It's Yorkshire Day tomorrow

The first written reference to the Ridings of Yorkshire appears in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles 876AD and this Yorkshire Day, 1st August 2007, we celebrate their 1132nd birthday by reading the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity (a statement of allegiance to the Ridings of Yorkshire), in York and Redcar at 11.32am.

Yorkshire Day, Wednesday 1st August 2007:
In York - Readings of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity, will be in the four languages used since 876AD (Latin, Old English, Old Norse and Modern English) around the walls of York, including Micklegate Bar at 11.32am. York City Council have also organised events events organised in St Samson Square, where another reading will take place at 1.00pm.

In Redcar - The YRS North Riding Group have arranged a reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity at Redcar Town Clock at 11.32am. The declaration will be read by local radio celebrity Stewart MacFarlane MBE and a poem will be read by British Legion stalwart Eric Howden. Artificial white roses are being sold and all proceeds go to the Redcar Lifeboat.

More than £5000 has been raised over the past ten years by the North Riding Group for local charities. "It is good to see local residents queuing up year after year to pay £1 for a rose to wear on Yorkshire Day,"said Redcar Councillor Chris Abbott, Chairman of the Ridings Society.

Contacts for comment or more information:

YORK - Roger Sewell, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee - 07734 079646
YORK - Peter Hindle, York member of the Executive Committee - 01904 794559
REDCAR - Chris Abbott, Chairman of the Executive Committee - 01642 487557 or 07974 127179

Marching for Yorkshire at Saddleworth

More pictures from Saddleworth

Charlotte watches as the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity is

read next to the statue of local poet Ammon Wrigley of Delph.

Everbody sings Pratty Flowers, the Holmfirth Anthem

Around 300 people attended


Holmfirth Anthem

1. Abroad for pleasure as I was a-walking

On one summer, summer's evening clear (repeat 1st 2 lines)

There I beheld a most beautiful damsel

Lamenting for her shepherd swain

2. The fairest evening that e'er I beheld thee

Evermore with the lad I adore

Wilt thou go fight the French and Spaniards

Wilt thou leave me thus my dear?

3. No more to yon green banks will I take thee

With pleasure for to rest myself and view the lambs

But I will take thee to yon green gardens

Where the pratty, pratty flowers grow

http://www.villagecarols.jgwardfamily.co.uk/words/pratty_flowers.html

Report from Saddleworth

Posted by Chris:

Glynis and I, along with Charlotte (7) and Daniel (3), attended the Saddleworth White Rose Society's Yorkshire Day Celebrations at the Ammon Wrigley stature in the gardens of Saddleworth Museum at Underhill.

They always hold their Yorkshire Day reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity on the Sunday before Yorkshire Day and always get a good crowd as a result (se pic).

I was introduced as the Chairman of Yorkshire Ridings Society, along with the Chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council and a lady from the Friends of Real Lancashire. We each said a few words. As the winner of the North Riding Duck Race, held in Saltburn yesterday, Roy Bardsley, lives in Saddleworth I was able to arrange for him to be presented with the Colin Holt Cup by Colin's wife Hilary, who had travelled over from Doncaster.

After a session of humerous local poetry and the Declaration of Integrity was read we were asked to lead the parade in front of the band. It is a long time since I was in a parade and I certainly have never led one before.

More Duck Race Pictures

West Riding man wins North Riding Duck Race

Posted by Chris

A crowd of around 200 people turned up to watch this year's North Riding Duck Race and we sold out of ducks.

The race was won by duck No 65 bought by Saddleworth man Mr Roy Bardsley. Second place went to Ben and Zoe Fountain of Guisborough, with duck No 29 and Ashley Seaman of Redcar won third place with duck No 19. Roy Bardsley will receive the Colin Holt Cup and a Yorkshire breakfast pack and tea towel from Hilary Holt at the Saddleworth Yorkshire Day celebrations being held tomorrow (Sunday) in Uppermill.

The best named duck, chosen by YRS NR Group Chairman, Jim Lince of Thornaby, was duck No 126 "You rang Mallard?" bought by Andy Crawford of Marske.

As organiser of the race it was my job to shepherd the ducks along the 500 yard course, releasing those that had got snagged.

