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.
Statement by Stockton City Council members
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 response
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 comment
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.”
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