April 2014 - Darlington Together

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Welcome to this month’s magazine for Darlington Borough Hello and welcome to the April edition of Darlington Together

I’m pleased to hear that the Festival of Thrift is returning to Darlington in September. Twenty seven thousand Spring is traditionally the time of fresh people from all over the country starts and new beginnings. This April, we attended the first event at Lingfield welcome Ian Williams, our new Point last year, learning many interesting Director for Economic Growth. things about sustainability along the APRIL way.

There’s more information on page Ian will be responsible for attracting 22, and we’ll be keeping you updated investment to Darlington to increase with all the latest news. the number of businesses and jobs. While we’ve already had successes in this area including the Finally, don’t forget that your refuse and recycling development of Central Park and moving 400 dates will be changing with the Easter Bank jobs to the town centre with the new offices for Holiday – more details are available the Department for Education, I’m positive that on the back page of the Ian will be able to build on this and help magazine, as well as on Darlington become an even better place to live www.darlington.gov.uk. and work.

Cllr Bill Dixon MBE April sees the start of a packed calendar of (@BillDixonDton) events for Darlington’s arts and culture scene Leader of the Council with Darlington Arts Festival, the Jabberwocky Market and Darlington Jazz Festival, as well as an interesting approach to borrowing pieces of art!

Visit pages 24 and 25 to find out more.

MP’s surgeries Jenny Chapman: MP for Darlington.

Walk-in surgery will be held on Friday 25 April from 9:30 - 10:30am at the Constituency Office, 40a Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, DL3 7RG. E-mail: jenny.chapman.mp@parliament.uk Call: 01325 382345

Phil Wilson: MP for Sedgefield. The office is open between Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5pm. Appointments can be arranged by calling 01325 321603 or e-mail phil.wilson.mp@parliament.uk

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NEWS IN BRIEF Darlington's newest skatepark is now finished: 4Motion skatepark

St George’s Day: Are you organising any events to celebrate St George’s Day? If so, let us know by calling 01325 388151 or emailing marion.ogle@darlington.gov.uk and we can help you promote them. There will be a toast to St George on 23 April at the Market Cross at 12noon.

officially opens this month following a temporary closure while the second half of the park was built. The park is based at Faverdale Industrial estate and caters for BMX, inline skates, scooters and skateboards. For more information and opening times visit www.4motiondarlington.org

Help for Service men and women: The Royal British Legion has changed its contact details.

You can call them on 0808 802 8080 (calls are free from UK landlines and main mobile networks) or visit: www.britishlegion.org.uk The Royal British Legion supports Service men and women, veterans and their families.

Check out Facebook and Twitter: Did you know Darlington Libraries are now on social media? Find them on facebook or twitter for all the latest news, events and facts.

CONTACT US 01325 380651 enquiries@darlington.gov.uk

STREET SCENE www.darlington.gov.uk/streetscene Tel (01325) 388777

We’re moving to a new website in April.

COUNCIL TAX www.darlington.gov.uk/counciltax Tel (01325) 388373

Visit www.darlington.gov.uk to find out more (or scan the QR code). We’d love to hear your feedback!

HOUSING BENEFIT AND COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT www.darlington.gov.uk/benefits Tel (01325) 388514 HOUSING AND REPAIRS www.darlington.gov.uk/housing Tel (01325) 388542 HIGHWAYS,TRANSPORT, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH www.darlington.gov.uk Tel (01325) 388799

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At your service Our new customer service centre opens this month. It’s a one-stop shop for residents who need advice on all areas of Council business from council tax and business rates to housing benefit.

Customers can also get financial advice from Darlington Credit Union and legal advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau which are both part of the new centre.

Based at the Town Hall, the new centre is much bigger than the old one and has more private booths, as well as four selfservice points which will help to keep waiting times down.

Ada Burns, Chief executive of the council says: “It’s fantastic to have an up-to-date centre which can serve our customers well.We aim to provide a quick and convenient service for residents and businesses.”

