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Durham County Council Information Service
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Crook and Willington

Crook

In 1997/1998, the Crook Regeneration Strategy identified a number of issues that needed to be addressed to secure the regeneration and enhancement of the town centre. These linked into and complemented issues identified in the District Local Plan. The imminent approval of a Crook and Willington SRB5 bid provides the impetus and starting point for more comprehensive and integrated land use, regeneration and transport action.

The main objective of an integrated package would be to reduce traffic entering the Market Place. This is an important focal point which is currently unattractive and ineffective. This will have a number of related benefits:

  • Increase the likelihood of Crook being able to take advantage of tourism related visits and visitors.
  • Improve the appearance of the town centre which is likely to increase the likelihood of investment.
  • Improvesresidential amenity along the northern section of New Road.
  • Improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists within the town centre which will help the functionality and appearance of the shopping area. It will also improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists around the Market Place to help reduce the traffic-caused severance within the centre.
  • Facilitate the implementation of the Crook Market Place Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme (HERS), a pilot English Heritage initiative.
  • Improve traffic conditions for public transport within the town and in conjunction with the HERS, facilitate the rationalisation of bus stops to provide a centralised bus terminus with improved information, signage, etc.
In addition, it is intended to provide traffic calming and environmental streetscape works in the New Road, North Terrace and Church Street areas to improve pedestrian safety.

The county council and district council will also look to implement a comprehensive town centre parking strategy aimed at supporting businesses through the prioritisation of shopper/visitor parking and which could be linked in with green transport plans.

Implementing a comprehensive town-wide cycling and pedestrian strategy will identify the existing principal routes, opportunities arising from potential development, gaps in the network and the need to link into the strategic network of routes that run through/adjacent to Crook.

Willington

Similar to issues identified in the Crook Regeneration Strategy, Willington has suffered historical decline and lack of investment. Through the District Local Plan, proposals were identified which were intended to reverse this process. The imminent approval of a Crook and Willington SRB5 bid provides the impetus and starting point for complementary action of comprehensive and integrated land use, regeneration and transport initiatives.