IN November I went to see the plans of the new layout for the Darlington Civic Theatre and this week I attended a presentation by the architect. While there are some very good new features there are two which concern me.

The first is that there is to be only one entrance for the public, roughly where the box office is now. There is no entrance planned for Borough Road.

I think that this is a backward step for dropping off those who have some disability with walking and with standing. It will not be safe nor convenient to stop a car at the new entrance in Parkgate especially with the new difficult road layout in front of the theatre.

This means that if passengers who have difficulty walking are dropped off in Borough Road or Tannery Lane in inclement weather it will not be a pleasant experience. Tannery Lane, as it is, could not accommodate many cars or buses. Currently after being dropped off in Borough Road people can sit in the cafe until the auditorium is open.

Secondly, it is planned to remove the two aisles in the stalls and the central aisle in the dress circle. This means there will be continuous rows of up to about 30 seats. Having been a former ticket secretary for Darlington Operatic Society for 28 years I know that many people ask for aisle seats. Some reasons, among others, are leg room, ability to get to the toilet and claustrophobia. The first of these is to be addressed but I am not aware by how much the leg room will increase.

There is also the problem that with longer rows people will be continually having to get up and down to let people in or out. This is particularly disliked by the elderly.

I would like to think theatre goers are fully aware of these changes and if they feel, as I and some of my friends do, that these are retrograde steps then they should make it known before the changes are upon us and nothing can be done.

The work starts in May.

Dr John E Lloyd, Darlington.