Coatham Links future under spotlight

Fresh options for the multi-million pound Coatham Links regeneration scheme are to be considered tomorrow.

 

Initial proposals to bring new leisure facilities and hundreds of homes to the area were abandoned earlier this year after the Supreme Court ruled that part of the land earmarked for development at Coatham should be registered as a village green.

 

But Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council’s cabinet will meet on Friday, June 4, to assess two options designed to enhance the area, providing first-class swimming and leisure facilities.

 

One option for a £22.7m scheme would see a new leisure centre and swimming pool developed on the existing Coatham Links site, while the creation of the £5m ‘myplace’ arts and media centre for young people would go ahead as already planned.

 

The second proposition would involve building ‘myplace’ on the Coatham site, with a leisure centre and swimming pool developed between Kirkleatham Street and Ridley Street.

 

A second phase for the latter project would also include a new civic and community suite being established, with the entire scheme costing £36.9m.

 

The leisure centre aspect of both options would lead to a facility offering a six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, leisure and children’s pools, eight-court sports hall, junior gym and fitness suite, performance and dance areas.

 

Subject to approval being gained, work on either option could begin in Spring 2011.

 

The Council will also continue to seek alternative sites that could accommodate up to 350 new homes across the Borough, to satisfy demand for housing in Redcar.

 

GET READY TO SET SAIL ON COATHAM BOATING LAKE

At long last Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is relaunching one of Redcar's most popular attractions - the Coatham Boating Lake following an extensive refurbishment programme which has seen the restoration of the historic footbridge and the introduction of new wildlife habitats.

New inflatable battery-operated boats for children will be available to hire for the Bank Holiday weekend, with plans to run the attraction until the end of September, and model boat enthusiasts have also been able to return to the waters for regular sessions.

Work has included the introduction of a new feature promenade wall, which offers shelter and protection from the sea and sea breezes, new footpaths around the lake, seating and an extensive planting scheme to provide year-round landscaping and colour.

The £850,000 refurbishment programme has overcome a number of challenges to ensure the safe completion of the works, such as the removal of old and unusable electricity cables, the diversion of water pipes and prolonged periods of bad weather which have impacted on the programme schedule.

Having overcome these challenges, residents and visitors can now enjoy full access to the area, which also includes a number of information panels which provide details of the 'My Place' world class youth centre due to be constructed next to the lake using £4.94million of funding provided by the Big Lottery. Work on the ‘My Place’ centre is due to start next year.

Work to restore the area continues with plans to review the use of the Boathouse and options for its long-term maintenance. The Council also wants to reintroduce public toilets as part of the propsed new leisure centre.

Model boat enthusiasts are delighted to be back. Mark Allison, chairman of the Redcar Model Boat Club, said: "We are very pleased the lake is open to the public again.

"Now we hope to see a return to the grand old days when Coatham Boating Lake is much-loved as a real gem by the seaside and enjoyed again with great pride."

Anyone interested in joining the Redcar Model Boat Club, who have four weekly sessions at the lake on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 6pm-8pm and weekends from 2pm-4pm, can contact club secretary John Atkinson on 01642 510890.

MYPLACE CENTRE DREAM BECOMING A REALITY

A group of young people, who helped secure a £5million lottery win, are now turning their dream into a reality and drawing up final plans for the new beachside 'MyPlace' arts and media centre at Redcar.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council supported the 16-strong young people's steering group drawn from youth organisations across the Borough, giving them the responsibility to shape the new Coatham 'MyPlace' centre.

The new centre - an iconic seashell design - will provide a large flexible arts and media space, a stage and music recording studio along with access to support services, including health advice and information about education and work opportunities.

Following design and consultation, the building work is due to commence in 2010 and it is hoped this building work will take place alongside the new Redcar leisure centre and swimming complex, providing a whole range of fantastic new beachside facilities for young people and residents throughout the Borough.

In securing the funding for the new building, the group's background work has included seeking the views of over 3,000 young people, talking to arts groups and service providers, organising promotional events and recording a DVD to accompany their successful bid for the £4,946,280 cheque.

The partnership supporting the young people and funding bid includes the Council, police, health services, Tees Valley Arts and Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency, who will now continue to work with group during the summer months to finalise business plans for the beachside location.

