PUBLIC MEETING 03 November 2015

SPRINGWELL SOCIAL CLUB

MINUTES

Present: Chair A. Templeman

Vice Chair E. Hardy

Secretaries P.Cooper & L Pickup

Treasurer G. Martin

Other committee members H. Fife

S Gray

M Johnson

E Gatens

M.Lambton

D.Lambton

Cllr B Scaplehorn

Cllr H. Trueman

Apologies: Cllr.D.Trueman

Approx 60 members of the public attended

1. The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed

2. Village Issues

• Council: Chris Mennear has left the Council so no updates were available. Awaiting response on outstanding issues.
• Proposed changes to junction of Stoney Lane and Springwell Road: In response to a few complaints by residents the Council had proposed changing the mini roundabout to a T junction. Although not obliged to consult, the Council had written to a minimal number of residents in the immediate vicinity of the junction as a courtesy. Following a debate in which there was no support for the proposed change it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that SVRA inform the Council that

SVRA is against the proposed changes and requests that the existing roundabout be improved by removing the raised central area (as this causes a noise nuisance when used by heavy vehicles) and amending the road markings and signage to enable drivers to use it as a conventional roundabout.

• Police: (full report will be posted on website – following is a summary):

Parking – Polite parking notices have been placed on cars parked in the Fell Road/Community Venue area – patrols will continue when resources allow
asb – 8 incidents mainly in the quarry/Bowes area
Crime: Couple of burglaries and damage to vehicles – arson at the school caused the most concern amongst residents. Council has contributed £5k to CCTV. There was a suggestion that SVRA may help with fundraising to replace lost books and equipment – and a response that the Parents Association deal with fundraising. People are urged to use the cycle racks outside the Community Venue to secure their cycles – these are available for everyone to use – not confined to users of the Hall.

• Thompsons: Had been invited to attend residents meetings – response awaited. There was one complaint of dust on the road on a Sunday afternoon and one of eye irritation which was thought to be caused by dust – both issues to be taken to the next meeting.

3. Greenbelt:

Eighton Banks: Draft letters had been delivered to Eighton Banks residents who had responded by sending 100 to Gateshead Council and there is another 50 awaiting delivery there. This represents around a 25% response. Coverage had been achieved in the Evening Chronicle and Journal and in the CPRE newsletter. Gateshead Council had responded by agreeing that all of the issues cited in the letter were significant and would be taken very seriously when they were consulted by Sunderland Council. Gateshead Council confirmed that consultation on a local plan was open to all who wanted to comment – not confined to residents in the area in which the plan is being developed.

Local Plan: A meeting had taken place with the Council – minutes on the website. In summary: consultation on growth options now slipped to March 2016. Random sample of residents had been consulted on Housing Market Assessment (none in the audience) All housing sites will be properly assessed for their true potential. School not immediately under threat – roll static for next 5 years.

Consultation with Council .Residents again urged to register online – unless they do they will not necessarily be consulted on planning applications. Instructions had been printed and offer made for SVRA to draft letters if residents preferred to be consulted by post.

Village Project: First draft of script for short film has been written. Thanks to all for contributions so far and more are very welcome.

4. AOB – Councillor Trueman welcomed the opportunity to speak to the residents to give them information about the coming cuts to Council budgets which by 2020 amount to a reduction of around £240m (current controllable budget of about £300m) leaving an estimated £60m. Priority will be given to adult social care and children’s services. It is likely that the cuts will have a devastating effect on local services.

5. Date of next meeting – 1 December 2015