Brotton by-election result

Labour  have won Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council’s Brotton Ward by-election.

The result was as follows:

Doreen Rudland (Lab)... 565

Barry Hunt (Ind).......... 351

Val Miller (Lib Dem)...... 315

Donald Alan Agar (Con).. 220

Michael George (BNP).... 33

There was a 27.76 per cent turnout.

A perfect day

A good morning's campaigning in Brotton was followed by Leeds 3 Millwall 1 on Yorkshire Radio and then off to Green Lane with Daniel to watch Redcar Athletic thrash Prudoe 6-0.

Lib Dems see off David Miliband at Brotton

The much publicised visit of Labour leadership contender David Miliband to the Co-op at Brotton was upstaged by the Liberal Democrats today.

Labour's election stunt was their biggest shot in the Brotton by-election but it backfired when the only residents who turned up were Lib Dem activists with "Lib Dems Winning Here" poster boards.

In the face of loud questioning from Chris Foote-Wood, Mr Miliband was soon urging his half dozen Labour Councillors and activists to abandon the stunt and slope off.

Ian Swales first 100 days in office

 Ian Swales MP is pictured with HRH Prince Charles on his visit to Redcar

On Sunday Ian Swales MP for Redcar had been a Member of Parliament for 100 days, and to mark this occasion Ian took some time to reflect on everything that has happened since he was elected on the 6th May. Time seems to have flown by since that night and when Ian looked at everything that he has achieved so far it seems almost unbelievable.

Ian said: "Time seems to have just disappeared and some days I still cannot believe that I am actually here doing this job, representing an area that I passionately care about.  When I reflect on the work that I have done so far it seems amazing that so much can happen in such a short space of time.

"I have been in London every day that parliament has sat and back in Redcar all the rest of the time apart from 4 days travelling to Thailand to meet a potential Corus buyer and 2 days in Belgium for a wedding.

"When I was elected I was working out of my front room. Now I have organised support in Westminster and a fully staffed office in Redcar Station Business Centre which is operational and working well.  

"I have attended 20 advice surgeries in 8 locations across the constituency; I am trying to get to all areas as I know how important it is to have access to your MP. 

"In Westminster, I have spoken 7 times in the House of Commons, asked a number of questions and proposed 4 Early Day Motions on a range of subjects, one of which was in relation to Corus and another proposing a transaction tax on banks. 

"I have been elected to the prestigious Public Accounts Committee and elected as Vice Chair of the All Party Group for the Steel industry and the one for the Chemical Industry.

"In my constituency I have been campaigning on issues important to people. These include the sale of Corus TCP, St. Peters School South Bank, Ensus emissions and the need to get more jobs in the area. 

"I am especially pleased to have got the Government to sort out the position on biomass tariffs which has directly led to a new £500m investment in the constituency. 

"I have attended community events from the return of the Green Howards to concerts, coffee mornings and fetes. I have met many representatives from the voluntary sector and presented awards at the Redcar and Cleveland volunteer celebration. 

"I have met many local businesses as well as many of my constituents and have been trying to help wherever possible.  We have had hundreds of items of correspondence since I was elected and I'm happy that we have been able to make a difference for so many people. I hope to be able to help many more constituents in the years to come.

"It has been incredibly busy with virtually no time off and I'm now looking forward to a short break away with the family before parliament restarts on September 6th."

Newcomen Ward Community Forum: First Ever Community Gala Day

Newcomen Ward Community Forum are holding their first ever Community Gala Day, for local residents and the wider area of West Redcar.

The first ever Newcomen Ward Community Gala Day is being held in Locke Park, Corporation Road, Redcar on Saturday 21st August 2010 between 11am - 4pm.

A number of Attractions have been booked for the day, including, Bouncy Castle and Slide, Fairground Ride, Climbing Wall, Face Painting, Balloon Modelling, Walk-a-bout Magician, Miniature Railway, Urban Kaos Street Dance Workshops and numerous other activities. A number of Craft Stalls will be in attendance, along with representatives from Redcar and Cleveland College, Pertemps, Routes-2-Employment, Coast and County Housing and Sure Start and other organisations.

Free Car Parking for the event has been arranged at Redcar and Cleveland College, Corporation Road.

Newcomen Ward Community Forum has been established for over 10 years, and is an independent Community led organisation run by volunteers, It's main aim is to put forward the views of local residents who live and work in the area, to the Local Authority, and other Statutory and Community Groups.

