MANY of Darlington's most influential figures came together yesterday to discuss a visionary blueprint for the future.

Darlington Partnership held its assembly at the Dolphin Centre, where key speakers told of plans to enhance health, transport, education and policing across the town.

Major issues under the spotlight included the relocation of Darlington College of Technology and the multi-million pound redevelopment of the West Park site, in Faverdale.

They will all form part of the town's community strategy, an initiative which is aiming to improve the quality of life for residents over the next ten years.

College principal Sarah Farley told the meeting about proposals to create a string of centres of excellence, in various academic fields, as part of the college move.

"This is the single largest investment ever - around £30m - in post-16 learning in the borough," she said.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us and we want to get it right."

Tim Wheeler, the borough council's planning services manager, spoke of the West Park development, where a new £2.9m Alderman Leach School could be based.

He said: "The final decision on whether the school can move is yet to be taken but, if this does turn out to be possible, the school would be ideally placed to take advantage of the facilities provided by West Park.