A CHILDREN’S centre has been branded “Durham’s folly” after chiefs announced it is to be disposed of – less than seven years after it was built costing taxpayers £600,000. The county council is looking to off-load the Sure Start Children’s Outreach Centre, in Galgate, Barnard Castle.
Barnard Castle Town Council has slammed the move.
Cllr Frank Harrison, chairman of the town’s planning committee, said: “It is not even 10 years old. What a waste of money. I think County Durham has shot themselves in the foot with this. I don’t know what it can be used for really.”
Cllr John Blissett said the building was out of character with the rest of the town and planning permission had been given for it without the town council being aware.
He said: “It snuck in under the parapet. It is totally out of character with the town. Durham’s folly, they should rename it.”
When it was opened in 2011, county planners described it as having a “brave new design” and it was later dubbed as “The Barnard Castle Bungalow” .
The centre included a creche, training room, kitchen, and a reception, with a grassed play area outside.
People could call in at any time for help, advice and support, or take part in the activities arranged at the centre each week, from arts and crafts to cookery classes.
Drop-in sessions were arranged for young parents and there were networking meetings for local childminders.
When the Sure Start centres were closed in Evenwood and Middleton-in-Teesdale, services were moved away from the Galgate building to The Hub, on Shawbank.
Carole Payne, Durham County Council’s head of early help, assessments and safeguarding, said: “Following a detailed review of children’s centres in 2015, a wide range of community venues were identified for the delivery of services for children and families.
“This strategy has proved successful and contact with children and families who most need those services has risen as a result.
“The Barnard Castle Bungalow, however, was not a registered children’s centre, and was used by the service on an ‘outreach’ basis to deliver a limited number of sessions.
“These sessions, and many others, are still being delivered in a range of alternative venues which continue to be accessed by young children and parents.”
Cllr Mark Wilkes, of the town’s planning committee, said he believed the county council should contact local groups and charities to see if they can make use of the facility.
The idea was echoed by Barnard Castle county councillor Ted Henderson.
He said: “This was a result of the brain child of Tony Blair and this building should never have been built.
“There were other sites that could have hosted the Sure Start group thus saving £600,000.
“At this point in time there is still plenty of room at The Hub and they could have been held there instead of investing in a new building.
“My concern now is what the centre is to be used for. It must not just stand and go into disrepair like many other properties owned by Durham County Council.
“The council should now try to let the centre at a reasonable rent to possibly some charity group or organisation that is helping the community, instead of selling it off as it has done with all the other properties it inherited from Teesdale District Council.
“At present the council are selling off the family silver, much of which will go into the cost of building a new County Hall in Durham City.
“Any monies raised from the sale of property in Barnard Castle should be reinvested in the area.”
