
'silly political games' accusation in row over yarm high street
- Select a language for the TTS:
- UK English Female
- UK English Male
- US English Female
- US English Male
- Australian Female
- Australian Male
- Language selected: (auto detect) - EN
Play all audios:

A row over plans for Yarm High Street has intensified as Labour leaders hit back at a Conservative MP's criticisms. Leading members of the Labour-led Stockton Council have accused
Conservative Stockton West MP Matt Vickers of "silly political games" after he accused the authority of "flawed and secretive decision-making and lack of consultation".
He had claimed the council had not listened to residents and ignored their views, but the Labour leaders say they did consult, that Mr Vickers had previously supported the plans and they
called on him to "correct the record". Mr Vickers, in turn, maintained his objections and branded the latest proposals a "hideous monstrosity" and "bizarre".
Earlier this month the council announced new public spaces and seating areas on Yarm High Street, separating pedestrian areas and large sections of car parking through seating and planting,
to improve accessibility to public transport, with "high-quality spaces for people to sit and enjoy their surroundings" and cycle parking. But Mr Vickers accused the authority of
ignoring locals' views and using Yarm as a "cash cow". He said on social media: "Stockton's Labour council made an announcement about the future of Yarm High Street
- but don’t seem to have listened to any local residents about what they actually want for their town! The lack of proper consultation with residents, businesses and elected representatives
is an utter disgrace and entirely unprofessional. "Residents, businesses, councillors and myself will now take the time to scrutinise what’s been pushed out through the press about what
the council want to do to Yarm to see what the impact will be. This is just another example [of] the flawed and secretive decision-making and lack of consultation by Stockton's
shameless Labour council." At the time the council's cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor Richard Eglington, responded saying the scheme had Mr Vickers' full support as
part of a bid which successfully secured £20m from the previous Conservative government's Levelling Up Fund. He said the council held two public consultations in 2022 and refined the
plans to reflect public feedback. Since, in a joint statement, Cllr Eglington along with council leader Councillor Lisa Evans and deputy leader Cllr Paul Rowling have said: "We were
shocked to read the comments levelled at Stockton Council by the Member of Parliament for Stockton West regarding the regeneration plans for Yarm High Street. Matt Vickers has made
statements in the media that are not true and, in the process, rewritten the history of his own involvement. It is time to for him to correct the record." They said Mr Vickers wrote in
June 2021 to then Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak supporting the Levelling Up Fund bid to make improvements to the High Street, saying: "The bid has clear rationale for
improving public spaces in Yarm town centre, making it more attractive for businesses to thrive." The councillors added: "After this letter public consultations took place in
August 2022 and December 2022. Matt Vickers knew about this and never raised any objection or comment... The scheme was adapted and scaled down from that which Matt Vickers supported.
"It is time for Matt Vickers to stop treating the people of Yarm as pieces in his silly political games. He knew of the plans, and he never once objected despite multiple opportunities
to do so. "Matt Vickers wrote to the previous government to support the very plans he now seeks to criticise. We are committed to improving and investing in our town centres.
Unfortunately, Matt Vickers seems to be only interested in trying to engineer political attacks. The people of Yarm deserve better." A spokesperson for Stockton Council said: "As
part of the Levelling Up Fund process, the MP was and continues to be engaged in discussions with officers about the development proposals across the LUF programme. The council did not
receive a formal response from the MP or his office in relation to the public consultations carried out in 2022 relating specifically to Yarm High Street." Mr Vickers said in response
to the Labour councillors' comments: "The Gazette were sent a copy of the council's plans for the High Street at around 13:30 [on May 1], I got my copy at 13:09 the same day.
That was my first chance to see the hideous monstrosity Stockton's Labour council are planning to create with the money I fought tooth and nail to secure from the last Conservative
government. "Two to three years ago the council underwent a 'secret consultation'. So good were they at hiding it, I haven’t spoken to any business or residents who heard
about it. "The Labour council committed to consult with local people in exchange for this money, but they've failed to consult with local residents, businesses, councillors or
myself. I'm furious with the state of Labour’s proposals, rusty planters in our beautiful historic High Street at the same time as removing pontoons, reducing access to the river for
water sports and even undermining water safety. "This attack on our High Street comes alongside the axing of one hour free parking and the removal of the town's recycling centres.
I'd love to know if the people who came up with these bizarre proposals have ever been to Yarm High Street." Yarm ward councillor Andrew Sherris said the fishing pontoons harked
back to the days of the Tees Barrage and the Teesside Development Corporation. He said: "We need to be providing improvements that are both needed, used and supported by a number of
different users. "Surely there are adequate funds to replace these pontoons rather than remove them. This not only reduces access to our best resource but has far wider implications.
"These pontoons historically have been used by people fishing. However, in recent years with water activities increasing, we see access to the river for paddle boarders and wild
swimmers. "Remember, not only a safe way to enter, but a safe way to exit. Whilst many of the improvements are to be welcomed, let's just pause, and have a rethink on some of these
proposals." JOIN TEESSIDE LIVE'S WHATSAPP COMMUNITY FOR TOP STORIES AND BREAKING NEWS SENT DIRECTLY TO YOUR PHONE Teesside Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our
community. Through the app, we'll send you the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone. To join our community group, you need to already have
WhatsApp. All you need to do is CLICK THIS LINK AND SELECT 'JOIN COMMUNITY'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Teesside Live team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our
community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY. FOR
BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR AREA DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX EVERY DAY, GO HERE TO SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER