Fire escape plan for Durham STACK could cause 'serious injury'

The popular entertainment provider plans to bring the former M&S on Silver Street back into full use by offering live music, food and drink across multiple floors.

Plans took a step forward last month after Durham County Council approved an alcohol licence, as bosses hope to open by winter 2023.

But members of the local civic society, the City of Durham Trust, say the proposed fire exit onto Moatside Lane is narrow and a danger to intoxicated visitors, particularly those wearing high heels.

Trustee Roger Cornwell said: “It is narrow, dark, twisting and sloping. Funnelling crowds into a confined space is a recipe for catastrophe. Anybody falling may well be crushed and serious injury or death could result.”

Roger Cornwell measures the width of Moatside Lane (Image: Jean Rogers)

Read more: New details of Durham STACK venue on Silver Street revealed

A fire safety assessment is yet to be prepared, though the plans for the site remain in the early stages, with the local authority saying that a sufficient risk assessment must be carried out to comply with regulations.

The alcohol licence means the venue can sell alcohol from 10am to 12am Monday to Thursday, extended to 1am on Friday and Saturday. An extension until 2am on New Year’s Eve and bank holidays was also included.

Around 100 students are living in flats in the vicinity of the proposed site on Silver Street and the Trust says residents living nearby would have to keep their windows closed to block out the noise from the venue.

“When the night is over the crowd will come out into Silver Street. This is a confined space where the sound echoes off the surrounding buildings. With the sound from the live acts still ringing in their ears, they will not be quiet,” the Trust added.

But the developer says it will have a dispersal policy to minimise the risk of large crowds causing disruption.

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The route down Moatside Lane towards the fire exits (Image: Jean Rogers)

“STACK is a popular and successful venue elsewhere in the North East” said John Lowe. “There may be sites in Durham City where it could work here too. But the location in Silver Street is not one of them and we regret that the licensing committee was prepared to take STACK’s word and grant the licence without the safeguards we consider necessary.”

Neill Winch, CEO Danieli Group, which owns STACK, said: “The safety of our customers is paramount at every STACK venue and we ensure that we follow all the procedures required so that each of our developments complies with those requirements.

“STACK Durham will be a huge asset to the city once it is completed and as responsible operators and developers – with an excellent track record – we are working closely with all of the statutory bodies on every aspect of this exciting scheme, which will add to the cultural, entertainment and social offer of the city centre and bring back into use the under-utilised former M&S building.”