The aim will be to prepare a business case for September, with a hoped-for completion, after 12-18 months construction work, in 2011.

Coatham Links development - MP's disassociate themselves from objectors campaign tactics

The following has been posted on Redcar and Cleveland Council's web-site:

Coatham Enclosure

Statement published by Vera Baird MP (6th May 2009)

"I know that most Redcar people support the Coatham Links development and want it to start as soon as possible. I have had doubts in the past about the number of houses to be built there, versus the amount of leisure facilities. But things like the fantastic new "MyPlace" seafront youth centre have tipped the balance. Coatham Links should be a great boost to Redcar, bringing more new people here and giving us all a leisure centre, swimming pool and many more facilities of which we can feel proud. The political parties on Redcar council oppose each other as they should in the interests of democracy, and if anything had been done wrong as this development evolved one political party or another would certainly have said so. But they are all, to a member, committed to Coatham being built as speedily as possible, in the interests of the people of the Borough.

"A very small group of protestors have got attention over the years. They have made serious allegations against the council and recently against me but these are untrue. They showed the MP for Scarborough, Robert Goodwill, an edited version of their protest film "Coatham - A Common Concern" to persuade him to show it in Parliament and then yesterday, having obtained his consent, showed in Parliament a longer version of the film that he had not seen that contains the nasty allegations and which he has totally disowned.

"The long legal campaign waged by these few protesters paid for through legal aid - has also held up this much needed and much desired community development.

"I look forward to sitting by the new pool with you - as soon as we can."

Statement issued by Robert Goodwill MP (6th May 2009)

"On Monday, I arranged for a group who call themselves the Friends of Coatham Common to show a film in a room in Parliament about Redcar Council's proposed development at Coatham. I had insisted on seeing the film in Scarborough before agreeing to book a room in Number One Parliament Street near the Houses of Parliament but as it was shown yesterday I realised that ten or more extra minutes had been added.

"I would not have agreed to show the film if I had know that in that ten minutes there were at least three allegations of financial corruption or conspiracy against the Council and its officers. There were also allegations that the local MP had been aware of this corruption and chose to ignore it. I immediately distanced myself from these new allegations to the audience when the film was over.

"Whilst I am sure that there are lessons to be learned from the whole Coatham Enclosure saga and the way a few local residents still feel dissatisfied with the way their objections were discounted, I refuse to endorse allegations of dishonesty against the Council and I have discussed what was said about her with Vera Baird, the local MP, and I am satisfied that it is untrue.

"This is the end of my involvement with the Friends of Coatham Common."

Coatham Links ..... the facts
A seafront destination forming a key part of the regeneration of Redcar, Coatham Links will be a mixed use development which will provide:

• A new state-of-the-art leisure centre with 6 lane 25m pool, leisure pool, dance floor/performance space, 8 court sports hall, junior gym, 75 station fitness suite
• 357 new dwellings offering a range of new homes for first-time buyers, families and retirement
• New public spaces, lighting and landscaping
• Combined public sector and private sector £millions investment
• The creation - either directly or indirectly of up to 200 new jobs
• New public house and restaurant
• LifeStyle Sports Village
• Health Village
• Childrens Nursery

The Need For Change
Redcar has a history of being an extremely popular seaside resort - attracting visitors from the industrial heartland of Teesside and the north of England and lowland Scotland. Up until the 1960s the town prospered. Over the last 40 years, with changing holiday and visitor patterns and a decline in the traditional industrial base, spending within the local economy has declined.

Redcar annually attracts over 1 million visitors a year it is the Boroughs main retailing and commercial centre serving a wide catchment area as well as being a popular seaside resort for day visitors.

Facing the north sea, subject to the mood and landscape of an ever changing coastal light, with mile after mile of beaches, Redcar really is a jewel on the East Coast. There is no better place to feel the salt air, experience the fury of a winter storm or see the rising or setting of the sun turning the waves into beautiful back-lit artworks. Its stark relationship with the sea makes the town a special and unique place. Sitting or walking on the beach on a warm summers day there can be no better place to be. But visit the town in the winter months and it is all too apparent that its natural setting is let down by the quality of the streets, buildings and spaces with very few things for visitors to do. As a result there has been a lack of investment and deterioration of many buildings, streets and spaces within the town. This has contributed to a lack of quality and negative perception, which inhibit revitalisation and diversification.

