Chairman's 2010 Annual Report
Bishopton Parish Council started the year with a vacancy which was filled by Peter Slater in June and met on 11 occasions. In February 2010 it was with regret that we received the resignation of Peter Slater due to work commitments but thank him for his support and efforts during his short time as a Councillor. In April we welcomed Geoff Baines as a new Councillor thus ending the year with a full Council.
The Council has continued during 2009/2010 to fulfil its’ duty looking after the Village Green and surrounding open spaces and addressing any concerns of residents, helping whenever it was able. The web site has continued to provide up-to-date information for residents and is maintained by Daniel Wells who is looking into ways of expanding this service. Leaflets have been delivered regularly to all residents in the Parish informing them of future events and meetings. The Council has met with Bishopton Community Group, attended Association of Parish Council and Six Parishes meetings, Village Hall Committee meetings, NHS County Durham and Darlington PCT, Six Parishes meetings, Tees Valley Town and Parish Councillors Ethical Governance Workshop and been represented on SPAG ( Wind Farm action group). Regular contact is kept with Brian Jones our Darlington Borough Councillor and we are grateful for his help and advice.
Village Green
Unfortunately the excessively hard winter and subsequent salting of roads has taken its’ toll on the Village Green. We have arranged to have some areas re-turfed as seeding is not successful on areas that have suffered excess salt over a number of years. Other areas have already been tidied up and seeded. The decision last year to use strimming as a means to keep tidy areas not reached by Darlington Borough Council mowers has proved very successful and will be continued this year. The Village Green outside the Manor Farm development is in a very poor state but the Parish Council is expecting this to be rectified in the near future.
Our Spring litter pick was extremely successful judging by the large amount of rubbish collected including a number of tyres and a lawnmower. We are very grateful to the residents who turned out to help. We could not do this without them.
Fly tipping seems to becoming more of a problem and on a number of occasions we have had to contact Streetscene to have rubbish removed from the surrounding roadsides. Fly posting has also been reported to the Borough Council and was promptly dealt with.
This Spring a number of new trees were planted on the Village Green. The varieties were chosen with great care to enhance the surrounding areas and replace trees that had been removed.
Following an application to fell a diseased sycamore near the bus shelter a Tree Preservation Order was placed on all the trees at the Cenotaph. The Parish Council is appealing against this order as the Sycamore in question is slowly dying and needs branches removed from it every year.
A resident selling their house has come across problems regarding access across the Green and came to the Parish Council for help. We spend some considerable time looking into this problem and took advice from the Borough Solicitor. The position as far as the Parish Council is concerned is that it is registered as owners under Section 8(2) of the Commons Registration Act 1965 and is responsible for the management but is not registered as owner under the Law of Property/Land Registration Acts at the Land Registry and cannot grant legal easements.
Dog fouling has been an on-going problem and the Dog Warden has tried to help. Darlington Borough Council has introduced new Dog Control Orders throughout the Borough.
There have been no reported problems with the Borough Councils new waste disposal/recycling changes but some residents still put out their rubbish on the wrong day after a Bank Holiday and risk being prosecuted.
Playing Field
Unfortunately the village playing field facility was removed in September due to some children’s bad behaviour. The Parish Council tried to sort out this problem with the owners of the land but was not able to do so. We are currently trying to see if there is any other site that could be purchased/leased so that the children of Bishopton have a permanent safe place to play.
Highways issues
There have been a number of problems during the year that were reported to Darlington Borough Council:- Poor/damaged warning signs on the corner near Barclay Springs, flooding problems on a number of roads including permanent running water on the Redmarshall Road and obviously pot-holes this winter.
The bus shelter to the west of Bishopton at the cross roads is to be removed as it is no longer used and in a poor state of repair.
In November Mr Stephen Ainsley, a resident of Bishopton, came to our meeting to express his concerns about speeding vehicles in the Village. Bishopton Parish Council have had an ongoing battle with the Highways Department/Police regarding this problem and last year requested a speed survey to be carried out which was reported in detail in the Annual Report 2009. Mr Ainsley offered his help to the Council, which they gratefully accepted, and organised a survey gathering views on traffic speed regulation/calming to be sent out to every household in Bishopton as well as the Council writing to Highways/Police to express their concerns. Councillor Brian Jones organised a meeting of PACT (Partners and Communities Together) to be held in Bishopton on 12thMay 2010 prior to the Annual Parish Meeting. All residents have been invited to this meeting and we hope that some progress can be made.
Planning applications
A number of applications were received from Darlington Borough Council and were considered. In the list below you will see the Planning Departments’ decision in brackets:
Downlands Farm – conversion of farm buildings and extension to form dwelling (Granted)
Hardstanding on Whitton Road (Refused)
Glebe Farm - Demolition and rebuild of existing building (Withdrawn)
Grange F arm Livery & Riding Centre – dwelling (Refused)
Cobby Castle Forge – Conversion barn/stables to dwelling (Granted)
Field on Cobby Castle Lane - New barn, pitched roof to garages (Granted)
Hill Top - demolition of existing bungalow and re-build (Granted)
Moor House Wind Farm – Pending
5 Anesty Court - Orangery (Granted)
Manor Farm Development
At last progress has been made on this development and we hope that it can be completed as soon as possible with in particular the Village Green re-instated and the whole frontage made more attractive for residents and visitors.
Proposed Wind Farms
The full application for a wind farm at Moor House has been submitted and comments have been sent to the Planning Department by Bishopton Parish Council.
The A 1 proposal for ten turbines may be replaced with a plan for 50 turbines on the present planned site extended to Rushyford and there is to be an application for 6 turbines at Lambs Hill, Old Stillington. SPAG continue to fight these proposals and keep all residents up to date with information.
Financial
A number of items of expenditure were authorised this year including Christmas tree and lights, skip hire, new boiler for the Village Hall, repair and annual maintenance of the church clock and cenotaph wreath.
The accounts of the Parish Council were audited this year by the District Auditor and were agreed. Copies of the audited accounts are placed in the notice board for all to see.
It was decided not to increase the precept for the year 10/11.
Other activities
The new residents welcome pack was distributed to every household.
The Parish Council arranged for the Salvation Army to join in the Carol singing around the tree at Christmas
Provision and erection of Christmas tree and lights in the village.
Skip provided for garden rubbish outside the Village Hall.
Logs distributed to OAP’s
Finally, I would like to convey my personal thanks to all members of the Parish Council who have given up their valuable time and contributed in any way that they can over the past year to serve the interests of the Parish.
L.F. MacMahon
Chairman
