Yarm, a historic market town nestled in a bend of the wide River Tees on the northern edge of North Yorkshire, boasts a broad Georgian high street adorned with high-end independent shops, restaurants and pubs.
From this bustling high street, well-kept shopping arcades and narrow, cobbled streets lined with colourful cottages branch out. A mere five-minute walk in any direction – north, east or west – leads to the pristine banks of the River Tees.
While many locals refer to it as Teesside, signs scattered around the town serve as gentle reminders to younger generations of its White Rose heritage.
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However, despite its charm, Yarm is plagued by one glaring issue: cars. Vehicles reign supreme here, dominating the high street, parked on the old cobbles and obscuring the town’s attractive buildings, some of which date back 400 years.
Even outside peak hours, a near-constant stream of traffic can be seen crawling along the aptly named High Street. This comes as no surprise given that it serves as a main route to Middlesbrough, Stockton and Teesside Airport, located just five miles away, reports Yorkshire Live.
Parking is also incredibly affordable, costing only £1 for three hours on the cobbles a service that used to be free. While businesses on the high street appreciate the convenient parking, some employees express frustration over the constant traffic.
Andrea Dale, an employee at a shoe shop on High Street, is a fan of Yarm.
“It’s a very friendly place. There’s quite a big sense of community. There’s a bit of history and some nice eating places and the river,” she says.
But Andrea, 51, concedes that traffic and parking can be ‘a bit of problem’.
Neve Catterick, an employee at Treats sweet shop, describes the parking situation as a ‘nightmare’, although she speaks highly of the town’s eateries and nightlife. Yarm has become a popular destination for both young and middle-aged people from Teesside, so much so that renowned US house DJ Todd Terry is set to perform at The Keys bar and nightclub next weekend.
“It’s just right. I do love Yarm,” her colleague Paige Wilkshire, 20, comments.
The picturesque Tees at Yarm
Credit: Dave Himelfield(Image: Dave Himelfield)
During a stroll on True Lovers’ Walk, a serene tree-lined pathway along the south bank of the Tees, I encounter Ian, a dog walker who finds High Street ‘car dominated’. Despite this, he expresses great admiration for his hometown, having spent many years living elsewhere.
Ian, 74, shares: “It’s a great place to live. I do a lot of cycling and you can get out into the countryside in five minutes.”
Yarm is currently experiencing regeneration as part of the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Town Centres Investment Programme. It seems the council faces the challenge of satisfying businesses, shoppers, visitors, and those with environmental concerns.
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Council leader Councillor Bob Cook (Labour) remarked: “We have been working hard for a number of years to find parking solutions to meet the needs of people visiting, working and living in Yarm. This has led the council to identify and purchase land in order to boost the number of long stay car parks to four. These car parks complement the on-street parking available.”
“Yarm [has] a beautiful High Street and is a very popular destination for visitors, but it is also home to many businesses, who find their customers welcome the convenience of on street parking.”
“As part of its ambitious regeneration programme for Yarm, the council has explored ideas such as new paving, landscaping, seating and improved public realm as well as de-cluttering of pavements. We do promote using public transport, cycling and walking as a way to access the town and these proposals include additional cycle stands. We’re also investing £5m in new cycle infrastructure on routes leading into Yarm.”
“Other improvements are being explored but may potentially result in a loss of parking spaces. We have sought views from residents, businesses and visitors and will continue to engage with them later this year.”
Despite Yarm’s traffic and parking woes, the area remains an unspoilt gem worth visiting, minus the congestion and parked vehicles.
Moreover, you can find solace from the hustle and bustle in one of Yarm’s numerous cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars. Take a detour down one of the charming side streets, pass under the striking redbrick viaduct, and you’ll discover the serene riverbank.
Yarm offers more than most towns of its size history, architecture, shopping, dining, drinking, and natural beauty not to mention those much larger. Locals will tell you there’s no need to venture to the bigger towns of Stockton and Middlesbrough.
Furthermore, it boasts one of the most impressive high streets in North Yorkshire, despite stiff competition. If only it didn’t resemble a car park.
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