POETRY SOCIETY: Following on from the Winning Words project – part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad – a poetry society is being formed in Barnard Castle, County Durham. In addition, five poetry performance events are being organsed at the NesT, in Newgate, in the coming months.

SHOP FRONTS: A scheme to improve the look of shop fronts in Barnard Castle is to continue into the next financial year. To date, 21 shop front improvement grants, totalling £43,000, have been made by Barnard Castle Vision. Currently, there are just seven vacant shop units in the town.

GOING WELL: Renovation work at the landmark Witham Hall, in Barnard Castle is progressing well. Priority is being given to completing new studio space in Hall Street, where roof work has been completed and the interior fit-out is progressing.