One Giant Leap!

ONE GIANT MAY 2015 LEAP! www.stockton.gov.uk/stocktonnews The community magazine of Stockton Borough Council Big plans, bright future CONTENTS Stockton’s gigantic BIFF 2015 #theloudestwhisper celebration 06 26 40 CONTENTS News Round Up Economic Regeneration Children and 4 and Transport 6 Young People 15 BIG NEWS FOR BIG PLANS FOR AN BIG PLANS FOR THE YOUNG STOCKTON-ON-TEES OUTSTANDING BOROUGH PEOPLE OF OUR BOROUGH Community Arts, Culture Adults Safety 20 and Leisure 22 Services 30 BIG PLANS FOR KEEPING BIG PLANS FOR GREAT BIG PLANS FOR THE UR OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE EXPERIENCES CARE WE PROVIDE FEAT ING Health and Environment Strong There’s a FEATURING Wellbeing 32 and Housing 34 Communities 38 BIG PLANS FOR THE BIG PLANS FOR OUR BIG PLANS FOR HELPING T H L HEALTH OF OUR PEOPLE PLACES AND OPEN SPACES OUR COMMUNITIES PROSPER L E E THERE’S A STORY TO TELL story to tell… R T E ’S TO A STORY Your What’s On Thursday 30 July – Sunday 1 August Council 42 44 SIRF15 has everything you would expect - four town, Instant Light, will be the main focus of AMBITIOUS, EFFECTIVE BIG PLANS FOR days packed with street theatre, circus, dance SIRF15, presented in episodes over the full AND PROUD TO SERVE THE FUTURE and music but this year it will also celebrate weekend it will bring diversity, community the imaginative and bold redevelopment of the spirit, love and a real sense of place. ONE GIANT town centre. MAY 2015 LEAP! Stockton News is published by Stockton- Stockton News aims to provide news and Stockton News is produced by Stockton on-Tees Borough Council and distributed information about the Council, its partner Council’s Communications Team and Inspired by a story we commissioned from Sara www.stockton.gov.uk/stocktonnews to households across the Borough free organisations and local community designed by Twentyseven Design. Pictures of charge. If you have not received a groups and businesses. Every effort courtesy of Dave Charnley, Peter Mernagh, Maitland about how Stockton became a festival www.sirf.co.uk /stocktonfestival /sirf_stockton copy please call 01642 526098 or email is made to ensure all information is Gary Walsh, Gilbert Johnston, Rebecca [email protected] accurate and up-to-date at the time of Hues, Doug Moody, Bosh Creative, Evening publication. Your views and comments Gazette, Dave Jamieson, Dawn McNamara are welcome. and others. There is an audio version of Stockton News. Call 01642 526098 to order a copy or email [email protected] The community magazine of Stockton Borough Council Big plans, bright future PAGE 3 NEWS ROUND UP NEWS ROUND UP WELCOME TO THIS MAY Borough businesses An artist’s impression of how the store may look EDITION OF STOCKTON NEWS. THIRTEEN’S As always when we pull together the news to bring you triumph! in our quarterly update on the Borough I’m struck by just how much there is going on right across the Borough. It’s good to be able to report so many business success NEW BASE stories with five Stockton-on-Tees businesses taking honours at the North East Business Awards, growth in the digital and creative sector at Digital House and at Billingham set Fusion Hive (see page 11) and of course the report on the spectacular celebration to mark the completion of the Visualsoft CEO Dean Benson holds the Company of the Year trophy two and a half year multi-million pound regeneration of aloft (picture courtesy of The Gazette) Stockton High Street. to welcome Aldi We recognise that economic conditions are still Five Stockton-on-Tees businesses returned Billingham will soon be challenging and the effect of welfare reforms and triumphant from the recent Teesside finals cuts in public funding are continuing to have an effect, of the North East Business Awards. home to another big name. so it is good to see so much growth, investment and The derelict Billingham Arms Hotel will be demolished later Visualsoft, an e-commerce firm based in Stockton, was the big regeneration in the Borough. I’m keenly aware that this summer to make way for a new Aldi store, which is winner of the evening, walking off with the coveted Company of there’s a huge amount of investment going into the road expected to open early next year. the Year award. networks across the Borough and there’s an update on The store will be the latest in a string of investments in Newcomer of the Year went to Teesside Industrial Solutions of these schemes on pages 12 and 13, including advance Billingham including a new library and customer service Stockton, which provides rope access services to the industrial notice of essential works at Teesside Park this summer. centre, high quality paving, seating and lighting as well as services sector. We realise that roadworks can cause frustration and enhanced facilities at John Whitehead