Tyne & Wear LAF - Planning Working Group ITEM 9

Notes of meeting held on 16 April 2013 at Gateshead Civic Centre

In attendance:

Victor Cadaxa – Convenor

Kathy Atkinson

Ron Noble

Tony Skinner

Dave Turnbull

Liz Bray

Yvonne Forster (author of note)

1. VC welcomed everyone to meeting, especially Liz, back to active service. No new items to add to agenda. / ACTION
2. Actions from meeting held on 19 February 2013
It was agreed next site visit to River Don in South Tyneside then to a location in North Tyneside.
VC has written to all 5 ROW Officers asking for advance information where possible on any access and route issues they are, or become aware of, but no replies so far. VC to follow up. / VC
3. General and Tyne & Wear wide issues
  • Site Visit 6 March (Hetton Lyons Country Park & Stephenson Way Houghton/Hetton) This was a good and interesting visit, with a different landscape to other districts. There are conflicts of use where some unadopted paths are closed off for cycling events without anyone having the opportunity to object. TD provided excellent maps showing which paths are adopted. TD hoping to improve quality of bridleways. KA said they are not legally bridleways if they can be closed for cycling events. There are potential issues of ensuring good access/route links into CountyDurham, which surrounds Hetton & Houghton.
  • Missing Links – Letter sent to ROW Officers on 1 March 2013. Replies received from Newcastle, South Tyneside and Gateshead. YF to circulate to members and chase replies from Sunderland and North Tyneside. Report to main meeting once all replies received. KA/DT thanked VC for progressing this work.
  • Woodland Trust : Policy Planning Framework “dangerous loophole” VC circulated article for discussion. DT suggested using Huddle to see if any other LAF’s were raising issues/making proposals/raising objections related to this. Look at authorities Local Plan to see what arrangements they have in place and see if there are any areas where a Community Plan is being planned.
  • National Trust report on “Natural Childhood” (re clarifying if there are figures for the north east)
/ VC
VC
4. Borough/Citywatch Updates
North Tyneside– DT and TS to meet with Capita.
Planning Applications – East Wideopen Farm House – in hand
Sunhome Estate, off Station Road – link to Rising Sun. KA to check.
LockeyPark – passed. Bridleways ok.
Diversion at Murton – Good.
Newcastle – Great Park (next phase) KA contacting Mick Firth.
Gateshead– Keelmans Way – open
Marley Hill Open Cast – KA to follow up
Kibblesworth Opencast – KA to follow up.
South Tyneside – RN – nothing
KA advised Definitive map being updated at TemplePark. None of the routes are designated as bridleways. If designated footpaths cyclists and horseriders can’t use them. VC said there was a possibility the leisure centre would be demolished in near future.
Sunderland– Planning application at Stephenson Way submitted. Diversion whilst work being done is very vague.
Redevelopment of Washington Leisure & Sports Centre. VC making enquiries about temporary/permanent route diversions in adjacent Princess Anne Park and new routes proposed. VC writing to Sunderland City Corporate Services to be added to standard list for planning applications.
VC also enquiring about problem of accessing applications on website. / KA
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5. Items to Main meeting
Missing Links
Policy Planning Framework
Brief update and minutes of Planning Working Group since last meeting to go with agenda. Will also be posted on website as part of agenda.
6. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of this group will be held on Tuesday 4 June 2013 at 10.20 am (for 10.30 start) in Gateshead Civic Centre Canteen