Sadness and hope over shop closure in town

THE forthcoming closure of high street clothing shop River Island in Stockton town centre sparked expressions of sadness and hope at a council meeting.

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

The stores in Wellington Square, Stockton and Hartlepool are among 33 “underperforming” stores due to close in January next year, as the chain said they were “no longer aligned to our customers’ needs” The Teesside Park branch has not been affected.

Bosses also put the closures and decision to restructure their business down to “thesharp rise in the cost ofdoing business overthe last few years”.

A Stockton Council meeting previously heard that “local businesses indicated that they had experienced their busiest day since Christmas 2024” This prompted Councillor Lynn Hall to say: “I was really sad today, and I’m sure you'll join with me, that River Island is pulling out of Stockton.

“It’s a real sadness for our High Street, I feel.”