Purpose
Although Redcar has made dramatic steps to reverse its decline, apart from residential development on the south of the town and the new Regents Walk Shopping Centre in the heart of Redcar, the pace of regeneration has been slow and we now need a step change in our approach. The Coatham Links Scheme forms a part of a multi-million pound regeneration investment programme for Redcar. It will bring a whole new community to Redcar and increased visitor numbers, which will help to raise economic prosperity and raise the quality of the immediate environment to compliment the tourism experience.

Position
The Coatham Links site covers an area of 35 acres at a seaside location on the west side of Redcar. In 2002 the Cleveland Golf Club was relocated to accommodate the development, the remaining parts of the site have been previously developed.

Today the site offers a unique opportunity to regenerate a run down area at a coastal location.

GREEN LIGHT TO DESIGN THE NEW REDCAR LEISURE CENTRE

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is ready to give the green light to start the design and construction of the new £13.8 million Redcar Leisure Centre

The Council's Cabinet will meet on Tuesday, May 12 with a recommendation to approve the award of a contract to a preferred contractor for the first stage of the detailed design build contract for the new sports and leisure centre.

If the recommendation is approved this will allow the detailed design stage to start and, following a period of consultation, it is then expected this stage will be completed by November with the publication of the final designs.

The Council's development partner, Persimmon Homes Ltd, have recently completed the tendering process for the design and build contract for the new sports and leisure centre, this is an essential next step in the project plan for the whole Coatham Links development.

Persimmon Homes Ltd, were granted planning permission in May 2007 for the scheme. The new sports and leisure centre is to be provided as part of the first phase of the Coatham Links development.

The new sports and leisure centre will have a six-lane 25metre swimming pool, a leisure pool, a children's pool and a sports hall, including badminton courts.

There will also be a fitness studio and separate junior gym, performance space including a dance floor to replace the current dance floor, beauty therapy treatment, party function room, bar and kitchen.

The scheme also includes provision for two outdoor five a side pitches, high quality changing facilities, reception and cafe area with work planned to start in the late summer."

COATHAM LINKS - PUTTING THE INTERESTS OF THE BOROUGH FIRST

The leaders of all the political groups on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council have joined forces in condemning the tactics being used by a minority of protestors opposed to the Coatham Links re-development project. This follows the distribution of a leaflet and production and screening of a film by protestors.

In a joint statement, Cllr George Dunning, Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Chris Abbott, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Valerie Halton, Leader of the Conservative Group, and Cllr Steve Kay, Leader of the East Cleveland Independent Group, said: “Right across the political spectrum and in the seven years covering three different administrations, as a Council we have always put the needs of the Borough first in promoting the Coatham Links re-development project.

“The Coatham Links re-development project will deliver a massive improvement in the sports and leisure facilities available within the Borough, including a new competition-level swimming complex, a dance floor, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, and a space for the performing arts alongside a further development following the announcement of a £5millon Big Lottery Funded world-class youth, arts and media facility.

“The protestors’ allegations have now been investigated by the Police, Courts, Audit Commission, the local Member of Parliament and the Ombudsman – all of which has confirmed that the Council has done nothing wrong. Given this, a minority of protestors has decided to promote a fantastical conspiracy theory which is untrue. We urge the public not to be taken in.

“All that has ever motivated all of us at the Council is to do what is best for the Borough. We do have our political differences but on this issue we are all in agreement – the re-development project at Coatham Links is an opportunity to provide new facilities and benefits to the Borough and, as a Council, we are determined to deliver this to our residents.

“Throughout the development of the Coatham Links project, across all political parties, we have taken much time to listen to both supporters of, and objectors to, the scheme - as have our hard-working Council officers. We are convinced that the scheme is the right thing for our Borough and that it is widely supported. The latest tactics by a minority of protestors are a sad reflection on the way some people behave if they don’t get their own way - to accuse innocent people of wrongdoing because you can’t win the argument on merit is extremely reprehensible.

“But the protestors should know that as a united Council on this project we are not going to be turned away from doing the right thing by this hateful behaviour. We are going to continue to put the needs of the Borough first - because it’s the right thing to do.”

Persimmon Homes resubmit Coatham Links planning application

Redcar and Cleveland Council is informing residents that Persimmon Homes have resubmitted a planning application for the proposed Coatham Links development.

