Springwell Village Residents Association
Meeting Held on 17 th May 2022

Present:
Angela Silk – Chairperson
Pauline Cooper – Secretary
George Martin – Treasurer
Christine Brown – Committee Member
Maureen Lambton – Committee Member
Helen Fife – Committee Member

In Attendance:
Liz Reid – Committee Advisor
Richard Johnston – Project Manager, Northumbrian Water
Amanda Hunt – Customer Care Manager, Northumbrian Water
Dorothy Trueman – Ward Councillor
Harry Trueman – Ward Councillor
Jimmy Warne – Ward Councillor

Apologies:
Lesley Pickup – Committee Member
Dennis Lambton – Committee Member

1. Update from Richard:-
   
   Hellens:  Northumbria Water’s relationship with Hellens has deteriorated. Richard has asked his Directors to become involved to try to get Hellens off the site. Their contract with Northumbrian Water has now ended but they have work to do for Esh Homes eg landscaping. The Chairperson noted that traffic egress and access for Broome Court residents is very bad when there are no traffic lights and they are not updated about road works etc. There were also been horses loose on the building site last week.
   
   Richard noted that the mound of soil was smaller.
   
   Esh Homes: Three houses have been started. The main building program is expected to start soon.
   
   The Chairperson again asked why crushing could not be done off site as the dust etc was creating serious health problems. Richard replied that dust suppression rules and conditions would be kept to but when the stone is dug out for the reservoir it will be crushed on site. He stated it was not feasible to move it off site first as this would require many more lorry transfers and this would be bad for the environment. They will comply with any planning requirements.  A revised planning application should be available shortly, with the main changes being a smaller site and a stone finish on the roof of the reservoir instead of grass.  A resident pointed out that we had been told crushing would take place away from the site and that the full extent of disruption had not been disclosed to residents. The Chairperson noted that the noise of day long crushing is horrendous and although extra lorries would be bad there needs to be a balance between residents needs and Northumbrian Water’s needs. Richard noted that the roof and reservoir need to be inspected regularly once in use including a flood test and this is easier with stones. It should not impact on the existing Wildlife Corridor. Richard asked that Nearby residents contact him for extra window cleaning.
   
   Richard reported that there are no plans to change Mount Road in terms of making it safer for pedestrians and that it will need to be dug up again in the future for pipe works etc. The Chairperson asked when/if Mount Lane would be resurfaced when the work was completed. Richard had no information about this and Councillor Trueman said there would need to be a meeting about this.
   
   Pipeline: There will be no activity on this until the new year and this will include work on Mr Elliots land. Contractors are expected to be in by March/April next year.
   
   Richard was asked for the name of a Director so that residents could let them know about the high level of dissatisfaction. Richard offered to invite her to the next meeting.
   
   Grants: Richard said he had been working with the Bowes Museum and the Church. Some water butts had already been installed at the Museum.
   
   The Chairperson thanked Richard and Amanda for attending. It was agreed that the strategy for SRVA would be to contact the Council Planning Department. Councillor Harry Trueman also offered to speak to the Planning Officers again.

2. Annual General Meeting. The Chairperson stood down as Chairperson and Councillor Warne took over the meeting and asked if all Committee Members were willing to be re-elected. Angela Silk agreed to continue as Chairperson. This was moved, seconded and agreed by residents. The Chairperson asked if any residents wished to become Committee Members. One resident, Theresa Dalby, agreed to join the Committee. Other members were re-elected.

3. The Associations Accounts were approved.

4. Any Other Business: The state of the footpath out of the Village has become badly overgrown and pedestrians now have to walk on the 60 mph busy road to get past them. Councillor Warne reported that he had already raised this issue with Council Officers three times. Apparently there are problems with identifying the owner of the land. Local residents offered to ask around to try to identify the owner.

5. A resident thanked all Committee Members for their work in the last year.

6. Date and Time of next meeting: To be confirmed.