Leisure plans welcomed (From The Northern Echo)

Leisure plans welcomed

5:31pm Thursday 24th July 2008 in Search

A TOWN’S residents welcomed plans for a £45m shopping and leisure development when they went on public display yesterday.

A new stadium for Bishop Auckland Football Club, a 1,000 seat, six-screen cinema, bowling alley and a 60,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s store are all part of the scheme unveiled by Terrace Hill.

Around 350 jobs would be created on a derelict site at Tindale Crescent if it goes ahead and a new access road would open up industrial land for further growth.

People living in the area supported the proposals at the start of a three day exhibition in Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

David Strong, chairman of the Bishops’ independent supporters committee, is pushing for a clubhouse to be included in the stadium’s 23-metre long stand.

He said: "The whole development is very good. The town is desperately in need of something like this."

Tracey and Stuart McClacklan, who are close neighbours of the site in Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, are also supporting the scheme.

Mr McClacklan said: "The town is screaming out for something like this. It will be brilliant, particularly the cinema, and it won’t mean any more traffic for us because the new bypass has taken it all away."

Football club chairman Terry Jackson said the Bishops were pleased to be involved in the scheme.

He said: "Just having a stadium after a long wait is a realisation of a dream but to be part of this fantastic scheme is brilliant for the club.

"The area is a real mess at the moment. It needs developing."

The plans are on show until 1pm on Saturday. Terrace Hill expect to submit a planning application next month.