Approximately 2,000 letters are being sent to residents in the area and those who objected to the original application, explaining how they can view the application.

Plans will be available to view from Monday, June 9 to Friday, June 27 at two locations - the Council's offices at Belmont House, Rectory Lane, Guisborough during normal office hours and in a room signposted from the Redcar Leisure Centre reception area, weekdays from 10am-7pm.

The plans can also be accessed through the Council's website.

It is anticipated that the Council's Planning Committee will meet to discuss the application later in the year.

The application sets out details of a mixed use redevelopment comprising new tourism, sport , recreation, leisure, housing and community facilities including associated highways and infrastructure works.

Persimmon Homes regional projects director Peter Jordan said: "Persimmon remain committed to the delivery of the Coatham Links project. The new application builds upon that which was previously approved and adds urban design enhancements responding positively to requests made by the regional development agency, One North East."

Lib Dems welcome latest court decision over Coatham Links

The decision by the High Court not to allow another Judicial Review of Redcar & Cleveland Council's decision to reject the second application for Village Green status on land that was formally part of a golf course (see pic above) has been welcomed by Liberal Democrats.

We welcome this decision as yet another Judicial Review would mean more delays and more public money wasted. It is time we told the Friends of Coatham Common that enough is enough. Their never ending attempts to subvert local democracy by using people who qualify for legal aid to run up enormous legal bills for the local taxpayers is outrageous.

Anybody can claim anything in court and spend months, even years, dragging things out, especially if you can get someone else to pay for it. In this case it is the taxpayer and this is unacceptable.

Every week this scheme is delayed the longer we have to wait for the two brand new swimming pools and the state of the art leisure facilities that this town so badly needs.

It puts at risk vital grant funding for a project that has everything that is needed to help boost the town centre and bring jobs and people into the town.

Ian Swales calls for action on Boating Lake restoration

Pictured with Ian Swales are Coatham Ward Councillors Josie Crawford (left) & Irene Curr.

With work delayed on the derelict boating lake for twelve months now and another summer season on the way Redcar is looking in a sorry state to welcome visitors.

Ian Swales, the Liberal Democrats Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Redcar, has called for action to be taken as soon as possible to begin work of the restoration of the Boating Lake, that was due to start in the Spring of 2007.

Ian Swales said: "Surely the delay cannot be allowed to go on much longer. The funding for this was made available over one year ago and it is not part of the planning permission wrangle that has befallen the Coatham Links scheme. We need to have something for our visitors and the Council needs to act quickly."

£1.479m investment for Coatham links

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is celebrating confirmation of £1.479million grant from One North East, the Regional Development Agency for the North East of England, to support the development of the multi-million pound sports, leisure and housing development at Coatham Enclosure, Redcar.

The confirmation of the funding, which will contribute towards the cost of installing a proposed combined heat and power unit within the new leisure centre building and fund wide-scale quality improvements to the public areas, marks a key milestone in the delivery of this exciting new development set to commence in spring 2008.

Currently, the area for the scheme is being marked out and made ready for this major new development which will provide a leisure centre with a 6-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, a second exciting leisure pool with flume and water features, state-of-the-art gym with 75 'fitness stations', a children's gym, 5-a-side pitches, performance space for dance and music, beauty salon, medical centre, new public rights of way, seafront apartments, alongside new mixed family and affordable housing and ongoing improvements to the boating lake and seafront promenade.

Labour MP confirms Council advice on Coatham Links covenants

Vera Baird QC MP has published the outcome of her investigation into the covenants on the land at Coatham Links on her web site.

She has concluded (though she states it is the advice of the Land Registry) that what the Lib Dem led Coalition Council said about them is right, although she starts off by spinning the line that we had promised to make the legal advice public but didn't.

Vera Baird knows perfectly well that the Scrutiny Committee that asked for the advice wanted it made public, as did every member of the Council at the time. What she doesn't say is none of those Councillors are lawyers and were unaware at the time that such advice is meant for those acting for the Council, who in turn are acting for the public. The QC advised the Council that it was not in the public interest to publish this advice.

As a top QC Vera Baird knows this and should accept that Councillors were acting honourably in following the legal advice received. They had no choice and could have faced punishment by the Standards Board had they gone against this advice. It contains advice that may be used in court on behalf of the public. Does Vera Baird advise her clients, whom she acts for in court, to make public the advice she gives them before it is played out in court?

