Council urged to release land dormant 30 years
The following report by Counc Arun Chandran was given to the Town Council in support of his motion that: “Durham County Council allow temporary use of the vacant and derelict site adjacent to the Cubby for use by the market until such time the site is sold or the Town Centre owners facilitate a new market in the town centre, whichever comes first”
Madam Chairman, Members of the Council
Cllr Eddy Adam and myself convened this meeting at short notice with the consent of yourself and Cllr Bob Fleming Leader of the Council because the time factor necessitated urgent action.
This Council heard at its meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee on 16th April, (minute 104) that the agents for the Town Centre Owners had indicated that the market will not be allowed on its original site at the present time until all snagging works were completed, in addition the agents also advised the Town Council that they require improvement to the stalls and layout of the stall areas in order to provide a visually attractive market that is in keeping with the improvements and capital investments that has taken place.
The Committee resolved that the report part of which contained exempt information, be received. That the Council does not subsidise the market .
That negotiations continue with the appropriate parties in regard to the provision of a market.
Shortly after that meeting we were informed that the Town Centre owners had given one months notice to close the existing market. The Town Council had then, as License holder no choice but to give immediate notice too, in order to comply with contractual obligations.
So in actual fact, the Market was being closed down until such time as the Town Centre owners finished the final phase development of the Town Centre including the demolition of Churchill House and some shops due to commence about June this year.
The Town Centre Owners had indicated that they wanted to continue a market in the Town Centre at a later date, and were looking at that provision possibly through a professional Market Management Company.
If you look at photos taken by Ken Robson Chairman of ACORN Residents Association at my request yesterday you will see that the market is clean and tidy. It compares favourably in that respect with say the Market at Stockton where the Town Centre has been refurbished and those Stalls have not been required to upgrade to stainless steel or bright new coverings.
The problem that remains is two fold:
1. Given that we cannot as a Town Council subside the Market as a private commercial venture, do we have anywhere else the existing Market Traders could carry on their trade whilst awaiting the completion phase of the Town Centre and a new Market established. The answer to that is Yes.
2. If yes, then we have a duty to try to make that temporary provision, in the interests of trying to keep the existing market alive and facilitate it for the people of our Town.
I believe, that Durham County Council, who received £7.9 million for the sale of the former Avenue School site to Tesco, and who run other Markets in County Durham whilst making no provision for our Market in Newton Aycliffe (leading to double taxation, in which the people of Newton Aycliffe pay for Market provision for the rest of County Durham but receive nothing in return regarding our market) …that they have a duty to help out.
I believe that Durham County Council should allow Great Aycliffe to use the derelict site next to the Cubby free of all costs, including rates, until such time as they have an actual buyer for that site, for the Market to temporarily trade, or until such time as the Town Centre Owners are ready to establish a new market in the Town Centre which ever comes first.
I would argue the following that given that Durham County Council want to sell this land and will benefit immensely from its sale, it is not unreasonable that they should undertake any works to make it temporarily safe for public use for a Market one day a week.
Given that the County Council runs Markets elsewhere in the County but not in Newton Aycliffe it is not unreasonable to expect from the point of view of double taxation that they cover these costs.
As far as notice to vacate is concerned, if at the end of the day Durham County Council sell the land and actually find a buyer before the final phase redevelopment of the Town Centre is concerned then a few months notice is all that is required and at least it will have been seen that all was done to prolong the life and public facility of the existing Market as long as was possible no one could ask for more. The Land has been derelict 30 years.
Then we have done everything possible as a Town Council and the County Council working together to continue a market provision until the circumstances I have mentioned intervene.
Politics is the art of the possible, and a duty to serve the public interest, obstacles should not be put in the way of that as long as legitimate concerns are covered.
County and Town Councillor Eddy Adam seconded the motion with the following speech:
As my colleague Cllr Chandran stated, the Town Council, as License holder had no choice but to give immediate notice to the Market stall Partnership, in order to comply with its contractual obligations.
Therefore, the Town Market was being closed down until such time as the Town Centre Owners finished the development to the Town Centre including, which we now understand that the works may not be completed until early 2015.
If this is the case then in our opinion 7 to 8 months is too long a period without this valuable asset on our Town. Therefore we need to act sooner rather than later to try and provide a positive solution.
I believe as do many others here this evening, and I include our Aycliffe County Councillors, that this will impact on the traders and the local community who use this valuable facility. Where we as Councillors might differ, is on how and when this can be put right. However, this is not a straight forward process.
Colleagues, Cllr Chandran and I firmly believe there is an opportunity to rectify the present situation by utilising the site on Greenwell Road next to the Cubby (Photos).
Firstly, this area has remained vacant and derelict for over 28 years but has the possibility of providing a temporary solution by accommodating the current Market stall holders and could help improve the aesthetic look of this derelict area. But, make no mistake the Market can only be their until such time as a New Market is developed by the Town Centre Owners or if Durham County Council releases this land to a developer.
Secondly, I attended a recent seminar at County hall. They have a team of planners who go round the County identifying in their words, removing areas of ‘Environmental Blight’, requesting private land owners to improve buildings and derelict land, I suggest that we as a Town request they remove this blight from our town centre.
Madam Mayor, during my enquiries I identified that Durham County Council are prepared to offer this Town Council a Licence to manage the area in question. However, a planned draft Licence has a number of restrictions which if adopted by the Town Council would not allow us to operate a market and it only provides a very short notice to quit.
Therefore, spending Town Council rate payers money on this area would be seen as a waste of public money, and I am certain Councillors and you the public would not want that.
I have also raised this issue at County Hall with officers and the Portfolio Holder (Brian Stephens) and during these conversations it was intimated that they were open to further dialogue with the Town Council with a view to produce a mutually agreed solution to support the market and improve this area.
Therefore, Madam Mayor can I recommend that the Town Clerk, the Leader and Deputy Leader enter into meaningful negotiations with Durham County Council to secure for the Town Council an appropriate License and notice period for the temporary use of the vacant site.
