Talks to give estate a new lease of life

The talks coincide with bulldozers moving in to demolish the last handful of houses scheduled for destruction.

Hundreds of houses on the estate - which has been stigmatised by high levels of poverty and crime - are to replaced with low-cost housing.

The first phase of building work is expected to begin next spring, with up to 60 homes being built.

Next year will also see the creation of a new primary school to house up to 200 pupils, replacing Firth Moor infant and junior schools.

Both schemes are part of a £3m rescue package for the estate obtained last summer by the Darlington Partnership.

The partnership - which includes the council and community groups on the estate - bid successfully for Government Single Regeneration Budget funding for improvement work in the area.

The money is being used to set up job creation and health promotion programmes and to help to establish a full-time nursery.

Closed-circuit television security cameras are also to be installed on the estate after a separate council bid for Home Office funding was successful.

Council spokesman Steve Jones said last night: "Talks are going on with developers about the plans for housing and we are working towards having someone on site in 2002."

Remaining houses to be demolished would be knocked down in the next week, he said.

The building of a new school had meant that plans were being pressed forward because it would take up a site "at the heart of the estate" previously earmarked for new homes.

Councillor Bill Dixon, whose ward includes Firthmoor, said remaining residents were keen to see progress made.

Some had also questioned whether the new developments would get off the ground.

He said: "These things are so long-term and will happen over a number of years, so there are bound to be times when people think nothing is happening.

"But as far as the council is concerned it remains full steam ahead.