Residents Meeting 27th February 2024
Held at Springwell Village Social Club

Present:
Angela Silk – Chairperson
George Martin – Treasurer
Christine Brown – Secretary
Liz Reid – Committee Member
Lesley Pickup – Committee Member
Theresa Dalby – Committee Member
Alison Nairn – Committee Member
Garry Skeuse – Committee Member

In Attendance:
Jimmy Warne, Ward Councillor
Richard Johnson Project Manager, Northumbrian Water
Sarah Jayne Parvin Customer Services, Northumbrian Water
Paul Featherston, Bentleys
Chris Mitchell Regional Customer Manager, Northern Powergrid
Jim Cummings Faults and Restoration Manager, Northern Powergrid

Apologies:
Pauline Cooper – Committee Member
Keith Nairn – Committee Member

Over 100 Village Residents were in attendance.

1. Minutes of previous meeting.
   
   These were proposed and accecpted.
   
   
2. Northumbrian Water Reservoir Update
   
   Richard reported that work was now ongoing on several sites around the
   Village, preparing for pipework. This should be done by the end of the
   summer and tidying up planned to be completed by next spring.
   They are now 30% through the reservoir programme. Currently they are
   filling in the gaps between the precast concrete panels and pouring
   concrete for the floor. Work will start on the roof beams in a few
   months. The roof should be on by the end of the year.
   
   Great Crested Newts were found on the Eighton Banks site which has
   delayed progress. Work should restart early March. The Sandy Lane
   junction will need to be closed shortly.
   Richard was asked why the public footpath off Peareth Hall Road had
   
   been closed sine January but no work had started. Richard said they had
   closed the footpath for investigations to be undertaken and identifying
   which trees will need to be felled – these will be replaced by saplings.
   They have Council permission to close the footpath and have to renew
   this every three months.
   
   It was pointed out to Richard that residents have not been notified of
   roadworks etc as they we told they would be and there was an issue
   with site lights shining directly into residents home. Richard noted this
   and will try to get the lights changed.
   Planned road closures were for Mount Lane, Springwell Road and
   
   Peareth Hall Road but they would try to make sure there would be only
   one closure at a time. Current expected dates were:
   Mount Lane – 15 th April, 29 th April for up to 4 weeks;
   Peareth Hall Road – 17 th June to 7 th July;
   Springwell Road – 22 nd July to 18 th August.
   
   Richard plans to liaise with Nexus over bus route closures. Any
   information will be posted on Northumbrian Water’s Portal.
   
   A question was asked about the plans for the compounds once work is
   completed. Richard said they will be fully restored, hopefully by next
   spring. He was unsure whether the road closures were just for traffic or
   whether pedestrians would be able to cross the closures.
   
   
3. Northern Powergrid
   
   Chris and Jim from Northern Powergrid introduced themselves, noting
   they were here to listen and take feedback and to update on current
   work and plans.
   
   Jim noted there had been lots of problems in the Village recently. Cables
   coming here from Boldon (the 20,000 volt network) were very old, some
   dating back to the 1920’s. There have been problems with the cables
   under the A194 which have been replaced. If problems continue then
   large sections of cables will need to be replaced which will be very
   disruptive for the Village. The Beech Grove area has been impacted
   more – the overhead lines at the substation by the A194 causing
   problems. New equipment has been installed but is liable to damage by
   the trees and birds nearby. There is a similar problem at the Peareth Hall
   Road end. They are looking at cutting back trees. This is not a financial
   issue. Residents encountering problems should report them on phone
   number 105.
   
   A resident pointed out that it was unfair that they had to pay the same
   service charge as customers with no problems. Jim said this was set by
   OffGem not Northern Powergrid.
   
   A resident pointed out they were told the trees were a problem a year
   ago by engineers but nothing had been done about them.
   Jim was asked if the new homes were causing a problem but said no,
   there is lots of spare capacity in the area.
   
   Jim offered to return at a later date to update.
   
   
4. Thompsons Quarry
   
   The manager from the Quarry has apologised for not being able to
   attend the meeting and had sent an update email. Work on the changes
   to the Quarry were going well. The bund at the western end would be 3
   metres high. The had been inspected by the Environment Agency today
   and no issues were identified. Residents noted road cleaning was now
   rarely undertaken, although it had been done today (the day of the
   inspection). Gary reported that at their liaison meeting Ross (Manager)
   said they would do paths once a week and clean the road regularly.
   Residents noted that the dust and noise from the Quarry are getting
   worse. Gary will discuss this at their next meeting with Ross.
   
   
5. Solar Farm Application
   
   There was considerable confusion as to when the application was going
   to Planning Committee, some residents had received letters stating 11 th
   March. Over 200 objections had been submitted (additional to the
   objections to the original application). Residents who wish to speak at
   the Planning Committee need to notify the Council. The Residents
   Association will have 3 people speaking.
   
   Council Officials have told some residents that the Solar Farm has to be
   on that site rather than alternative brownfield or greenfield sites
   because of the need to connect to the National Grid. To get an expert
   opinion on this would cost over £10,000 pounds. It was also noted that
   Boom Power have been given lots of help and chances to amend their
   application by Sunderland Council. Residents were told that as Boom
   Power would be expected to appeal if the application was refused it was
   in the Council’s interests to ensure they have no grounds to appeal.
   Date of Next Meeting to be confirmed.