@AYCLIFFETODAY
"PROJECTS LIKE THIS
ARE INTEGRAL TO THE
SUCCESS OF AYCLIFFE
BUSINESS PARK, SO
IT'S IMPORTANT AS
WELL AS EXCITING."
at the other end of where Hitachi is
now, and some of the old munitions
factories stretch down to St Cuthbert's
Way.
"The current industrial park was set
up to occupy buildings when the ROF
ceased to exist, which shows you just
how vast it was."
Cllr Clare, well known in Aycliffe as
a former History teacher at Greenfield
School, said: "Because I'm an historian
I'm intrinsically excited about this.
"Just looking at the building you can
see history growing before your very
eyes, beginning with the roofline of the
Royal Ordnance Factory walls. Above
that you have a brick wall from the 50s
or 60s and above that you have the
21st Century steelwork - is that not
exciting?
"You've got the developing uses
happening at the same time... it
started off making bombs to protect
Britain during the war, followed by
your post-war new town aims and the
Presswork Metals factory and now
we're turning it into a leisure factory.
"The scheme aims to integrate
that history into the modern leisure
function of the project. The history
is going to be all around you and
integrated into the project as you
walk around, so you will be learning as
you're playing, which is just fantastic.
"Projects like this are integral to the
success of Aycliffe Business Park, so
it's important as well as exciting."
Almost £600,000 has been spent
on constructing a new 70,000 square
foot facility on the site, which has
stood empty for more than six years.
A further £300,000 is to be invested
in the fit out of the facility, including a
trampoline park, cafe, restaurant and
bar, and it w