Present:  Community Police/Partners
Six present                                      Â
PC Dawson 1363
Gill Cartwright (DBC)
John Herdman (DBC Dog warden)

1. Minutes of previous meeting
The previous minutes were agreed as correct.
2. Previous months PACT Priorities

PC Dawson gave an overview of the results of the PACT priorities for last month as follows:

 

Longfield Road Speeding.

Deployed speedwatch once, 110 vehicles monitored no offences. 7 Patrols at  key times undertaken including RPU no offences.

It was decided by all present to close this priority as it was felt this priority had been addressed as far as possible.

 

Burtree Lane speeding.

5 patrols at key times were undertaken no offences.

Speedwatch deployed once, 80 vehicles monitored no offences.

Traffic offences monitored on 6 occasions at the mini roundabout.

It was decided by all present to close this priority as it was felt this priority had been addressed as far as possible.

 

Dog fouling in Glebe Road/Green Lane

6 Patrols by police early morning and evenings. Dog warden numerous patrols undertaken 3 fines issued, discussions with walkers, it was noticed that dog walkers were also arriving in vehicles out the area.

Actions from previous meeting

Gill Cartwright stated that the various queries for the Highways had not been answered and that they can not attend PACT meetings due to staff shortages. All agreed this was not acceptable; however the following queries will be chased with Highways to a successful conclusion.

Actions:

The depression in the road behind the bus terminus in North Road, survey details required.

• A local resident pointed out that vehicles are not stopping at the mini roundabout at the top of Burtree Lane which could cause an accident with traffic from Harrowgate farm.  Suggestions put forward were to raise the hump, at the roundabout, check signage approaching the roundabout, speed humps in the road for speeding and ban HGV vehicles

.A discussion took place about the narrowness of the road at the junction of Longfield Road and North Road for HGV vehicles even when there are no obstructions by vehicles. It was decided this would be added to the list of issues for the Highways to address.

Gill confirmed that the only issue that had some feedback was a letter from Durham Constabulary traffic management. It stated that due to no accidents occurring here that no plans would be put in force.

1. 2. January/February PACT Priorities

PC Dawson invited comments from the floor regarding ideas for setting this months priorities.

Therefore the priorities for the month were set as follows:

Deter dog fouling Washbrooke Drive.

• Deter ASB/under age drinking Bowman Street.
• Deter dwelling Burglaries Longfield Road/Whessoe Road

3. Any Other Business

A resident highlighted a parking obstruction on Salters Lane North opposite the Harrowgate Club between 8 and 9am most most days.

Action: Police to patrol, monitor and deal with offenders.

Pc Dawson gave detailed crime figures for December 2010 with an overview of figures as below:

Harrowgate Hill Recorded Crime rate (December 2010)

Number of Crimes:

22, decrease of 15%

46% detection rate

Number of Burglary Dwellings:

4, up 264%

25% detection rate YTD

Number of Theft of Motor Vehicle:

1, Increase 100%

50% detections

number of Theft From Motor Vehicle:

1, decrease of 60%

40% detection rate

Number of All Criminal Damage:

6, increase 3%

19% detection rate

 

Number of theft of a pedal cycle:

1, increase of 233%

 

24 incidents of ASB in the area last month.

 

This post was written by Gill Cartwright

Owner of Little Coffee Van

Friday 21^st January is the plea and case management hearing at Teesside Crown Court at 10.00am. There are three defendents, Brain Shaun Wright, Raymond Anthony Shepherd and Albert Road Skip Hire; they will all be invited to make separate pleas, guilty or not guilty.

If the plea is not guilty, then a date will be set for a hearing where the EA will present the evidence that they have gathered.

If the plea is guilty, then a date will be set for sentencing. In the Crown Court there is no limit on fines and there could be a custodial sentence.

The hearing is open to members of the public.

There have been critisim made in the past at the lack of action and the slow response by the Environment Agency to the actviites that have been taking place at this site. On November 14th Harrowgate Farm Residents association arranged a protest in order to highlight what they thought was lack of action by the Agency.

So, it is a positive step forward that the case is finally to be heard on Friday this week. We await the outcome with interest.

This post was written by Gill Cartwright

Owner of Little Coffee Van

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) and NHS North East have advised that although the level of ‘flu-like illness is continuing to rise, it is below the epidemic threshold.  Both the swine ‘flu and seasonal ‘flu viruses are circulating in the north east.

It is important that we all remember to ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it!’ if we sneeze to help reduce transmission of the virus.  If you are actually diagnosed with ‘flu, please stay off work and follow medical advice and normal sickness absence reporting procedures.

A very small proportion of people infected are ill enough to require hospital care. A disproportionate impact has been identified on people in clinical ‘at risk’ groups (those with chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease, immunosuppression, diabetes mellitus and patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years) and pregnant women.

As such, the HPA/NHS strongly recommend vaccination to those in clinical ‘at risk’ groups and pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.  We have been advised that this is available via GPs.

The Council has already offered the seasonal ‘flu vaccination to staff in identified key front line services (i.e. social care workers, relevant employees in schools etc.) but take-up has been low to date.  We still have vaccine left for people in these groups and they should contact their manager and / or their Departmental HR Team to make the relevant arrangements.

The Council will continue to monitor the situation closely and take appropriate measures.

