Member Article

Business Park benefits from Probation Period

Areas of a County Durham industrial estate have been spruced up thanks to the unpaid unit of the Probation Trust.

The Aycliffe Business Park steering group has been spearheading a drive to tidy up the estate.

Finley Structures boss John Finley, who’s been charged with environmental issues on the Park, met up with Gordon Wooding from Durham Tees Valley Probation Trust earlier this year about how the organisation might be able to help.

As a result, the unpaid unit of the Trust has been carrying out work on the estate to help improve first impressions.

Gary Hopper, unpaid work supervisor for Durham Tees Valley Probation Trust said: “We’ve done some chipping and tidying up on Whinbank Road and on Whitfield Road, where we’ve also strimmed the long grass down to a decent level so some of the vacant premises look a bit more appealing.

“It makes a huge difference. A lot of people have stopped as they’ve passed and commented on how better it looks.

“There’s been some hard work, but we’ve knuckled down and the lads have done a really good job, and hopefully the grass will just need occasional lawn-mowing from now on and easier to look after.

“We’ve been on this site four days, and I’ve got nothing but praise for the lads and they’ve all done their bit.”

Mr Finley added: “The work the Trust has done has been excellent – it’s a great example of how, with a bit of communication and hard work, we can all work together for the mutual benefit of the Business Park.”

The next Aycliffe Business Park event is at Aston Hotel on Friday September 6 – more details about the group and news can be found at www.aycliffebusinesspark.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .