Darlington Council approves Copper Beech pub play area plans

Darlington: The Copper Beech pub on Neasham Road wanted to turn an unused tarmac area into a fun play space for kids and a spot for outdoor seating. They already went ahead and made the changes, which include some nice Astroturf, bark, play equipment, picnic tables, benches, and a wooden fence with gates.

Good news is, these additions are temporary, so they can be taken out if needed. The pub still has 19 parking spots available, and the new play area doesn’t change the size of the building at all.

It’s set up in a part of the car park that wasn’t being used before. The play area will be open from noon to 9 PM in the summer and until 5 PM in the winter.

There haven’t been any changes to how waste is stored or how people and cars can get in and out, and there are no worries about flooding or contamination. The Copper Beech is in a mixed area with homes and businesses, and they made these changes before asking for permission.

These updates are pretty small and meant just for the pub’s customers, so they shouldn’t bring in more visitors or bother the neighbors. An Environmental Health Officer didn’t have any issues with noise or anything like that.

Any parking spots that were moved around have been adjusted within the car park, and the outdoor seating won’t be used much when the weather’s bad, so it won’t increase traffic or usage.

Plus, an Ecology Officer checked and found that there’s no harm to wildlife or habitats since they’re only working with the existing tarmac. The application was shared publicly, and no one objected.

All the relevant officers, including the Highways Engineer and Ecology Officer, were on board with the proposal. Planning permission was granted on January 9, but they have to start the work within three years and follow all the approved plans and regulations.