Change is too slow, Teesdale Mercury

Change is too slow

Jun 26, 2002

THE pace of change under the Market Towns Initiative is too slow for

Teesdale¹s young people, it became clear at a public meeting on Thursday.

The impatience of youth hit head on against the caution of those coping

with red tape required to secure government funding for regeneration schemes

proposed under the initiative for Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale,

which were aired at two public meetings.

Keith OJoe¹ Jones, from TCR, and a large group of young people aged

13-25, were pleased the need for youth facilities in Barnard Castle had been

recognised, but were frustrated by the time it would take to get them and

that a feasibility study would be needed first.

³We got involved in this in November and we told you what we wanted,²

said Mr Jones. ³We have had more feasibility studies than you can shake a

stick at in the last 10 years. We have been analysed to bits. What I thought

we would be seeing tonight is an action plan,² he said.

Initiative partnership members, Tony Seaman and Bill Oldfield, explained

funders had to be convinced. And initiative co-ordinator, David McKnight,

said: ³At this stage in time, we have not got any money. There is money out

there but we are in competition with other market towns for that money.

Whatever we put forward has got to be good and the funders must believe in

it. If they don¹t believe us they won¹t fund it.²

A suggestion from Coun John Miller to tell funders young people can¹t

wait, is being considered.

Mr Seaman reiterated he wanted to keep young people involved and spoke

to them for a long time after the meeting had ended.

At Middleton-in-Teesdale, about 20 people turned up and plans to

refurbish shop fronts ­ already rejected by the parish council ­ were as

controversial as ever. But Mr McKnight said there had been considerable

support from the community and businesses for the plan.

Following public consultation, projects for Barnard Castle, Middleton

and across the dale, have been identified to go forward for funding. They

are not static, can change and are open to comment, said Mr McKnight, whose

detailed report will be available shortly.