Stokesley Town Council plays an active role in maintaining and improving the quality of life for everyone in our community. From keeping green spaces well-maintained to managing local facilities, here's what we take care of on your behalf:
Our Responsibilities
- Public Conveniences – Maintenance and upkeep of Stokesley's public toilets
- Green Spaces & Grass Cutting – Maintaining all publicly owned land across the Parish, keeping Stokesley looking its best
- North Road Play Park – Ensuring this popular local play area is safe and well maintained for families
- Christmas Lights – Bringing festive cheer to Stokesley town centre each year
- Allotments – The allotment site is leased from Lady Hullocks Trust and managed by the Town Council, providing growing space for local residents
- Tree Maintenance – Caring for trees across public areas of Stokesley's housing estates and other parish land
- Free Parking – Managing the unrestricted free parking on The Plain and College Square
How We Work
Much of the detailed work behind these responsibilities is carried out by our dedicated Committees and Working Groups — find out more about each of them below.
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Open Spaces & Allotments Committee View terms of reference for Open Spaces & Allotments Committee |
Cllrs Craster, Cook, Griffiths, Sowerby, and Yuille (Allotment holder representative) |
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Planning Committee View terms of reference for Planning Committee |
Cllrs Atkinson, Canavan, Cook, & Yuille |
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Communications/Events Working Group View terms of reference for Communications/Events Working Group |
Cllrs Atkinson, Craster, Johnson, Wise & Yuille plus non-council members |
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Finance Committee View terms of reference for Finance Committee |
Cllrs Canavan, Carey, Cook and Griffiths |
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Employment Committee View terms of reference for Employment Committee |
Cllrs Canavan, Carey, Craster, Griffiths and Sowerby |
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Health & Safety Committee View terms of reference for Health & Safety Committee |
Cllrs Craster, Duggleby, Johnson and Sowerby |
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Town Hall Committee View terms of reference for Town Hall Committee |
Cllrs Canavan, Johnson and Wise plus Town Hall Management Advisory Committee members |
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Parking Committee View terms of reference for Parking Committee |
Cllrs Canavan, Carey, Duggleby, Griffiths and Johnson |
| Working Groups | |
| Scout Hut Lease | Cllrs Atkinson & Craster |
| River Bank Improvements Working Group | Cllrs Craster, Johnson & Wise |
| Electrical Vehicle Charging Chargers | Cllrs Duggleby & Johnson |
| Old Fairfield Play Park | Open Spaces & Allotments Committee |
| External Bodies | |
| Preston Trust | Cllrs Atkinson & Canavan |
| Lady Hullocks Trust | Cllrs Atkinson, Mr N Johnson & Mr K Turland - Town Council Representative. |
| Stokesley Community Library | Cllrs Atkinson and Craster |
| Fairtrade | Cllr Atkinson |
| Climate Action | Cllr Atkinson |
| Stokesley & District Community Care Association | Cllr Yuille |
All Committees (excluding the Town Hall Committee) will meet at least twice a year but can arrange additional meetings as required. The Town Hall Committee meets bi-monthly. Working Groups will call meetings as required.
For all committees' terms of references, please select a committee and click on the name and download the relevant references.
Grass Cutting
Stokesley Town Council takes pride in maintaining the green spaces that make our town such a pleasant place to live, work, and visit. We are responsible for grass cutting across all public areas within the parish — including land owned by North Yorkshire Council (NYC).
Rather than accepting a reduced cutting schedule, the Town Council has chosen to fund more frequent cuts than NYC would historically provide, ensuring Stokesley's green spaces are kept to a consistently high standard throughout the season. By coordinating a single grass cutting contract across all public land, we ensure a uniform quality regardless of who owns the underlying land.
The grass cutting contract is awarded through a public tender process, in line with the Council's procurement procedures.
North Road Play Park
A community playground in the heart of Stokesley, maintained by your Town Council
North Road Play Park has been a cherished part of Stokesley life since 11 October 1950, when it was gifted to the town by Godfrey Laird Sowerby. Today it's one of the most well-used community facilities in the area — and it shows.
A £250,000 Transformation
In recent years the park underwent a complete refurbishment, the result of a three-year partnership between the Town Council, local parents, the police, and Broadacres Housing Trust. The majority of the £250,000 investment was raised through external funding — a testament to what the community can achieve together.
What was once a large field with a handful of ageing equipment is now a vibrant, inclusive play space with something for everyone.
What's There
The park caters for children and young people from 0 to 20 years, with a wide range of equipment and open space:
- Zip line
- Climbing wall
- Wheels bowl (skate-style)
- Swings and slides
- Open grass areas for free play
- Basketball nets and football space
The Town Council is responsible for the ongoing upkeep of North Road Play Park. A dedicated Play Park Superintendent carries out routine equipment safety checks, maintenance, and regular litter picks — keeping the park safe, clean, and enjoyable for everyone.
Stokesley Town Council Allotments
Growing spaces for the Stokesley community, managed by your Town Council
Stokesley Town Council manages the allotment site on behalf of tenants, leasing the land from Lady Hullock's Trust. Whether you're an existing tenant or thinking of applying, here's a straightforward guide to how the allotments work.
Plot Types & Pricing
The site offers sixty plots across three categories — Full, Reduced, and Half plots — each charged at a different rate. Half plots are limited in availability, as the layout of many larger plots makes splitting them difficult. All plots are individually fenced, and tenants are responsible for their own maintenance in line with the Tenancy Agreement
Site Security & Access
The allotment boundary is secured by palisade fencing and a robust hedge. Entry for both pedestrians and vehicles is through a padlocked gateway, which must remain locked at all times. Keys are issued on a refundable deposit, with a second key available for an additional deposit. Each plot must display its plot number clearly at the entry point.
