Latest news with #StocktonBoroughCouncil
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Yarm new homes plan attracts more than 180 objections
More than 180 objections have been made against a plan for hundreds of new homes near a market Taylor Wimpey is preparing an outline plan to build up to 600 properties on land south of Green Lane, in Yarm, said the properties would consist of between two to five bedroom homes, including up to 120 which were of the objections include traffic concerns. The developer, which held a public consultation, said it welcomed the feedback. Dozens of comments were made to Stockton Borough Council, according to the Local Democracy Reporting said: "Yarm is supposed to be a historic market town but is quickly become a sprawling housing estate."Another said: "We have already been heavily built upon and we have not got the infrastructure to take more housing." 'Pressure on schools' Stockton West Conservative MP Matt Vickers said the plans would further increase the "unsustainable" overdevelopment of that part of the said: "No emphasis has been placed on the real impact that there will be to the natural environment and biodiversity."He added that the plans would have a "severe and detrimental effect" on traffic concentration and would put pressure on local schools and Wimpey said its project would tackle a need for housing and would have a "minimal impact" on road junctions."We would like to thank the local community for their feedback on our plans for the proposed development off Green Lane in Yarm," a spokesperson said. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
New bins installed along Tees in Stockton after 50 were scrapped
New bins have been installed along a stretch of land where 50 were previously removed after funding 2023, the Canal and River Trust (CRT) got rid of bins along a stretch of the River Tees in Stockton, saying it could no longer afford to meet the cost of emptying about litter have been raised regularly since, but Stockton Borough Council has now installed four new bins to help keep the area leader Lisa Evans said the local authority had listened to "what people have said about not having bins in this area". "The ward councillors and I have worked with CRT to install four new bins on their land, and the council will be maintaining them to make the area cleaner and a nicer place for everyone," she said."We've listened carefully to what people have said about not having bins in this area, which is very popular with both dog walkers and other visitors."Volunteer litter pickers had been cleaning up the stretch after the bins were CRT previously said it could no longer afford the annual £30,000 cost to maintain the Sean McGinley said the charity was facing soaring costs and stretched said it was upsetting that "people are still leaving litter, which then finds its way into the river". Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stockton and Yarm parking review welcomed by business chief
A business leader has welcomed a review of town centre parking hour's free parking in Yarm and Stockton was removed by the local council earlier this year and replaced with a £1.50 has been branded "the wrong decision" by Paddy Morton, manager of a family business on Yarm High Street and chairman of the Yarm Business Borough Council said it was now looking to analyse the measure to get an understanding of what it had done to people's shopping habits. When the charge was introduced in February, the local authority said it was needed to cover the costs of maintaining local businesses said it has driven away customers and they have called for it to be scrapped. 'Full picture' needed Mr Morton described its implementation as a "knee-jerk decision", adding: "There was no consultation and no advice was taken."I think the first reaction [to the review] is to welcome the fact that they want to engage with town centre businesses and collect proper data, which should have been what happened in the first place."The council said it had monitored the impact and "provisional data" showed footfall in Yarm and Stockton "was higher every month than it was in 2024 and 2023".Cabinet members will meet on Thursday to decide the scope of the review and consider the type of data to be collected, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Paul Rowling, cabinet member for resources and transport, said: "While initial data collected in the first four months is showing that footfall is up in our town centres, we want to delve deeper and analyse the information and trends. "This will allow us to get the full picture of what removing the first hour of free parking has done to change residents and visitors' habits and how this may be affecting our town centre businesses."We also want to engage with those affected and listen to what they have to say." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Trailblazer' Spending Review fund towns in the dark
