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STANHOPE PARISH COUNCIL

STANHOPE PARISH COUNCIL

At a meeting of the Council held in Eastgate Village Hall on 5th March 2025

PRESENT: Cllr D Craig, Cllr L Blackett, Cllr R Lawrie, Cllr Mrs S Smart, Cllr Mrs C Burdis, Cllr Mrs D Sutcliff, Cllr M Brewin, Cllr Miss J Carrick – Chairman. Susan Anderson – Clerk

Also present : County Councillor Mrs A Savory

Apologies for Absence – Cllr J Shuttleworth, Cllr E Buchanan, Cllr Mrs A Hawkes, Cllr P Turton

To Receive Any Declarations of Interest from Members – Cllr Mrs Savory declared an interest on Planning Matters

Minutes of the meeting held on 5th February 2025

Minutes were moved as a true and correct record and were signed by the chairman

Matters Arising

  1. PRIMARY SCHOOLS DESIGN A POSTER – Stanhope Barrington will be entering our Design a Poster regarding our dog fouling problem.
  2. ERECTION OF FIVE DWELLINGS, STANHOPE – Paul Leadbitter organised a meeting to discuss the proposed building of five houses on land below High Street. The Parish Council have objected to this application on the grounds of the access and the lie of the land which was agreed at the February meeting. Cllr Mrs Savory spoke that she could take no part in the debate as she is on the Planning Committee. Mr Leadbitter has concerns over his boundary on the plans. The trees on it belong to him so the boundary markings need moving on the plans. The access is unsuitable and dangerous onto Graham Street with the loss of many car parking spaces. The loss of car parking spaces will cause extra problems up on High Street and Martin Street.  The access is also hazardous between the paper shop and number 63 Front Street. The visibility from the narrow lane onto the main road is dangerous. The bin wagon cannot get up Graham Street and in the winter no vehicles can get up in the snow. The proposed houses are 9m which would be looking into the windows of Front Street. The design of them are not in keeping with the stone houses in the area. An archaeology survey should be done on the land also Radon Gas is a problem in Weardale and is a priority in new builds.  The residents will not tolerate any development on the site as the Highways issues will still be the same.  It was encouraged that all residents write objection letters to the planning department. Cllr Shuttleworth mentioned that it must be material planning matters for objections which are the access and the site levels. There is no decision yet from the planners who are looking at the application very carefully.

Correspondence Received

  1. Church Hall, Stanhope – There is a rumour that St Thomas Church Hall is to close. There are so many groups, farmers markets, craft fayres that are held it would be terrible loss to the community. There is a meeting arranged on Tuesday 18th March at 7pm in the church. Concerns were raised regarding the Police Station that there must be a police presence in the dale. The police need dedicated parking bays. Newtown House was mentioned if work is going to start there but apparently there is something coming.
  2. Lime Tree, Stanhope – One of the Lime Trees down Stanhope Main Street had to be felled recently. Cllr Miss Carrick would like to see a new Lime Tree planted. Resolved: Clerk to write to DCC.
  3. Weardale Museum – The Weardale Museum have sent a Special Edition Newsletter showing all of the grant money that will be received this year. The total value of works and development to be undertaken this year will be almost £850,000.
  4. Westgate Playpark – Durham Scout County are holding an event in Weardale on 29th & 30th March 2025. The event, called the Geoffrey Gordon Cop, is an annual walking and adventurous activity weekend for explorer Scouts aged between 14-18years. The competition is held at a different location each year and aims to challenge the participants with different physical and mental activities to allow them to develop leadership, team work, planning and communication skills. On Saturday 29th March the participants will be walking between Weardale Adventure Centre and Eastgate Village Hall. Along the route are five small activity bases to challenge the teams, but also are a means of ensuring the teams of young people are kept safe.  The Scout Association would like to locate one of these activities in the playground at Westgate.  There will be no lasting damage on the area and they will remove all equipment at the end of the event. The event will be managed in accordance with their policies and rules and covered by their Public Liability Insurance. They are asking us for permission to use the playpark. Resolved: Councillors gave permission to hold the event

Planning Matters

DM/25/00290/LB

The addition of 8 new roof windows to roof fabric

St Michaels & All Angels Church

Church Lane

Frosterley

DM/25/00195/FPA

Temporary siting of a static caravan to provide accommodation for a key worker initially during lambing season

North Hanging Wells

Eastgate

DM/25/00403/LB

Listed building consent for works to outbuilding – general repair and rebuilding works to walls, replacement roof (including structure), replacement door and roof light installation of rainwater goods and below ground drainage

High Bishopley

Frosterley

PLANNING APPROVALS

DM/24/02516/FPA

A multipurpose agricultural building predominantly used for housing livestock (cattle and sheep) but it will also be used for storage of winter fodder and agricultural machinery

1 Ling Riggs

Ireshopeburn

DM/224/03181/FPA

Conversion of loft to create additional bedroom and en-suite including 2 conservation style rooflights to the front and to the rear of the property. Conversion of outbuilding to boot room/utility and breaking out new doorway to connect to the dwelling and new window to serve boot room/utility to southern elevation.

