HERITAGE campaigners have lost their fight to halt demolition of Victorian features along Darlington's historic High Row.

Steps, railings and balustrades will now be removed and a disused toilet block pulled down.

Darlington Civic Trust protesters said they were sadden by decisions taken by the borough council's planning committee on Wednesday.

The trust had fought hard to convince the council that its protest petition of 4,635 names was proof that local people did not want the changes, part of the council's £6.5m pedestrian heart scheme.

And the meeting saw a video prepared by the trust to support its case.

But the proposals went through the committee with comfortable margins.

The decisions also mean the statue of Joseph Pease will be dismantled and moved about five metres from where it now stands - returning to the site of its unveiling in 1875.

A level pedestrian area outside the High Row shops will be created, with steps connecting to lower levels if another proposal is supported.

There will be new benches, lighting and floral arrangements, a water feature and events space.

Civic Trust chairman Clive Owen said: "We did all we could.

"High Row has been described as looking 'tired and worn.' Who wouldn't be at 104 years old? The scheme approved today will also look tired and worn - but it won't last 104 years.

"In 15 to 20 years' time someone will suggest a makeover for High Row.

"It is sad this council has no appreciation of art or aesthetics or the importance of local history to local people. This has all been about money. And money talks."

Planning officer Adrian Miller said High Row's contribution to the conservation area had diminished through alterations, vandalism and damage.

Tom Walker of design consultants Gillespies said the scheme was a celebration of High Row, not a sacrifice.

"It is not wholesale destruction, but minor remodelling," he said. "We are not bringing an alien character into Darlington."

Coun Gerald Lee said the move meant "losing the essence of Darlington."

"We will swap something unique for something which is replicated all over the country," he said.

Coun David Lyonette - the council's heritage champion - said the chance for such action only came along once in a lifetime.

"Let's hand back High Row to the people and create a breathing space," he said.

Coun Charles Johnson said the scheme "failed to reflect the heritage of Darlington."

"High Row will be sterile, unfriendly and unmanageable - especially at night," he said.

The committee agreed to seek listed building consent for temporary dismantling of the Pease statue and to advise the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that the council had no objection to the High Row demolition work.

* Councillors have agreed to release more than £3m to progress the scheme.

The money is from various funding sources, including £500,000 from the local transport plan.

At a meeting of the Cabinet, development director John Buxton said a start had already been made on enabling works such as conservation area and listed building consents and planning applications.

The tendering process for phase two of the scheme is due to begin in April and an artistic event is being planned for September to mark completion of phase one and the start of phase two works.

The whole project is due to be finished by March 2007.

Phase two work includes major changes to traffic flows in the centre; access restrictions to High Row and other parts of the town to give more priority for pedestrians for longer periods; changes to the appearance of High Row; creating an informal event space; raised planters; bench seats; new streetlights; the possibility of a water cascade.

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