High street scheme receives 86% negative responses
Stockton CouncilWork to revamp a high street has been met with an overwhelming negative response, as part of a public consultation.
Stockton Borough Council's £2.35m upgrade to Yarm High Street would see pedestrian zones separated from car parks with seating areas and planting.
Work across six areas was due to start last October but was halted for a survey, which found 86% of those who responded did not think the plans should proceed.
Councillor Richard Eglington, cabinet member for regeneration, said the Labour-led council would consider "the most appropriate next steps".
"Thank you to all residents who gave us their views on whether we should proceed with the proposed scheme for Yarm High Street," he said.
"The aim of the survey was to understand if there was support for the scheme and 86% of people told us they would not like us to proceed with it."
The council said 1,564 responses were made, of which just 225 approved of the plans.
In the past, people have told the BBC they wanted to keep parking spaces in the high street and did not want to modernise the Georgian market town, although there was support for the scheme.
The cabinet is considering retaining the Levelling Up Fund money in Yarm High Street or the Yarm and Eaglescliffe area, or reallocating some or all of it to support other projects in the borough.
Alternatively, the council element of the funding may be reallocated into reserves to support the overall council financial position.
The local authority's cabinet will also be asked to consider whether to proceed with the replacement of the two existing wooden fishing pontoons in Yarm, under this remaining funding allocation.
