Newton Aycliffe’s iconic Town Centre clock will remain in situ when the demolition of that end of Beveridge Way starts in March.
Churchill House will come down, the shops beneath and those shops shown on the right of the tower will also be demolished, but the owners have decided the clock tower can stand alone as an important landmark for the Town Centre.
As it stands now, the town centre is enclosed and visitors are unaware it is there – the new plans will bring it back to the 60’s when you could see down Beveridge Way from Stephenson Way.
Cars had access then and could park outside shops as old photos of the town centre show on the Newton News website. We are assured this new open aspect suitably landscaped, will be a very attractive improvement to the town centre.
The town clock was always going to be preserved as part of the refurbishment. One proposal was to take it down, brick by brick and rebuild the tower as a feature in the middle of the pedestrian walkway. Everyone will agree leaving it in place is the better option and will help the town centre’s new image.