Remember you can pay bills and find out about Council services online at www.darlington.gov.uk

Sue Pickering and Pam Hodgson Customer service advisors

Spotlight on Darlington Credit Union Darlington Credit Union is a financial cooperative. It offers people an ethical way to save, safe in the knowledge that all money is recycled within the community to offer affordable loans to local people.

Your savings are guaranteed in-line with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and you can access them anytime.

Tony Brockley, CEO Darlington Credit Union says: “We’re a local alternative to big banks and being under the same roof as council services makes us a very convenient option.We’d encourage people to open an account and save with us as well as coming to us for a loan rather than going to pay day lenders.”

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Engineer a good Now in its third year, Foundation for Jobs continues to deliver work opportunities for young people across the Borough.

Already, more than 1,000 young people have been helped into apprenticeships and work through the scheme that sees the Council working with Darlington Partnership and the Northern Echo.

Creating opportunities for young people is crucial for the local economy as a highly skilled workforce is needed by local employers in areas such as engineering.

Alongside the success of Foundation for Jobs, another local scheme, Encouraging Engineering, aims to support young people as they work towards a career in engineering.

Eligible students have received up to £3,000 per year bursary plus paid summer placement of 10 – 12 weeks at £14,000 pro-rata.

Encouraging Engineering Students from Carmel College, Queen Elizabeth 6th Form College and Darlington College recently took part in an open day which was hosted by Cummins Engines to promote the Encouraging Engineering Scheme. Professional engineers from several companies involved in the scheme gave the students an insight into their day-to-day working lives followed by a tour around Cummins Engines’ factory floor.

The Encouraging Engineering Scheme is now in its fifth year. Funded by the BAT Legacy, it seeks to address the issues of an ageing engineering workforce and is aimed at undergraduate students studying a four year Mechanical Engineering degree at university. The scheme is open to students who have studied at a Darlington-based college. Eligible students can receive up to £3,000 per year bursary plus a paid summer

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placement of 10–12 weeks of approx. £14,000 pro rata as well as mentoring from professional engineers.

Encouraging Engineering is a partnership between the Council and some of Tees Valley's largest engineering employers. As the scheme has grown, more companies have joined including MTE Ltd, Cummins Engines, DeepOcean UK, Henry Williams Ltd and Tracerco.

Ron Davison, Technical Director at MTE Ltd, said: “MTE is proud to be part of what we believe to be a very important ingredient in the development of young people in the North East.

“It makes a valuable contribution to rebuilding the technical engineering skill base within the country.”

There are now 10 students on the scheme with two graduating this year both of whom have been

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career

Here’s what some of the Encouraging Engineering students had to say:

“My work experience was very productive this year…

I even got to design a new set of punching tools as part of one of my projects.”

Sam Jones on Henry Williams Ltd. “..it gave me

“The projects were both small and large scale which really made me feel like I was being a great help to the company.

Overall, I found the experience interesting and enjoyable.”

Ben Appleby on Tracero a good insight into what to expect in the future if I choose a career in sub-sea engineering.”

Andy Dockray on DeepOcean UK

successful in being offered full-time employment by local companies on completion of their degree. Student places on the scheme are limited but we are hoping to get more local engineering companies on board in order to create more placement opportunities.

Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Council’s lead on economy and regeneration, said: “To ensure our engineering firms continue to flourish they need to attract the best young people.

This scheme aims to ensure Darlington does not suffer a brain drain where highly skilled young people feel they need to move away to fulfil their ambitions.”

We’d love to hear from local engineering companies who would like to become involved in the scheme and offer summer placements to students.

If you are a student and would like to apply for the scheme, you will be able to get further information from your college.

Businesses who would like to get involved please call 01325 388943 or email helen.taylor@darlington.gov.uk

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Thriftiest festival in town returns this September!

It’s official – the Festival of Thrift is returning to Lingfield Point on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September!

The first Festival of Thrift (the first of its kind in the UK) took place in September 2013 and was a massive success. An estimated 27,000 people visited over the weekend—taking part in workshops, enjoying the entertainment and doing a bit of thrifty shopping!

Visit www.festivalofthrift.co.uk where you can find out more about the festival and sign up to receive all the latest news and updates.

