WOLSINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD TUESDAY 10 TH December 2024 7.00 PM
Town Hall, Wolsingham
PRESENT: I Rodgers, A Bonar, D Sugden, A Savory, Y Bell, J Bartram, J Bell, S Bittlestone, H Yeulet,
Sarah-Ann Baxter(Clerk)
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: 6 Members of the public attended
The Chair asked for a minute’s silence to remember Maureen Epsley, a former Chair of the
Parish Council.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: A Hirst
TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR: Ian Watson highlighted the large number of trees that
had been felled on the Steelworks site adjacent to the riverside footway and queried whether it was
necessary. Cllr Savory is going to raise this with DCC’s Planning Officer and will feedback details.
Action AS
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Savory – Planning Matters
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 12 th November 2024: Minutes were agreed as a true record
MATTERS ARISING:
i) Weardale Flower Club – the dates requested have now been agreed.
ii) New Toilets – Cllr J Bell queried the link footway and costs, Clerk will speak to
the Contractor. Cllr Savory has submitted the S106 application for funding for
the footway.
Action SAB
iii) Website – working group has met and made some progress. This will need to
be a priority in the new year. Action Website Working Group
iv) Christmas Lights – Cllr J Bell raised concerns that the proposed lights in the
trees at St Anne’s had taken a back seat. Cllr Rodgers explained that the
contractors had not come back to the Clerk with regards to a contract & cost.
A decision had been made to provide lights around the building to have some
form of lights and that the he is still committed to providing lights in the
trees.
v) Flagpole – still awaiting a quote to lower the existing pole.
vi) Seating Demesne Mill – Cllr Savory had met with the resident and agreed for
DCC’s Clean & Green team to move one seat.
2) CORRESPSONDENCE:
i) Mr Perry Gardner – Responses to the questions raised. 1 – It is difficult to
judge but the Council do not agree that HGV drivers are driving irresponsibly
between Uppertown & the Market Place. 2 – The Council do not agree that
HGV drivers have been encouraged to drive with more complacency and a
lack of respect to other road users due to the comments made by Cllr
Shuttleworth, Cllr Savory & Cllr Sugden in the public meeting in September
- Cllr Bartram thought it was rude to even have suggested this and both
Cllr Y Bell & Cllr Yeulet both commented that other road users other than
HGV drivers had been informed of the meeting and that other road users
were represented at the meeting. 3 – The Council agree that the 20mph
speed limit on Lydgate Lane was appropriate due to the close proximity of the
School. 4 – Cllr Savory has already highlighted residents concerns regarding
pedestrian safety and other road users to DCC Highways.
The new Bellway development does have a planning condition, within the Haulier Plan, to restrict
construction traffic using the Uppertown route and this will be enforced by DCC Planners. The
Council agreed that Mr Gardner should contact DCC’s Highways with his concerns regarding traffic
as this is within the Authority’s remit.
ii) Wag & Company North East Friendship Dogs – Due to the current financial
climate the Parish Council will be unable to provide a donation.
iii) Mr Gordon Dobson – Mr Dobson questioned the need for the large rise in the
Precept for 2025/26 and asked the Council to reconsider. Cllr Rodgers
explained that the running costs of the Council have increased considerably
over the last two years and that the agreed Precept increase was the
equivalent of £2.95 per month for a Band D property. Cllr J Bell questioned
the money spent on the new toilets in the Recreation Ground, however it was
pointed out that the funding had come from the reserves, that in the past the
Council had been told by the auditor were too high. Cllr Yeulet pointed out
that Cllr J Bell had attended the budget meeting where the decision on the
Precept had been made. Cllr Bartram also pointed out that costs for
improvements of the buildings and ongoing maintenance is costly.
3) MAINTENANCE WORKS:
a) St Anne’s Hall–AAP application has been submitted for funding of the new
door.
b) Recreation Ground – Tree works have been requested along the boundary
of Mill Race
c) Town Hall – The library heating has been off and a plumber has been
arranged to look at it.
d) Demesne Mill – Nothing to report
e) Thornley Woods – Nothing to report
f) Allotments – Nothing to report
g) Angate Street Toilets – Both toilets have been vandalised again, it has been
reported to the Police. Cllr Savory will contact the school and it was agreed
to close the toilets at 3pm and possibly look in to installing prepayment
doors in the future. Action AS
4) Parish Council Policy Statement – Cllr J Bell asked that this be deferred until the
next meeting.
5) Hamsterley Forest Development – The Council agreed to remain neutral on this
planning application, although there were some concerns around increased
traffic, however individuals could comment if they wished.
6) Finance
i) Payments & Reports for November 2024 – Agreed.
ii) PLANNING – No comments were made.
