Hello, I was brought up, in Spennymoor. I left the town, at 21 years of age. I'd lived there, since my birth, in 1966. I still, frequently return to the town and keep an eye on, what's happening with the town, through the Internet and from actually walking about there. This video, has come across to me, as a very, very (2 decades) late attempt, to back retail businesss in the town and to keep a local shopping experience 'happening'.. Let's face it! The precinct, as always known, until you tried to rebrand it, as 'Festival Walk'!!! 🤔 What was that all about? The concrete 70's, shutter covered, damp infested, neglected heart of the town... Is now, magically, a wondrous happy place...You, even put, a harlequin (clown, juggling, or something) LOGO, upon NEW, SPARKLING, SIGNAGE!! 😮 to give IT, that, FESTIVAL ambience, as pixies, skip, from 1970's, hexagonal, concrete, paving slab, to another. THAT WAS A RIDICULOUS PR STUNT, THAT UNDERMINED THE INTELLIGENCE OF YOUR RESIDENTS! I grew up, in Bessemer Park Estate. I would like to class myself, as an observer, of human behaviour and also, the effects, of architecture and the placement of humans, in what has been described, many times before, about 'the planners dream, gone wrong' scenario, ie evolved human beings, living in concrete boxes, in such close proximity to each other, does not a good scenario make! You obviously, realised the councils mistake, about building them, in the first place, and they were demolished, in a very short period of time! Here's a copied part of a description, from the councils page, on the history of Spennymoor, about (the only bit about) Bessemer Park Estate. 'The greatest project came with the development of the Tudhoe ironworks site - 70 acres that was turned into the Bessemer Park Housing Estate. In 1968 work commenced on blocks of flats and houses there (comprising 1,009 household units in total) and this allowed the clearance of 500 unfit houses as well as the provision of housing for workers coming to the new factories. The blocks of flats on the Bessemer Park Housing Estate were subsequently demolished in the 1980s, due to serious problems with damp in the flats that rendered them extremely unpopular with tenants.' unquote. The council, were really shit, at providing, adequate housing facilities, for its residents. IT WAS A CHEAP WAY TO CAGE HUMANS.!I grew up there and had a great childhood, but I have also seen news reports, of children' playing', on fresh bomb sites, in their war torn, town, or city. So..... Here's the question! What makes people think, that you are going to make any real difference, to a shopping experience, in the town, by letting retail giants, run amuck? There should be, a diverse shopping experience, blending, sole retailers, amongst the big boys, that you cater for. While you make another High Street, look like another High Street.... And.. Unbelievably, its taken you and your cohorts, decades!!! To make the heart of the town, a high agenda issue, because you care! You left it to rot, and now, because of big business investment, you're back on board, and it's all for the good of Spennymoor and the great community. You and your predecessors, like other council decision makers, throughout the country, should be ashamed of yourselves, for not intervening, when things needed to be done, to stop the decay of the High Street. You get paid well, from a public purse, to make desicions, that will better your people. You're like, elected tribe leaders and decision makers! AND you let this shit happen, for so long.. UNTIL NOW! With your RU-vid video. NOW! it's going to be different! NOW! We're getting people to knock shit down and build NEW SHIT! Throughout the years, the council, has done some shady deals, with everyone, from building firms, to cigarette giants. Land has been given away. Millions of funding, for big firms, that promise to fund the local economy, for years to come! And that's right, isn't it. It's s really only years!... Not many years at that, to justify the funding and handshakes over a table, with promises of eternal glory. Here's an idea... Why not... Get you 'apparently' clever heads together, as a Council, that really cares for its 'community' 🤔 and make some sensible, attainable, steps in the RIGHT direction, that ultimately, make the lives of your residents, as you are the peoples, social and legal representatives... BETTER! AS FAST, AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN! Nah!, that's never going to happen! Never, ever ever! 😔 Because, you've made your selfish, corporate beds,, with your selfish, corporate, bedfellows, and you will lie upon them, together... FOREVER! It sounds horrible, doesn't it, but unfortunately, it's the truth! Affordable to the retailers. (FREE RENT & RATES, IF POOR MARGINS FOR ALL, ENSUE!)
