on the masonry. She would raise these issues with Steven Galloway (TRO Officer) and with the Planning Department.

10 Advice on refuse disposal in Livers' Out leaflets.

Jean Rogers praised the wealth of information in the leaflet, but queried the paragraph on refuse collection, specifically the reminder "Please remember to put your bin out by 7am (or the night before) and bring it in on the same day..." Would this be confusing to those subject to a different regime, such as communal bins? A show of hands suggested that of members present, this advice was valid for no more than half. Sarah Wilkinson pointed out that in Nevilledale, the only solution was to visit each household individually and tell them what to do (and you had to know this yourself to do so). Simon Priestley pointed out that this paragraph was actually part of the text supplied by the University and common to all students across the City. Nonetheless, there would be an opportunity in the summer to revise the text ahead of next year's leaflet, and we might at least seek to indicate concisely that different schemes apply. To this end, Jean would submit a Freedom of Information request, to find out how refuse is collected in the Crossgate area, and how many households have each scheme.

Cllr Carole Lattin added that the Parish Council is working on a leaflet about recycling, which she and Cllr Toria Adhfield will deliver door to door.

Simon thanked the volunteers who have delivered the current Livers' Out leaflets so speedily.

11. Report from County Councillor

Liz reported that following representations about traffic on the A167, the new Chief Constable was now looking into the use of speed cameras. Motorists were now being fined (rather than just warned) for stopping in the yellow box at the junction.

12. Reports from Parish Councillors

a) Parish Clerk Adam Shanley has been shortlisted in the Public Service Award category for the County Durham Together Awards 2025

b) Roger invited questions on his written report, which had been circulated.

c) Carole reported that Committee Chairs now write a report after each meeting of their committee, for the Parish Council website: she does this as Chair of the Environment Committee. She drew attention to the availability of spring bulbs for planting around the Parish.
Emergency planning continued to make progress: each residents' group was now specifying the contents of a box of resources to be kept at its designated Place of Safety.
Plans were being considered to install a water fountain in Millennium Place, to reduce the use of plastic bottles. Members asked whether it might be possible to restore the water fountain under the viaduct?
The Parish has secured additional funding which it wants to spend on supporting Community Associations: a working group had been set up.

13. Other Business

Members were urged to take and distribute the bulbs on offer at the meeting.

14. Date of next meeting

The next meeting would be on Thursday 6th November 2025.