Next Residents Meeting: Tuesday 28th April

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 28th April at 7.00pm in St Josephs Parish Centre, Rutland Street. Everyone is welcome to join us.

The minutes of the last meeting on 31st March are posted below.

BARNES, PALLION & MILLFIELD RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Minutes of Meeting held 7.0pm 31.3.09
At St Joseph’s Parish Centre

Present: M. Greenfield, M Lundy, E Lardner, M Stanger, D Owens, A Robinson, T Hall,
M Langley, A Donkin, Cllr P Dixon, D Norman, M Peacock, P Tebbs, K Wilson,
M Carr, J Hickman, A Tumman, K Wilkinson, D.M. Murton, B Smith,
G Pensial, S Adamson.
Apologies: L Ranton.

Chairman’s Report
A Robinson began by going over the minutes of the previous meeting.
Members of the Committee reported that residents were still being subjected to both verbal and even written abuse from hospital staff parking in the side streets. It was suggested that all these incidents should be reported to the police as they were obliged to log the calls and also to the Hospital Trust as they would have to reply to correspondence received. In a recent letter from Carol Harries to Cllr Dixon, she stated that the Chief Executive had personally e-mailed all staff reminding them of their personal responsibilities in relation to parking in nearby residential streets. This had obviously not worked.

Cllr Dixon had received a memo from Phil Barrett, Development and Regeneration Services, stating that more than 2,700 properties around the Hospital had been surveyed. He also stated that restricted residents only parking would have a negative impact on the day-to-day running of the hospital if staff were unable to park in the surrounding streets. At the recent Council meeting it was stated that only 470 replies had been received. The majority option from these replies would be considered for implementation. The Committee requested a letter be sent to Mr Barrett requesting an accurate account of the properties surveyed under the Freedom of Information Act, a copy to be sent to Cllr Watson.

It was pointed out by some members that an increase in traffic warden presence had been noted since the recent public meetings but so far with no significant improvement.

Council Meeting
Cllr Dixon had presented our petition to the Council at their recent meeting. We await a response.

Website
Kate’s website was proving to be very successful with a majority of positive responses. The committee suggested a template letter to be put on the website in order for people to put their objections to the hospital application for planning permission. The closing date for these objections is 7th April. Public can also attend the Planning Meeting. Flyers and posters were being distributed as far as possible in order to inform the local residents of the website.

Any Other Business
Members pointed out that the parking situation in St Gabriels Avenue was also being aggravated by City Taxis, who have a contract with the Hospital, using the road outside the garages for their breaks while waiting for calls. Sometimes as many as five cabs at a time were parking there. Not only were they obstructing traffic and pedestrian access they were dumping rubbish (cigarette ends, teabags, orange peel and even empty food cartons littering the ground).

Rather than take action by blocking streets with our own cars, which would put people at risk, the committee agreed it would be more beneficial to try and involve our local MP Mr Bill Etherington.

The Committee wished to thank both St Joseph’s Parish Centre and St Mary Magdelene’s Church for their kind offer of use of their premises.
The Sunderland Echo were also following our progress and keeping in regular contact with Amanda.

Cllr Dixon impressed upon the Committee the need to concentrate on pressing the council to implement residents only parking, as this was the only way to force the Hospital Trust into finding a solution for their staff parking.
In a letter to Cllr Dixon, Carol Harries (Trust Secretary) had stated that the Hospital were willing to work with the council on resolving the parking situation. This was contradictory to statements by the council. The committee suggested a letter be sent to Carol Harries stating that we did object in principal to their extension plans but that provision for car parking should be a priority in these plans and also reiterate the stress and distress this situation was causing our residents. A copy to be sent to Cllr Watson.

The meeting closed at 8.10pm.
The next meeting to be Tuesday 28th April at 7.0pm at St Joseph’s Parish Centre.