Share your ideas and views on proposals for improvements to Yarm High Street as part of the Levelling Up Fund

Yarm's residents, businesses and visitors are being invited to give their input and ideas on plans for improving public spaces and access to the High Street.

The Council is asking people to give their views on ways in which Yarm High Street can be improved as part of the allocation from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, where the Stockton South constituency received £20million of funding.

This includes exploring ideas for improvements to public spaces on and around Yarm High Street, such as opportunities to enhance existing pavement and seating areas to support outdoor seating and dining along with progressing existing plans for the refurbishment of Yarm Town Hall into a Heritage Centre.

The findings of this consultation will be used to help shape design options for the High Street that reflect the needs and aspirations of the community.

People can offer their thoughts online by visiting the Yarm High Street consultation page of the Council's website from Monday 8 August until Friday 26 August.

In-person consultation sessions will also take place at Yarm Library on:

• Monday 8 August from 12noon until 3pm
• Friday 12 August from 10am until 12noon
• Monday 15 August from 10am until 2pm
• Friday 19 August from 10am until 2pm

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: "We are delivering on our commitment to invest in our six town centres and we secured £20million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund to fund a programme of interventions across the south of the Borough, including Yarm.

"These plans will help secure Yarm's long-term future by ensuring it remains an attractive and diverse location for residents, businesses and visitors but we want their thoughts on what is important to them and what we should be focusing on.

"We're on an exciting journey and we want to ensure that we take everyone with us on that journey so we can make the most of this opportunity."

Following the consultation period, all views will be collected and considered, with findings shared before design options for the High Street are developed.

Members of the public will then have the opportunity to view and comment on these designs in the Autumn before a final design is completed.

Further details on the programme will also be shared at this stage.

Last October, the Stockton South constituency was awarded £20million of funding from the Government's Levelling Up Fund. This funding will combine with the Council's well-developed plans for its six town centres and longstanding ambitions to enhance sustainable travel activities and enrich visitor experiences across a series of interventions.

Other interventions will include transforming Preston Park, the Tees Valley's leading tourist attraction, by extending the museum into an exhibition centre and gallery space and enhancing connectivity through improved cycle links across the Yarm and Eaglescliffe areas.

Find out more information on how the Council is reshaping its six town centres.

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