Donkeys are back for Easter 

Great fun is planned for the Easter weekend, with the Blackpool donkeys - very popular in August last year - back for Good Friday and Bank Holiday Monday. We've got entertainment on Easter Saturday too, with Priscilla the Goose and Mother Goose, plus a stiltwalking Bo-Peep, complete with lamb! 

Lovers of chocolate eggs can guess the nmumber of eggs in a Chevrolet Aveo from Sherwoods, to be found in the centre square. Pick up an entry form, make your guess and pop it into the post box, and you could win £100 to spend in the centre, as well as 6 Easter eggs! The remainder, though we can't tell you how many, will be given to children at the Butterwick Hospice.

Confident Start to 2009 

Wellington Square, the leading shopping centre in Stockton town centre has experienced an upturn in lettings in the last six months.  This is virtually unprecedented at this time of retail downturn and 2009 is looking to continue the trend.

Following the opening of a Body Shop unit at the end of July, there has been on average one shop opening every month in Wellington Square Shopping Centre.  This is at a time when many retailers are holding back their expansion plans.

New arrivals since Body Shop include T-Mobile and Orange and the re-opened The Works bookshop. In addition, there have been three lettings to regional retailers. These consist of babywear retailer Vervez, gift company Universal Imports, and Waremart, expected to open a 5,000 sq. ft. household goods store when seasonal operator Calendar Club vacate their unit later in January.

In addition, 2009 has started well with lettings to FX Currency and O'Briens Sandwich Bar. Both transactions are due for completion within the next few weeks and will be excellent additions to the scheme.

Footfall over the Christmas period was encouraging, with an increase of 24% year on year to over 763,000 shoppers during December.

Wellington Square find its Star 

Wellington Square Shopping Centre in Stockton has found a host of stars after teaming up with local charity the George Hardwick Foundation, to look for the Christmas star.

The Make a Star promotion at Christmas invited shoppers to nominate people they knew, a friend or family member, who as a carer spends their time looking after someone else, and who deserves a treat. There were 5 daily prizes of £100 and one overall prize of £500, all deserving winners.

The youngest was 12 year old Scott Boswell, who looks after his gran helping her with shopping, cooking, sorting out her clothes and cleaning the house. Other winners were David Johnson, Jackie Hill, Kathleen Simm and Claire Evans, all from the Stockton area.

The overall winner was Marilyn Barker, who has looked after her severely handicapped son Philip single-handedly for 30 years. Her sister Lorraine Brown, who nominated Marilyn, said, “I would say we are more than proud of Marilyn - her life has been far from easy and I do think she deserves a special treat.” She added, “She always has a smile on her face and is the first to offer help to anyone in trouble.”