Meeting Tonight

7pm tonight at St Joseph’s Parish Centre.

Minutes of the Novembers meeting are attached below.
Appologies for the late update.


Minutes of Meeting held Tuesday 10th November 2009
In Mary Magdelene Church Hall at 7.0pm

Chairman’s Update/Minutes from previous meeting
S Adamson opened the meeting by giving apologies from those unable to attend, especially Amanda through ill health. All at the meeting expressed their sympathy and concern and wished Amanda a speedy recovery.

The meeting was informed of a recent request by Mr Stephen Pickering, Deputy Executive Director of Services, Sunderland Civic Centre to meet with members of the Association to discuss our concerns. Amanda arranged at very short notice for some of our members to attend a meeting at Elizabeth’s house. At this meeting Mr Pickering went through the plans by the council to be put before the resident’s in the near future. The members informed Mr Pickering that although the plans were a vast improvement on those previously, some of the proposals would be unworkable i.e. proposed 400 marked bays for hospital staff in places not used by residents. Mr Pickering agreed to look at the proposals and meet with us again before going public with the consultation in November.

Following discussion the Association members agreed their own “Option 9” to be put to the residents in the form of Leaflets to be put through all doors in the streets affected. The points agreed as follows:-
1. Free permits for residents only parking in all streets surrounding the hospital site with a fixed minimum cost for additional cars.
2. Free visitors permits for unlimited stay by friends, relations, business agents etc.
3. Limited parking provision for non-permit holders for up to two hours per day only.
4. Double yellow lines in all back lanes (residents only parking allowed).
5. All junctions to be kept clear with either bollards or extended double yellow lines from main streets where necessary.
6. NO PERMITS FOR HOSPITAL STAFF. The hospital trust must be made accountable for the ever-increasing car parking problems they have caused over many years and should therefore resolve staff and visitor parking issues themselves.

The members discussed the impact the present situation was causing for local businesses. One local hairdresser had informed she had been forced to close down this week with parking problems for clients being one of the main contributing factors.

The meeting also discussed its concerns about irresponsible and sometimes dangerous parking by Blue Badge holders, who seemed to think they could park anywhere they liked regardless of problems caused to others. How would the new parking plans affect them?

Despite a written appeal to the owner of City Taxis, cabs were still being parked in St Gabriels Avenue, waiting for hospital fares. A letter had also been sent to City Hospitals Trust asking them to talk to City Taxis about this problem as the taxi firm were contracted by them.

Any Other Business
The new road system at Ormonde St/Chester Road junction was causing many problems for the residents of ABC streets down to Jackson Street. The increased traffic and confusion caused by street signs on top of parking problems was causing great distress to the residents.

The meeting agreed the Police should be asked to attend our meeting in order to discuss our concerns over inconsiderate and dangerous parking in our streets.

The meeting closed at 8.35pm
The next meeting to be Tuesday December 8th 7.0pm at St Joseph’s Parish Centre.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 8th December

The next residents' association meeting will take plat at 7pm on Tuesday 8th at St Josephs Parish Centre, Rutland Street. Minutes of the last meeting will be posted here on the blog over the weekend. Everyone welcome.

Thanks for all the comments left on the blog recently regarding the Councils consultation. We are always interested to hear residents views!