Park. The Let’s Grow Award was claimed by PJA Distribution Limited disruption but on completion they improve the quality Thirteen is making the final As part of the Tees Valley Bus Network Improvement project, of Thornaby, which focuses on importing and retailing mobile and condition of the network. work is also under way to introduce new bus stops, disabled phone accessories. I’m also struck by just how many remarkable people we preparations to its state-of- parking bays and extend the taxi rank on the Causeway to Integrity Search Limited, of Eaglescliffe, was successful in the make it easier for people to visit the town. are lucky enough to have in our Borough – people like Digital Award category after its growing success in the digital the-art new head office on Phyllis Robinson, who has been fostering for 40 years marketing sector. (see page 16) and our new MYPs Jess Hugill and Kushan The Small Business Award went to Tomlinson Hall & Co, of the banks of the River Tees. Bhardwaj, as well as our former MYP Jessica Belch who Billingham, an engineering company specialising in pump The 43,000 sq ft office at Northshore will accommodate is doing extremely well (see page 18). manufacture, repair and distribution. around 300 of the housing group’s employees. I’m delighted to bring you an update on the Positively Teesside Industrial Solutions, PJA Distribution Limited and Stockton-on-Tees campaign which is shining a light on the Tomlinson Hall & Co all went on to win their categories at the Alison Thain, Chief Executive, said: “We are very proud to be many great things in the Borough. We’re proud to provide regional finals of the awards – a huge well done to all concerned. part of this important regeneration project and to be making this platform for you to share your views and we’ve been significant investment in the area. We are looking forward to overwhelmed by the poems, pictures and stories you being part of a vibrant community at Northshore.” have posted. We were delighted that thousands of people Northshore is a multi-million pound scheme developed by turned out to join in The Loudest Whisper as part of the Cycling Muse Developments in partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency with support from Stockton Council campaign and you can see a flavour of the two great days The Billingham Arms Hotel site is fenced off for demolition in March on pages 40 and 41. success! And finally, as always there’s a lot coming up in our packed Hot on the heels of Stockton’s Tune in to Stockton’s engaging content for listeners of all events calendar over the next few months. Preparations are best ever Duathlon came ages from within Stockton Borough well under way for events during Armed Forces week, for the announcement that the newest radio station and beyond. Stockton International Riverside Festival 2015, for Billingham Borough will host the 2016 A new radio station is “The team here at Ignition are International Folklore Festival and for our fantastic three-day British Cycling National bringing something passionate and dedicated individuals Road Championships! Cycling Festival beginning on 10 July. There’s also a wide different to the airwaves who have previously done great The Championships – won in recent years by the likes of Sir range of specialist markets on offer. We hope you’ll come across the Borough. work in helping our young people along and enjoy them. Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Laura Trott – will take to access volunteer opportunities in place during the Borough’s popular Cycling Festival in June In the next edition we’ll bring Ignition Radio, based in Hardwick, is community media.” next year. a new online community station run you news on the outcome of Marcus Summerfield, Station by a team of volunteers. It provides the elections and details of the Reuben Kench, Stockton Council’s Head of Culture, Leisure and Manager and Presenter, said: Adult Learning, said: “Bringing the country’s most exciting elite an eclectic mix of hit music, local councillors you have elected to “We are looking for local poets, cycling competition to Stockton-on-Tees is a huge coup for us news and information. historians, presenters or anyone serve you. and is an early sign that the new look Stockton High Street has Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, wanting to get their work aired the pulling power to attract major events.” Councillor Barbara Inman on local radio to work with us.” Details of all of the Borough’s events, as well as a look back said: “It was a real pleasure to To tune in, or find out more, visit Neil Schneider at events highlights from the last year, can be found at formally launch this exciting new www.ignitionradio.co.uk or listen station.

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