THE report on the steampowered brewery which is being proposed to open on the site of Darlington’s Head of Steam museum in the building currently occupied by the Darlington Railway Preservation Society (DRPS) (Echo, May 28) raises a number of questions.

1. What has a micro brewery to do with railways and a site of historic importance?

2. If DRPS is to be relocated to make way for a micro brewery, where is it going to?

3. Who will pay for DRPS to be relocated? Darlington Borough Council admits it is skint. So who will pay?

Having a brewery on a historic site is a bit like putting a pub in the middle of Stonehenge. I bet the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site doesn’t have a micro brewery on its site. The DRPS site should be devoted to Darlington’s heritage of engineering related to the railways.

Shirley King (HAS, May 9) is right to have concerns about the protection of our rich railway heritage. The destruction of the original trackbed of the original Stockton and Darlington Railway during the construction of the Eastern Transport Corridor together with this brewery idea are clear illustrations of what the Labour Group thinks about the heritage of the borough.

Moreover, the emphasis of the Rail Heritage Group has been biased towards the 2025 celebration, instead of working on Darlington’s unique railway heritage to create jobs through tourism and generate millions of pounds to the local economy.

Work to obtain World Heritage Status has disappeared completely. The momentum in these areas needs to be built up again.

Commercial developers in the council should be told that any development on the heritage sites around the railway museum should be devoted to building up what Darlington is world-famous for, that is railway engineering and the world’s first passenger train.

Councillor Alan Macnab (Lib Dem), Darlington council.

THE recent letters debating Darlington’s railway heritage, and the story about the steampowered brewery proposal (Echo, May 28), make interesting reading.

Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration, spoke of a plan to make the most of our railway heritage (HAS, May 16).

Is this the same plan that includes the disposal of the land and buildings in the North Road area, including our famous railway museum, into private control?

Any type of heritage is only on loan to us, the current generation.

Our role is to protect, preserve and safeguard the right for future generations to celebrate and continue enjoying it.

Shirley King (HAS, May 9) is correct in saying Darlington’s railway heritage is special. This is where railways began in 1825, and now they cover most of the world.

The meaning of heritage in the Oxford dictionary is “valued historic things that have been preserved, and passed down from previous generations”. This is the concept that should be continued by the present generation.

Does the council intend to inform the residents of Darlington what the plans are for the area surrounding the railway museum? Is the council going to give priority to developers over architecture and heritage?

Like Shirley, I was born in Darlington, and have been involved with the railway museum for the past 40 years. I am passionate about preserving Darlington’s famous railway heritage for future generations to be proud of.

Barrie Lamb, Darlington.