Anyone can argue anything in court, if they are prepared to pay for it. The group fighting the proposals are not speaking on behalf of the public as a whole and have delayed the scheme long enough with a whole series of failed legal challenges. They have cost Council taxpayers an absolute fortune and all their candidates in the recent elections were defeated heavily.

The ironic thing about all this is that one of the covenants was placed to protect the view of a convalescent home that was demolished in the 1950's. Since then a swimming pool was built in front of where the home stood (since demolished) and the Mungle Jungle buildings have also been constructed.

Comment on Coatham Links

Posted by Chris:

This blog has received a comment, via the anonymous option, to this posting which was predominantly about Labour but did make reference to Coatham Links, the topic of the comment, which we have rejected.

We reserve the right not to publish anonymous postings even when the writer identifies himself if we consider them to be offensive, personal or if we think they may be libelous. All three apply in this case.

The blogger whose name appears on the bottom of the comment does not allow comments at all on his blog, at least that was the case the last time I looked.

If the person concerned would like to re-send the comments with all the references to other people removed we will be happy to publish the points that refer to me, and any additional ones he may have, as a blog item and answer them point by point in good faith.

This is why we said "Labour can't be trusted"

One of Redcar Liberal Democrats slogans, during the Council elections in May was: "Labour can't be trusted."

They had spent the past four years promising everything to everyone. Their leader on Redcar & Cleveland Council practiced opposition for opposition's sake. He jumped onto every populist bandwagon and often opposed things his own pre-2003 administration had set in motion.

The Evening Gazette's letters column was filled with one paragraph sound-bites, supporting the Labour stance, many of which were in the names of people we suspect do not exist (and here and here).

Listed below are just some of the issues where Labour have shown that what they say in opposition is different to what they do in control:

The Lib Dem led Coalition 2003 -2007 took many difficult decisions that lifted the Council from being rated as only 'fair' when we took over in 2003 and to 'four star excellent' within three years.

Coatham Links

When we took over in 2003 the previous Labour administration had appointed Persimmon Homes as the preferred developer and the scheme was launched by Councillor George Dunning just prior to the 2003 elections.

Cllr Dunning became Labour Group leader after the election and aided by Labour MP, Vera Baird, Labour flip flopped this way and that over the scheme and encouraged a very nasty campaign by a small group of protesters.

No sooner had they won back control but they were all for it (and here and here).

Closure of Eston Town Hall and James Finegan Hall

The Coalition were faced with the task of what to do about the Poulson designed 1960's town hall at Eston and Finegan Hall alongside it. The previous Labour administration had cut the Council's maintenance budget years before, to prop up their "no compulsory redundancy" policy and claw their way back from having the second highest Council tax in the land. Both buildings were in need of major investment and are unsuitable for 21st century local government.

The Coalition decided it was much more economical to provide a new civic hall in the more accessible centre of Redcar, rather than have main council services split over three main towns. The Audit Commission had criticised the previous Labour Council for this inefficient set up. Moving the town hall to Redcar would reduce travelling for staff and make it more accessible to the borough's residents.

Although we promised that a brand new replacement for Finegan Hall would be built before the hall was closed a group of dancers launched a campaign against the closure plans. Councillor George Dunning, the council's Labour Group leader, backed the protesters. Over and over again he was reported as saying: "Our position is that when we get back control in 2007 we will keep open the James Finegan Hall and refurbish it along with the Town Hall." Read more here and here.

No sooner are they back in control than they have now voted to do exactly what the Coalition had planned. They have done a complete u-turn. It is interesting that they held the Cabinet meeting in Saltburn, far away from Eston.

Councillors Allowances

In opposition Councillor Dunning went on and on about Councillors allowances complaining that Redcar & Cleveland's allowances were higher than other neighbouring Councils. But at yesterday's cabinet he said "Tees Valley Councils need to catch up with us" as they voted to go on with the current system.

Land at Church Lane

Councillor Dunning and his deputy. Councillor Sheelagh Clarke, led the opposition to the Coalition Cabinet's plan to sell a small section of land, alongside the town hall, to Tees Valley Housing Group. This would provide some much needed homes in the area and in particular provide more options for people moving out of the South Bank renewal area, whilst at the same time preserving a substantial area of green space.

