It's a pity people weren't invited along to Crimdon Dene for the photo opportunities. I can't see why it would need to be kept a big secret?
Trying to rack my brains and think of the launches this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but have they not all been carried out with the target audience of young children? Even the family fun day, whilst I think the attendance was fantastic, was geared at parents bringing young children along.
The old to new changeover was a good idea in principal, and one geared at enthusiasts, but most people on this board would have pointed out that Peterlee is a bad place to do this. It's one of the few places I'm wary of, and I know I'm not the only one of this opinion. The fact people have had abuse thrown at them backs this up.
It'd probably a better idea to line them up at Saltmeadows for a photo opportunity, whether that be as well or instead of, if there are reasons people couldn't be invited to Crimdon Dene. Stagecoach seem to have managed this with two of their orders (and giving people more than a day or two's notice), and both times have had fantastic turnouts.
