Stockton West residents' demands from next Government

But the importance of the upcoming General Election can be felt across Yarm, Eaglescliffe, Ingleby Barwick, and other small Stockton villages as the race heats up into its final weeks. 

Those living in Stockton West may face different issues to neighbour Stockton North - but the areas are no stranger to the harsh impact of the cost of living crisis, surge in housing prices and new homes, and a lack of infrastructure, according to residents and businesses. 

This will be the first General Election for the newly formed Stockton West, after a parliamentary boundary review in 2023 split Stockton-on-Tees into three constituencies - Stockton North, Stockton West, and Middlesbrough and Thornaby. 

It is largely made up of the former Stockton South, which the Conservatives predominantly held across the last 10 years,

The Tories won every election since 2010 in Stockton South - apart from Paul Williams' victory for Labour in 2017. 

Conservative Matt Vickers was the most recent MP of Stockton South, having won the seat from Williams in 2019 with 50.7% of the vote (against Williams' 41.1%). 

The Northern Echo headed out to Eaglescliffe and Yarm this week to speak to people about what they want from the next Government, and the issues that matter to them most. 

The Stockton West constituency, which was formed after a parliamentary boundary review back in 2023 (Image: GOOGLE / UK PARLIAMENT)

Margaret Tasker, from Eaglescliffe, said she “loved the area” but wants the next Government to focus on improving roads, which are “in a bad state” across Stockton West. 

“If you just walk around you will see what I mean,” the 77-year-old continued. 

Margaret Tasker, from Eaglescliffe (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The mother-of-three and great-grandmother-of-two said the area has improved over time: “Years ago we had issues with crime, about 30 years ago I had a break-in.” 

But now, she “doesn’t have much trouble".

Margaret Taylor, who is originally from Thornaby, couldn’t be happier with her home: “Matt Vickers is amazing - he has done really well for the area. We get really looked after.”

Eaglescliffe resident Margaret Taylor, who loves where she lives (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The 77-year-old said it was a “lovely” place to live, having lived in Eaglescliffe since 1993, and admitted that she didn’t think Stockton West “had anything wrong".

That said, Margaret admitted that she would welcome improvements to bus services: “The buses are great but don’t always turn up - you usually have to wait for two buses.” 
 

‘Dead’ hospitality industry ‘needs proper help’

Colin, a landlord of a popular pub in the Eaglescliffe area, argued that the hospitality sector as it once was is “dead” - with local businesses across the sector now facing issues with the aftermath of the pandemic, cost of living crisis, and wage increases. 

He argued that there should be “more incentives in place” for businesses so they can be “given proper help” adding: “Quite a lot of pubs around here struggle. The cost of living impact is massive.” 

Regarding the upcoming election, Colin said politicians - who residents “never see until it is time for voting - “make promises but won’t keep them".

“It doesn’t matter which party is in,” he added. 

Thankfully the trade at his pub is good, but he said the next Government have to work hard to earn the sector’s trust back. He continued: “The proof will be in the pudding. Nobody in hospitality trusts the Government at the moment.” 

Yarm High Street is home to an eclectic mix of businesses - from popular bars and restaurants to cafes and other smaller shops. 

Yarm High Street (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

However, some residents believe more could be done. “They could really go to town on the river, just look at places abroad,” one long-time resident said.

“I don’t think they exploit the river - I wouldn’t like it to be too commercialised but a wine bar would be nice.”

Housing woes and infrastructure concerns

Carol Bowler, who has worked at Yarm’s Boyes store for eight years, said she has seen a “hell of a change” in the town over the years, having been born and bred in the area. 

Carol Bowler, from Yarm (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The 64-year-old said: “There are too many food, nail bars, cafes and we have no butcher, no vegetable shops and no old-fashioned shops. 

“There’s too many houses as well - they are taking too much green space.” 

In recent years, both Yarm and Eaglescliffe have seen new housing estates start sprouting up, including several off Green Lane, Urlay Nook Road, and further afield in Kirklevington. 

