Minutes 26th November

Wolsingham Parish Plan Committee, Thursday 25th November 2004, 7pm, in the Mill Race, Wolsingham

Present: K. Rogers, K.L. Rogers, F. Shepheard, M. Shepheard, E. Ridley, D. Gascoigne, D. Pattison, J. Keenan, M. Lambard, E. Bloomfield, R. Hopkinson, S. Foster, S. Lockwood.

Apologies: K. Smith, J. Lambard.

1. Parking survey results: S. Foster presented a brief summary of some of the results, all of which are available on floppy disc as well as on paper. F. Shepheard will meet with a member of S. Foster’s department to clarify exactly what the figures indicate re. capacity of zones, long-term parking etc. A brief reading of the results highlighted the need for short-term, ‘quick turn-round’ parking spaces around the business areas of Wolsingham. Alternative parking spaces could be identified and indicated in the Market Place. A decision will be taken concerning the length of time which people will be able to park in the various areas.

2. Progress of sub-groups: The groups will have something written up by December 10th. This is to be delivered to G. Dobson, who will circulate the drafts to committee members. Members should read these documents before the next meeting on December 16th. All members will be able to comment on all areas. K. Rogers will put together one document which will be ready to put to the committee at the January meeting. The glossy brochure will have photographs. S. Foster is to find out if the Parish Council, and therefore the Parish Plan Committee, can use Ordnance Survey material using the Durham County Council copyright permission. R. Hopkinson will write a piece about the process of creating the plan and a brief piece putting Wolsingham in context. A photograph of Wolsingham from Durham University was shown.

3. Any other business: S. Lockwood has provided a list of access bus services to R. Hopkinson via e-mail. S. Lockwood will look very closely at the issue of late-night or distant bus connections, in the light of financial constraints. The possibility could be investigated, and perhaps have a trial run for a short period. S. Lockwood suggested contacting the Weardale Railway to find out if they have already done an exit survey of passengers, to find out what they do when they come to Wolsingham. It could be possible to put Tourist Information signs on the highway. Requests for these signs would go through S. Foster’s department. S. Foster indicated that disabled crossing points are possible, and he would also be prepared to look at carriage-way narrowing to assist pedestrians crossing the road.

4. Dates of future meetings: Thursday, December 16th at 7pm in the Mill Race and Thursday, January 10th at 7pm in the Mill Race.