A DEDICATED plaque acknowledging the contribution the Heritage Lottery Fund has made towards redeveloping Stockton Town Centre and preserving the High Street’s historic buildings has been laid in Stockton Town Centre.
Ivor Crowther, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund in the North East visited Dovecot Street to lay the commemorative flagstone which is embossed with the Heritage Lottery Fund’s logo. It is the first of its kind to be laid in the North East.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Grants for Heritage Buildings programme, which is funded by the Council and Heritage Lottery Fund, provides grants to repair heritage buildings and bring empty space back into a variety of uses such as retail, commerce or residential accommodation. It has also provided grants for public realm improvements and in 2014 funded a scheme which saw paving on Dovecot Street replaced with materials in keeping with the character and amenity of the conservation area.
Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, who was on hand to help lay the new plaque, said: “We are very grateful for the Heritage Lottery Fund’s support and this granite stone acknowledges the contribution they have made to our Grants for Heritage Buildings programme over the years, which has enabled us to deliver improvements and put heritage at the heart of the regeneration of the town centre.
“With support from the Heritage Lottery Fund we are reviving vacant spaces in a number of fine old buildings, creating new places to live and do business, while also working to safeguard heritage buildings for future generations and giving people the opportunity to celebrate our heritage through all kinds of events and activities.”