COUNCIL leaders have been urged to think carefully about how they replace a popular Stockton nightspot.

The former Glam nightclub and Post Office are to be razed to make way for a temporary 30 space car park and tree-lined “pocket park” on Stockton High Street.

Councillors gave the demolition the seal of approval at a planning meeting on Wednesday – but there were worries about litter, access and whether designs had been set in stone.

Cllr Paul Kirton, Labour member for the town centre ward, was concerned about the appearance of the open space where the Corporation Hall used to stand.

“That’s an absolute disgrace,” he added.

“Now you’re going to knock the Post Office down and the Glam which feeds you straight onto that – that’s my concern.

“You might be making a park, but you’re opening up everything to a derelict site.”

Planning officer Simon Grundy said the council was looking at a “variety of options” for this land.

“These might include artwork, or could include lighting or screen features,” he added.

“At this stage we don’t really know what we can do because we need to do a detailed building survey.

“It will come forward at a later date but rest assured we are looking at that.”

Glam shut its doors for the final time in 2013.

It was a cinema until 1981 but reopened as The Mall in 1987 – and saw rebirths as Visage in 1995 and Zanzibar in 2000.

Council bosses bought up the nightclub and the Post Office buildings five years ago to avoid their “undesirable use” and to tie it into the town centre’s regeneration.

Concept drawings for the new “pocket park” have been produced by the council showing a circular space off the High Street with trees and a central “performance space” next to the adjoining car park.

But there were one or two misgivings about what could happen to it at night.

Cllr Sylvia Walmsley said the site was “in the middle of a vast takeaway area”.

The Thornaby independent added: “I can envisage it being left like a bomb-site on a night when people get takeaways and sit in it.

“There is nothing in the pictures about bins and I presume there will be CCTV coverage – it needs to be carefully done because it could turn into a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and littering.”

Chairwoman Cllr Norma Stephenson chimed in with her own concern – adding the walkway between the old post office and Brads Bar was “a toilet” at night.

However, Mr Grundy told the committee the pocket park and car park were seen as “good interim solutions”.

He added: “We’re confident somebody will come forward but it’s got to be right for the High Street – it gives us that opportunity to pause and decide what is needed in the High Street.

“The point about takeaways is a valid one – that will be picked up by CCTV and I’m pretty sure there will be measures to ensure that doesn’t become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.”

Joanne Roberts, transport manager at the council, said the car park would be free for the first hour – with more detailed plans including bins and street furniture.

Designs for the former nightspot are at a concept stage at the moment.

Cllr Chris Clough had nagging doubts about disabled access through park.

And Stockton Mayor Cllr Lynn Hall said wanted it was a “prominent site” in a “troublesome part of town”.

The Conservative member for Hartburn added: ““I just feel we can agree the demolition but the time-scale of the demolition is vital – it has to be done very swiftly because of where it is and the impact it will have on the town.

“I think we should have perhaps had a more detailed scheme at hand before we even begin to think about demolition.”

Mr Grundy said time conditions couldn’t be added by the planning committee – but added the council was keen to see it done in a “quick and effective manner”.

He added: “You’ve got Eldon House which was demolished in a very short space of time with minimum disruption – I can assure you this will be the case with this site as well.”

Demolition of the site was unanimously backed by the panel.

Link to concept drawing: http://www.egenda.stockton.gov.uk/aksstockton/images/att36727.pdf – credit Stockton Council

Categories: Planning Permission Economic development

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Authorities: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council