Residents can find out more about proposed plans for Bishop Auckland market place at information sessions this week.
Following Durham County Council’s major regeneration of the market place in 2011, the latest works are designed to complement these and enhance the links from the market place to Auckland Castle. The improvements, which will see changes to a section of the road and the surrounding area, are the latest in the council’s ongoing support for the range of exciting projects for the town being brought forward by the Auckland Castle and Eleven Arches Trusts.
Ahead of construction starting on the Welcome Building and Observation Tower by the Auckland Castle Trust, residents will be able to find out more about the work the council are carrying out and proposals for major improvements to this section of the market place.
Initial work will start on Tuesday, 31 May with kerbs being altered to allow the construction of the Welcome Building.
The council has also applied for £2.5 million from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership to allow for realigning a section of the road and levelling the road surface with the paths. This will see the previous improvements to the market place area carried on to the entrance of the castle as well as the addition of new benches, lights and plants.
People can find out more about the proposals and talk to council officers about the project in the Bishop Auckland Town Hall library during the following times:
Thursday, 12 May – 10am to 6pm
Friday, 13 May – 10am to 5pm
Saturday, 14 May – 9:30am to 12:30pm
Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic regeneration and culture, said: “With the array of amazing changes coming to Bishop Auckland our plans for the market place will see a better Bishop Auckland for local residents as well as what we hope will be a major influx of visitors. We’d encourage everyone in the town to come along and see our plans and find out more about the proposed improvements.”