Dear Sir,
I am a Londoner, but have lived in Newton Aycliffe for 37 years where my wife and I brought up our family from the days when the town was run by Aycliffe Development Corporation, but alas, no more!
The town is a shadow of its former self with dirty paths and roads and there is an air of apathy and indifference shown by the authorities.
Words fail me on the state of our Town Centre and I am ashamed a London company would hike the rents of shops so high that tenants have to close their business.
There is no doubt the massive increase in service charges is to pay for the work being carried out in the town centre and the landlords want their money back.
When the work is completed will the centre be kept much cleaner and tidier by the staff or go back to the poor state of maintenance as before?
Good management means high standards and good workers and it has been poor or non-existent in the past. I can say this as a former shopping centre manager.
I would like to be proud of Newton Aycliffe Town Centre and hope this comes about, some day soon!
R. McNeal
Tunstall Road