Spring is in the air...

Time to clean your home!

Save money on your energy bills

Do you have unwanted furniture that you don’t need anymore?

Do you want to donate it to be reused? Do you want to help people in the local area? Does it still have fire labels attached? If the answer is yes… then there are two organisations in Darlington that can help!

FRADE and Kings Church are both registered charities specialising in furniture reuse and recycling. They are supported by Darlington Borough Council, and both run non-profit furniture reuse and recycling schemes to reuse surplus furniture for community benefit.

FRADE: To arrange a collection free of charge call 01325 357379 or drop off at 'The Green House', 14-16 Leadenhall Street.

Kings Church: To arrange a collection free of charge call 01325 469884 or email furniture@kingschurchdarlington.org.

Alternatively drop it off at their warehouse at Prospect Place from Mon-Thurs, 10am-2pm.

Sign up to the Big Community Switch and you could save money on your gas and electricity bills.

Visit page 26 to find out more.

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PICTURE: DAVE

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Map: Chris Moran

On the road to recovery

Following our successful bid for £2.4 million of government money, work has started to repair the landslip affecting the A67 road between Piecebridge and High Coniscliffe.

The road is an important link between Darlington and Teesdale so we’re working to fix it as soon as possible.

This will cause some disruption, but in the long term it will provide a safe and reliable road for residents, businesses and tourists.

Pipes carrying water to more than 100,000 homes in Teesside run underneath the road so we’re working with Northumbrian Water to make sure water supplies are not affected.

The work is happening in three phases: Phase one which saw Northumbrian Water Limited carry out tests, completed ahead of time.

Phases two and three will see the road closed from May 2014 until April 2015.

Phase two: Northumbrian Water Limited will divert pipes out of the unstable section of road to make sure water supplies are not affected.

Phase three: We will work to stabilise the 387m of unstable embankment and road.

What is the diversion route?

While the road is closed, the diversion route is the B6275, B6279 Staindrop Road, B6280 Carmel Rd North and A67 Coniscliffe Road and vice versa.

The A67 will be closed between the Ulnaby junction and the B6275 junction. Ulnaby lane will remain open.

Durham Lane will be closed throughout works with the exception of access for residents. There will be no way through and it will in effect be a culde-sac.

Access for pedestrians (including dismounted cyclists) will be maintained at all times where possible.

How will public transport be affected?

Arriva Bus services 75, 76 and 76A will run a half hourly service diverted via Staindrop Road. A taxi bus will run from High Coniscliffe to Darlington for the bus route cut off by the closure.

For further information contact Jonathan Gall (Project Manager) on 01325 388751.

Keep up-to-date at: www.darlington.gov.uk/carlbury

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Darlington Arts Festival Late April and throughout May There will be something for everyone as the second-ever Darlington Arts Festival gets underway later this month.

The Festival promises to be bigger and better, with music, film, visual art and much more in venues across the town.

As well as the Jazz Festival, the Art Lending Library and Jabberwocky Market, there will be many other events including: an arts showcase in the Market Place on Sunday 11 May, a Black and White Film Festival at the Forum, writing masterclasses and a reading of 'Under Milk Wood' which was written by Dylan Thomas.

The Festival is organised by Darlington for Culture with support from various organisations and businesses including Creative Darlington.Visit www.darlingtonforculture.org for more information.

Jabberwocky Market Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 May Following the success of last year’s event, Jabberwocky Market is making a welcome return to Darlington.

The exciting line-up includes productions of 'Shame'

by John Berkavitch, '97 years' by Jo Hellier and 'Major Tom' by Victoria Melody at partner venues Darlington Civic Theatre and the Mercure Kings Hotel. For children and families, Mr Doom and Mrs Bloom's Story Emporium will be free of charge in the town centre market.

Jabberwocky Market has been brought to Darlington by Battersea Arts Centre and Luxi, with support from Creative Darlington.