The end of the race was quite tense because an upstream wind at the finish held the ducks back. There was a loud cheer when I released debris stuck on top of the weir and Roy's duck rushed home.

We sold out all our 200 ducks thanks to the large attendance and could have sold lots more by having heats but we ran out of time.

£210 was raised for the YRS road sign campaign fund.

Note: Pictures taken by Derek Hudson of Marske.

Last chance to enter the North Riding Duck Race

North Riding of Yorkshire
DUCK RACE 2007
Saturday 28th July 2007
2.30pm
Saltburn Beck, Saltburn

Winner will receive the Colin Holt Cup
Plus prizes for the first three places
Prize for most original name of duck
£1.00 per entry

Please email entry fee to chrisabbott@cix.co.uk

and send payment by post to

Cllr Chris Abbott 39 Essex Close, Redcar, Yorkshire, TS10 4BY,

before 12noon tomorrow (Saturday 29th July).
Proceeds to the YRS North Riding Group Campaign Fund,

that pays for real county boundry signs like the one pictured.

Lib Dem challenge to Labour Council

Posted by Chris:

In view of the adverse publicity in the Evening Gazette and the damage it may have done to the reputation of this Council and its professional officers, Glyn Nightingale and I have written to the Director of Finance and Procurement and the District Auditor to request that a Section 151 report is produced as a matter of urgency and presented to a special meeting of the Council.

The report should outline the current financial pressures, explain the allegations of financial mismanagement made by the Council Leader and set out the details of what exactly the alleged £12m “black hole” amounts to as reported in the Evening Gazette.

I am concerned that in one day the reputation of the Council and its professional officers, so patiently built back up over the past seven years, since the days when it produced the second highest Council Tax in the land, has been destroyed. The silly allegations and misrepresentations made by Leader of the Council simply will not stand up to scrutiny and it is vital that members are provided with the real facts.

On Friday 20 July we heard from the Redcar and Cleveland Council leader, that his administration have “a £12m black hole.” By Tuesday 24 July we read in the same paper that a proper Budget for 2007-8 is in place, the previous one had balanced with cash to spare going into reserves and the cash crisis was actually in the future.

Clearly they got elected, by the narrowest of margins, making promises to cut Council Tax and have found that their own Government, with its enforced economies and unfair allocation of grants, have made this impossible, so they invent a cash crisis as a way to deflect the blame when they put the Council Tax up.

It has clearly backfired on them, hence the rapid back peddling in the Gazette on Tuesday. They obviously didn't realise the effect it would have on the reputation of not just the politicians but also on the Council's professional staff who advise them, allowing the nasty smearmongers free rein. The Liberal Democrats election warning that Labour cannot be trusted has been confirmed within weeks of the election.

The amazing thing about all this is that £5m of the £12m is the cost of implementing Labour's over the top election promises and nothing at all to do with the Coalition and the past four years. This year the Labour Government gave £7.1m less than justified by its own assessment of needs. Next year Government financial stringency is likely to put even more pressure on Council finances.

Borough's under 16's can swim for free

There's a splashing time in store for the Borough's under 16s who can swim for free at Tees Valley Leisure Limited's four pools in Eston, Saltburn, Loftus and Guisborough.

The new swimming initiative funded by Redcar and Cleveland Primary Care Trust and supported by Redcar and Cleveland Council.

The scheme will run throughout the summer holiday period and offers general swimming and fun inflatable sessions both during the week and at weekends.

Normal supervision ratios apply throughout the scheme so that accompanied under eights through to teenagers can benefit from free swimming right up until the first week of September.

As an additional incentive, every child participating in the scheme will have the chance to register for more free swims after the holiday period with the chance to win a range of prizes including a Nintendo games console by recording their free swims on special collector cards, available from the four participating pools.

Tees Valley Leisure's Managing Director Paddy Corcoran said: "We are extremely grateful to Redcar and Cleveland Primary Care Trust for the provision of this funding which will allow us to work in partnership with the Council to develop a sustainable activity programme.

"This is not just for our regular customers but also our key target groups such as disadvantaged families, disabled swimmers and teenage girls.''

Fight is on to save Post Office

Liberal Democrats in Redcar have called on Redcar & Cleveland's ruling Labour Councillors to pull out all the stops in a bid to include a Post Office in the new Roseberry shopping centre.

