Flats plan is blow to hopes for Community Centre

6.59.38am GMT Thu 23rd Nov 2006

The Council's decision to sell off the former Harrowgate Hill Infants' School to Darlington Building Society, for conversion into yet more flats is a blow to local people who have been campaigning for more community facilities at the north end of town.

Liberal Democrat Councillors in North Road Ward, Fred Lawton and Steve Jones, have led the campaign for a Community Centre - a campaign which is particularly relevant as reports come in about an increasing problem with young people congregating on the streets and causing some anti-social problems.

Ever since Harrowgate Hill Infants' School closed last year, Fred and Steve, together with local residents, have been campaigning for the building to be made available for community use. Instead, plans have been unveiled to turn the building into 14 one and two bedroom flats. A further 24 two bedroom apartments will be built on what was the playground.

There have been a number of public meetings recently in response to an upsurge in anti-social behaviour in the area, with a general agreement that providing appropriate space where young people can meet in safety is needed.

Cllr Fred Lawton said, "Although a planning application has not yet been lodged, I think this is a fait accompli. I see this as an opportunity lost. The school was the last public building in the area that could have been converted into a Community Centre. Whenever we have had a public survey in the ward, people have said they wanted a centre for all the family. I also think the treatment of young people needs the carrot as well as the stick. Most young people hang around because they have nothing else to do, not because they are trouble-makers.

"What we are asking for now, from the developers and from the Council, is that some money will be coming back into the community. It's not the end of the battle."

Amazingly, the public open evening to introduce the developers' plans was held at Morton Park, on the other side of town from North Road. The architects, Niven Architects, who arranged the open evening, claimed there was nowhere near the school which was available for such an event! Fred Lawton said, "We think it s ludicrous that the two-hour consultation should take place at the other end of town."

We have brought this matter to the attention of the DBC Planning Department, who we hope will insist that another open evening be held near the school.