More signs to mark border between Yorkshire and County Durham should be installed, claims councillor

More signs to mark the border between County Durham and Yorkshire should be put in across Teesside and beyond.
A councillor has called for more signs detailing the border between Yorkshire and County DurhamA councillor has called for more signs detailing the border between Yorkshire and County Durham
A councillor has called for more signs detailing the border between Yorkshire and County Durham

That was the view of Stockton councillor Ross Patterson as the borders in the borough undergo changes ahead of elections in 2023.

The member for Ingleby Barwick West is well known for his passion for the white rose county.

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He pushed to have signs installed on Victoria Bridge and the Princess of Wales Bridge between Stockton and Thornaby to mark the historic boundaries.

And he called for others in the region to follow suit at Stockton Council’s latest gathering.

Coun Patterson said: “We were promised 46 years ago that the historic county boundaries would never be washed away. I’m grateful to the council that we got those signs put back in but there is a whole lot more to do – not just here but elsewhere.

“The true counties are the historic counties – we’re fortunate that we do cross historic country boundaries in the borough. But there are other areas, such as in Teesdale, which are run by Durham County Council while the southern part of Teesdale is in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

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“We’ve taken the bull by the horns here and put signs in – I wish other councils should follow suit, arrange to pay for them and put them in.”

Parts of the northern end of the Tees, 50 miles from Teesside, are governed by Durham County Council.

But many Teesdale villages – such as Romaldkirk, Cotherstone, Bowes and Mickleton – sit south of the river in the historic North Riding of Yorkshire.

Closer to home, the North Riding County Football Association covers teams south of the river in Thornaby, Grangetown, Redcar and East Cleveland.

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Leaders at Redcar and Cleveland Council replaced the European Union flag with a Yorkshire flag at its Redcar headquarters in February in preparation for the Tour de Yorkshire.

At the time, cabinet member Coun Steve Kay said: “Our identity was disrupted by the creation of Cleveland County Council in 1974. We want to strengthen our identity with our mother county – and I hope there can be no doubt in the future that Redcar and Cleveland is definitely part of Yorkshire.”

Coun Patterson did not hide his disdain for the “Teesside brand” in the meeting – fearing it was eroding Yorkshire’s name south of the river.

He added: “We’ve got to celebrate our country, the county we love, as well as getting on with partners north of the river.”

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His plea comes as Stockton Council undergoes an overhaul of its own ward boundaries and structure.

The Local Government Boundary Commission has recommended the authority keeps the same number of councillors it has now – 56.

But the process of how ward boundaries are drawn up is continuing – with final maps due to be unveiled in August 2021.

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