| Escomb &Witton Park - Community Partnership Newsletter |
|
Partnership Meetings
The next meeting is at: Thursday 14th December 2006 Witton Park Comm. Hall
Planning for Real Event
Come and join us in a village celebration on Tuesday 5th December at Escomb Primary School between 7pm and 9pm. We will be showcasing two recently published documents, the Escomb and Witton Park Village Plan and the Escomb Village Hall Feasibility Study. Some of the Agencies involved in the Planning for Real exercise will be there and children from the school will be hanging out their washing.
Why not make the time to find out what it’s all about and enjoy some seasonal refreshments with us?
For further details contact: Lesley 01207 529621 Janet/Jason 0191 3708753
Village Plan – it’s finished!
The Escomb and Witton Park Planning for Real process has been completed and the integated village plan has now been published. Residents, their children, local politicians and professionals from education and the community support sector have all contributed to the process. The Escomb and Witton Park Community Partnership (EWPCP) wishes to thank everybody for all their efforts. It’s taken a while but we’ve got there!
The plan is a detailed document and is free of charge to anybody who would like a copy. It is available in the following formats: · as a printed document · on CD · or can sent via email in Adobe Portable Document format (PDF) and is about 1.5MB in size
If you would like a copy please contact us at Escomb and Witton Park Community Partnership Witton Park Community Hall Main Street Witton Park Co. Durham Email: ewpcp@escomb.org.uk tel: 07890 363284
Please give us your contact details and indicate the format you would like your copy to be in.
Village Plan – what’s next?
The Village plan is finished and has been published – but so what! We now need to achieve the objectives outlined in the plan to justify the time and money that has been spent. EWPCP is seeking determined residents who would like to be involved with the next stage. The plan has identified the key issues, put them into one of three categories and prioritised them into short term, medium term and long term.
Examples of the short term priorities for each category are as follows;
Traffic & Community Safety § Speed of traffic through villages § Poor parking (notably during school run) § Off-road motor cyclists ( e.g. in Paradise Country Park) § Lack of visible policing. Local Environment § General appearance of the area (fly tipping, litter etc.) § Dog fouling § Lack of picnic areas Leisure and Community Facilities § Provision of public toilets at Saxon church - Escomb § Awareness and development of facilities at both Witton Park Community Hall and Escomb Village Hall § Leisure provision for young people § Inadequate play facilities - especially for young children
The plan is to set up a working group for each category. The aim of each group will be to meet, debate the issues, and come up with some ideas as to how to solve the problems. The groups will need to decide on the best idea for each issue, produce a plan and then action it! We will be supported by Community Workers from Durham Rural Community Council and Groundwork West Durham and Darlington to help us in this process (see new kids on the block).
If you are interested in joining any of these groups please contact us via any of the means shown opposite or come along to the Planning for Real Event on the 5th December at Escomb Primary school.
If you have already signed up for one of the groups as part of the Planning for Real process some time ago we would be grateful if you could please let us know if you are still interested.
New kids on the block
Lesley Millgate is the new community development officer for Witton Park and Escomb. She was recently appointed by Durham Rural Community Council who have received funding from central government to work with targeted rural communities throughout the county. Initially her work will be directed towards supporting residents as they make progress with the Action Points highlighted in our recently launched Village Plan. As a starting point, Lesley is keen to hear from anyone who feels they may be able to make a difference and contribute towards the three working groups; traffic and community safety, local environment, leisure and community facilities. If any other new or existing community groups would like Lesley’s help, please contact her at
Durham Rural Community Council Park House Station Road Lanchester Co Durham DH7 0EX Tel: 01207 529621 Email:lesley.millgate@durhamrcc.org.uk
The project is called Rural Young Voices and its aim is to work with both young people and adults to build trust that will help young people actively engage with their communities and tackle some of their local issues.
The main focus is on the young people of the villages and our team of youth workers will be in the village every week to work with the young people that are interested in being involved to develop projects.
The programme is aimed at young people aged 13 – 25 years old who want to make a difference not only to their community but to themselves. The programme not only looks at the community environment but it also supports and encourages the young people to build confidence and skills, gain qualifications and also supports them in raising funding to achieve and take part in activities of their choice.
Please do look out for us as we will be coming to your village very soon. We will be in Escomb between 5.00pm – 7.00pm on the 12th December and we will then be in Witton Park between 5.00pm – 7.00pm on the 19th December. We are not based in any one place but will be walking around the village.
We will be attending the Planning for Real event on 5th December 2006 and if there are any further questions and we will be doing a presentation at the next Partnership meeting.
You can contact either Catherine Purvis or Jenny Reid on.
