Wild Flower Walks of Upper Teesdale - Christopher and Gayle Lowe
Price:£7.95
State-of-the art children’s centre proposed for town
Jul 6, 2010
A STATE-of-the-art children’s centre is being planned for Barnard Castle as part of an improvement of services for parents in the town.
Durham County Council hopes to build the eco-friendly Sure Start centre on a site near Bede Road.
A bungalow would be demolished to make way for the building, which would include a creche, training room, kitchen for cookery lessons and offices.
If the scheme is given the go-ahead, the building will also include a reception, foyer, and grassed play area.
The plans also show that the structure will have an environmentally friendly grass roof.
The proposals come only weeks after the approval of plans to move Sure Start’s administration offices in Stainton Grove to Green Lane Primary School, which is to be revamped as part of a £1m scheme.
A council spokeswoman said: “Because the centre will be slightly smaller than some other Sure Start centres, it will be classed as an outreach centre.
“But it will deliver many of the services and I’m sure it will be a welcome facility for parents in Barnard Castle. We hope it will be up and running by February next year.”
Sure Start is a Government initiative that provides childcare, early education and family support.
The proposed centre would be open from 8.30am to 5.30pm and one permanent and four part-time workers are to be employed.
Planning agents Jane Darbyshire & David Kendall Ltd, on behalf of the council, said: “The overall aim of the design is to provide an open and airy children’s centre accessible and visible to the community of Barnard Castle.
“Although a tight and compact site, it provides good accessible routes between the town, school and Sure Start offices at Green Lane.”
The building would be given a plush interior, with hardwood internal glazed screens throughout the centre, providing connecting views between the rooms.
The agents said that the facilities will allow parents to learn vital skills in the training room. Information points for parents, as well as an interactive white board, would also be positioned around the centre.
Small cedar and glass clad ‘pods’ have been designed to provide playful play dens for the children, a report said. The green roof would provide a pleasing view for neighbouring properties, the agents added.