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Summer
Family Fun
DAYS IN AYCLIFFE TOWN CENTRE
By Martin Walker
Newton Aycliffe town centre will be buzzing with people during two
Family Fun Days as part of this summer's Aycliffe Festival celebrations.
Aycliffe Fest, which replaces the
Great Aycliffe Show this summer, will
be taking place across various venues
in Newton Aycliffe from 3rd to 12th
July.
Our town centre has wanted to get
actively involved in the celebrations
and is planning two special days there
on Saturday 4th and 11th July.
Free attractions will include facepainting, an army assault course and
crafts, while the police and fire service
will also have displays in an event
hosted by Star Radio.
Town centre manager Bryan
Haldane says it’s important the centre
gets directly involved with Aycliffe
Fest.
“Aycliffe Fest is a great opportunity
for the people of Newton Aycliffe to
celebrate at various venues across the
town,” he said.
“We wanted to get actively involved
with the festival and we feel these
two big days will give residents the
opportunity to come to the prizewinning town centre for a family day
out.”
Our town centre is up for another
award, as work on the third phase of
the redevelopment continues following
the recent utility disconnections.
The Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS) has nominated the
town for the renaissance award in the
North East.
It comes just a few months after the
town centre won a gold award at the
British Council of Shopping Centres
annual awards dinner in London.
The refurbishment of the former
HSBC building on Dalton Way is
nearly completed, with the flats on the
first floor being fully refurbished and
available for let to local residents soon
and strong interest from retailers in
the redeveloped former bank.
Work on the other end of the centre
has started with Churchill House and
adjoining shops due to be demolished
and the Town Clock being retained
with new external cladding and
signage to improve its appearance
after all these years.
Residents still believe that the town
requires more nationally-recognised
retail
But Mr Haldane said: “With over 50
shops and our new Aldi supermarket
currently and further interest from
other retailers the centre is continuing
to improve.
“We have invested a lot of money
into the retail offer within the town
ranging from supporting local
businesses to attracting nationally
recognised retailers.”
The redevelopment over the past
number of years has seen national
retailers Wilko’s and Aldi come to the
town centre.