Harrowgate Hill Community Link

Dear [NAME], now there's a turn up for the books - great weather... we'll have to take note and book our odd day holidays for next year in May and September!

Here's the latest news directly to your inbox from the Harrowgate Hill community website. Please pass this information on to people who may not have access to the internet and who you think may be interested in this local news.

Thanks
Mark

FORMER BEAUMONT HILL SCHOOL SITES
Permission was granted at full cabinet on the 8th September that, subject to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) funding and planning permission being obtained, the former Beaumont Hill School sites be sold to Fabrick Group.

The development is subject to the planning process and a full programme of community engagement and consultation will take place prior to any planning application being submitted, which will provide the local community with an opportunity to be involved with the project right from an early stage.

Starting in March 2010 Fabrick Group proposes to build approximately 112 homes on the 3 former Beaumont Hill School sites with a completion date as early as April 2011.

The Fabrick Group, who are a Registered Social Landlord (RSL), have received initial approval from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for grant funding that would enable the development of approximately 112 - two and three bed roomed properties - of which 34 (30%) will be new affordable units for rent and the remaining 78 units would be for sale. All the homes for sale can initially be let to customers who eventually can afford to buy. This enables people who are currently unable to secure a mortgage or afford a deposit, the opportunity to get back onto the property ladder by renting the house they would like to buy until such time as they can afford to buy. The properties would be rented to tenants on short-term leases at affordable rents, so tenants can save up for deposits and eventually buy the properties.

SUPPORTED BUS SERVICES UPDATE
Permission was granted at full cabinet on the 8th September for Arriva to divert their commercially operated journeys on services 6a/6b to travel via Glebe, Laburnum and Mayfair Road and because of this, it is possible to seek an exemption from the usual service registration periods set by the Traffic Commissioner and introduce these services on 1 November 2009.

Arriva’s commercially operated service will provide 6a/b journeys into Glebe, Laburnum and Mayfair Road during the day half hourly connecting Glebe, Laburnum and Mayfair Road to Whinfield Asda, which will benefit all residents here, providing direct access to Whinfield during the evening too.

Rat-running and speed
Over the past couple of years I've received many complaints with regards to rat-running and speeding in Harrowgate Hill and have requested a traffic monitoring device be fitted to capture the number, type and speed of traffic. As I understand from this information council officers can calculate the 85th percentile of speed, as Durham Constabulary will only carry out enforcement action where 15% or more of motorists are travelling in excess of 35mph.

Of all of my requests, where residents have raised their concerns over the volume and speed of traffic, non of the studies have ever proven 15% or more of motorists are travelling in excess of 35mph, consequently, as I understand Durham Constabulary have never been made aware of residents concerns nor has any enforcement action ever been carried out, which makes me ask; does the calculation of 85th percentile of speed actually work and address residents real concerns? Surly not all residents concerns are unfounded.

Research (TRL 1998 and 1999) has shown that if an individual drives at more than 10-15% above the average speed of the traffic around them, they are much more likely to be involved in a collision. (10-15% above 30mph is 33mph-34.5mph) Yet Durham Constabulary only carry out ‘enforcement action’ where 15% or more of motorists are travelling in excess of 35mph, surly that's a poor enforcement policy.

If a pedestrian is hit at:

• 20mph there is about a 97% chance of survival

• 30mph there is about a 80% chance of survival

• 35mph there is a 50/50 chance of being killed

• 40mph there is about 10% chance of survival

(Source Ashton and Mackay 1979)

It is clear there is a need to worry about speed because the consequences of driving too fast are so severe.

In 2003 there were over 3,000 people killed (nearly 10 people every day) and 33,000 seriously injured in collisions on Britain’s roads. It is therefore clear that where there are serious or fatal injuries resulting from collisions, excessive speed is more likely to be a contributory factor.

It’s all about judgement, and it is extremely important. Inappropriate Speed is someone driving within the speed limit but too fast for the road and traffic conditions. Most of the roads around Darlington are subject to a 30mph speed limit. Areas with shoppers looking to cross the road at various points, parked vehicles around which pedestrians might suddenly appear, delivery vans, cyclists and buses where people might risk crossing the road where perhaps they should not. They might also be in the vicinity of schools, hospitals and where the elderly may be present. These roads require drivers to take account of all these various factors and drive at appropriate speeds.

