Four year wait for Scar Top power supply

The performance area at Scar Top, which hosted the Meet pet show

FOUR years after Barnard Castle’s Scar Top was given a £400,000 makeover, the stage area for public events still has not got a power supply.
The area was given a revamp in 2013 to include a new play area, mini-golf course and a place where public performances could be staged.
But the agonising wait for Durham County Council to connect power to the performance area continues to drag on. It means the town council has to hire a generator every time it wanted to host events near Woodleigh.
Cllr Roger Peat told fellow members of Barnard Castle Town Council: “I was promised power would come to the performance area in three or four weeks – that was two months ago. Hopefully that power will be on there so we can have performances this summer.”
Town clerk Michael King said he’d had a conversation with a county officer and revealed the delays were down to technical engineers being elsewhere and needing more “technical information”.
“We’re in the county council's hands,” he added.
Meanwhile, members of Barnard Castle Town Council are asking people to come forward with their event ideas to spend some leftover cash.
The council says the money would not support a large event but would be able to work with others that “add value” in the town.
Cllr Peat suggested some of the £700 could go towards a celebratory performance – if and when Scar Top gets wired up.  “It would be nice to mark that occasion to have a performance in the afternoon once Durham gets power there,” he added.  Partnership committee members also toyed with the idea of keeping the money in a reserve “floating fund” last week.
Sarah Robson, from  Durham County Council, said once they had completed negotitions with the town council about the town taking over responsibility of Scar Top, the power would be ready as soon as possible.
l If you have an idea for the £700 spare cash, contact the town council on 01833 690970.