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Darlington is in April an There’s lots going on over the organisations come together craft and culture in the tow there’s something

Find out more about what’s www.whatsoninthen Tickets cost from £7, and are available from the Civic Theatre If you’re organisin Box Office. you can list of charg For more information and a full itinerary of events, visit: www.jabberwockymarket.org.uk.

Jabberwocky Market is also on Twitter (@JabbMarket) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/JabberwockyMarket)

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Darlington Jazz Festival Mark Nightingale

Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 April More than 20 bands from the local, national and international Jazz scene will play over a long weekend, with performances at Voodoo Café,The Forum and the Head of Steam Railway Museum.

There will also be a Jazz and improvisation workshop taking place.

Bands and musicians taking part in the festival include: Darlington Big Band, The Al Wood Nine, Mark Nightingale and Djangologie.

n is ‘full of art’ l and May!

er the next couple of months as ether to celebrate music, arts, he town. Whatever you love, ething for everyone.

Visit www.darlingtonjazzfestival.co.uk for more details.

Art Lending Library Saturday 3 May to Thursday 5 June

what’s taking place by visiting nthenortheast.co.uk The Art Lending library will ganising an event, allow art lovers to borrow a an list it free work of art from Crown Street f charge.

Library throughout May. The lending library is made up of wooden crates, each containing an artwork that people can take home with them, free of charge. Designers Sophie Dyer and Sebastian Gorton Kalvik have created a live online map that will show in real time the journeys the artworks take as they spread throughout the Borough.

Darlington is the first venue on a nationwide tour that will see more than sixty works of art by national and international artists become available for loan from libraries and other venues across the country.

The Art Lending Library project will also include many free events.Visit: www.artlendinglibrary.org.uk

The project will launch with a procession through Darlington town centre on Saturday 3 May. The online catalogue will be available to view from Monday 21 April and borrowing will begin on Monday 5 May.

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Switch on and save money!

We’re offering you another opportunity to take part in the Big Community Switch – a collective energy switching scheme where you could save money on your energy bills.

Householders can join for free – even if you rent or have a pre-payment meter. Businesses and Voluntary & Community organisations can join for free too.

The more people that take part, the better the savings could be!

Register for free, and with no obligation to switch, until midnight on Monday 9 June.

Visit www.darlington.gov.uk/bigcommunityswitch For personal one to one support to register, call Phill at Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau on 01325 256999 (ext. 122).

You will need a copy of a recent bill in your or your partner’s name (or your organisation’s name) to register.

DID YOU KNOW? In our first switching event, over 80 households switched energy supplier, saving a combined total of over £16,000!

Keep us in the loop when it comes to private fostering Do you look after a child for someone who isn’t a relative? Do you know someone who has been looking after a child that is not their own for over 28 days? If so, you need to let us know.

Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (under 18 if they are disabled) is being cared for by someone who is not their parent or a close relative such as a grandparent, brother/sister or aunt/uncle, for a period of 28 days or more.

We have a responsibility to make sure all children in Darlington are looked after properly. If we are told about a private fostering arrangement, we will check that the arrangement is okay, make sure the child is

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happy and offer advice and guidance to the person who is looking after them.

Most private fostering arrangements work absolutely fine, but things can sometimes go wrong. If they do, we want to be there to help.

To report a private fostering arrangement, please contact the MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) on 01325 742020.

You can also visit www.privatefostering.org.uk for more information.

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The Easter Extravaganza 2014 Come along and try lots of sport and activity sessions this Easter with Sports Development. To book your place (£1 per session, excluding diving camps) call 01325 254370 or email sdt@darlington.gov.uk Monday 7 April Run Xplorer ..........................South Park Clock Tower ...........10:30am – 12:30pm (F) No booking Family Indoor Rounders ....Dolphin Centre ...........................12:30 – 2:00pm (F) Trampolining ........................Dolphin Centre ...........................2:30 – 4:00pm 5 – 16 years Mini Tennis............................Dolphin Centre ...........................2:30 – 4:00pm 5 – 11 years Family Table Tennis.............Dolphin Centre ...........................1:30 – 3:30pm (F)