Tel: 01388 662666 Email: catherine.purvis@groundwork.org.uk jenny.reid@groundwork.org.uk
Get Hooked on Fishing
You may be aware that Get Hooked on Fishing bought the fishing centre this summer. For those residents who are unaware of our work please allow me to briefly explain.
Get Hooked was started by Durham Constabulary nearly 7 years ago to provide something for young people to do instead of getting into trouble. More than 800 young people have been through the programme since 2000 and now Get Hooked is in another 13 areas of the country. It is rapidly expanding and the original scheme needed its own home to provide income and more opportunities for its young people.
So after a great deal of hard work we set up Get Hooked North East a Social Enterprise company which is owned by staff, volunteers and some young people. We bought the site from the fishing club and now we own the 38 acres of land around the lakes and the building. For those of you that have walked around the site you will see we have already begun to improve the pathways and fishing areas. We have also carried out major internal and external improvements to the building. But we have a great deal more to do before spring. Young people are always on site except when at work or school and we are starting to take work experience people on placement.
We have also reduced the cost of fishing starting at £2 per day for juniors and £6 for adults, season tickets are also available. We have a small tackle shop and a café we also have a large hall, which is available for functions etc.
We have always been aware of tension between the previous owners and the local community and as a result would like to see more of you walking around the site. Hopefully you come to fish or learn too, if not come and walk around come and see us and we can show you what we do.
The site is now doing what it was supposed to do in the beginning it will get busier when our improvements are completed. At last the site is a happy place were fishing is less important than the development of young people.
Mick Watson Q.P.M GET HOOKED CENTRE OFF MAIN STREET WITTON PARK, BISHOP AUCKLAND, CO DURHAM. Tel: 01388 664789
Parking at Escomb School
One subject always likely to produce a lively debate at partnership meetings is that of the parking around Escomb Primary School at school start and finish times. The situation seems to have got so bad that a lot of residents feel that they are prisoners in their own homes during these periods. Complaints include · Cars parking in keep clear areas · Three Lane Ends being treated as a roundabout (which it isn’t) · Cars turning round outside the Vicarage at Escomb on what is a pretty dangerous bend anyway. · Cars blocking driveways · Traffic gridlock compounded by some bus drivers who seem to think that they have a divine right of passage!
It seems to me that it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident! I am aware of one accident that has occurred at the Three Lane Ends already; fortunately it was not serious but nevertheless still distressing for those involved.
I am told that the traffic build starts as early as 2:30 on an afternoon with cars parked outside the school waiting for it to finish.
So what can be done?
The school is fairly powerless to do anything and although I understand a police officer has been assigned to try and deal with the problem they can only act when the law has been broken and they can’t be there every day of the week
There have been several suggestions put forward at partnership meetings and here are some of them · Build a proper dropping off point – great idea as long at it used as such and not just as another car park. An observation is that parents are waiting around having dropped off their children to engage in social chit chat. · Undertake a name and shame campaign (successful in another school I am told) where offenders have their car registrations noted and published – an idea but may lead to bad feeling, confrontation etc. · Reduce available parking space by more keep clear markings or double yellow lines – I suspect this will just move the problem further away from the school.
In the village plan this has been identified as a key issue and prioritised as short term. I personally don’t experience the school run but everyone that I speak to who does seems to be of the same opinion in that if something isn’t done soon there could be a tragedy.
If you feel you may have some ideas and want to contribute to the Traffic and Community Safety group then please contact us or come along to the Planning for Real event on 5th December 2006 at Escomb Primary School 7:00pm
Toilets at Escomb Church
And…another subject likely to produce a lively debate at partnership meetings is the subject of the toilets (or lack of them) at Escomb church.
Over the last few months there have been several proposals as to where to site a public toilet in Escomb. Problem is nobody wants a public toilet anywhere near their house and who can blame them? Public toilets invariably act as magnets for a certain type of teenager to congregate at and they ultimately end up being vandalised, as have the original public toilets in Escomb! The latest proposal is to site a one of these portable type units in the car park adjacent to the church but its still close to somebody’s front door.
The popular solution seems to be to build them in the church grounds in a style in keeping with the church. Even most of the aforementioned teenagers still have some respect for the sanctity of church grounds. Seems to me it would make a good historical pseudo-building project. ‘Acquire’ the stone from Binchester roman fort transport it down the river to Escomb and construct your toilet ‘building’ such that it looks authentic from the outside, but obviously kitted out with modern fittings inside. After all it isn’t as if the church is all original sixth century anyway (historians may correct me here) and a hundred years or so ago it was just a glorified barn!
Perhaps an idea would be to ask the opinion of those folk that matter – the several thousand tourists that visit it every year!
