Introduction
- In accordance with the Neigbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, Belmont Parish Council wishes to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan. The council has considered a series of reports since February 2022 and at its July meeting agreed an application for the designation of neigbourhood area should be submitted
- The proposed designated area is the entirety of the county council Belmont electoral division, namely, Belmont civil parish and the unparished area of Gilesgate abutting the electoral divisions of Elvet & Gilesgate, Durham South and Sherburn. This can be seen in the map attached
- This application is being submitted in collaboration with Gilesgate Residents Association. Since late 2021 the two organisations have been working closely together through a Neighbourhood Plan Working Group, that reports back to the respective bodies. This working group consists of 75% of its members from the parish council and 25% from the residents association, reflecting the balance of households between the parish and unparished areas
- Helpful advice has been received from Durham County Council spatial policy team, a newsletter (copy attached) has been delivered to all households in the proposed neighbourhood area and a public meeting has been arranged for the 4th October 2022
- The regulations require the application to include
– a map which identifies the area to which the area application relates
-a statement why this area is considered appropriate to be designated as a neigbourhood area
-a statement that the organisation or body making the area application is a relevant body for the purposes of section 61G of the 1990 Act.
Mapping
6.A map of the current Belmont electoral division is attached. While it is understood a review of boundaries is taking place, any changes would not impact on the proposed neighbourhood area. It would still cover the civil parish of Belmont and the unparished area, defined in paragraph 2.
Supporting Statement
- The civil parish and unparished area are inextricably linked in terms of history, economy, and the provision of educational, retail, social and recreational facilities. Residents from both areas share community governance responsibilities on school governing bodies and with voluntary organisations. Three elected Belmont parish councillors live in the unparished area, and several councillors are actively involved in the management of Gilesgate Residents Association. In recent years there have been a number of successful practical collaborations between the two bodies. These have included regular litter picks involving residents and the establishment of the Belmont & Gilesgate Well Being Project in 2020, operating six days a week, thanks to local voluntary support.
- Residents living either side of the western side of the parish boundary, which goes down middle of Mill Lane and Kepier Crescent, are probably unaware of its existence. The new housing development at Hartley Gardens, in the civil parish has no direct access to other streets within the parish’s jurisdiction. The only access is from Bradford Crescent in the unparished area.
- Children from the unparished area attend Belmont Community Secondary School and both Gilesgate and St Hild’s Primary Schools. Conversely, the rolls at St Joseph’s and Laurel Avenue Primary include children from the parish
- Congregations at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, St Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, Carrville Methodist Church and Sunderland Road Baptist Church are from both areas. Historically, St Mary Magdalene was established as a daughter church of St Giles.
- Residents from both areas shop at the Dragonville Retail Park,in the civil parish, while local shopping facilities at Sherburn Road Ends in the unparished area are used by parish residents. The local convenience store and post office at Willowtree Avnue is used by people from both areas Similarly, Belmont and New Durham social clubs, within the parish boundary, are patronised by people from both areas. This boundary is also totally irrelevant for customers of public houses and fast food outlets.
- Belmont Business Park and Mandale Park clearly provide employment for all residents
- Public transport users tend to use the most convenient stop to wherever they live, either outside or inside the parish.
- GP practices pay no attention to the boundary, nor do users of Moor Field (recreation area) and the Scrambles (public green space) in the parish, or walking routes along the riverbanks, Dragon Park and Old Durham Garden outside of the parish. Likewise, allotment holders are probably oblivious to whether their produce is grown behind Soccerena (parish) or Sherburn Road (unparished), as are playing members of the various sports clubs active in both areas
- Apart from the council tax precept, residents of the proposed neigbourhood area see little difference between the parish and unparished areas. There is however, a strong commonality of interest in the future of the whole area. This covers the use of land and key sites, social, economic and environmental issues, particularly housing, heritage, transport and community facilities.
- Belmont Parish Council and Gilesgate Residents Association believe a Neighbourhood Plan would materially benefit this area and its residents Relevant Body
- Belmont Parish Council is a properly constituted body as required by section 61G of the 1990 Act. The 15 councillors are elected for a four year term. Its financial accounts, agendas and minutes are available for public scrutiny.
- Gilesgate Residents’ Association is a constituted unincorporated residents group representing 2174 households in the unparished area. The Association supports the status of Belmont Parish Council as the relevant body for the purposes of Section 61G and has agreed to work in cllaboration with the parish council to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan.
- At its meeting on 14 July 2022 Belmont Parish Council, “agreed without prejudice, an application for a defined Neighbourhood Plan area to cover the parish council and unparished area covered by the Gilesgate Residents Association should be submitted to Durham County Council.