THE modern images of Darlingtion's planned new shopping development, published in The Northern Echo today, give an exciting glimpse into the town's future.

For a long time, there was a sense that Darlington was getting left behind by the ambitions of neighbouring towns.

Darlington's most memorable development in recent years has been the creation of a huge football stadium, which looks increasingly as if it can never be viable.

Meanwhile, Newcastle and Gateshead have reinforced Tyneside's regional dominance with a series of visionary developments. Hartlepool has surprised everyone by building on the foundations of its image-changing marina, and Middlesbrough and Stockton have been busily unveiling plans to transform the Tees Valley with their own forward-looking riverside partnership.

But Darlington is no longer resting on its laurels. Shopping is being enhanced, housing projects such as West Park are springing up with remarkable speed, and learning through Darlington College of Technology's forthcoming move to the Haughton Road development, and the town's multi-million pound education village, is moving forward into a new era.

Darlington's future looks bright and vibrant. The big challenge for those planning the changes is to blend the future with the past.

The controversy over changes to High Row has underlined the importance of not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The town cannot stand still, it has to go forward and we applaud the efforts aimed at ensuring it does.

But it must be done with a wary eye on the heritage and market town feel, which have given Darlington its unique place in the Tees Valley and the wider region.