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Town's Young People to be Asked their Views on Future of Scar Top

08/03/2010

NB if you're on Facebook, why not visit the Scar Top Lookout page.  Click here

 

A workshop to develop landscape design ideas for future uses of Scar Top has agreed that incorporating ideas from young people is one of its highest priorities. 

Barnard Castle Vision hosted the event which was attended by more than 30 people. Organisations represented included Barnard Castle Town Council, Teesdale Action Partnership, English Heritage, the Police, the Methodist Church and local residents, as well as representatives from a number of Durham County Council departments. 

Initial ideas were presented by Chris Burnett of Chris Burnett Associates (CBA), a landscape architecture practice that specialises in the management of historic landscapes. The questions posed included the positioning of the children’s play area and the mini golf, and potential uses of the gardens surrounding Woodleigh. It is hoped that modest investment may be available next year to improve this important public area and the castle’s historic setting.

The event was chaired by William Weston of Barnard Castle Vision. He said: “We had a very productive afternoon, which generated ideas catering for everyone from mums with babies, through to the older generation. We aim to make Scar Top a genuine asset to the town and a space which will be well used by residents and visitors. One of the priorities is to draw visitors to the entrance to the castle, the historic centrepiece around which the town is built.   

“Many of those who attended are passionate about working with the town’s young people to ensure their ideas are incorporated into this central space. Together with the Community Police Team, we will now be actively seeking input from as many young people as possible.” 

CBA will develop the plans further, incorporating the ideas from the town’s younger residents. A similar meeting will be held to present the plans within a few months. It is anticipated that work on Scar Top will be phased over a few years, and that initial phases will be completed within the coming year.  

CBA has worked on a number of historic landscape projects including Wray Castle in Cumbria, Tarn Hows and Monk Coniston Estate in the Lake District, and Bosworth Battlefield in Leicestershire. The practice has also recently completed a feasibility study for the Natural History Museum in London, including concept proposals for the space in front of the planned Darwin Centre 2 building.