Labour twice managed to win the vote to reject the proposals at planning committee but Tees Valley Housing Group appealed and this was upheld by the Government Inspector.

On taking control Labour still had the choice of not selling the land to Tees Valley, and thereby preventing the houses being built. Councillor Dunning promised in this letter that this is what he would do.

But yesterday, in far away Saltburn, the Labour cabinet voted to hand over the land and allow the houses to be built. They have achieved exactly the same outcome as the previous Coalition Cabinet had attempted to arrive at.

The new Labour Cabinet have shown once again that they say one thing in opposition and do exactly the opposite in control. They owe the residents who trusted them to do what they promised a most humble apology.

Time that fenced off area was sorted out at Redcar

This time last year Redcar was heaving with visitors enjoying the town's transformation into Dunkirk for the filming of Atonement on the sea front. This year the view that welcomes people is the fencing around the boating lake.

Ian Swales, (pictured) Liberal Democrats Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Redcar has hit out at the lack of action being taken to finish the improvement work started on the site in April this year.

"The lake was drained and fencing put around the area but as soon as the Council elections were over the work was put on hold. What a dismal experience greets visitors staying at the caravan site or walking from Coatham car park. Can you imagine this happening at Torquay or similar resorts?

"This work was supposed to go ahead regardless of any legal action being taken by protesters against the Coatham Links Scheme and it is time this was sorted out as a matter of urgency. Tourism is supposed to be one of the main activities in Redcar."

Labour on the lonely road to Damascus

The sheer hypocrisy of Labour Councillors is breath taking but we welcome their conversion to Coatham Links and their condemnation of the tiny handful of protesters who are trying to block this wonderful development for Redcar.

It is a pity they did not have the courage to support the proposals when they were in opposition. Then all they wanted to do is encourage the protesters.

COUNCILLORS CONDEMN PROTESTORS' ACTION AT COATHAM ENCLOSURE, REDCAR

Leading members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council today (June 12) condemned protestors' actions to occupy the land set out for development for the multi-million leisure and housing complex by Persimmon Plc at Coatham Enclosure, Redcar.

Councillors have now approved legal action to remove the protestors from the site and are setting out their full support for the development.

It will provide a new leisure centre with a 6-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, a second exciting leisure pool with flume and water features, state-of-the-art gym with 75 'fitness stations', a children's gym, 5-a-side pitches, performance space for dance and music, new public rights of way, seafront apartments, alongside new mixed family and affordable housing and ongoing improvements to the boating lake and seafront promenade.

Councillor George Dunning, Leader of the Council's new administration, said: "We are determined to provide the very best for the people of Redcar and Cleveland. The Coatham Enclosure development is a major scheme that will not only benefit the residents of Redcar but also the wider Borough.

"Having now had the opportunity to fully explore and address any concerns we shared as elected representatives, I am confident this development is wanted by the majority of people in the Borough who have made their views known to us through a number of surveys, wide consultation, the recent election results and an open and democratic planning process - protestors will not deter us from delivering the benefits of regeneration to the majority of our residents.

"We will be taking the proper legal action to remove protestors from the site to ensure the development can go ahead."

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development Councillor Mark Hannon said: "We mustn't lose out on this opportunity to re-invigorate our own town of Redcar - this new development will bring new families, businesses, visitors and investment to the area.

"I am convinced if we don't take on and embrace the challenge of development and regeneration now, it is unlikely there will be a future opportunity for this type of investment in the future. It is disappointing that the actions of the few may impact in such a long-lasting and negative way across the Borough."

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Sheelagh Clarke added: "Whilst I fully admire the actions of anyone who stands up to be heard, we must accept that approval of this development has been sought through open and democratic processes.

"The protestors to this scheme have been given fair hearing and the development has been given the go ahead in-line with Government policy and in-line with the majority of people who want the new facilities the development will provide."

Councillor Dave McLuckie, the Cabinet Member for Community Protection, said: "We are also aware of ongoing damage to fencing and property on the site which is generating considerable costs to the Council.

"We are currently monitoring the situation to establish the most appropriate course of action. Should any criminal activity be identified, this will not be tolerated."

