High Street information hub to close in cost-cutting move
The Enjoy Stockton-on-Tees Visitor Information Centre on Stockton High Street is to shut, with Stockton Council confirming the closure will happen as soon as is practical as part of a fresh round of savings. The centre, which assists with bookings and guidance on events, attractions, accommodation and travel, records about 15,000 visits and 700 phone enquiries each year.
The authority says the decision follows a review within its libraries and customer services and will save £50,000 in the current year and £75,000 in subsequent years. Officials argue the centre’s functions duplicate support already provided by the borough’s libraries and the council’s customer contact centre.
Staff affected and redeployment being explored
The change affects two full-time employees based at the High Street site. The council states a 30‑day consultation has been completed and it is looking at redeployment opportunities for the staff impacted. The Visitor Information Centre’s core role includes handling bookings and offering information and advice across events, attractions, entertainment, shopping, accommodation, travel, and food and drink in the borough.
“The review concluded that a number of these activities can cease, with core council-facing functions either transferring into existing service points or being managed through current council arrangements.”
Part of wider plan to close multi‑million‑pound gap
The closure sits within the council’s Powering Our Future programme, a three‑year transformation and efficiencies plan aimed at closing a mounting shortfall. The authority forecasts a budget gap of £6.7m this year, rising to £18.4m by 2028–29 without further measures. It says £9.9m has already been saved to date.
The current second phase of reviews and efficiency measures is expected to deliver £5.2m this year and £3.5m in future years. A report taken to cabinet on Thursday, 16 July set out further proposals, with the latest reviews predicted to save £3.4m. The Visitor Information Centre closure forms part of these steps to reduce costs across non‑statutory or overlapping activities.
| Measure | Estimated saving |
|---|---|
| Visitor Information Centre (2026/27) | £50,000 |
| Visitor Information Centre (future years) | £75,000 |
| Phase 2 reviews (this year) | £5.2m |
| Phase 2 reviews (future years) | £3.5m |
| Savings already delivered | £9.9m |
| Budget gap this year | £6.7m |
| Projected gap 2028–29 | £18.4m |
What changes for residents and visitors
Once the High Street centre closes, the council says remaining, council‑facing information and booking functions will be absorbed by existing library service points and the customer contact centre. According to the cabinet report, activities deemed non‑essential will end, while those still required will be handled through current council channels.
- Visitor information previously offered at the centre will be redirected to libraries and the contact centre.
- Two posts are affected; the council is seeking to redeploy the staff.
- Closure timescale: the council plans to act “as soon as is practical”.
The Enjoy Stockton brand has served as a front door for leisure and tourism queries on the High Street. The council’s argument is that, with growing use of digital information and established customer service points, the same outcomes can be delivered at lower cost by consolidating activity into existing teams.
Context and next steps
This decision is one element of a broader reshaping of non‑statutory services as the council attempts to balance finances over the medium term. While the High Street will lose a dedicated walk‑in visitor hub, the authority says residents and tourists will still be able to access key advice and bookings through library counters and the central contact service. The cabinet report underlines a push for “low spends, high outcomes” across departments, with the savings target intended to curb the projected deficit in the later years of the financial plan.
For now, members of the public who would ordinarily have used the Visitor Information Centre should prepare for a transition to the alternative channels highlighted by the council. The authority has not provided a fixed closure date, beyond indicating the intention to proceed promptly following the review and consultation.
