More than 72% of Thornaby residents who respond to postal referendum say 'yes' to split from Stockton

The people of Thornaby have given a resounding ‘yes’ to separating from Stockton.

More than 72% who responded to a postal referendum - 4,105 voters - said they agreed “that Thornaby should be independent from Stockton”.

The postal referendum was organised and paid for by Thornaby Town Council - at an estimated cost of around £12,000 - following growing disillusionment in the town with Stockton Council.

Tensions grew when Stockton identified two possible new gypsy sites for Thornaby out of a borough-wide shortlist of six.

Nearly 18,000 residents in Thornaby were sent ballot papers, of which 5,650 were returned with a valid vote - a turnout of 32.5%.

A total of 1,545 (27.3% of the valid vote) said they did not want to break away from Stockton.

Following the result, announced today, Mayor of Thornaby and chair of Thornaby Town Council, Councillor Sylvia Walmsley, said: “The result shows an undeniably resounding ‘Yes’ to separation from Stockton.

“Consequently, having fulfilled our obligation to residents in holding a referendum on the issue, Thornaby Town Council now expects Stockton Council to accept the will of the people of Thornaby and request a boundary review.

“Coupled with a similar result from a legitimate ballot held in Yarm last year, failure to seek a review would merely confirm an unwillingness to listen and a blatant display of contempt for local democracy.”

Thornaby Town Hall

The result follows a poll in Yarm last May, which saw more than 89% of voters say they would prefer their town to be under Hambleton’s control.

Despite the overwhelming vote for change in the Yarm, Stockton councillors voted against an official review into whether the town should be transferred into Yorkshire.

Stockton Council leader Councillor Bob Cook said such a review could cost up to £250,000.

TIA leader Councillor Steve Walmsley hopes the “Yes” for a Thornaby split, on top of the Yarm vote, will now give more weight to calls for a Local Government Boundary Commission review for an authority “south of the river” Tees.

Stockton Council leader Councillor Bob Cook has repeatedly said that residents’ surveys “consistently find very high satisfaction levels” with the “huge range of high quality services” delivered by the authority.

“We understand that people have strong views on specific issues and, like all local authorities, there are times when we have to make difficult decisions,” he said.