Tuesday 8 April Lunch Time Run ...................Town Hall .....................................12:15 – 12:45pm 16+ years (A) No booking Tri Golf ..................................Dolphin Centre ...........................12:30 – 2:00pm 5 – 11 years Trampolining ........................Dolphin Centre ...........................2:30 – 4:00pm 5 – 16 years Family Badminton ...............Dolphin Centre ...........................2:30 – 4:00pm (F) Family Table Tennis.............Dolphin Centre ...........................2:30 – 4:00pm (F)

Wednesday 9 April Run Xplorer ..........................West Park ....................................10:30am – 12:30pm (F) No booking Lunch Time Run ...................Town Hall .....................................12:15 – 12:45pm 16+ years (A) No booking Gymnastics ...........................Dolphin Centre ...........................12:30 – 2:00pm & 2:30 – 4:00pm 5 – 16 years Trampolining ........................Dolphin Centre ...........................12:30 – 2:00pm & 2:30 – 4:00pm 5 – 16 years Family Table Tennis.............Dolphin Centre ...........................1:30 – 3:30pm (F)

Thursday 10 April Lunch Time Run ...................Town Hall .....................................12:15 – 12:45pm 16+ Years (A) No booking Family Table Tennis.............Dolphin Centre ...........................1:30 – 3:30pm (F) Basketball .............................Dolphin Centre ...........................12:30 – 2:00pm 7 – 16 years Netball ...................................Dolphin Centre ...........................12:30 – 2:00pm 7 – 16 years Badminton ............................Dolphin Centre ...........................2:30 – 4:00pm (F)

Friday 11 April Family Table Tennis.............Dolphin Centre ...........................1:30 – 3:30pm (F) Family Bike Ride..................South Park Lakeside Lodge.....10:30am – 12:00pm (F)

Saturday 12 April Run Xplorer ..........................South Park Clock Tower ...........10:30am – 12:30pm (F) No booking

Week Long Diving Camps Dolphin Centre (Limited Space) £10.00 for the week camp Diving Camp 1: Monday – Friday 7 to 11 April ....................8:00 – 9:00am 5 - 16 years Diving Camp 2: Monday – Friday 7 to 11 April ....................9:00 – 10:00am 5 - 16 years

(F) – Suitable for Families (A) – Adult Session

The Dolphin Centre has fantastic facilities for all the family Visit the Pool –which hosts fun inflatable Sessions, a diving pool and slides!

For the little ones there’s the Under the Sea soft play centre to let off some pent up energy.

Adults can visit the Dolphin Gym or grab a coffee or a bite to eat at the Bar Bistro.

For more information on the Dolphin Centre’s facilities visit www.darlington.gov.uk/dolphin

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Parade Signals Freedom of the Borough

MORE than 70 soldiers from 50th (Northern) Signal Squadron, 32 Signal Regiment will exercise their Freedom in Darlington town centre on Saturday 26 April, to mark the renewal of the ceremonial honour given to the Regiment by the Borough.

The Royal Signals (Northern) Band will perform in the town centre before the event at Joseph Pease Place at 12.15pm.

Members of the unit; along with The Royal Signals (Northern) Band will parade through the town and then convene in the Market Square, where Army personnel civic dignitaries, invited guests and members of the public will gather to witness the historic Freedom of the Borough Ceremony.

Formal speeches will be made and the Mayor Councillor Charles Johnson will inspect the troops and salute the occasion. The Officer Commanding will then present the Mayor with a gift and the Mayor will present the Squadron with a scroll to mark the occasion.

To round off the event there will be a formal signing of the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Record Book, which contains much of the history of the town and signatures of Royalty, and other dignitaries who have visited the town.

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The event marks the 45th Anniversary year of the Freedom but also co-incides with the centenary commemoration of the First World War. Temporary road closures in the town centre will take place during the event – these will be advertised in advance through road signs.

As part of 32 Signal Regiment the Squadron provides vital UK resilience information and communications systems support to 15 (North East) Brigade and the Emergency Services during times of crisis and has recently provided operational support to the 2012 Olympic Games, the 2013 G8 summit and other emergencies such as flooding, industrial action and outbreaks of disease.

