RESIDENTS and business owners in Darlington have been urged to take part in two new consultation events about the future of the town centre.

Darlington Borough Council announced a number of proposals to breathe new life into the heart of the town late last year following consultation and have planned the new events to provide an update on the developments.

The council’s vision for the town includes improvements to the Covered Market, junction improvements at Northgate roundabout, better coach facilities and working to attract another department store to the town, as well as development on the Commercial Street site.

The events to discuss the proposals will be held in the Dolphin Centre on Saturday, January 12, and Tuesday, January 22, both between 10am and noon.

The council had pledged to listen to residents about what they wanted to see in the town and revealed that the key issues included access to leisure facilities and good accessible parking; developing the markets; improved places to wait for buses and coaches; no more large scale supermarkets in the town centre; and landscaping and footpaths along the River Skerne.

Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said: “We have listened to your views and taken them into account when putting together our vision for the town centre.

“However, there is still time for others to get involved and I urge any local person who is concerned about how their town centre will look and prosper in the future, to have their say.

"There is no need to book, just come along and make your voice heard – it is a simple as that.”