A HERITAGE trail is to be established in Stokesley to encourage tourists to visit.

Six information panels will be displayed at key sites around the historic town in an attempt to highlight some of its historic buildings and sites.

A number of organisations in the town are working on the project. Stokesley Society had been looking to extend its Stokesley Heritage Trail project which had started with the publication of three leaflets.

The Stokesley River Leven Group was also planning to install an information board for the new Jubilee Bridge on the river banks. The footbridge has not yet formally opened, but was recently completed and intended to be a feature for the town.

Now the groups and the manorial lands trust have decided to incorporate the bridge panel into a new heritage trail, along with five other boards.

It will run from the entrance of the Co-op supermarket to West Green, along the High Street and Levenside, taking in many of the town’s Georgian and Victorian buildings.

The proposal went before the owners of the land, the manorial land trustees at Stokesley Parish Council on Tuesday (May 14) to approve the locations and formally submit the planning application for all six boards.

A report on the proposal said: “The groups firmly believe the panels would create further interest in Stokesley, giving visitors an informative and interesting insight into Stokesley’s heritage whilst at the same time encouraging much-needed footfall to business in the High Street.”

The report stated each individual panel cost £385, but the fee would be reduced by 50 per cent if the panels were applied for by the parish council.

Several grants have contributed to the cost of the panels. Councillor Lynn Southern said: “We have the money for them. It’s a no-brainer.”

The council agreed unanimously to back the plans.