There’s a boost for Barnard Castle with new businesses heading to the town centre.
Work is underway to fit out an empty shop on Horsemarket ahead of its September 15 opening, while three other prominent commercial units are close to returning to use.
Carver Commercial, a Darlington-based estate agent which currently represents four units in town, told the Mercury: “There something happening with three of the units we have.
“Things don’t happen overnight, but they won’t be empty for very long.”
The vacant properties at 24 Market Place, 31 Market Place and 9 Horsemarket are currently under offer, raising hopes that the former Teesdale Mercury offices, the ex-Holland & Barrett store and the old This & That shop will soon open their doors again.
At 35 Horsemarket, Hall’s Bakery is due to open soon. It’s a first high street venture for Stacey and Jason Hall, well-known in Barney from their stall on the market and their regular visits to the Barney Farmers’ Market.
They are excited to be taking a place in the heart of town.
“This is where we’re from, it’s local to us,” said Stacey. “I feel like local people here like to support local businesses, where in a bigger town you maybe don’t get that kind of support.”
But there are calls for the local authority to do more to make prospective businesses aware of potential support and funding.
“We didn’t know there was any support available,” added Jason. “We didn’t really get any help from the council. They need to point out what help they can offer.”
Earlier this week, Durham County Council highlighted its efforts to reinvigorate our towns.
There’s a carrot-and-stick approach, which aims to highlight established grants and loans for prospective businesses while threatening action against landlords who leave properties idle for extended periods.
Under new laws, local authorities have the power to run High Street Rental Auctions for long-term vacant properties. DCC’s cabinet will debate pilot auctions in November and Barnard Castle councillor Chris Foote-Wood is urging council leader Andrew Husband to consider bringing the Turks Head to auction.#
“It is very prominent in the town centre and it has been empty for years. It is in a very poor and dilapidated state and is a major eyesore,” he said.
“I would appeal to the cabinet to hold a High Street Rental Auction to sell the Turks Head with a requirement that the restoration of the building be done within a fixed period.”
However, local businesses feel that the emphasis should be less on auctioning off property and more on providing financial support for fledgling enterprises.
“It’s not easy to find the right tenants,” warned Paul Ings, Barnard Castle mayor and owner of Ingnet Antiques. “People start businesses and they can’t give it a good go because they probably haven’t got the depth of funding to keep it going.
“That’s where they need help to get them started.”
And Adrian Andrews, long-term owner of Star Cobblers, felt that accessing funds was harder than ever.
“It’s just money,” he said. “Getting money is so much more difficult than it was 20 years ago.
“Even to buy an established business like this, which has been going for years and someone could walk in and start earning tomorrow, you can no longer just go to the bank and get a loan.
“People can’t get the money, or maybe don’t have the assets to help secure a loan.”
