Town has 'become what it wanted to be all along'
Dev Place PhotosThe completion of a £23m riverside park and the anticipation of an upcoming festival have left a town's businesses smiling, traders have said.
People in Stockton said there was "pride" in the town following the opening of the waterfront park and ahead of this weekend's Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF).
The 39th annual event gets under way on Friday, with more than 100 performances taking place across the weekend by local and international artists.
Richard Drake, co-owner of Drake's Bookshop, said the town's improvements had already had a "massive impact" on his business.
His shop has been open for 11 years, several of which he described as "challenging", such as during the pandemic and regeneration works.
But since June, when work was completed on Stockton Waterfront park beside the River Tees, he said he had "done nothing but smile".
Stockton Council"I always expected something really positive but this is next level," Drake said.
"From the week of the opening, we are up day on day. We doubled our takings last week in comparison to the same week last year."
Drake said many customers had told him they previously had no reason to go Stockton, but now they came to visit the park and shops.
Jennifer Essex, creative communities producer for The Ostentatious Ball, one of this year's festival performances, was also impressed with town's new look.
She moved to Stockton 11 years ago after performing at the festival for the first time, and said she had "seen the place change a lot over the years".
"It's so beautiful now," she said, adding: "Everybody is lying in the hammocks and running around.
"It's become what it wanted to be all along and it's just stunning."
Stockton Borough councillor Nigel Cooke, cabinet member for culture, said: "We've already seen an increase in footfall since the opening of the park and the festival is another opportunity.
"It's not just good for the people who visit, it's really good for businesses."
For many, the town's regeneration is about more than new public spaces.
They see it as part of a wider cultural revival, with Stockton's bid to become the UK's first Town of Culture reflecting a growing confidence in what the place has to offer.
Essex said: "It's about recognising what we've already got, the culture that exists and the people that support it. I think it's just the right time for town of culture."
Cooke said: "I think SIRF has had a big part to play in us being shortlisted. We are really good at culture. We would be worthy winners of that prize.
"There's something special about Stockton."
