25 APRIL 2009 - NEW LIFE IN THORNABY TOWN!
Thornaby town centre has been transformed and unveils its fabulous new look at a launch bonanza today, Saturday 25th April from 11am to 4pm. Visitors to The Pavilion are in for a series of treats. Many of the shops and restaurants in the centre have fantastic prizes to win and great deals for shoppers. They also have the chance to win a brand new, sexy VW Urban Fox 1.2. Galaxy Radio are celebrating the new life that has been injected into the town, offering a further 100 prizes to win in the Galaxy Wind Tunnel, including a pair of tickets to see Britney Spears live in Manchester and there is fun for all the family with street entertainers, face painting, balloon modelling and more!
The original 1960s shopping arcade has been transformed into a modern, welcoming retail and leisure facility following a £30 million regeneration from developers Thornfield Properties. Peter Warden, associate director, says: "We want everyone in the town and the surrounding area to come and party with us to celebrate and enjoy their new town centre. We are proud of The Pavilion and feel sure it will significantly improve the economy of the town."
Since the town's facelift some High Street favourites have moved into Thornaby, including New Look, Peacocks, Grainger Games, Bonmarche and Wilkinson. With ASDA and Superdrug and a new look Tees Active Leisure Centre – locals can really make a day of it in town.
Last week Secretary of State for communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, visited with Stockton South MP Dari Taylor, and gave the revamp her personal thumbs up: "To see Thornaby transformed like this is heartwarming. We can see people's faces walking round the shops and they are clearly delighted with the choice of shops". In time for the centre's launch, last Friday, 17th April, a spectacular new landmark for Thornaby-on-Tees, Unity Sphere was installed to sit in an elevated position on the roof of the new cafe building in St Peter's Square. Designed by artist Stephen Newby, the sculpture draws on a history of symbolism in which the sphere has become a powerful expression of unity and connectedness due to its harmonious proportions, intending to reflect the spirit of Thornaby's regeneration, its community gaining strength through the redevelopment of the town centre. 
