High street debate dropped as plan paused

Plans for Yarm's high street have been paused after local opposition

A motion tabled by opposition councillors to debate what they said was a council's lack of consultation over high street plans has been dropped as the council said it was pausing the scheme.

Stockton Borough Council Conservatives have welcomed the Labour-run authority's decision to seek further views from residents on the proposals for Yarm.

Stockton West Conservative MP Matt Vickers raised the issue in Parliament on Monday, saying "what could be an opportunity has become a nightmare".

Labour cabinet member for regeneration Richard Eglington said the council would "not do things that residents do not want" following a petition opposing the plans.

The Conservative group said a survey conducted by the MP was completed by nearly 1,000 local people and 97% said they had not been properly consulted.

The group's deputy leader, Niall Innes, who submitted the motion for debate, had called for the council to listen to residents, saying he looked forward to "holding them to account and demanding answers".

Vickers said the council had "tried to railroad through their plans for Yarm High Street without proper consultation with those who live, work and shop in Yarm".

He claimed the authority, faced with the debate, was "forced" to pause its plans.

Eglington said he had asked officers to give people "another chance to have their say" following the launch of the petition.

Matt Vickers raised the case of Yarm high street in Parliament

The authority previously said the plans would improve the look and feel of High Street and its accessibility to public transport, reflecting the findings of two public consultations in 2022.

These showed a desire to improve footpaths, reduce street clutter, provide more planting and seating spaces and improve connections to the river.

Eglington said the council was now hoping to arrange a meeting with the petition organisers.