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Freelance journalist, Ernie Brown: So, what kinds of developments do you envisage?
Leader of Darlington Council, John Williams: We are, actually, very open minded. We’re
looking for innovative ideas; new ideas; groundbreaking ideas.
One thing I’m particularly keen on is opening up the frontage with the River Skerne. I think
that would be a very attractive feature for people to enjoy.
Ernie Brown: You say you’re looking for ideas – does that mean the Council doesn’t
have any ideas of its own?
Leader: No, no. We have some ideas and we have put that forward in the pages of the
Town Crier and everyone can have a look at those, but they’re not set in stone by any
means.
We have complete open minds about it. One thing people need to keep in mind is we are
going to be getting rid of a very ugly eye sore here – that is the old Darlington bus
station, which has been crumbling and a blot on the landscape now for many years now and
public opinion is totally in favour of its demolition – I think that’s pretty much
100 per cent.
We’ll get rid of that and as part of the development we’re open minded enough to
perhaps incorporate the existing town centre car park as part of the new development.
Ernie Brown: You’re looking at, though potentially, are you not, a mix of commercial and residential
development here?
Leader: Well, commercial certainly, because the scheme has to stack up commercially. I
mean, we don’t want to be putting public money into it, we want to be attracting blue
chip developers who have a track record of delivering quality, cost-effective schemes.
Ernie Brown: It’s a little removed, though, is it not, from the town centre; from High
Row, so is this going to compliment the existing facilities, or is it going to be in competition
with them?
Leader: I think it will compliment, and you know, significantly, the traders in the market
– the indoor market, are in favour of this development taking place – as long as it’s
the right kind of development.
I think they can see it will increase footfall, and people passing the marking and going into
the market too, to buy goods from there. So, I think it will balance the town centre, actually.
Ernie Brown: You’re asking for the public to respond with their ideas – just how seriously
will you take them, or is it just a paper exercise you’re going through?
Leader: Well it will depend how serious the ideas are – I mean, they have got to be
serious ideas, they can’t just be worked out on the back of an envelope, for example,
to pain an extreme picture. They have to be thought through, sustainable and deliverable
and affordable too.
So it’s not just a question of coming up with an idea and sending it forward – although
we would look at those ideas, and if those ideas grab the attention and merit public
support, then obviously we will try and work them up.
But we’re looking for well thought out ideas; viable ideas that are going to work and make
Darlington better in the years to come.
Ernie Brown: Now this has been an eye sore for a long, long time, so what kind of time
frame are you looking at for developing this area?
Leader: Well, medium term, I think. You know short term is difficult because of the international
financial situation.
It will take time for the ideas to come in, for them to be assessed and worked up, and
then go out to consultation again with what people think is best, and then of course you
have to interest developers who are going to do the scheme.
Ernie Brown: How are you going to do that? How are you going to sell it?
Leader: well, we’ll sell it, because Darlington is a great place for them to come to. It’s
a prosperous town, it’s an ambitious town, it’s a town that’s going places and it’s
a town where partnerships work - where we have a good record of delivery and making
things happen. I think that appeals to developers.
And I am confident that once the financial situation stabilises worldwide and nationally,
then we will get developers that are more than interested in coming to Darlington.
Ernie Brown: So, looking ahead, five to ten years, what would you expect to see on that
site?
Leader: A quality development that is appreciated by townspeople and visitors alike, and something
that adds hugely to the value of the Darlington offer. And Darlington does have a lot to offer,
even now, and with this development it will have even more.
So, I’m very hopeful, that in five to ten years time, we will see something that Darlingtonians
can be proud of on that site.