Homes in Ingleby Barwick continue to be a controversial talking point, with a swathe of new build estates seeing a boost of almost 10,000 residents between 2001 and 2021, according to census data. 

The controversial new-build Copper Gardens estate in Ingleby Barwick (Image: GOOGLE)

There’s more new-build estate under construction, such as the houses on Low Lane. 

Carol argued that Yarm has “no infrastructure” to cope with the number of new homes cropping up, saying: “My mum used to say that bridge would collapse in Yarm."

Despite this, Carol admitted that Yarm was “better than some areas” but still feels it hasn’t been fully hit by the cost of living crisis: “It’s slowly been hit but not as much as other places.” 

Mrs Rhea, 82, who has lived in the area for around 30 years, said Yarm is a “nice place compared to lots of others” - but admitted she doesn’t know who to vote for. 

“I've not got a clue,” Mrs Rhea said.

Johnathan Fitt also agreed that Yarm has “no infrastructure” - and argued that more money should be spent on improving buildings that are “falling to bits".

Johnathan Fitt, from Yarm (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Mr Fitt, who has lived in the area for over four decades, also raised concerns about drugs: “On Fridays and Saturdays, this is the biggest town out of Stockton’s six towns for coke. 

“Everybody is getting rattled - the bouncers are having to check the toilets every five minutes.”

He admitted that he was “up and down” about Yarm - but said the main issues that needed sorting were its infrastructure and traffic woes. 

“Sometimes you have to put your hand up and walk out - it’s ridiculous,” he said, talking about crossing the High Street.

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, argued the town should have its own bobbies on the beat: “We don’t have a bobbie in town who you can call by their first name.” 

He also raised concerns over the general levelling up of the area, adding: “There’s no such thing as levelling up - they are bringing the country down.”

Joe Dancey, Labour candidate for Stockton West, said: "When the Conservatives were elected in 2019, levelling up was touted as going to transform the situation of the North East of England. 

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“If we look at the outcomes, people can see it on their own streets, but the figures don’t lie. One in four children in Stockton is growing up in poverty.

“If you look in Stockton in particular, the life expectancy for somebody living in the centre of Stockton to the most wealthy areas of the borough, which is Ingleby Barwick and Yarm, is 18 years for a woman. That is the highest life expectancy differential in all of England."

He added that, five years on, levelling up "has not been delivered" in the North East and Teesside: "It will be for a Labour government and Labour MPs like me - if I am elected - to deliver real levelling up."

Conservative candidate Matt Vickers said Stockton West had some "incredible" town centres which "remain buoyant, busy and occupied unlike some elsewhere."

He said: "In the last couple of years we have done what we can locally to improve conditions and drive footfall.

"Whether that be in Yarm with improvements to Yarm Town Hall and public toilets, and adding the new car park on West Street or whether that be in Thornaby, sorting out the redundant N power building to make way for a new swimming pool and finally reaching a deal to take down the eyesore that is the Golden Eagle."

In terms of hospitality, he said: "I also headed up a campaign to ensure the 75% business rates discount for small leisure, hospitality and retail businesses, worth £12,869 to the average pub.

"Our pubs and shops have a huge role in our community and I’ll continue to do whatever I can to support them."

Mr Vickers also noted his aims to tackle crime, saying: "We’ve successfully secured more CCTV for our area, creating no cold-caller zones and secured motorbike inhibitors to prevent off-road bikes getting onto estates but there’s a hell of a lot more to do."

Here are the full list of candidates for Stockton West: 

Nigel Frederick Boddy, Liberal Democrats

Monty Brack, Independents for Direct Democracy

Vivek Chhabra

Joe Dancey, Labour Party

Steve Matthews, Reform UK

Niko Omilana, Independent

Anna-Maria Toms, Green Party 

Matt Vickers, Conservative Party

Mohammed Zaroof, Independent