Stockton’s Conservative MP Matt Vickers has slammed Stockton’s Labour Council after it was revealed that money secured to improve Yarm and Eaglescliffe could be redirected elsewhere in Stockton Borough.
Matt Vickers secured £20m from the previous Conservative government on the basis the council would consult and engage with residents in developing its plans. The local MP has said that despite several warnings, the council pressed ahead, failing to properly consult local residents, and putting forward plans that were not in keeping with Yarm’s historic nature.
The MP has said that Stockton’s Labour Council should not use the failure of its own regeneration plans as an excuse to divert money away from Yarm and Eaglescliffe.
The Council’s proposals included ‘rusty’ planters, which amounted to a ‘Teesside Park-style’ redevelopment of Yarm. Local MP Matt Vickers consistently raised concerns that residents were not being listened to, and the MP’s own survey – completed by more than 2,000 residents - found that 96% of people and businesses said they had not been properly consulted. The survey was completed by more people than the Council’s own official consultation.
Stockton’s Conservative MP raised suggestions made by the residents that the money could be used on projects that reflect the character and needs of Yarm, such as improved sport and fitness facilities, additional car parking, a plan to tackle the heavy congestion faced by local residents or improved footpath and cycle connection to Kirklevington, allowing children to get to school safely.
Now, Stockton’s Labour Council is planning to divert the money secured for Yarm and Eaglescliffe elsewhere in Stockton Borough, rather than working constructively with the local community.
Stockton’s Conservative MP Matt Vickers said:
“I am utterly disgusted that – having failed to engage properly with the local community – Stockton’s Labour Council wants to steal the money I secured to improve Yarm and Eaglescliffe and spend it elsewhere in Stockton Borough.
“Stockton’s Labour Council catastrophically failed to engage with and properly consult the local community. They should not be using that an excuse to take away investment from Yarm and Eaglescliffe who contribute a fortune in council tax and get very little for it.
“The Council could have used the money to improve sport and fitness facilities, provide additional car parking tackle the heavy congestion faced by local residents, or improved footpath and cycle connections to Kirklevington, allowing children to get to school safely. Instead, they wanted to spend the money on a Teesside Park-style makeover of Yarm that was totally out of character with our historic town.
“Stockton’s Labour Council must listen to residents, engage with the community, and keep this money for what it was intended for.”