Redcar & Cleveland Lib Dems Election Campaign gets off to a flying start

Posted by Chris:

Redcar and Cleveland Council has received 160 nominations from 85 men and 75 women for the Borough's 59 seats in 22 wards at the Thursday, 3rd May poll.

The Liberal Democrats are the strongest party in the Redcar Parliamentary constituency with a full slate of candidates in all the constituency wards.

The Lib Dem campaign has got off to a flying start with the launch of our excellent manifesto "No Turning Back" on Friday with a visit to Redcar and Brotton from Greg Mulholland MP. Greg gave our Candidates a real boost and everybody is well motivated for the campaign. Our manifesto can be viewed in full on the local party website http://www.redcarlibdems.org.uk/.

Yesterday we got the excellent news that the Planning Committee approved by nine votes to two our flagship Coatham Links Development, that will bring 200 jobs to Redcar and top quality leisure facilities and housing. We are getting our swimming pool back after ten years of being about the largest town in the land without a pool. In fact, we are getting two pools, a swimming pool and a leisure pool. I can't wait for the work to get started it will revitalise an area that is run down and I am absolutely convinced it will help to kick start Redcar's economy.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that two of the Labour Councillors voted for the scheme, in spite of the fact that the local MP has threatened to call in the decision. If she does the swimming pool will be set back yet another year. There are no genuine grounds to turn it down, I am convinced of that and calling it in in could put grant funding at risk.

Today we had a visit from the lovely Fiona Hall MEP. Fiona visited the Coatham Links site, where work is about to start on the improvements to the boating lake area (see picture above with Glynis and I). This did not require planning permission and would have gone ahead regardless of yesterday's decision. Fiona spent a lot of time with candidates in a number of wards including the solar energy scheme that Coast & Country Housing have installed on flats around the Closes Estate in our ward, the flood defence work recently carried out in Skinningrove.

We look forward to a packed month of intensive campaigning that may well surprise our opponents.

Promoted by C. Abbott 39 Essex Close, Redcar, Yorkshire, TS10 4BY, on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, of 39 Essex Close, Redcar, Yorkshire, TS10 4BY.

Protesters "false claims and sabotage tactics" have cost council taxpayers almost a quarter of a million pounds

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has today revealed that a small group of protestors acting against the proposed £88million housing and leisure development at Coatham Links in Redcar has cost the council taxpayers of the Borough approximately quarter of a million pounds in additional legal fees.

The financial information – made available through a routine Freedom of Information request – has shown that the programme of activity by protestors to delay the consideration of the scheme has increased legal costs by £243,941 over a four-year period.

These activities include a recent bid to register public rights of way across the proposed development area, a bid to delay the consideration of the development due to health and safety reasons and legal action to register the land as a village green. All these have been rejected when considered by the appropriate independent bodies.

Councillor Glyn Nightingale, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, said: “As a Council we take very seriously our commitment to being an open and honest organisation; we welcome any opportunity to provide information on how public money is being spent.

“Any proposal for a large development will cost a Council money – this is inevitable in the first stages of negotiation, consultation and planning. It is only sensible that we meet these costs. Firstly, it ensures we provide fair and open consultation on any proposals we receive; and, secondly, it encourages important new opportunities that investors and developers can bring to the area in potential new facilities, housing and businesses.

“However, as these figures highlight, we are increasingly concerned about the costs incurred through a small number of protestors’ false claims and sabotage techniques designed to delay the consideration of the current proposals for the Coatham Links. Legitimate protest is part of the democratic process.

“We have procedures in place to allow for this, but the tactics of a small number of protestors have achieved nothing except the waste of Council money on legal action, wasted officer time spent in responding to the protestors' alarmist and exaggerated claims – worse still is the number of deeply unpleasant personal attacks on Council staff.”

“We are committed to making Redcar and Cleveland a prosperous place for our residents to live, work and invest. We are also determined this proposal will receive a fair and open consideration at the forthcoming meeting of the planning committee. We hope protestors do not use this open, democratic process to create a platform for their own personal motives.”

The financial information shows in addition to legal costs in response to protestor activities, the Council has also spent approximately £44,640 per year (£178,560 in total over four years) in negotiation, consultation and standard legal costs. This is substantially less than the average cost to a local authority for a proposed development of this size.

The planning application, submitted by Persimmon Homes in August last year, will be considered at a special Planning Committee meeting, open to the public next month.

