Barker and Stonehouse crossing

It is easy to become cynical.

There was a time when Persimmon Homes courted us as residents. They arranged a special information event at the Cricket Club to which we were invited. They explained their proposals for development of the old Feethams football field, promised us a river-side walkway and a pelican crossing.

Then the site was transferred to their subsidiary, Charles Church. Once planning requirements no longer required low-profit affordable housing, a new application quickly appeared. Once road building was underway, the riverside walk disappeared.

And now, the promise of a pelican crossing is to be reneged.

Planning application ref 15/00795/FUL is Persimmon's move to avoid funding a pelican crossing between Feethams South and Barker and Stonehouse.

Originally there was a controlled crossing at this point, but it was moved when the supermarket sought planning for its store. In its place was a centre carriageway refuge, access to which is fraught with danger. Vehicles leaving the roundabout hit speeds up to 40 mph by the time they reach Feethams South, resulting in pedestrians running for their lives.

Some would say that the presence of other crossings in Victoria Road would suffice. If that be true, why is it that on frequent occasions throughout the day and night, pedestrians collect like wildebeests waiting to cross a crocodile infested river?

The truth of the matter is that this is a significant crossing point for residents, visitors and passers-by. In 2006 this blogger wrote to John Ray, then Highways manager to report a near accident on Tuesday 12th September 2006 when a 30 year old male was nearly hit by a Vauxhall travelling west from the roundabout up Victoria Road. On 5 March 2009 I wrote of the demolition of railings at this location. In June 2011 I reported the fourth significant traffic event in just over 4 years.

1 October is given as the closing date for objections to the proposed amendment of planning consent.

It is important that we mobilise every resource available to us to prevent the loss of a proper crossing point.

In my next blog, I will suggest ways of evidencing the need. In the meantime, I urge readers to register their objections with Andrew Harker, either on line here or by phoning him on 01325 406488, quoting reference 15/00795/FUL.

Charles Church - executive development, or simply lazy?

When Charles Church prepared to sell their executive homes at executive prices, they created a show garden at the entrance to the Feethams development. Is this 'top-show' approach indicative of their product?

Spring news round-up

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).

Quaint but unimaginative! Whatever happened to Lance Armstrong Lane or  Arthur Wharton Avenue?



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.

'The Best Gnome' award goes to Jim!