Local school children have come up with over 150 suggestions for street names for future developments in the Stokesley area as part of a competition.
Hambleton District Council has the legal responsibility to ensure that all streets and properties in the Hambleton area are named and numbered correctly. And with a number of large planning applications coming forward across the district coming up with innovative names is a constant challenge.
The council’s Rural Housing Enabler and Addressing Officer in partnership with Taylor Wimpey Ltd came up with a unique way to name future streets – by letting local school pupils have a say in their future and the place they live by running a street naming competition.
“Initially they were asked to come up with names for the new development at White House Farm and to think about local history of the area and features around them,” said Councillor Brian Phillips, Portfolio Holder for Environmental and Planning Services.
“However the response was so successful that the best names will be held in a directory ready to use for any future developments in Stokesley. This is a great opportunity to involve young people and to use their suggestions. I hope this idea can be replicated in the other towns in our district.”
The directory will also include other names suggested by the community. Prizes will be awarded for any names used from the school competition for future developments.
Debbie Whittingham, sales and marketing director at Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire said “It was great to partner with Hambleton District Council, Stokesley Community Primary School and Stokesley School to name the streets at our new Stokesley Grange development. Overall we had some fantastic entries, which were incredibly hard to whittle down, but we have finally selected our winners and went with the theme, trees.”
The winning names are: Maple Leaf Lane by 10 year old pupil Ella Grace from Stokesley Community Primary School,– Appletree Road by Dominic Gordon aged 12, Willow Brook Close by Lois Thompson aged 11, Oak Tree Road by Amy Siddall and Bailey Thurlow aged 13 and Evergreen Avenue by Grace M Burniston aged 11 all from Stokesley Secondary School.
The competition has now been rolled out with Taylor Wimpey and Linden Homes for the new development at Sowerby Gateway – the chosen names will be announced soon.
Any schools interested in taking up the challenge should contact either Clare Little, clare.little@hambleton.gov.uk or Amanda Madden, Amanda.madden@hambleton.gov.uk at Hambleton District Council on 01609 779977.