Dear Sir,
I am not really surprised that the use of the car park on Greenwell Road, Newton Aycliffe was suggested as an alternative temporary home for the market. However it would be impractical as it would not result in a footfall to give the traders a viable living.
We are informed by Durham Council that major problems would make the use of the land adjacent to the Cubby impossible. As the Council will probably use the Health and Safety argument as their friendly ally to force the decision upon Newton Aycliffe there are a couple of points which I would like to stress:
1. The land next to the Cubby has been allowed to remain a carbuncle and an eyesore for a number of years with no attempt by the owners (Durham County Council) to landscape or even tidy up the land.
2. Access to the proposed car park on Greenwell Road will incur a substantial increase in pedestrians crossing the road at various points along the highway without the facility of a pedestrian crossing.
3. The car park is very well used at present and the use of the car park by the market will increase pressure on other parking areas.
4. Trade will be taken away from businesses in the Town Centre itself as the location of the market will be drawing potential customers away.
5. With the Taxi rank overflowing along Greenwell Road past the rear of the old Woolworths building and Taxi drivers wandering around in the middle of the road with their car doors open, Homeplan receiving deliveries and customers loading, Fast food outlets with customers parking outside of the shops, Buses picking up and dropping off passengers and lorries delivering to shops, one can only imagine the melee.
6. With an organisation that has experts in every possible department from highways to legal, I find it very difficult to believe that those problems incurred with using the Cubby site cannot be overcome if the will is there.
We seem to be ruled by people whose primary interest is in Durham City and surrounding areas so I would pose this challenge: Come on Durham prove me wrong and solve this situation for the good of Newton Aycliffe and the great County of Durham.
Ken Robson  Chairman
(ACORN Residents Association)