6 Longhorn Ends

Cowshill

DM/24/03402/PN56

Prior notification under Class Q for the change of use of an agricultural building to 1 no. dwelling house (C3) and associated works

Land North East of Horsley House

Eastgate

APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN

DM/24/02958/FPA

Three bedroom detached dwelling with off road parking and amenity space

Site between Hope Cottage

And Prospect House

Crawleyside

Cllr Mrs Sutcliff mentioned the number of people that do work without applying for planning permission. The planners are looking at this problem in Weardale. It was suggested that a fine should be given to people who don’t apply for planning and then apply retrospective.

Finance

The NALC Good Councillors Guide are the new version which were on pre-order. We have thirteen copies arriving.

CDALC

Nothing to report

AAP Report

It’s the final meeting of the AAP this week before they change to Local Networks. Cllr Mrs Savory and the councillors all agreed that Angelina, Tracey and Fiona have worked hard and helped many people. There have been some fantastic projects for Weardale which have made a great difference to many Community Groups. Without the AAP’s Weardale would not have received the sums of money that have helped so many projects in the dale. The staff have been marvellous by guiding people and helping them through the application process. Resolved: Clerk to write to Angelina

Accounts for Payment

Durham County Council Community Highways Worker                                                         £17,430.91

St Thomas Church Small Hall Hire Allotment Rent Collection                                               £10.00

Eastgate Village Hall – Hall Hire for Feb                                                                                     £30.00

S Anderson Salary                                                                                                                         £903.28

HM Rev                                                                                                                                           £20.96

S Anderson Expenses                                                                                                                   £121.93

S Anderson Home as Office                                                                                                        £35.00

Eastgate Village Hall – Hall Hire for March                                                                              £30.00

TOTAL                                                                                                                                              £18,582.08

ACCOUNTS FOR RECEIPTS

Allotment Rent                                                                                                                           £1280

DIRECT DEBITS

Anglian water Daddry  Shield Toilets                                                                                          £82.03     

Anglian water Old Cemetery                                                                                                        £35.97

Anglian water Willard Grove Allotments                                                                                   £22.85

Vodaphone                                                                                                                                     £44.50

E.ON Ashcroft Play park                                                                                                               £26.73

New Matters for Discussion

  1. Cllr Mrs Savory thanked the Parish Council for sending her a bereavement card it was appreciated.
  2. Cllr Craig mentioned the road junction at the Hare the Hounds in Westgate. People are parking opposite this junction and its very difficult to get pulled out onto the main road. This has been mentioned over the years and been told that nothing can be done. Cllr Miss Carrick will try to speak to the Police when they come into the shop.
  3. Cllr Blackett mentioned that it has been a success moving the dog bin as the taking of the bags has slowed down.
  4. Cllr Blackett would like to report that two finger posts have been sawn off at Cowshill, these are either side of the road. Les’s son is walking the paths and is reporting locked gates and blocked stiles. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC
  5. Cllr Mrs Sutcliff would like to report Ponders Lane Bridge which leads to Jacobs Ladder, some wood has gone on it. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC
  6. Cllr Mrs Sutcliff would like the Bridge by the school inspecting as there are cracks appearing in it. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC
  7. Cllr Mrs Burdis would like to report there is someone not picking up after their dog and it is around the grassed area under the trees in the Frosterley car park. The dog is a large dog and it is not just in the car park but in other places to. It was suggested could the Neighbourhood Warden show a presence in the area. Resolved: Clerk to write to DCC
  8. Cllr Mrs Burdis also mentioned that human poo was found in the churchyard at Frosterley. There is a real need for reinstating some public toilets in Frosterley. Resolved: Clerk to write to DCC
  9. Cllr Mrs Smart had the environmental health man on the phone that the branches on the sewage pipe are not dangerous and will not cause any damage.
  10. Cllr Lawrie and Cllr Turton are concerned about the booking system at the GP’s in Stanhope. The elderly people at Cllr Mrs Sutcliff’s Luncheon Club are really worried about the new system. It was discussed that someone from the Weardale Practice should be invited to the Parish Council meeting. Resolved: Clerk to write
  11. Cllr Miss Carrick mentioned that the bench opposite the Co-op is still loose, the bolts haven’t been tightened. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC
  12. There has been a bollard damaged near the red house in Eastgate. There are cones around the damaged bollard so DCC should know about it. Resolved: Clerk to report it
  13. The corner stone is loose on the small stone wall at Cowgarth Hill which needs repairing. Resolved: Clerk to report to DCC
  14. Cllr Miss Carrick mentioned that between Christmas and New Year there are no toilets in Stanhope open. She wondered about hiring a porta loo for those two weeks. It was mentioned about what if there was any damage to it plus insurance and public liability. It was mentioned that there is toilet in the church. It needs more consideration and discussion.

Clerks Business

  1. We have a few tenants that have not cultivated their plots and every year we have to write to them concerning the state of their plots. The councillors discussed this problem and felt that the tenancies should not be renewed. Resolved: Clerk to write to the tenants
  2. The Parish Council elections are approaching and councillors that are standing again will have from Friday 21st March to Wednesday 2nd April to fill their forms in and take them to County Hall.
  3. The clerk mentioned the allotment competition this year and if any of the councillors had any ideas. Cllr Blackett suggested a scarecrow competition this year which was a great idea. Resolved: Clerk to put some notices up
  4. A resident from Willard Grove has sent a letter of complaint concerning a horse box that is parked in the parking bays of Willard Grove that are for the residents of the houses. The owner of the horse box lives in Woodcroft Gardens. Resolved: Clerk to contact the Neighbourhood Warden

Meeting closed at 8.15pm

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