Lib Dems fight for a real pier at Redcar

Liberal Democrats are asking Redcar and Cleveland Council to include building a proper pier in its Local Plan.

The Labour run council says that “the Local Plan sets out a vision for improving the quality of life in the borough as a place to live and work and will determine how much development will take place and where it will be located.”

However, the draft version of the Local Plan makes no mention of a pier in Redcar .

Liberal Democrats Councillor Chris Abbott said:

“One thing missing from the Labour Council’s draft plan is a pier for Redcar and Lib Dems are asking residents to support the campaign to have a pier included in the Local Plan.

“It would show a commitment that the Council is listening to what people in Redcar want.”

Local Lib Dem MP Ian Swales added: 

“I have told the Council officials that I will fight for Government money to help build a proper pier at Redcar . But if a pier is not included in the Local Plan then there is no chance.”

Redcar Lib Dem councillors oppose Draft Local Plan

Liberal Democrats on Redcar and Cleveland Council backed a motion opposing the Labour Council’s draft Local Plan.

Liberal Democrats together with other opposition councillors produced the closest vote ever seen at the Council when the Labour Mayor, Marske Councillor Vic Jeffries used his casting vote to push through the Plan. 

The draft Local Plan proposes to build major developments on green field sites around the Borough. All around the area people fear losing their green spaces, from Ormesby to Redcar and Marske. 

Lib Dems are also concerned that flooding risks and massively increased traffic flows have not been properly taken into account on the sites earmarked for housing, especially in Redcar, Marske and Nunthorpe. Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Glyn Nightingale, said: 

“The Borough needs a Local Plan, but not this one. The Plan claims to protect local green spaces, but proposes building on them. It claims to take into account the impact of development, but fails to deal with flooding and traffic problems it will make worse. Labour has reneged on its manifesto commitment to protect green spaces. The population of the Borough is falling, but the Council has to meet house-building targets set by the previous Labour Government.” 

“The Council should be looking at developing brownfield sites first.” 

“It’s staggering that such a crucial Plan has to rely on the casting vote of the Labour Mayor from Marske when all councillors should be working together to make sure we get a better vision for the future of the Borough.”

Redcar and Cleveland Council shamed as worst for fly-tipping

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has been named and shamed as the worst borough in the Tees Valley for fly-tipping.

Official figures published last month show that 2,424 incidents of dumped rubbish were recorded in the borough in 2012/13, putting Redcar and Cleveland Council at the wrong end of the region’s fly-tipping league table. This is the worst in the Tees Valley, and sixth worst in the whole of the North-East.

The figures reveal a decline in the cleanliness of the borough, with an increase of nearly 500 incidents compared to the previous year.

The Labour Council closed Warrenby Household Waste Centre in April 2012, which has undoubtedly worsened the problem.

Liberal Democrat councillors say the Labour-run council needs to get a grip on fly-tipping and take control of the situation before the area hits the top of the table nationally.

Commenting, Liberal Democrats’ Environment spokesperson Councillor John Earl said:

“These figures confirm what many local residents already know – fly-tipping is a blight on our borough and a problem that is only getting worse.”

“The first job of a council should be getting the basics right on things like street cleaning.”

“The Council’s Labour bosses need to take this problem seriously otherwise soon Redcar and Cleveland Council will end up as the very worst borough in the country.”