However, I am told that no matter what, the final say lies with English Heritage as Escomb church has some kind of ‘monument status’.
Is there a solution to this problem or have we just got absolutely nothing to go on!
I recently visited the Colosseum in Rome and there are modern toilets housed within it. It’s been around for a few hundred years longer than Escomb church!
In the village plan this has been identified as a key issue and prioritised as short term.
If you feel you may have some ideas and want to contribute to the Leisure and Community Facilities group then please contact us or come along to the Planning for Real event on 5th December 2006 at Escomb Primary School 7:00pm
Litter Pick in Witton Park
A LitterPick is being arranged to take part in Witton Park early next year. Wear Valley District Council have agreed to supply the equipment for picking litter, and the event is provisionally booked for 10 am on Wednesday 21st February 2007 (Half term week - we want to encourage the young people to be involved in keeping their village tidy)
One area we will concentrate on is around the children’s play area and the recreation ground on Main Street, but we are also hoping for suggestions of other areas to clean up. If you are interested in being involved please get in touch, and I will contact you nearer the date to confirm the arrangements.
Andrew Charles 605925 Witton Park Community Association.'
Bogus Traders
One of the largest complaints received by Neighbourhood Watch, Durham Constabulary and Durham Trading Standards is that of the elderly and/or the infirm having unsolicited work carried out in their gardens, drives and homes, by ‘cowboy builders’.
As a rule I would say have nothing to do with these fly-by-nights as they give no warranty, but there is an answer. For details of registered traders in your area or information on how to join this free advice service, contact us on 0191 383589 or see our web-site www.countydurhamrts.org.uk
Durham County Councils Trading Standards in conjunction with the County’s Community Safety Partnerships has set up this scheme to help residents to select a reputable home repair trader.
The scheme provides a list of traders available to residents of County Durham who have been vetted by Trading Standards and are committed to good working practice.
All traders who are members of the scheme have undergone a series of stringent checks and only if they fulfill all criteria will they be entered onto the scheme
We often hear about so called trades people who have no real building skills and charge exorbitant prices for substandard work.
They will target the elderly and vulnerable people who, cannot tell whether the work needs doing in the first place.
They will also insist on cash up front and generally leave no details such as invoice or receipt. But if things go wrong there is no form of redress as the ‘trader’ is not an actual business, and there is no way of tracing them.
The Registered traders scheme will help alleviate these problems.
The traders on the scheme all abide by a code of practice and their business documentation contains their contact details for the consumer to reach them on. In the event any problems do occur, Durham Trading Standards Service is more than happy to mediate between the customer and trader to reach an amicable solution.
It has been running since mid June last year and has been a great benefit to both traders and consumers alike.
It is an excellent way to help protect residents from unscrupulous people who prey on the elderly and will ensure that we can have confidence in the work that is done in our homes.
Article supplied by John Raw, Neighbourhood Watch
Witton Park Village Hall
Is anyone interested in adult education classes? A variety of courses is available ranging from aerobics, Tai Chi and salsa through to computing and flower arranging. Ten learners are required to allow a class to proceed. A ten week course costs £35 with a reduced rate for concessions.
Forthcoming events:
New Year’s Eve Family Night 8pm until midnight Music, games and fun for all the family. Bring your own food and drink. Entrance: £2 adults, £1 children
Regular weekly/monthly events:
Monday Mums & Toddlers 9.30am – 11.30am Pilates 7pm – 8.15pm Tuesday Brownies 5.30pm – 6.45pm Pilates 7pm – 8.15pm Wednesday Bowls 1pm – 3.00pm Thursday Art 10am – 12pm Every month Sat eve Country and Western Sat eve Graham Scarlett Dance
For more details please contact Rosemary 606584 or Alison 607379.
It’s Christmas…..
Fancy singing Christmas Carols around Witton Park? If so, we are planning an informal session at 7.00 pm on Saturday 16th December, finishing with mulled wine and mince pies at Carwood House, 15 Main St. If you are interested please ring Andy or Liz on 605925
Contacting Us
The monthly Partnership meetings are open to anyone who lives in the Ward of Escomb. If you plan to attend and want to discuss a specific issue it would be helpful to let us know beforehand so that it can be put on the Agenda – meetings sometimes become too long if we have surprise items arriving on the night! Both our County and District Councillors attend most of the meetings along with the beat officer for Escomb and Witton Park.
We have occasionally received letters in response to articles in the Newsletter. We very much welcome any response and views. However we cannot respond to correspondence which is anonymous so please include your name and contact details if you write.
Escomb and Witton Park Community Partnership Witton Park Community Hall Main Street Witton Park Co. Durham email: ewpcp@escomb.org.uk tel: : 07890 363284 |
