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Phase I implementation 2007/8

16/10/2007

A bid has been submitted to One North East Single Programme for funding for the following activity to be carried out before the end of March 2008. The outcome of the bid is expected at the end of October 2007. Tenders briefs have already been drawn up for these contracts, so that work can progress as soon as the funding is confirmed.

(1) Site Appraisal

            The report will include environmental and technical assessments of identified key development sites/properties linked to the Vision’s 10 development themes (science & innovation; active; health campus; agricultural diversity; Vision; food economy; community; artisan; crafts & applied arts; and green). The appraisal remit covers: current use, development options, ownership, covenants, access, archaeology, contamination, geothermal potential, biodiversity, hydrology / flood risk, infrastructure, soil quality, conservation area / other issues

(2) Streetscape Strategy and Stage 1 implementation

The streetscape strategy for the town centre will connect Galgate, the Castle, Horsemarket, Market Place, Newgate, The Bank and Thorngate areas. It will consider the creation of a riverside walk and create a new town trail with improved lighting, signage and pedestrian routes linking the town’s main retail, community, leisure and visitor facilities. The streetscape strategy will include proposals and a staged implementation plan for lighting (including Castle floodlights), signage, street furniture and soft landscaping (including floral displays) in keeping with the conservation area.

(3) Transport and access study and modelling

            Transport and access is a key element of the underlying conditions that will make Barnard Castle work better. The Barnard Castle Visioning Issues and Options Report (October 2006) and Barnard Castle Vision (May 2007) identified a need for strategies in relation to cycling, bus services, car parking and HGV access. The Transport and Access Study will consider the traffic and access requirements of the proposed new capital developments alongside the Local Transport Plan and taking into account coach drop-off and parking, pedestrian and mobility scooter requirements. This work will establish the town's current and future transport and access needs and put forward solutions to identified problems. This information will then be modelled to calculate the impact of potential developments and proposed solutions on traffic flows.

(4) Delivery Support

            Wireless Barnard Castle & Cyberdale implementation plan

Building on work started under the West Durham Rural Pathfinder, the Barnard Castle Vision will bring together three wireless/broadband initiatives in Teesdale to prepare an implementation plan for the delivery of the wireless connectivity that businesses and homes demand:

(i) BT exchange enablement and planned 21CN roll out

(ii) Cyberdales project

(iii) Durham Net 'wireless cloud' project

The Leadership Forum programme of events between November 2007 and March 2008 will bring together major players from different sectors locally, regionally and nationally to share in and develop the Vision, to build a bank of potential investors, to ensure private sector involvement and to achieve inspirational input from key public sector leaders.

The Retail Distinctiveness Network will bring together independent and multiple retailers to act as a collective and to explore associations and networking so that the overall retail offer is more legible and accessible. This fulfils a recommendation of the Market Towns Retail Distinctiveness Project commissioned by One North East (October 2006).

Contacting the Vision
www.barnardcastlevision.co.uk

Dr Anne Allen
Assistant to Barnard Castle Vision
Tel 01388 718196
email: enquiries@barnardcastlevision.co.uk

Gillian Branch
Administrator
Tel: 01833 696 263
email: g.branch@teesdale.gov.uk