Tenancy & Deposits
A refundable surety deposit is required to cover the cost of any significant remediation work should a tenancy end in neglect. The Council will assess plot condition at the end of a tenancy — where remedial work is needed, the deposit may be withheld. Tenants will normally receive a Notice to Improve before any Notice to Quit is issued.
Rent & How It's Managed
The allotments are designed to be self-financing in day-to-day costs, covering rent, water rates, and basic maintenance. Lady Hullock's Trust reviews rental rates every three years, and tenants will be notified of any changes at least one year in advance. Larger projects can be funded through appropriate funding streams or Special Project reserves, via the Allotments Committee.
Annual rent is collected in January at a formal general meeting held in the Town Hall — a combined formal and social occasion. A more informal autumn gathering also takes place for prize-giving and guest speakers. Key information from both meetings feeds into the Allotments Committee agenda, and a newsletter is circulated to tenants by email or post following publication of the minutes. Keeping your contact details up to date with the Council is essential. Your information is never shared without your prior agreement.
Notice Boards & Communications
Two notice boards are located at the gateway. The first displays the current Tenancy Agreement and, on the reverse, the Health & Safety Risk Management Strategy for the site. The second board is for tenant use — the key is in the Key Safe (no code required) attached to the fence behind it. Please keep notices current and remove them once they've expired.
Pest Control & Plot Maintenance
Contracted rat control is provided (see Tenancy Agreement), and general areas are sprayed twice yearly. Mole control is not covered. Tenants are asked to maintain their own track boundaries — including spraying, weeding, cutting, and edging — in line with the Agreement.
The track leading to the allotments across the back of Lady Hullock's Court, along with the hedgerow and verge, is the responsibility of Broadacres Housing Trust.
Safety on Site
For your own safety, we strongly recommend that all tenants:
- Carry a mobile phone at all times when on site
- Make a note of the allotments postcode (displayed at the gateway)
- Keep a basic first aid kit to hand
An emergency access key safe is located on the main gatepost for use by the emergency services.
How to Apply or Get in Touch
To enquire about a plot or raise any matter regarding the allotments, contact us in one of the following ways:
- Town Clerk – Visit the Town Hall, or get in touch by phone or email
- Allotments Committee Chair – Available by email
- Allotments Volunteer Caretaker – Contact details displayed on the notice board at the gateway
When you're invited to view an available plot, you'll be met by a Council representative — usually the Allotments Committee Chair — who can answer your questions and provide a copy of the Tenancy Agreement. Once you've had a chance to read it, simply visit the Town Clerk's office to sign up, collect your key, and pay the deposits.
Public Toilets in Stokesley Town Centre
Clean, accessible facilities maintained by Stokesley Town Council
Stokesley's public toilets are located in the town centre, just behind the Town Hall, and are open seven days a week for residents and visitors alike.
Opening Hours
7:30am – 5:30pm, every day (except Christmas Day)
Facilities
The toilets are maintained by Stokesley Town Council and include:
- Accessible (disabled) toilet
- Baby changing facilities
Entry Charge & Payment
Since 2025, a small charge of 50p applies to use the toilets. Payment is cashless only — you'll need a contactless card or mobile payment (such as Apple Pay or Google Pay) to access the facilities. Please note that cash is not accepted.
Finding the Toilets
The public conveniences are situated behind the Town Hall in the town centre — easy to find whether you're visiting the Friday Market, exploring the High Street, or passing through Stokesley.
Parking
Parking in Stokesley
Stokesley is well served by a mix of free and pay-and-display parking, making it easy to visit the town centre, High Street, and Friday Market without worrying about parking costs.
Free All-Day Parking
Stokesley offers several free all-day parking areas, perfect for a leisurely day in town:
- The Plain – The large open area between the Town Hall and the Manor House. This is Manorial Land, gifted in trust for the benefit of the townspeople of Stokesley in 1919 — the same year the Town Hall itself was gifted to the Town Council. The Manorial Lands Trust, a registered charity, now manages these lands on behalf of the community.
- College Square – Free all-day parking with a one-way system in place.
- West Green & western High Street – Additional free all-day parking at the western end of the town centre, on the southern side of the High Street to the west of Bridge Road and around West Green.
Please note: The Plain is home to Stokesley's popular weekly Friday Market and the award-winning Farmers' Market (held on the first and third Saturday of each month, plus occasional additional markets and events). No parking is permitted on The Plain when markets are in operation.
Free 2-Hour Disc Parking
The cobbled areas along much of the High Street offer free 2-hour parking. A parking disc must be displayed inside your vehicle. Discs are free and readily available from:
- The Town Hall
- Retailers along the High Street and surrounding area
Pay & Display Parking
The Showfield Car Park is a North Yorkshire Council pay and display car park, accessible from the Stokesley Motors roundabout at the eastern edge of town. This is a good option if you need longer-stay parking beyond the free areas.
Parking Enforcement
Parking enforcement in Stokesley is managed by Scarborough Borough Council, operating under contract to North Yorkshire Council. The provision and maintenance of yellow lines remains the responsibility of North Yorkshire Council's Highways Department.
Looking to the Future
The Town Council recognises that parking is an evolving challenge as Stokesley continues to grow and thrive. A dedicated Parking Committee has been established to take a longer-term view, reviewing current provision and planning for the future needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.
Local Services in Stokesley – Who to Contact and How
Many local services are managed by North Yorkshire Council (NYC). Here's how to find help quickly.
Many of the services that keep Stokesley running day to day are the responsibility of North Yorkshire Council rather than the Town Council. We've pulled together the key links below to make it as easy as possible to report an issue or find the information you need.
If you can't find what you're looking for here, the Town Clerk is always happy to point you in the right direction.