Latest news with #StocktonBoroughCouncil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Market trader slams claims high street is a 'no go zone' for affecting footfall
A market trader has hit out at claims a Teesside town's high street is a 'no go zone' after online criticism he says is hitting footfall. John Buckle, known as John the Pie Man, has been selling his pastry-filled creations at Stockton High Street's market for 13 years. The high street has faced criticism in a handful of social media groups, with posts claiming the market area is a 'no go area' and pictures shared of alleged anti-social behaviour. But the 52-year-old pie man is determined to quash what he calls a 'false narrative' affecting footfall, insisting the high street is a good place to visit and work. "There have been quite a lot of negative posts about the high street," he said. "It's just not true. "I work there twice a week, and have done for years. "I love this town. I love the people, they are so down to earth, so honest. "We don't sugar coat stuff. We all say how we feel. "But people see stuff online that looks in all aspects like it's from a genuine verified news source. So they can't be blamed for believing the false negative narrative. "Obviously crime exists everywhere. I don't know the statistics for the town centre but it's never felt unsafe during the day. I'm there for 11 hours twice a week. I shop there regularly. John the Pie Man with his grandchild in Stockton. (Image: John the Pie Man) "It's all lies and affecting footfall for no reason." John has met with Stockton North MP Chris McDonald to discuss the issue and highlighted his work serving free pie and peas for homeless people in the town - something he has done for about four years. He hopes that his work will prove that 'Stockton High Street is a safe space to shop' and more people will come into the town as a result. Stockton Borough Council said efforts had been made in recent months to clean up the street and more police were visible throughout the town now. Chris McDonald MP said: "I've been contacted by many local residents who've raised concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour on Stockton High Street - and they're right to care deeply about their home town. "Fourteen years of cuts in Government funding have hit towns like Stockton hardest, stripping away vital services and undermining community safety. "We are turning a corner. Since being elected, we've committed to 13,000 new officers across the country. Stockton is getting its share of those new officers and we have secured 7-day-a-week policing in the town centre. "I won't pretend all the problems are solved, but confidence is growing. The High Street is safer, busier, and more vibrant - and we're only just getting started." Criticism of Stockton came to the forefront of the political world in 2023 when then Conservative home secretary James Cleverly was accused of calling the town a 's***hole' in the House of Commons. Mr Cleverly apologised at the time, insisting he called then-Labour MP Alex Cunningham 'sh**' instead. Councillor Norma Stephenson, Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: 'We want our town centres to be welcoming places, where residents and visitors can enjoy spending time and businesses can flourish. RAF warns of 'increased activity' in North East this week as advice issued The moment a wanted North East man was rugby tackled to ground by cop Baby left fighting for life after Darlington incident remains in critical condition 'Daily patrols take place by dedicated town centre civic enforcement officers but as part of Operation Shield, they are boosted by regular joint patrols with Cleveland Police. There is also targeted substance misuse support taking place for those needing it. 'Although crime is down in both Stockton Town Centre and the Ropner Ward, we have listened to both residents and businesses about their concerns around safety in the town centre, and how this affects people's perceptions and experience. "We hope Operation Shield provides further reassurance for members of the public who live, work and visit the town centre."
BBC News
08-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Billingham South Primary School shuts over safety concerns
A school has been forced to close early for the Easter holidays due to safety concerns over its South Primary School, in Stockton, has closed until further notice with "investigations" expected to take school said it had been advised by Stockton Borough Council to shut "due to concerns over sections of the school building". No further details have been teacher Edwin Squire said: "Having to close is naturally very disappointing and frustrating, but the safety of children and staff must come first." He apologised to parents and carers and advised people to check with the school online for more information. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
01-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Stockton resident fears grade II listed farm house will collapse
A man has called for action to fix a crumbling grade II listed building, which he fears will collapse into his Collins, 52, lives next door to Bradley House Farm and Stables in Wolviston, Stockton, and said sections of the roof were "ready to fall in".He described the building as an "absolute wreck" and said he feared an adjoining wall would damage his Billingham-based engineer Paul Messham, said he wanted to turn it "back to a beautiful living accommodation" but said the project had suffered delays due to difficulties working with the listed building. Mr Collins said the house, which has been fenced off, had been plagued with vandalism."Kids are breaking in and smashing it up. Bit by bit they're slowly destroying it. It's getting to the point where there's not going to be much salvageable," he said."Everything's full of holes and smashed up. The whole place is literally falling into the ground." Mr Collins said he had been in touch with Stockton Borough Council about the property and wanted it to serve notice under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which would require work to be carried England described Bradley House as a "rare survival of a farm complex in a modern urbanised area" and an "eloquent witness to Wolviston's pre-urban past".Mr Messham said the property was not something he and his business partner were going to forget about, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."It's just the fact that this is such an awkward building to work with, you've got to go through all the hoops to get anything done," he said."We've been in talks with Stockton council about how to move forward with this, which is looking positive."But the idea is not to pull it all down. Too many people pull it all down and build houses to make money, it isn't about that." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Free school meals scheme made permanent by council
A scheme that helped feed hundreds more children has been made permanent. Pupils who were entitled to free school meals, but were not receiving them, were automatically enrolled as part of a trial in Middlesbrough. Since September, 546 more children in the town have received a meal as a result of the initiative, Middlesbrough Council said. Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said it had been a "massive success". The approach, which could save families an average of £400 per year, was made permanent earlier in March. An administration fee of 10% will be charged for processing free school meals which are not administered by the council. The Labour-led authority said money raised would go towards its welfare support service or the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, which helps provide activities and a healthy lunch for children during the school holidays. Automatic enrolment has also unlocked about £765,000 in government funding for schools in Middlesbrough in this academic year alone, the council said. Pupil premium funding is used to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students and is allocated to schools based on how many children are receiving free school meals. Primary schools are granted £1,480 per child, with secondaries receiving £1,050. The auto-enrolment scheme has also run in Stockton-on-Tees, where 324 more children received a free school meal as a result of it. It helped to secure about £421,000 in additional pupil premium funding. Labour-led Stockton Borough Council's cabinet endorsed the scheme in October and it will be considered for the new academic year in September. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Free school meals auto-enrolment 'way forward' Free school meals trial feeds 20,000 more children Middlesbrough Council Stockton Borough Council
BBC News
29-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Middlesbrough free school meals auto-enrolment made permanent
A scheme that helped feed hundreds more children has been made who were entitled to free school meals, but were not receiving them, were automatically enrolled as part of a trial in September, 546 more children in the town have received a meal as a result of the initiative, Middlesbrough Council Mayor Chris Cooke said it had been a "massive success". The approach, which could save families an average of £400 per year, was made permanent earlier in administration fee of 10% will be charged for processing free school meals which are not administered by the council. The Labour-led authority said money raised would go towards its welfare support service or the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, which helps provide activities and a healthy lunch for children during the school holidays. Stockton schools Automatic enrolment has also unlocked about £765,000 in government funding for schools in Middlesbrough in this academic year alone, the council premium funding is used to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students and is allocated to schools based on how many children are receiving free school schools are granted £1,480 per child, with secondaries receiving £1,050. The auto-enrolment scheme has also run in Stockton-on-Tees, where 324 more children received a free school meal as a result of helped to secure about £421,000 in additional pupil premium Stockton Borough Council's cabinet endorsed the scheme in October and it will be considered for the new academic year in September. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
