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Stop Press February 2008

 

Children from the Elvet area feel so strongly about the proposed development at Elvet Waterside that they have met together and compiled a report expressing their feelings about the loss of the greenfield part of the site to housing.

 

Supported by independent youth workers they met on Saturday 9th February to talk about their experiences of using the area and have put forward excellent suggestions about how they would like to see the area improved. Rosie Lindsay age 11 from Church Street, Durham City, said “ I walk my dogs by the river and use the area most days. I love the riverbanks. I think the council should make the old bowling green into a park with somewhere to sit, and a shelter so you can meet your friends even if it’s raining” The children also expressed disappointment that the City Council and the developers Banks, who have been involved in consultation with the community before the planning process, have not invited any young people to be part of their consultation process. As Frank Hawes, 12, of Claypath, Durham City said; “ I often walk along the riverbank past the swimming baths to school with my friends and I meet friends there after school. I think it is wrong of the Council and the developers not to ask young people what they think about their plans as children and young people use the area a lot ” As the plans have now been submitted for planning consent, the young people are sending their report to the planners as their objection to the development on the greenfield site. They are also sending the report to the developers and to the City Council and are confident that through their report their voices will now be heard.  Click here to read the report in full

 

 

Stop Press January 2008

 

Elvet Waterside plans submitted JAN 2008 – The plans submitted include building on the greenfield site that we are campaigning to save.
 

The plans are for 129 residential dwellings made up of 103 apartments and 26 town houses. 14 of the residential units will be affordable. There will be 998 square metres of commercial space in 3 buildings.
 

We will shortly be adding the visual plans to this site, please keep checking back.  Follow this link for details of the plans and how to object.
 

Stop Press July 2007

Petition presented to MP Roberta Blackman-Woods to the accompaniment of an Opera singer!

Bethany Halliday, who sings with the English National Opera, performed the Racecourse Rag, (which was composed by Elvet residents association chairman Jonathan Lovell) next to Racecourse Park, Elvet Waterside on Friday 20th July, to mark the presentation of a 3,400+ signature petition to Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, calling for the green space to be saved.

Dr Blackman-Woods, who will take the petition to Parliament before the summer recess, said: "I am concerned at the loss of this green space. Instead, what the city should be developing is proper recreational space facilities." Northern Echo - Monday 23rd July 2007

Update..................

MP Roberta Blackman-Woods presented the petition from Elvet residents to Parliament.

The petition is against the proposals to build on the former bowling green on Elvet Waterside and any of the green space east of the walls of the swimming baths, and includes signatures from local schools as well as residents.  Please follow this link to see the report in Hansard

 

Stop Press June 2007

The developers Banks are holding an exhibition of their latest plans At the GALA THEATRE - in the STUDIO on the 3rd FLOOR On TUESDAY 5th JUNE 2007 Between 3pm - 7pm

PLEASE go along to view the plans and let them know that you are against the development of the green area (which includes the former bowling green- Racecourse Park) next to the riverbank. In recent consultation meetings BANKS representatives have been telling us that most people are happy with the development on the green space. If you agree with us,

PLEASE GO AND TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE GREEN
SPACE, so that they get the message!

Stop Press April 2007

Kepier Court

Objectors to the proposed development of 43 flats and houses at Kepier Court, Gilesgate, Durham were pleased to have the support of an Independent Planning Inspector who ruled against the development on the grounds that it did not contain proposals for affordable housing.

Durham M.P. Roberta Blackman-Woods, along with many residents, has lamented the lack of affordable housing in proposed new developments in the city. Dr Blackman-Woods said: 'The planning inspector has once more pointed out the lack of affordable housing provision in the city of Durham and has cited this as the main reason for rejecting the proposal'

Small local traders increasingly experience an environment where commuters use Durham as a base and shop elsewhere and the dearth of families with children who can afford to live in the city affects the quality of life now and is likely to have even more impact -unless the city's planning policies can be robustly improved. Banks' development proposals for Elvet Waterside (to date) contain no proposals for affordable housing.

The planning inspector did not agree with Gilesgate residents that the development was out of keeping with the area or that it would cause traffic congestion. Residents' spokesman, Bill Williamson was quoted in the Northern Echo as saying it rendered worthless planning policies designed to protect the conservation area and build sustainable mixed communities and added that he and his neighbours would fight any similar plans for the area. He said ' If the logic behind this decision was to govern developments elsewhere in the city, then local plans and local democracy will mean nothing. We cannot let that happen.'