Newcomen Ward Councillor Glynis Abbott asked why the plan to house the post office in the new Sainsbury Local store had not materialised as expected. "Why were Councillors and residents not told about this in advance. It was clear to me at the Council meeting that even the Labour Cabinet member was not fully aware of what was happening.

Liberal Democrat's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Ian Swales said, "It is vital we retain a post office in this part of Redcar. It has a high population of elderly people and people on low income.

"We have launched a campaign starting with a petition to save the post office and will do everything we can to get it back on track.

"The Liberal Democrats are campaigning hard against the closure of more than 1000 post offices nationally."

Councillor Glynis Abbott and Ian Swales (pictured) were at Sainsbury's Local Store Roseberry Square at today collecting signatures on a petition calling on the Council to ensure that a post office is included as agreed in the plans. Copies of the petition have been placed in local shops.

Glyn Nightingale hits out at Labour's "frantic" claims

Liberal Democrat Councillor, Glyn Nightingale, former Cabinet member for Resources, on Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has defended the Coalition's four years of excellent performance whilst in charge of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council with an attack on claims made by the Leader of the new administration:

"The leader of the Labour Group is setting up his excuses for breaking his election promise of Council Tax cuts when an increase next year is inevitable, especially because his Government's grant continually penalises Redcar & Cleveland.

"This year they gave £7.1m less than justified by its own assessment of needs. Next year Government financial stringency is likely to put even more pressure on Council finances.

"If what the Labour Leader says is true, there would have been no chance of the Coalition achieving its 4-Star Excellent rating from Government Inspectors. No council can get an Excellent rating unless its use of financial resources is in the top brackets. The Coalition made sure we were.

"The Council faces more demands for people in care and environmental services. So our priorities were sound when we put an extra £18.5m into care for the elderly, young people and environmental services as well as making £17.5m of efficiency savings.

"He fails to say that his Government is forcing the Council to make even more efficiency gains that cannot be re-invested in services any longer. That's one of the real challenges he is facing along with Labour's additional commitments, eg £2m for Town Hall and Finegan Hall repairs.

"Maintenance of leisure centres and swimming baths has been part of the responsibilities of TVLL as part of the contract set up by Labour.

"Labour left the real financial mess for the Coalition to sort out. To get no Council Tax increases for three years, Labour cut services and neglected repairs to roads and Council buildings. We introduced an affordable, planned maintenance programme. Also, each year Labour's zero Council Tax rises cost the Council over £7m in lost Government grant.

"The frantic language and distortions presented by Labour, through their leader, confirms our election warning that Labour cannot be trusted."

Lib Dems slam lack of Post Office at Roseberry Shopping Centre

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Council today took the Ruling Labour group to task over the failure to provide a Post Office at the new Roseberry Shopping Centre in Redcar.

At today’s meeting Liberal Democrat Councillor Glynis Abbott asked the Labour council chiefs whether they could assure local residents that a Post Office will be provided.

They were unable to do this but said that they hoped it would happen.

Councillor Abbott said:

“Local residents are very worried that they might not now get a Post Office in the shopping centre. As recently as June staff were expecting to move into the Sainsbury’s store, but that has now opened without a Post Office.

“The Labour Government has closed thousands of Post Offices across the country, and more will follow. But Post Offices provide vital services to many of the more vulnerable members of society, such as elderly people who are less able to travel far.

“It is not enough to simply hope that it will happen. We need action from the Labour Council to make sure that it does.”

Lib Dems condemn loss of energy scheme for elderly

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Council today attacked the Council’s Labour leadership for suspending a scheme which gives free home insulation to residents most in need.

The scheme, introduced when the Lib Dem-led Coalition ran the Council, provided free cavity wall insulation to householders aged over 60 or those with children under five.

But now the Council, under Labour, has suspended the scheme.

Redcar Lib Dem Councillor Chris Abbott, said:

“This is an excellent scheme which deserves to continue. It provides warmer homes for those who most need it, cuts fuel bills and reduces carbon emissions. It should have been given a fresh injection of cash.”

“In the longer term I would like to see the Council go further, and follow the excellent lead of Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council in providing free cavity wall and loft insulation for all households which request it. There the result has been savings on fuel bills of £150 per household per year, the creation of several new jobs, and a significant cut in CO2 emissions.