Redcar Athletic FC - putting our town on the football map

We were invited to a football match yesterday evening!

Teesside Athletic has had a senior team in the Wearside League for three or four seasons now, coming third last season and just missing out on promotion to the Northern League.

This ambitious club, who will soon be erecting stands and floodlights at its tidy Green Lane ground, has changed its name to Redcar Athletic. We have campaigned for a long time to have a senior team playing at a decent level with Redcar as its name.

We were delighted when we heard this news and pleased to receive an invite as guests to the club's first home league match, under the new name, against Silksworth.

Charlotte and Daniel came with us. Daniel, aged six, is a Leeds United regular and knows all the songs, so it came as a bit of a shock to the Redcar players when he started chanting Redcarrr, Redcarrr as they walked passed him on to the pitch. It shocked spectators even more when Redcar scored and Daniel started shouting "It's the goalie's fault 1-0" over and over again. Redcar had the ball in the net a further twice but these were disallowed. A late goal by the visitors meant the points were shared.

We had a nice snack at half time and we were really impressed with the set up.

At only £2 entrance for adults it is not costly supporting Redcar Athletic. When time permits and it does not clash with a Leeds match, then Chris and Daniel will be down at Green Lane to support "The Reds."

Many thanks to all at the club for making us so welcome.

Yorkshire Day raises £468 for Redcar Lifeboat

Yorkshire Ridings Society, assisted by the Redcar Ladies Lifeboat Guild and Redcar MP Ian Swales raised £468 for Redcar Lifeboat on Yorkshire Day from the sale of white roses.

Ian Swales calls for democratic consultation process on Redcar viewing tower

Ian Swales MP has received numerous complaints about the proposed 80' viewing tower on Redcar seafront. He is calling for the Council to have a clear and transparent consultation process with local people so that the real balance of views is known.

 

Ian said, "I have had adverse comments about the viewing tower by phone, email, letter, on my pier campaign website and from residents in the street. I know that some residents are mounting successful petitions and there are regular letters in the newspapers. I recently received a sheaf of letters from the Coastal View newspaper and the Council Area Committee meeting last Wednesday was also highly charged. It's hard to think of a proposed change that has produced so much adverse criticism with so little positive support.

 

In my new role I am constantly trying to work constructively with the Council and have so far kept private my discussions with them over this. However the Chief Executive, Head of Regeneration and Council Leader know about my concerns. I have been critical of using the term "vertical pier" which I think inflames the many residents who want to see a proper pier again in Redcar. I am also concerned about what activity will take place in the tower, whether it is appropriate for THE prime sea front location inthe town and whether it will be sustainable.

 

The recent consultation process appeared to only allow positive comments and few of those attending made any comment at all. I am calling on the Council to carry out a simple exercise to gauge overall public support for the scheme. If it is shown that the protesters are indeed a small, but vocal, minority as the Council claim this will be shown clearly. Either way democracy should prevail so that the town can move forward positively in the agreed direction.

Continental Market returns to Redcar

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council welcomes back the Continental Market to Redcar High street. The market will be open between 10 am - 4 pm on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th August.

 

These events with professional traders from across Europe are always very popular with visitors and shoppers  who come to see the high quality items including cheeses, olives, bread, spices and craft goods.

Yorkshire Day Success

A big thank you to everyone, especially Councillor Irene Curr, who made the Yorkshire Day celebrations in Redcar a big success.

We just about sold every white rose we had, the tombola stall was sold out within an hour or so and we almost sold our entire stock of Yorkshire flags.

More to follow when we get some pictures. All the money raised from the sale of white roses is counted on Wednesday and every penny will go to Redcar Lifeboat.

Happy Yorkshire Day

A full day of fun events has been organised in Redcar town centre to celebrate Yorkshire Day on Sunday 1^st August.

The mighty Viking, Sicga Draugluin, (played by Corus steelworker John Curr) will be present to deliver the annual Reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity in Old Norse at 11.35am near Redcar Town Clock. Redcar MP Ian Swales will read the modern English version.

All proceeds from the sale of white roses will go the Redcar Lifeboat.

From 11am to 3pm in the High Street there will be craft stalls, trampolines, kiddies rides, tombola and a circus performer. There is a children’s treasure trail to look for 12 pictures of white roses in Redcar shops. On the beach, between 12 noon and 2pm there will be kiddies rides and sports,

The events have been organised by Councillor Irene Curr and the Yorkshire Ridings Society, with the support of Redcar & Cleveland Council’s Town centre management and events team.