By Evie Brenkley
Barnard Castle School student
What is valuable about The Witham?
The Witham is incredibly special as the services it provides are not found anywhere else, especially in Barney. The range of activities and performances offered is wonderful and there really is something for everyone to get involved with. I am confident that The Witham will still be standing in 20 years – and that is no easy feat.
What could The Witham do better in future?
Although most are aware of it, some don’t know exactly what awaits behind the red door. I feel that it should utilise its position in the town and invite more people to come in and discover its many riches. Also, I feel as if people my age are not necessarily attracted as much as we could be.
How often do you go to The Witham and what kinds of events attract you?
Now, I don’t go to The Witham all that often unfortunately, due to school work and other commitments. Mum and I pop in for lunch when we can, and it is always lovely to wander round the craft market. Films being shown, that I didn’t get to see in the cinema are always appealing, as are the classical music acts or live screenings of certain events – I would have loved to have seen Andrè Rieu in concert. Comedy attracts me, however, finding the time is hard.
When have you used The Witham?
My earliest memory of the Witham is right back before the renovation, when I watched The Jungle Book as a small child. Since then, my parents and I have come to see lots more films and have enjoyed all. Last year, a group of musicians and I came to see Julian Clef perform and that was a very memorable evening. Two years ago, I was a part of ‘Matilda’, when a group of young people staged it, following a course of five days – that was incredibly fun. In addition, I have performed with school – Pirates of Penzance and Handel’s Messiah are two examples.
Why do you think The Witham is important for a market town like Barnard Castle?
We get many tourists coming through anyway, often for The Bowes Museum, and having The Witham here is brilliant for them to see some more of our history. For the locals too, something is provided for everyone and it generally contributes to the buzz of the town.
How do you rate The Witham as it is now, compared to before the renovation?
In complete honesty, I don’t remember very much of The Witham before the renovation, but I know that it looks and feels stunning now. My parents tell me that the new look is much better too.
How would you feel if The Witham were to close?
Pretty gutted actually, because as long as I’ve been alive, there has been a Witham, and it gives so much to the town, and the people who live here.
It would be a real shame if there wasn’t such a place to nurture our growing young people.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