Plans will restore Coatham Boating Lake

Redcar and Cleveland Council is starting work on restoring Coatham boating lake to its former glory, including the creation of a shingle beach to an island for wading birds.

The project, a separate but complementary initiative to the proposed Coatham Links development, will install new seating, new footpaths, a new perimeter wall, improved planting scheme and night-time lighting.

The designs for the work, which do not need planning permission, have been drawn up after consultations with Natural England, to ensure the value of the lake for birds can be maintained and enhanced.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick said: "We believe this scheme is another example of how we are bucking the national trend by improving our seaside resorts, rather than see them go into decline.

"The overall aim of this work is to improve the quality of the public realm areas surrounding the lake, to increase public use of the space and restore the area to its former glory as a public space."

Material at the edges of the lake and island will provide wading birds with the habitat they require, while the beach will add interest to the island and provide opportunities for wading birds.

Councillor Fitzpatrick added: "We're delighted with the scheme and the addition of lighting to the area will ensure night-time interest and safety within the area."

*Council engineers are investigating the state of the boating lake's footbridge, with a view to organising repairs.

Is there no end to the twisted nonsense spouted by opponents of the Coatham Links development?

Posted by Chris:

The opponents of the superb Coatham Links proposed leisure and housing development seem to have two methods of working.

The first is to be highly selective in what they hear and to spin conspiracy theories around their selections.

The other is they simply make it up.

It was recently announced that the bowling alley is moving to the building where the bingo hall was going. This is because the Council and the developers Persimmon Homes had listened to the views of residents and businesses and had decided not to proceed with the bingo hall. Instead it was agreed that the bowling alley would be sited in the building that was to house the bingo hall and thereby freeing up space in the new leisure centre for a state of the art dance and performance area.

Because it was announced that there would be no bingo hall, in the twisted logic of one of the protesters, this means there will be no bowling alley as well.

It has been pointed out over and over again that there is no public funding for the provision of the extreme sports facilities that are planned on the site, and never has been. Again it is a leap of twisted logic for the protesters to claim that means there can be no extreme sports. The existing leaseholder for that part of the site is responsible for that part of the development not the Council or Persimmon Homes. The development agreement has a fall back position to cover what happens if leaseholder fails to deliver.

There is £120,000 set aside to CPO the site so extreme sports can be delivered. Again the protesters twist this simple position of "the current leaseholder will do it but if they fail we take over," into something sinister that 'proves' it will not happen.

It has always been the case that at the beach near South Gare we have agreed advisory signs asking people not to walk there during the nesting season. Again this perfectly reasonable position, that we have always been open about, is twisted in the objectors minds to mean all activities are banned on the beach throughout Coatham.

We have pointed out many times that the visitor centre will be provided in the later phases of the development and at this stage all the grant funding needed to provide the facility cannot be confirmed because the grant providers do not agree funding until all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. To twist this into "there will no visitor centre" is nonsense.

The Coalition of Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and East Cleveland Independents that currently run the Council are determined that the Coatham Links scheme will be delivered in full and it is vital that we retain control in May because clearly it is the only way we can bring about the regeneration of Redcar.

You cannot argue with someone so besotted with conspiracy theories but we do try.

Attempt to block Coatham Links development fails

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, acting as Highway Authority, has today been successful in its application under section 116 of the Highways Act 1980 to ‘stop-up’ certain footpaths on the land known as the Coatham Enclosure, Redcar.

Teesside Magistrates ruled that the specified footpaths are unnecessary as there are other routes that are equally as convenient for public rights of way for the purposes of either work or leisure.

The remaining public rights of way on the land at Coatham Enclosure, which provide access to and from the land, will continue to be waymarked and maintained as public rights of way, whilst those now deemed unnecessary will no longer continue to be maintained as public rights of way.

The Council, as Highways Authority, is responsible for the maintenance and promotion of public rights of way and recognises the importance of maintaining public access throughout the Borough – more information on public rights of way throughout the Redcar and Cleveland Borough are available on the Council's website at
www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

An attempt by a single protester to oppose the application failed. If it had succeeded the much needed multi-million pound Coatham Links leisure and housing development, which will provide Redcar with two swimming pools and other major lesiure facilities, would have been put in real jeopardy.