Town looks really great
Oct 9 2007 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette
A HUGE engineering project that has breathed new life into Darlington town centre has won unanimous praise from the town’s business, public and voluntary sectors.
The £8.5m pedestrian heart initiative has transformed the main shopping area attracting countless visitors and new trade.
Darlington Partnership, which acts as a catalyst for change by bringing together leading figures from the private, public, community and voluntary sectors, gave a formal vote of thanks to the council at its last meeting, proposed by accountant Richard Coad.
Its chairman, Alasdair MacConachie, has followed this up by formally writing to council leader John Williams.
He said: “I would like to put on record our warmest congratulations for the town centre and the changes which have taken place there.
“Like many others we had concerns over how the end result would look whilst it was being developed. But now it has been completed, we are unanimous in our approval, especially for the increased use and sense of enjoyment people have whilst working and shopping there.”
He said he shared a view that the scheme marked a new dawn for town centre trading and the encouragement of new businesses in Darlington.
The praise comes as an annual residents’ community survey showed an almost 23% rise in satisfaction relating to the town centre.
Every year residents are asked what they think about the upkeep of the town centre.
In 2006 58.8% said they were satisfied.
But this year the figure has risen to 81.6%.
Councillor Williams said: “It is very satisfying that our partners value what we have done to revitalize the town centre, which is born out by the public satisfaction figures.
“There is a new-found feeling of vibrancy and energy in Darlington that is attracting a lot of attention from businesses and tradesmen, shoppers and tourists alike, which can only be good for future prosperity and the quality of life in the town.”
