Newton Aycliffe

Newton Aycliffe was planned in the 1950s and 1960s with the intention of providing alternative sources of employment and housing to replace a declining coal mining industry. The town centre and residential areas were constructed to the north of an industrial estate which has focused on the needs of the munitions industry. Since then a considerable number of employers have been attracted to Newton Aycliffe and it provides a focus for employment in south Durham. However, studies have found that people without access to private transport are unlikely to obtain work in that area.

A number of industrial areas are in need of regeneration and a public/private partnership is currently active in Aycliffe Industrial Park. Investment is being made in improving bus stops, cycle and walking routes and areas of personal safety. As part of this process the county council has agreed that a new rural bus grant should be used to develop services from the former mining villages in south east and south west Durham.

In addition, a proposal is being developed with a number of public and private sector partners to redevelop the Avenue School site, immediately to the east of the town centre, to extend the range of facilities available in the town centre and increase its competitiveness. It is expected that the partnerships will result in action to improve access to public transport and meet the needs of cyclists and walkers by improving both safety and security.

The 1999/2000 Transportation Planning Policy allocation of funding for minor works has allowed Ł145,000 to be targeted in relation to:

Managing speed in the town centre.
Reducing car use and improving children's safety on the journey to school.
Improving cycling links to the town centre.
Improving public transport facilities, especially for people with disabilities.

Future measures will continue to tackle the issue of access by the private car and will include:

Identification of a proposed cycle route network within Newton Aycliffe.
Extension to Greenways network to provide links from the identified core routes into further residential areas and employment areas.
Development of Commuter Plans amongst companies on Aycliffe Industrial Park, Newton Aycliffe, building on and learning from the experience of Tallent Engineering, one of the park’s larger employers.
Bus timetable information in the town centre.
Continuing to improve public transport facilities, especially for people with disabilities.
Continuing to focus on journeys to school.