WE'VE known it was coming for some time, but the speed with which Darlington's new football stadium has been built has taken everyone by surprise.

The people of Hurworth have been taken aback that it can be clearly seen from the edge of the village, motorists are taking detours along the bypass to have a look, and rail passengers approaching Darlington on the East Coast Main Line have a new landmark to view.

Whatever the arguments about its location, and we sympathise with those living close by, it is undoubtedly an impressive structure.

Throughout the controversy surrounding the stadium, The Northern Echo's view has consistently been that the town could not afford to turn down a multi-million pound investment of that kind.

We have had our arguments with George Reynolds (haven't we George?), but we congratulate him on making the new stadium a reality.

Of course, the question of whether he will build a team capable of filling it, remains to be answered. Such a fine stadium with a crowd of less than 2,000 rattling around inside it would be a disaster, but we live in hope.

Another unanswered question surrounds the name of the stadium. Mr Reynolds says he's happy to call it after any sponsor willing to put in £1m. Otherwise, it will bear his name.

And why shouldn't it? If you'd put millions of pounds into saving a football club and providing it with a new stadium, wouldn't you expect it to be named after you?

The George Reynolds stadium is fair enough.

A VISION for the future of the Tees Valley was presented to leading figures from the area at the Wynyard headquarters of Samsung last week.

Too much jargon - the dangers of "salami-isation" were even discussed - but thought-provoking nonetheless.

The need to grasp tourism opportunities was among the themes and much was made of our coastal heritage.

But there was no mention of the tourism potential of an historic development which embraces the length of the Tees Valley perfectly - The Stockton and Darlington Railway.

Surely any vision for the Tees Valley has to feature a unique piece of heritage which is the world's first passenger railway.

Isn't it time we woke up?