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Darlington’s Big Lunch – Sunday 1 June Dust off your bunting, dig out your trestle table, rustle up some party food and get ready for Darlington’s Big Lunch on Sunday 1 June.

It will be a Sunday lunch with a difference as thousands of people in thousands of streets across the UK get together for a Big Lunch.

We’d love as many people as possible in Darlington to get involved.

How to set up a party: • For information about road closures and delivering an event safely visit www.darlington.gov.uk/pesag. Get in touch with us about finding a venue or for more advice, email eventsteam@darlington.gov.uk before 14 April.

• Get inspiration and order your Starter Pack (which contains invites, posters and more) from the Big Lunch website: www.thebiglunch.com • Ask your neighbours to help by bringing along food and drinks • Make up some fun party games!

The Big Lunch is an ideal way to get to know your neighbours in a fun and friendly way and bring your street together.

The Big Lunch is a national initiative started by the Eden Project which aims to bring together communities.

It is Lottery funded and sponsored by Asda, Halifax and B&Q.

Bus route is a real gem Arriva’s Sapphire bus service is proving a hit in Darlington. Since December, there has been a 7% increase in people using the service to get around and passengers have taken to Twitter to praise the route which has seen a 23% improvement in customer satisfaction.

Operating on route 7, between Darlington and Durham, the buses offer free WiFi, electric charging points and e-leather seats with extra leg room. They are driven by dedicated Sapphire drivers who have completed extra customer service training.

@Jadeelouie: Feel like I've just boarded a plane @arrivanortheast #sapphire Thanks to grant funding from the Council, the buses boast an audio-visual announcement system to help visually impaired people and those with hearing impairments to travel more independently.

Councillor David Lyonette, Darlington Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The Sapphire service is making great strides in improving people’s view of bus travel.The audio announcement system is a fantastic addition that helps disabled people, and those that don’t use the bus regularly, to travel with more confidence.”

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Darlington’s ground - b Work is well underway on a number of large scale developments that will see hundreds of jobs created in Darlington.

The steel framework is now in place for the Department for Education (DfE) offices behind the Town Hall that will see 400 jobs move to the town centre. Last month saw the first spade break the ground for Darlington’s first ever Business Growth Hub.

The Hub forms part of the wider regeneration of Central Park within the Tees Valley Enterprise Zone; a site targeted at digital companies alongside biologics and advanced engineering. It is hoped the facility will kick-start enterprise development on the site and will set the scene for a new commercial and business centre close to the railway station, the education hub of Darlington College and Teesside University and close to the town centre.

Work starts on Business Growth Hub The Business Growth Hub is an innovative new building that will support up to 64 new and small businesses in Darlington with state of the art business accommodation at any one time.

Based on the Central Park Enterprise Zone site and close to the railway station, the Business Growth Hub will provide Grade A office space and onestop support services for small and medium sized businesses.

During its lifetime, the Hub will support the creation of at least 25 new businesses and 350 new jobs, seeing around 200 businesses occupy the space. The £6.6m project has been supported with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (£3.3m) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) (£3m).

The project is being managed by The Council who applied and received the funding for the scheme. Construction work is expected to last around 12 months. Once open, the Hub will be operated by the North East Business Innovation Centre (NE-BIC) Ltd/Tedco, an organisation with proven expertise in managing and developing Innovation and Incubation Centre sites.

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- breaking investments A framework for the future As work continues on the Department for Education offices in Darlington, we look at the positive benefits of the new development for town centre businesses.

With completion set for early 2015, the £8m development will accommodate around 400 DfE workers as they move out of their existing offices at Mowden Hall, ensuring that the 400 jobs stay in Darlington.

As the building takes shape behind the Town Hall, Darlington Together went out and about in the town to ask local businesses what they thought about the new development.

David Jackson (Covered Market Butcher) – “It’s bound to have a beneficial effect on the town centre having 400 extra people in town every day, if they’re in the town centre they’ll nip in at lunch time like the Town Hall staff do.”

Stefano Foffano (Foffano’s Restaurant, Market Square) – “We are happy; obviously the development will bring more people into the town.

