Presentation by Assistant Director Community Services
Minutes:
The Head of Heritage and Culture gave a presentation which provided an update on the development of the Rail Heritage Quarter, ahead of the bicentennial celebrations in 2025.
Members received an update on the build, the operation and the brand identity for a new visitor attraction, to be known as ‘Hopetown, Darlington’, which included artistic impressions and photographs of work in progress of the Goods Shed 1833, a Site Overview, the North Road Platform, the Exhibition Hall, the Locomotive Works, the 1861 Shed and the Wagon Works Play Park. Members were also provided details of the signature piece – a time travel simulator, a hydraulic ride which would provide a nine-minute shared experience detailing how Darlington had changed the World.
The Committee also received information as regard the brand identity, which included the key themes, the consultation which had taken place, the objectives in relation to the name of the attraction, and the reasoning for the typography and colour palette. Members were advised that the new visitor attraction would be opening in mid-Summer 2024.
Members raised concerns in relation to the arrangements for car parking and accessing the site, however received assurances that the car parking and traffic management arrangements would be in place in time for the site opening.
Disappointment was expressed that the details presented to Committee were not circulated with the Agenda for the meeting, however Officers advised that the details had been embargoed until the day of the meeting, and that publicity around the new visitor attraction, which included the name and branding for the attraction, was being publicly released alongside the meeting that morning.
Members were keen to understand how the attraction would seek to satisfy a wide range of people, and maintain longevity, and Members were pleased to hear that there was an extensive forward plan, which included strands focused on education and a continued renewal of assets.
Discussion ensued on other events taking place in Shildon and Stockton to mark the bicentennial, and Members sought assurances that events within the delivery programme would not clash.
RESOLVED – That the content of the presentation be noted.