The Government provides advice to traffic authorities (County, District and Borough Councils, but not Parish Councils) on the setting of local speed limits. It is for those authorities to decide what is the most appropriate speed limit for their roads based upon local considerations and circumstances. This would usually reflect factors such as accident history, traffic flows, road traffic mix, levels of adjacent development and road geometry. They can set speed limits from 20mph to 70mph inclusive.

In 1999 local authorities were given the powers to introduce a 20mph speed limit without requiring the consent of the Secretary of State.

On another note, Durham Constabulary are responsible for enforcing the speed limit but won’t support any 20mph speed limit without the inclusion of traffic calming measures, such as speed humps and bumps, which is not the case for all Constabularies across Britain. They are a costly measure which not all residents would like, for various reasons, outside their homes.

So is it Darlington Borough Council or Durham Constabulary who are failing to really address residents concerns over rat-running and speeding on our local roads?

Update on Playbuilders for Bensham Park
Since the announcement of Playbuilders coming to Bensham Park, Groundwork has been visiting the site before and over the summer holidays, consulting with children and young people on what improvements in terms of play they feel the park needs.

A visit into Harrowgate Hill Primary School also took place through Groundwork and classes were asked on how they would like to see the money spent. There were many enthusiastic exciting ideas around climbing, swinging and assault courses.

From the initial consultation with the children and young people Darlington Borough Council and Groundwork are looking at possible locations and will be producing sketch plans with examples of the type of equipment suitable to the area.

Groundwork are hoping to have a draft design produced near to the end of September and will be on site in Bensham Park on 28th September 2009, 3:00pm – 5:30pm. This will be an opportunity for everyone to come along and give comments on the project and the possible proposals. All going well, work should be starting on site around November and weather dependent should be completed by end ofJanuary ready for an opening in Feb/March 2010.

If you have any queries about the project please contact Lisa Kwok at Groundwork on 01325 353791 or email lisa.kwok@groundwork.org.uk

Opportunity for small retailers
There is an opportunity for small retailers for a grant of £3000 for individual shops to prevent anti-social behaviour and crime and I’m looking for potential beneficiaries.

The money can be used to buy security devices such as alarms, UV markers to detect counterfeit notes, security grills or dye packs to mark goods. The windfall could also be used to improve a community with landscaping or additional lighting.

Harrowgate Hill is not one of the nine deprived wards in Darlington for which the grants are intended for however, if enough evidence is provided to support a small retailer, it will be considered.

If you are a small retailer within Harrowgate Hill and are interested in this grant and have been affected adversely by crime in the last 2 years please get in touch by Monday 14th September, providing the following information;

Name & location of your shop

Type of anti-social behaviour or crime

Type of security devices required, examples are; Stock Loss Prevention Innovation (bottle tops etc), Phones/Bell warning system/panic alarms, Lighting, CCTV (Cameras/Monitors etc), Radios (Shopwatch or similar schemes), Information DVD – extension to existing DVD, Thumb drive with guidance docs/ tools, Mirrors / Locks / Bars / Grills / Key cabinets etc, Markers - Smart water / micro dots etc, Fences, Alarms (compliant with HO standards), Bollards, Wireless technology to facilitate remote monitoring station to view in-store activity via existing CCTV system or Tagging / Dye packs etc, Anti fraud/ counterfeit equipment: Bank notes / Credit Cards / Cheques UV lamps / pens etc, Wireless sniffers / hand-set verification (credit card machines), Safes and or Communication system to facilitate remote monitoring station to listen to in-store activity.

Once a list has been put together, the Police will go out and speak to individual shop owners about the grant and see what they would like and whether it fits with the grant's criteria. This is to be supported by PC Steve Rich who is the Crime Reduction Officer and can advice on best equipment etc. Darlington Borough Council will then co-ordinate all the bids through a working group.

Best regards
Mark