"Labour’s manifesto from the recent elections says: “We will support installation and (sic) energy saving schemes in the home”. Why then has the Council scrapped (suspended) the scheme introduced by the Coalition which offered free cavity wall and loft insulation to householders over 60 or those with children under five?"

Get the facts on the Borough

Thousands of facts and figures about the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland and its neighbourhoods are now available on the Council's website, www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/statistics.

The comprehensive Area Profile, drawn up by the Council and the Redcar & Cleveland Partnership, will be used as an evidence base to inform future strategy and policy development.

The profiles are structured around the four themes of the Local Area Agreement - Children and Young People, Safer Stronger Communities, Healthier Communities and Old People, Sustainable Communities.

There is a wealth of information about the area, which will be updated, including narrative, data tables and maps, plus tables which summarise performance against key datasets and identify strengths and priorities for improvement.

Who wants to be skilled up?

Redcar and Cleveland Council is hoping young people will take the hotseat at the three-day Skill Up Tees Valley exhibition at the Riverside Stadium next week.

The Council's Adult Learning Service is teaming up with Routes To Employment and E2E - Entry To Employment for post 16 provision provided by EOTAS, Education Other Than At School, with a version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, July 17-19.

The Service's manager John Harris explained: "We are setting up patio tables and chairs around a large screen and are planning an interactive Who wants to be a Millionaire? game to attract people.

"Prizes will be millions of words - book tokens of various values! We will be giving out information about the education, training, guidance and work experience opportunities funded by the Learning and Skills Council that we collectively do."

Council counts cost of vandalised fencing

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has today revealed the cost of damages caused by vandalism to fencing at Coatham Enclosure and the nearby Boating Lake in Redcar.

During the last four weeks, the damage and associated work to make safe the damaged fencing have cost £5,686, costs which will now have to be met by Council resources.

The fencing has been erected as part of preliminary works by the Council to set out rights of way across the site and prepare the area for the recently approved £95million leisure and housing complex by Persimmon Plc.

The net cost of purchasing the fencing at the Boating Lake is £900; this is because Persimmon Plc will purchase the fencing from the Council once the handover of the site is complete.

The fencing around the Coatham Enclosure has cost £11,788.00, however most of these costs will also be met by Persimmon Plc when they purchase the fencing for use on the site when development commences.

The £95million leisure and housing development at Coatham Enclosure, Redcar was recently approved by members of the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Planning Committee and is now set to deliver 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, new public rights of way, seafront apartments, alongside new mixed family and affordable housing and ongoing improvements to the boating lake and seafront promenade.

Brand new Library

The 1,200 borrowers at Redcar's Roseberry Square library are set to be turning over a new leaf this month - with a move to a purpose-built new building just 50 yards away.

The existing library, built in 1967, will close at 12.30pm on Saturday, June 16, with the new facility opening its doors for the first time at 10.30am on Monday, July 2 in the new shops parade.

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Libraries Service is advising the branch's borrowers that they can take extra books during the closure period and as well as reminding them that they can use their ticket at any of the other branches, the nearest at Dormanstown or Redcar Central.

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."

Error found in counting of votes for Skelton Ward

An arithmetical error has been discovered in the declared result for Skelton. For some inexplicable reason it appears that in adding the different totals the supervisor added the total for one of the Conservative candidates (672) to the Labour block total. Removing those 672 votes from the Labour block total still means that the declared Councillors (three Labour) were duly elected, though by much smaller majorities.

Lib Dems re-elect Chris

Chris Abbott
Irene Nightingale
Mary Ovens

The 13 Liberal Democrat councillors at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have unanimously re-elected Councillor Chris Abbott as their Group Leader.

Chris has been Group Leader since 1999. He and his wife Glynis both represent the Newcomen ward in Redcar, and comfortably held their seats at the elections last week.

Chris’s Deputy will be Councillor Mary Ovens, also from Redcar (West Dyke ward) who is coming to the end of her term as Mayor of the Borough.

The Lib Dem Group will be chaired by Councillor Irene Nightingale, who represents Ormesby ward. She takes over from former Guisborough Councillor Keith Pudney, who did not seek re-election this year.

Cllr Chris Abbott, said:

“It looks as though Labour will now be running the Council. I look forward to making sure that they do not undo the good work that the Lib Dems have done as part of the ruling Coalition over the past four years.”