We look forward to welcoming the Department for Education staff into our restaurant at lunchtimes.”

Darren Syddall (Origins, Grange Road) – “I think it’ll be quite good, any influx of people and jobs to the town centre is good for us; especially as we are opening a new coffee shop soon.This new building in conjunction with all of the other development going on around Darlington can only be good for the town.”

Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Council’s lead on economy and regeneration, said: “The new offices will bring 400 hundred extra people into the town every week.

That’s more customers for our town centre shops, cafes and leisure facilities.

It is a tough time for all retail sectors and this development will help give town centre businesses the boost they need.”

Residents can track the progress of the construction work on Willmott Dixon’s Twitter account @feethamsoffice and also on the Council’s website: www.darlington.gov.uk/dfeoffices

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DARLINGTON TOGETHER

Please contact your local councillor if you have any issues that are affecting life in your ward – they are here to listen to you.

You can email, call and meet them face-to-face at regular ward surgeries.

For more information visit www.darlington.gov.uk/wards

E-mailing councillors: If you wish to e-mail your councillor their e-mail address is: firstname.lastname@darlington.gov.uk For example, if you wish to e-mail Bill Dixon, type in bill.dixon@darlington.gov.uk • The only exceptions are Andy Scott (Haughton West Ward), Anne-Marie Curry (North Road Ward) and Tom Nutt (Haughton North); their e-mail addresses are shown with their ward surgery details.

BANK TOP WARD Veronica Copeland (L) Tel: 358530; Chris Taylor (L), Tel: 243298. Fri 18 Apr, King William Street Community Centre 5pm-6pm. Wesley Court Community Centre, Rocket Street 6pm-6.30pm

LINGFIELD WARD Ian Haszeldine (L) Tel: 741508 Lynne Haszeldine (L) Tel: 07950521511.Wed 9 Apr, Eastbourne Sports Complex, 6pm-6.30pm. Wed 23 Apr, Heathfield Primary School, 6pm-6.30pm.

CENTRAL WARD Jan Taylor (L) Tel: 243298; Malcolm Wright (L) Tel: 484374. Wed 30 Apr, Borough Road Nursery, 6pm-7pm.

MIDDLETON ST. GEORGE WARD Doris Jones (C) Tel: 332820 Steve York (C) Tel: 332025. Tues 22 Apr, Dinsdale Court 6.15pm-7.15pm.

COCKERTON EAST WARD Paul Baldwin (L) Tel: 362690 Sue Richmond (L) Tel: 351538. Bryan Thistlethwaite (L) Tel: 485466. Thurs 10 Apr, Cockerton Library 6pm-7pm.

COCKERTON WEST WARD Jan Cossins (L) Tel: 241124 David Regan (L) Tel: 495258. Wed 9 Apr, Windsor Court 10am11am. Thurs 10 Apr, Cockerton Library 6pm – 7pm.

COLLEGE WARD Tony Richmond (C) Tel: 351538 Ian Galletley (C) Tel: 07507904109. Wed 2 Apr, Abbey Junior School 7pm-8pm.

EASTBOURNE WARD Bill Dixon (L) Tel: 486588 Roderick Francis (L) Tel: 488173 Lee Vasey (L) Tel: 488513. Wed 16 Apr, Pilmoor Green Community Centre 5pm-6pm. Wed 30 Apr, Maidendale House 3pm-4pm.

FAVERDALE Richard Grundy (C) Tel: 266314. Wed 16 Apr, West Park Academy 6pm-7pm.

HARROWGATE HILL WARD Gill Cartwright (C) Tel: 382276. Wed 7 May, Harrowgate CIU Ltd. Salters Lane North 7.30pm – 8.30pm. Marjory Knowles (L) Tel: 265847 John Vasey (L) Tel: 488513. Thu 3 Apr, Classroom in the New Sports Hall Longfield Academy 7pm-8pm.

MOWDEN WARD Bill Stenson (C) Tel: 468249. Tue 6 May, Mowden Junior School 6.30pm-7.30pm.

