It is with sadness that January saw the death of Ken at no 7; followed this month by the death of Karen at no.9. This leaves two large holes in our small community.
The Charles Church development on the Feethams football field site has proceeded slowly and somewhat painfully, but it seems that we are past the worse of wagons and mud. Now we are in to the 'marketing' stage.
Feethams Green is now accessed by Greener Drive (Ron Greener), leading to Peverell Walk (John Peverell).
Maybe we should take issue with the 'Quakers' and request a change of name?
With the development, we seem to have acquired a new garden. Residents are non-too-sure who will maintain it, but perhaps Darlington Guerilla Gardeners can be persuaded?
On the other side of Victoria Road, we hear that the £30m leisure complex is now 'topped out'.
The development will provide a nine-screen Vue Cinema, an 80-bed Premier Inn hotel, a Nandos, Purple Pig, Hungry Horse, Prezzo, Bella Italia and a Chinese buffet. We need never go hungry! Whilst residents have mixed feelings concerning the development, it has to be an improvement on the locality, compared with a derelict bus station or a large car park.
My letter to the developers requesting free tickets for the cinema opening clearly fell on deaf ears...almost as deaf as ours' following the thumping of the pile drivers. When the cinema is about to open I will have another go!
And now, the news that you have all been waiting for....the results of 'South Terrace in Bloom' Spring Edition.
There were five gardens in the short-list. Nos 5
(Les & Joan), 18 (Jim), 19 (Yvonne), 20 (Gary) and 23 (Lorraine) - note I have named the gardeners responsible! A late vote from Miles Twist has resulted in a dead heat between no 5 and no 20. The prize is a pint in the club.
Yesterday, a digger arrived at Feethams South. Dave B opened the side gates and in it went. It dug a little, then left.
Carla H informs me that Esh Group have exercised their option with the Cricket Club to complete their purchase of the football field (as it then was), and it seems that substantial funds have hit the Cricket Club's books. The blogger cannot imagine that Esh Group will have paid out without planning to go ahead with the development, although their web site is rather silent on the matter.
So, does that mean that 2013 will see the start of building works at Feethams? Brian Johnson, Cricket Club Chairman told the Northern Echo in May of last year that building would start later that summer. Was Aido right in his comment last September? Is this the end of Feethams as a World Heritage Site? Do take a look at Shaun Campbell's video for the Arthur Wharton Foundation.
It will be interesting to see whether Esh Group are able to honour their promises to ensure that the development goes ahead without too much impact on South Terrace. I sense that amongst the first steps will be the issue of access - opening and re-building the access road. Of course we will keep you posted of any developments here on the blog. Do contribute your thoughts and fears in the 'comment' box at the bottom of this blog.
Feethams North
For those of you who have not viewed the plans for the new cinema and leisure complex, here is an animated video (click the link), and here is the developer's web site.
The developers have set up a Facebook page. I notice an absence of critical review. Maybe this is just because everyone is delighted at the proposals. For my part, I believe that it will improve the Feethams North area. Whilst the car park was useful, it was a total waste of a highly visible site. I admire the way in which it provides a 21st century focus on the Skerne, which is long overdue.
For those with a spare £30m, now is your opportunity to invest if you follow this link.
And for those who are interested in how the plans match the original vision, below is an extract from the Urban Design Analysis. Note towards the end the mention of "site permeability". Does this mean that we will get our Barker and Stonehouse crossing?
"The southern and eastern flanks of the site are flanked by the inner ring road
and roundabout making the site very prominent for vehicular traffic and as
such can be seen as a 'shop window' for Darlington for through travellers and
as such a key gateway to the town centre. Additionally the proximity of the
area to the main pedestrian exit from the railway station on the East Coast
Mainline further raises the areas gateway status".
"The predominant pedestrian movement desire pattern is across the site from
east to west and vice versa. Many people pass along the edges of the area in
this direction but pedestrian penetration within the area is relatively poor.
There are three pedestrian crossing points across the ring road to the east
with varying levels of deflection. A significant north south route passes by the
western flank of the area predominantly used by pedestrians going between
Sainsbury's store and the town centre. Where permeability exists it is well
used. For example, the small street or lane that runs from Houndgate to
Beaumont Street between the car parks has a higher footfall than its amenity
might suggest. Some of the finer grain historic yards close by are not as well
used as they could be due to poor active frontages and poor amenity.
The River Skerne acts as an edge and as such restricts movement. Leadyard
Bridge is a popular route but the fenced off area at the edge of the Town Hall
car park prevents another crossing opportunity being available. Running
between the River and the inner ring road a pedestrian and cycle path
affords ‘around town’ pedestrian journeys, connected again via Leadyard
Bridge. The chicane outside the Town Hall reduces traffic speed allowing a
relatively safe pedestrian crossing point and the retention of this historic
desire line and route".
"Opportunities exist to improve permeability across the site in all directions.
There is also the chance to create a riverside promenade for pedestrians and
cyclists, overlooked with active frontages".