 

This post was written by Gill Cartwright

Owner of Little Coffee Van

We contacted Highways Department who confirmed that the stop is marked on the road but does not have a clearway sign. A sign has been arranged for the bus stop so that illegal parking there can be enforced.

As of the 31st December it is the Council Parking Wardens that have the responsibility for parking enforcement.

This post was written by Gill Cartwright

Owner of Little Coffee Van

Streetscene did a fantastic job clearing the main roads and the bus routes, we know this because we live on a main road and frequently saw the gritters whizzing past. They should be commended for a job well done.

However, the problem lies with the roads that are not on a main route. The Council has a statutory duty to maintain clear access to the main routes and they have done this well, However, this is not much use to people if they are unable to get their car out of their estate/street. This is the situation that many people have found themselves in our ward and no doubt across the town.

The other serious problem has been the dangerous condition of the pavements with several inches of thick, compacted, slippery ice. We have personally witnessed two of our elderly residents fall as they were trying to access the pavement from the road. The ice was so thick and slippery that they fell back onto the road, one case in front a car travelling along the road.

There is a solution to the problem.

The Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond proposes that members of the public should have access to salt and grit supplies in order to assist in clearing Highways during periods of severe weather.

He has declared roads and pavements not treated by councils could be handled by individuals.
Philip Hammond believes such measures could reduce travel problems by making movement easier for people and their neighbours.

In fact, this echoes exactly what people who have contacted us have asked for, they understand that the Council can not clear every road in the Borough, logistically impossible. But they would be more than willing to clear the snow themselves and help elderly neighbours where needed if the Council provide the grit.

This is direction from the Government but the Council take it up?

This post was written by Gill Cartwright

Owner of Little Coffee Van

We have just had a report of a lost dog in the Harrowgate Hill area.

Her name is Worm and she is a tan & white Beagle. She was lost this morning in the Harrowgate Hill (White Horse) area.

A reward has been offered.

If you see Worm, please telephone us on 01325 382276
or
Send us a message via this website or Twitter or Facebook.

Please note that Worm is a little bit shy of strangers, so if you see her please do make contact asap.

The Northern Echo – “Dog missing in snow”

This post was written by Mike Cartwright

Ward Councillor for Harrowgate Hill, Darlington

This post was written by Gill Cartwright

Owner of Little Coffee Van

Below is the response we received.

“Unfortunately we are not in a position to do this as I have to preserve our salt stock so we can maintain the agreed highway network in a safe condition. Whilst we have enough grit for the foreseeable future and more on order we have used approx 40% of our supplies to date. This is also the case for all North East Authorities and highways agency who have used between 40% – 50% so far. The forecast is for this cold weather to stay until the weekend when it looks like it may warm up for a period and although we may get some snow this week it is not going to be as heavy as last week. As resources allow we will plough un treated areas this week as and when we can.”

This post was written by Gill Cartwright

Owner of Little Coffee Van

]]> http://www.harrowgatehill.org/winter-maintenance-service/feed/ 0 http://www.harrowgatehill.org/help-in-the-snow/ http://www.harrowgatehill.org/help-in-the-snow/#comments Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:51:49 +0000 Mike Cartwright http://www.harrowgatehill.org/?p=225 As I’m fortunate enough to be having a “snow day” (ie I’m not at work), me and my trusty Land Rover are available if anybody needs assistance in and around Darlington. Probably also available for most of the weekend to (assuming I don’t burnout the clutch!).

Send us a message via this website or Twitter or Facebook.

This post was written by Mike Cartwright

Ward Councillor for Harrowgate Hill, Darlington

]]> http://www.harrowgatehill.org/help-in-the-snow/feed/ 0 http://www.harrowgatehill.org/the-work-of-pact/ http://www.harrowgatehill.org/the-work-of-pact/#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:18:29 +0000 Gill Cartwright http://www.harrowgatehill.org/?p=198 Every month in Harrowgate Hill Club we have a partners and Police meeting, where members of the public can come along and tell us about local problems they are having in their neighbourhood.

We then agree and set three priorities for the coming month. We work with the Police on agreed actions to deal with each priority and report progress the following month as well as receiving feedback from people who raised the issue to see if they are seeing improvement.

As well as the three PACT priorities we also deal with all issues that are brought to the meeting such as Highways issues, dog fouling and littering etc.

It gives an opportunity to talk directly with the Police, in confidence should there be a need.

Below is a summary of the issues that we have tackled since May this year.

Underage supplying of alcohol

Underage drinking of alcohol at Drinkfield Marsh

Speeding traffic on Alwyn Road

No right turn at Thompson Street junction

Parking issues on Saltersgate, Marina, Mistral and Davison Road.

Anti-social behaviour at the Longfield Road bus terminus

Speeding traffic on Burtree Lane

Parking issues on Kirkfield Road

Parking issues outside Longfield School

Anti-social behaviour at the old Harrowgate Hill School site

Anti-social behaviour at Glebe Road allotments

Anti-social behaviour on Whessoe Road private land

As well as many dog fouling, littering and highways issues.

The next meeting is at 6.30pm on 15th December at Harrowgate Hill Club on Salters Lane, everyone welcome.

This post was written by Gill Cartwright

Owner of Little Coffee Van

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