NORTH ROAD WARD Anne-Marie Curry (LD) Tel: 07531304050 annemarie.curry@darlington.gov.uk Fred Lawton (LD) Tel: 467413 Alan Macnab (LD) Tel: 482015 Wed 23 Apr, St Thomas Aquinas Church Hall 1pm-2pm.

NORTHGATE WARD Eleanor Lister, (L) Tel. 254091 Dorothy Long, (L) Tel. 355755 Wed 7 May, Reid Street Primary School, 6pm-7pm.

PARK EAST WARD Paul Harman (L) Tel: 483259 Cyndi Hughes (L) Tel: 480975 Joe Lyonette (L) Tel: 263480. Fri 11 Apr, St. Columbas Church Hall 6-7pm. Fri 18 Apr, The Coleridge Centre 6-7pm.

PARK WEST WARD Bob Donoghue (C) Tel: 352582 Heather Scott (C) Tel: 468547. Fri 18 Apr, 76 Carmel Road South 5pm6pm.

PIERREMONT WARD Bob Carson (L) Tel: 240627 Stephen Harker (L) Tel: 380039 Linda Hughes (L) Tel: 07904772387. Wed 2 Apr and Wed 7 May, Reid Street Primary School 6-7pm.

HAUGHTON EAST WARD Chris McEwan (L) Tel: 283262 Martin Landers (L) Tel: 07709804580. Sat 3 May, Asda Foyer 10am-11.30am, Wed 7 May, Education Village, 6pm-7pm.

SADBERGE AND WHESSOE Brian Jones (C) Tel: 332820.

Tue 29 Apr, Sadberge Village Hall, 6pm-7pm.

HAUGHTON NORTH WARD Tom Nutt (L) Tel: 360953 thomas.nutt@darlington.gov.uk Beverley Hutchinson (L) Tel: 262015. Sat 3 May, Asda Foyer 10am-11.30am.

Key: (L) Labour (C) Conservative (LD) Liberal Democrat

HAUGHTON WEST WARD Nick Wallis (L) Tel: 488797 David Lyonette (L) Tel: 464693 Andy Scott (L) Tel: 253707 andrew.scott@darlington.gov.uk Wed 9 Apr, Salvation Army, Thompson St. 6pm–7pm, Sat 3 May, Asda Foyer 10am-11.30am.

HEIGHINGTON AND CONISCLIFFE WARD Gerald Lee (C) Tel: 314622 Paul Crudass (C) Tel: 374537. Sat 3 May, High Coniscliffe Village Hall, 10am-11am.

HUMMERSKNOTT WARD Alan Coultas (C) Tel: 350453 Charles Johnson (C) Tel: 463712. Mon 28 Apr, Carmel College 6pm-7pm.

HURWORTH WARD Joe Kelley (LD) Tel: 266760. Martin Swainston (LD) Tel: 07535637060. Thurs 1 May, Hurworth Grange Community Centre Library 6pm-7pm.

LASCELLES WARD Wendy Newall (L) Tel: 251574. Helen Crumbie (L) Tel: 462642. Sat 12 Apr, Cleveland Bridge Social Club 12 noon – 1pm.

32 | www.darlington.gov.uk

Upcoming Committee Dates Place Scrutiny Committee

Wed 9 April

9.30am

Committee Room 3

Thur 10 April

9.30am

Committee Room 2

Tue 15 April

9.30am

Committee Room 2

Tue 15 April

3.30pm

Committee Room 1

Tue 22 April

9.30am

Committee Room 2

Tue 22 April

4pm

Committee Room 1

Tue 29 April

5pm

Committee Room 2

Tue 6 May

9.30am

Committee Room 1

Wed 7 May

9.30am

Committee Room 2

Planning Applications Committee Wed 7 May

1.30pm

Committee Room 2

6pm

Council Chamber

Efficiency and Resources Scrutiny Committee Health and Partnership Scrutiny Committee

Health and Well Being Board Adults and Housing Scrutiny Committee SACRE

Cabinet

General Licensing Committee

Special Health and Partnership Scrutiny Committee Council

Wed 8 May