Durham City Vision
Public to have its say on Market Place re-vamp ideas
28th January, 2009
Members of the public will this week get a chance to give their views on how Durham’s Market Place and historic Vennels should look after a major refurbishment.
People will be able to have their say on draft sketch designs at a public consultation, organised by Durham City Vision, taking place the Main Hall of Durham Town Hall this Friday between 10am and 7pm and Saturday between 10am and 6pm (January 30 & 31).
This follows the announcement that £5.25m will be used to create a high-quality public space that can be used for markets, events and gatherings - and as a much-improved gateway to the City’s Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site. It will be the first time since the mid 1970s that the heart of Durham City has attracted such a healthy level of investment. The Market Place has evolved and changed several times over the decades, with the current layout dating from 1974.
This is the next stage in a consultation process that started in 2005 when it was identified that the heart of Durham City - its Market Place and Vennels - should be prioritised for funding and regeneration. In January 2008, more than 900 people and businesses completed a questionnaire as part of a further stage of public consultation; this feedback has been combined with expert research and analysis to produce the sketch designs set to be showcased.
The preliminary ideas have been produced by a consortium of leading urban designers led by Ryder Architecture. A small invited audience of technical stakeholders enjoyed a preview last week led by respected television presenter, John Grundy. These included the Durham Markets Company, the City of Durham Trust and residents’ associations, as well as representatives from Durham Cathedral, the police, St Nicholas’s Church and special interest groups such as Durham Disability Access Forum.
This stakeholder workshop spent several hours discussing all aspects of the project and some dominant themes emerged from the day. There was wide agreement that:
- pedestrians should have priority of access over traffic
- the current street furniture and general layout of the Market Place are cluttered
- the Market Place floor coverings were worn and difficult for pedestrians
- the Vennels are an underused asset and would benefit from some attention
- a remodelled Market Place should “invite” people to move out into other areas of the City centre.
- a remodelled Market Place would be better equipped to host events
There was also a discussion about the statues of Lord Londonderry and Neptune, including the news that Lord Londonderry is to receive a much needed clean and repair. The idea that they could be moved within the Market Place to give them more prominence and make better use of the existing space also met with an open-minded response.
Harvey Dowdy, Director of Durham City Vision, said: “The workshop was exceptionally well attended by representatives of various groups. The design team outlined various options and the opinions expressed will inform more detailed proposals for the public consultation this week. There was broad consensus on several issues, including the need for change and especially the need to prioritise pedestrians over vehicles and to make floor surfaces safer and more uniform.
“We are pleased with the progress that is being made towards ensuring Durham’s Market Place fulfils its key role as a vibrant gateway to the commercial heart of our historic City.”
John Grundy said: “Durham is fantastic and has had a place in my heart for as long as I can recall. I’m so pleased to be part of a project that will breathe new life into the heart of the City which, currently, is not living up to its potential. The Market Place has been evolving for centuries; I even remember how it looked before the last revamp in 1974, and this will be the latest chapter in its long history. I can’t wait to see the project through.”
