A GROUP set up to revive Barnard Castle’s high street after a spate of shop closures aims to make the town a “heritage destination” with tours and phone apps.
Other ideas put forward by the Making Barney Brighter Together team, which was launched last week, include an indoor market, moving the Wednesday market to Scar Top, a summer outdoor cinema on The Demesnes, shop share schemes, a weekly Sunday market, an official canoe launch on the River Tees, a motorcycle rally and a celebrity walk of fame.
Parking problems and a lack of signs on the A66 pointing drivers to Barnard Castle would also be tackled.
Meanwhile, county councillors are working with County Hall chiefs to bring free wi-fi to the town and to make sure all businesses are claiming rates relief.
Town resident Geoff Dixon has helped design a phone app for visitors.
Using about 150 historic photos of the town and GPS technology, the app will bring up images and stories of Barnard Castle’s past as people walk by one of 40 locations.
A separate smartphone app, developed by a history group led by Hamsterley’s Jonathan Peacock, would create a virtual tour of the castle to show visitors what any given spot looked like in bygone days. With state-of-the art technology and historical records, it would be the first English Heritage monument to boast such technology.
About 100 people, mostly business owners, attended a launch of the Making Barney Brighter Together group last Wednesday at The Witham. It was set up the town council, with the backing of traders, to bring more people into the high street in the face of a rise of internet shopping.
Mayor Cllr Sandra Moorhouse told those present: “We wanted to see if there was the enthusiasm and tonight’s attendance has shown there is. We don’t have the answers but by working together, we can make the town centre stronger and perhaps we will be able to challenge the county council.”
She added: “We’d like to make the town a heritage town – a destination for people to come to. We have got so much history but we do not sell it.”
She admitted some of the ideas put forward may be deemed “too outrageous” but she wanted people’s thoughts all the same.
Business people were asked to put their suggestions on Post-it notes or contact the town council after the event.
County councillors Ted Henderson and Richard Bell say they have been in talks with officials at County Hall.
Cllr Henderson said they had asked Durham County Council to install free wi-fi in Barnard Castle at a cost of about £60,000.
He said: “They have it in other towns, so why not Barnard Castle? We are concerned about the number of empty shops and have also been talking to the regeneration team to see what we can do. We want more people to claim business rates relief – we are aware that about 50 per cent of those who are eligible do not do so. We would like the county council to be more proactive with that.”
Businesswoman Hannah Hurley, who runs Rooftops nursery in Harmire Enterprise Park, said she has applied for business rates relief from Durham County Council.
She said: “We got it at our other nursery in Richmond and all the other nurseries were able to also claim relief. I want to see this happen here too. I have asked Durham County Council and await the news.”
Ms Hurley said it would cut 40 per cent off her bill.
Kenny Walker, owner of Chocolate Fayre, said he welcomed the Making Barney Brighter Together project.
He said: “We have got so much to shout about but we don’t often do that in Teesdale. It’s an opportunity to encourage people to visit and use the town.”
Mr Walker said it was difficult for independent business owners to co-ordinate these types of schemes because of time constraints. He said it needed an organisation like Barnard Castle Town Council to do the running.
The history tour app was costing about £400 a year, the meeting was told. Town councillor Roger Peat is subsidising 2019’s cost to mark the centenary of the founding of Peat’s butchers.
Mr Dixon said: “The idea is that people can go on a circular walk, starting and finishing from any of the locations. I’ve also used archive film footage as well as photos.”
Anyone with any suggestions for the Making Barney Brighter Together can contact Barnard Castle Town Council on 01833 690970 or Geoff Dixon on geoff.dixon@mediahandling.co.uk
