Crossgate Community Partnership: Minutes

Minutes of the meeting, 2nd December 2025

1. Attendance: Cllr Roger Cornwell (in the Chair), Lesley Aers, Goshka Bialek, Ann Evans, Chris Hugill, Margaret Jefferson, Pat Mussett, David Ramsden, Jean Rogers, Ann Stokes, Rachel Toes, Sarah Wilkinson,
Cllr Carole Lattin
Cllr Liz Brown.
2. Apologies for absence: were received from Joan Adams, Max Arnold, Gillian Banks, Robert Banks, Morag Crichton, Simon Priestley, Malcolm Reed, Alan Shearer, Judi Webb, Joe Witherspoon,
Cllr Grenville Holland (the meeting sent its good wishes to Grenville, who is unwell).
Dinah Patt
3. Minutes: The minutes of the November meeting were approved as a correct record.
4. Traffic Watch: A meeting had been held to brief volunteers to observe traffic at two locations: the lights on the A690 / Margery Lane and the stretch of the A167 from Neville's Cross to the Duke of Wellington. This was being co-ordinated by Councillors Roger Cornwell, Liz Brown and Susan Walker, but was not an official Parish Council iniative; about a dozen volunteers had attended.
Roger Cornwell had spent half an hour the previous day at the foot of the Peth: in that time he had observed four cars jumping the lights. In two cases he had taken a video of an adequate quality, which he had submitted to Operation Snap.
He confirmed that if traffic going uphill is delayed this can create a tailback such that traffic can legally be in the crossing during the pedestrian phase.
The aim of the campaign was to submit multiple reports within a limited period, making a case for Police action. Liz had talked to PCC Joy Allen, who was enthusiastic, and would match fund traffic cameras if Liz raised initial funding. This would mean treating traffic lights as a separate issue.
5. Refuse collection: a) Jean Rogers had queried the advice given to students living out:, which assumed each household had an individual rubbish bin, and gave instructions about putting this out for collection and bringing it in afterwards. She had submitted a Freedom of Information request to DCC, asking how many households in the CCP's area used each method of waste disposal. The Council did not hold exact figures, but conformed that only approximately 20% of properties receive refuse collections via an individual wheeled bin; several streets in the area are serviced by communal bins; and several streets and properties without storage space receive bag/sack collections. The advice in the leaflet should probably be redrafted before next year's edition.; b) Goshka Bialek complained that the refuse collectors persisted in placing emptied communal bins next to her back gate: this was both disagreeable in itself and a security risk, since access could be gained to the property by climbing on the bins. She had attempted to discourage the practice by putting out potted plants, but the refuse collectors ignored them. Roger added that emptied bins were frequently left on either side of the back lane in a way that obstructed access. Liz would contact James Lee, Waste Operations Manager, and if this resulted in a meeting would also involve Roger.
6. Application to convert Hopper House to a PBSA: Roger reported that our objection had now been uploaded to the Planning Portal. Northumbria Water had expressed reservations: they said there were not enough details; Roger speculated that the problem may concern the route of the culverted Mill Burn and invited local knowledge.
7. Representation at DURF: The CCP is entitled to two representatives at this Forum. Roger was unable to attend the next meeting, and it was agreed that he should pass details on to Sarah Wilkinson and Chris Hugill, who would then decide between themselves who was available to represent us.
8. State of pavements: Ann Evans had first complained to DCC about the state of local pavements two years ago, and been told that they would be repaired in the next financial year; this had not happened. Where the surface was of asphalt, the condition was particularly poor: the stretch of the Avenue above her house, and on Margery Lane leading to St Margaret's Centre (this had been made worse since it was dug up for the traffic lights, since paving stones had not been reinstated but had been infilled with tarmac). Liz explained that there had been a moratorium on pavement repairs during the government roll-out of broadband; the Council will now resume work on pavements starting in January, and she would add our items to the list.
9. Report from County Councillor: The first intimations of what would be in the Council's budget for the coming year would emerge the following Wednesday: she was expecting rises in parking charges.
Food waste collection will be introduced next year: she would invite the appropriate officers to come to a CCP meeting and discuss with us how it will work.
10. Reports from Parish Councillors: a) Cllr Carole Lattin spoke to her written report: the scheme whereby trees were offered as an incentive to make purchases at the Market had proved very successful, and would be repeated.; b) Roger reported that the Parish Clerk is now working from his new office at Redhills. There was some discussion about the accessibility of Redhills: although the office was not intended to invite dropping in, as Redhills is developed as an events venue, it will become more and more desirable to incorporate it onto bus routes. There are major practical difficulties to this, but could it, for example, be an additional stop on the Cathedral bus route? Parish Councillors would discuss this.
11. Date of next meeting: It was agreed that our January meeting (and AGM) should be deferred to Tuesday 13th January 2026.