How Stockton-on-Tees is prepping to welcome back shoppers and visitors
Town centres across Stockton-on-Tees are preparing to welcome back shoppers and visitors when more shops reopen on June 15.
There’ll be free parking across all council car parks, council staff will be available to help people understand the changes, and public toilets will be open.
There is also a dedicated helpline that town centre businesses can use for support and advice.
BILLINGHAM
The owners of Billingham town centre, St Modwen, report that a lot of the shops have been able to remain open during the pandemic as they sell food and other essentials.
A handful more will open on June 15 and
Social distancing signage will be in place when more open on June 15, with the council on standby to support with additional signage if guidance changes.
INGLEBY BARWICK
Council staff will be visiting retailers in Ingleby Barwick to offer advice.
NORTON
To create more space for pedestrians and cyclists, parking will not be permitted in sections of the service roads on either side of the High Street between Leven Road and the Green and a section near the library will be closed to vehicles.
The council is also working with Norton Business Group on signage, posters and stickers to be put in place to support social distancing measures.
STOCKTON
As well as the free parking in all council car parks, there will be free parking at the Castlegate Centre and Wellington Square.
There will be free bike parking as The Hub on Stockton High Street will reopen, with hand sanitiser and bike MOTs also available.
There will also be signage, posters and stickers in place around the town centre to support social distancing measures.
There’s a one-way system around the Castlegate Centre to aid safe movement, queuing and social distancing.
A dedicated town centre cleansing team will carry out increased cleaning of surfaces and touch points and public toilets will be open.
To allow more space on narrow paths, the southbound lane on Stockton High Street will be closed between Bishop Street and Finkle Street for use by pedestrians.
Stockton BID (Business Improvement District) is also providing shops with a number of sneeze screens, hazard tape, posters, floor stickers and hand sanitisers.
THORNABY
A lot of the shops in the privately-owned Thornaby town centre have been able to remain open during the pandemic as they sell food and other essentials.
The council has been working with the owners to produce ‘welcome back’ and ‘thanks to key workers’ signage.
YARM
The council has been working with Yarm Business Forum to produce posters, stickers and signage to welcome shoppers and remind them of social distancing measures.
To create more space for pedestrians and cyclists, parking will be suspended on the outside parking bays along both sides of Yarm High Street.
The council is working on a series of other changes across the Borough aimed at encouraging walking and cycling. They include:
The widening of footpaths on Bishopton Road/Bishopton Lane
Reduced parking on Bishopton Road
Additional cycle parking at locations around the Borough