Stockton shortlisted for UK's first Town of Culture is 'fantastic' says MP
Matt Vickers says it's great to see the town recognised
The MP for Stockton West says it's great to see the town recognised and it's fantastic news after making the shortlist to become the UK's first Town of Culture.
Stockton's among 15 places in total who've made it to the next round - £60,000 will be given to each area to work on its full bid.
Matt Vickers, MP for Stockton West, said: "I just think it's fantastic, isn't it? It's great to see Stockton recognised in such a way. As someone who's born here, who was bred here, who brought up here, it's just fantastic to see our town's name amongst them. And more than that, actually, out of more than 400 entries, Stockton is rightly in the top 15. I couldn't be prouder. I think it's fantastic for the town.
"Sometimes we talk about putting the bid in and we talk about what we do together, but actually Stockton's culture is shaped by the people, by its history, by its heritage, all those fantastic people who live in Stockton, all the organisations that make it the great place that it is.
"When it comes to civil servants, when it comes to councils, when it comes to politicians, we just get to celebrate and recognise the achievements that the town has delivered on through those local people.
"I was delighted that we managed to get that funding from the last Government to improve Preston Park. I was delighted we've got the funding from the last Government that's helped us change the high street and the way we've seen unveiled in recent weeks.
"But all those bits of money, all those changes, are all just window dressing when it comes to the fantastic stories of the fantastic people who live in Stockton and made it what it is."
About the upcoming bid he added: "I think it's about telling the story of Stockton. I think it's about people being able to see what Stockton is all about. I mean, Stockton's done great things in its history. It invented the railways, invented the match. It's got all sorts of fantastic characters and stories. And I think any sort of bid or any efforts to drive our town forwards is about storytelling. It's about telling about the great people who've made Stockton what it is.
"I think they've got to come down, meet some of the incredible people in Stockton, hear about some of the incredible things that go on there. And actually, there isn't a town with a better history, with a better sense of pride, with more grafters, more doers and more fixers who've shaped the world around them. They should come down, meet some of those wonderful people, hear the story of a town that's on the go with a big future ahead of it and a fantastic past behind it."
The overall winner will get a £3 million grant from the Government. The results are set to be announced early next year and the other two finalists will get £250,000.
Matt added: "I actually think that should be a big public debate. I think when that money comes in for something like that, it shouldn't be about MPs and councillors making decisions with that. It should be about what the town would want to do with that. And I think it should be about consultation and engagement to see what Stockton, I mean incredible people of Stockton, think should be done with such money.
"I think sometimes we get a bit lost in the ether of politicians making big decisions and then taking lots of glory. Actually, this is about the real people of Stockton, how they would want to see it celebrated and what they think the future of Stockton should look like with that cash."