Fears that a UK high street’s £20 million boost could “ruin” its town have sparked a public consultation.
Stockton Borough Council is planning to create seating areas and planting and separate pedestrian zones from car parks on Yarm’s High Street in what’s been dubbed the “final piece of the jigsaw”. But residents are concerned that the design could encourage anti-social behaviour. The seating could simply become somewhere for people to “wee in” and “throw cans in when the pubs close”, Carole Jones, 70, told the BBC.
Other residents complained that the council could have used the money to renovate and restore what’s already there, instead of imposing modern structures on a Georgian town. Yarm-on-Tees, or simply Yarm, is a quaint market town in North Yorkshire, England.
A survey by MP Matt Vickers suggested residents of the North East town felt the council hadn’t asked their thoughts on the matter before going ahead with project proposals.
Councillor Richard Eglington said no decision had been made. « These proposals are set to be the final piece of the jigsaw, but we recognise that this has to be right for residents, businesses and visitors, which is why we’re seeking views on whether the council should proceed with the scheme, » he said.
You are invited to have your say on the proposed scheme from Wednesday 10 December 2025 until Monday 12 January 2026. An online form is available to complete. A series of drop-in engagement sessions will also be held in Yarm Library, for anyone wishing to discuss the scheme further or to fill in a paper copy. The sessions will take place on:
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Thursday 11 December from 2pm to 6pm
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Tuesday 16 December from 10am to 2pm
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Tuesday 6 January from 10am to 2pm
The council said it would improve the look and feel of the high street and its accessibility to public transport, but one resident has claimed « most people don’t want it ». But others feel removing the cars from the high street will make it more visually attractive.
Nine out of 324 parking spaces are to be removed to make way for the revamp.
In 2020, the council surveyed residents. The findings were that people wanted to see better toilet facilities, improvements to long stay car parking, better cycle parking, more green spaces, improved footpaths and an enhanced town hall.
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