Local authorities involved in regeneration schemes announced during the government's Spending Review say they are still waiting for information about what the projects might actually Wednesday, the government said 25 "trailblazing neighbourhoods" would each receive up to £20m over the next decade as part of "community-led" renewal include Walker North in Newcastle, Barrow Central in Cumbria, Thorntree in Middlesbrough and Central Stockton and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the money would "boost growth" and "regenerate our communities". The MHCLG said it "will support improvements people can see on their doorstep, champion local leadership, foster community engagement and strengthen social cohesion".When asked how exactly the money would be spent to achieve this, or how it had chosen the locations to give the money to, the department did not comment. It is understood the money could be spent on various local projects such as youth clubs and councils should receive funding from April 2026. Newcastle City Council said it was still waiting for more information about the scheme. Westmorland and Furness Council said any additional money was "welcomed"."We are looking forward to finding out more about the trailblazer neighbourhoods plans for Barrow Central," a spokesperson Borough Council said that while it was still waiting for more information about the scheme, it believed the funds would support its ambition to accelerate plans to improve Stockton town centre. "We will now work with local partners and communities to develop exciting proposals for the trailblazer," a spokesperson said. Middlesbrough Council declined to comment. Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Market trader slams claims high street is a 'no go zone' for affecting footfall
A market trader has hit out at claims a Teesside town's high street is a 'no go zone' after online criticism he says is hitting footfall. John Buckle, known as John the Pie Man, has been selling his pastry-filled creations at Stockton High Street's market for 13 years. The high street has faced criticism in a handful of social media groups, with posts claiming the market area is a 'no go area' and pictures shared of alleged anti-social behaviour. But the 52-year-old pie man is determined to quash what he calls a 'false narrative' affecting footfall, insisting the high street is a good place to visit and work. "There have been quite a lot of negative posts about the high street," he said. "It's just not true. "I work there twice a week, and have done for years. "I love this town. I love the people, they are so down to earth, so honest. "We don't sugar coat stuff. We all say how we feel. "But people see stuff online that looks in all aspects like it's from a genuine verified news source. So they can't be blamed for believing the false negative narrative. "Obviously crime exists everywhere. I don't know the statistics for the town centre but it's never felt unsafe during the day. I'm there for 11 hours twice a week. I shop there regularly. John the Pie Man with his grandchild in Stockton. (Image: John the Pie Man) "It's all lies and affecting footfall for no reason." John has met with Stockton North MP Chris McDonald to discuss the issue and highlighted his work serving free pie and peas for homeless people in the town - something he has done for about four years. He hopes that his work will prove that 'Stockton High Street is a safe space to shop' and more people will come into the town as a result. Stockton Borough Council said efforts had been made in recent months to clean up the street and more police were visible throughout the town now. Chris McDonald MP said: "I've been contacted by many local residents who've raised concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour on Stockton High Street - and they're right to care deeply about their home town. "Fourteen years of cuts in Government funding have hit towns like Stockton hardest, stripping away vital services and undermining community safety. "We are turning a corner. Since being elected, we've committed to 13,000 new officers across the country. Stockton is getting its share of those new officers and we have secured 7-day-a-week policing in the town centre. "I won't pretend all the problems are solved, but confidence is growing. The High Street is safer, busier, and more vibrant - and we're only just getting started." Criticism of Stockton came to the forefront of the political world in 2023 when then Conservative home secretary James Cleverly was accused of calling the town a 's***hole' in the House of Commons. Mr Cleverly apologised at the time, insisting he called then-Labour MP Alex Cunningham 'sh**' instead. Councillor Norma Stephenson, Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: 'We want our town centres to be welcoming places, where residents and visitors can enjoy spending time and businesses can flourish. RAF warns of 'increased activity' in North East this week as advice issued The moment a wanted North East man was rugby tackled to ground by cop Baby left fighting for life after Darlington incident remains in critical condition 'Daily patrols take place by dedicated town centre civic enforcement officers but as part of Operation Shield, they are boosted by regular joint patrols with Cleveland Police. There is also targeted substance misuse support taking place for those needing it. 'Although crime is down in both Stockton Town Centre and the Ropner Ward, we have listened to both residents and businesses about their concerns around safety in the town centre, and how this affects people's perceptions and experience. "We hope Operation Shield provides further reassurance for members of the public who live, work and visit the town centre."