“We have some very experienced councillors and some talented new ones. I am sure we will be a better opposition than Labour were.”

Labour's negative campaigning is an indication of their desperation

Labour's negative campaigning in Redcar & Cleveland knows no bounds. Their election material is full of one liners that only those most clued up on local and national issues can understand. Their campaign is desperate and dishonest. It seeks to mislead the public.

Unlike the Lib Dems they have not published a local manifesto and the Labour leader told Council officials that they were not prepared to tell them what their plans are until after the election. Obviously they intend to make it up as they go along in just the same way as they are insulting the intelligence of the electors with misleading one-liners.

The Labour MP, Vera Baird, is even worse. She has published the most juvenile of glossy leaflets containing all sorts of silly, over the top, one-liners like - "Racing at Redcar - they'll sell it off for thousands more houses. Labour is searching, with the Action Group, for a new owner to safeguard our racecourse - the heart of our town."

We cannot sell off Redcar racecourse because we do not own it. There is not room on the site for thousands of houses - is this woman really a top QC?

The sight of Labour Councillors pictured outside the main entrance of the racecourse looking like they were on a Mafia day trip is an image that filled me with horror. To have them meddling in the boardroom politics of a private company is alarming. It puts at serious risk the future of racing at Redcar.

It is interesting to note that Labour's lack of support is really showing in the time it is taking them to deliver Vera's missive. We have distributed our response in a number of wards BEFORE Labour have even got Vera's out.

The other night I came in from delivering leaflets in Kirkleatham Ward and before I could get the curtains closed I noticed that one of the Labour candidates had rushed into the courtyard I live in and put Labour's glossy "Lib Dems soft on crime" leaflet through three of the 16 letterboxes. Mine, my daughter Kelly's (who lives next door but one) and another house. He then went over to West Dyke ward and put it through Lib Dem Councillor Joyce Benbow's letterbox and her next door neighbour's. What is that all about I wonder?

Just for the record here is a response to the soft on crime one-liners that Labour hope to mislead the public about.

Lib Dems. Against Labour’s tough anti-social behaviour measures.
Lib Dems voted against the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, Hansard, 24 June 2003

Lib Dems. Against Labour’s measures to break-up teen gangs.
Lib Dems votes against dispersal orders, Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, 24 June 2003

(NB. These two are basically the same thing.)

Labour think just because a piece of legislation claims it will deal with anti-social behaviour anyone voting against it thinks anti-social behaviour is a good thing. That's as ridiculous as saying anyone voting against an education bill doesn't believe in education! Liberal Democrats have supported a wide range of government measures to tackle anti-social behaviour, such as the 1998 legislation bringing in ASBOs, and in many areas have been ahead of the government in developing new ways to combat anti-social behaviour. (The Acceptable Behaviour Contract pioneered by Lib Dems in Islington has been praised by the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, as being "better than an ASBO". (Question Time, BBC1, 03/03/05)) But on this occasion we voted against the Bill (after trying to amend it) as we thought it wasn't the best way forward.

We supported some of the policies in the 2003 Act (e.g. Powers to close down crack houses and restrict use of air guns and imitation weapons), but we voted against the Act as a whole, principally over the issue of dispersal orders (sometimes characterised as “powers to break up teen gangs”). We believe that they were –

(a) Unnecessary - the existing public order laws adequately covered the various circumstances in which the police might need to act to disperse groups.

(b) Illiberal - the new powers enable police intervention and arrest purely on the basis of someones presence - even if they are doing nothing wrong. This breaches the right to freedom of movement and assembly, and in theory the power could be abused by the police, for example to harass ethnic minorities.

(c) Potentially counterproductive - the Association of Chief Police Officers said, when the Bill was going through Parliament, that the powers would “not be enthusiastically used” because they would be likely to create divisions between the officers and the communities they police.

(d) Not getting to the root of the problem - the powers enable police to move groups on, but they do nothing to prevent the group from causing trouble elsewhere or behaving badly in general. We believe other proposals (such as our plans for more - and more visible – police and community support officers) would make a greater impact on anti-social behaviour.

However, despite these concerns, we would not scrap the dispersal order powers. We have always recognised that the powers can be used in a helpful way and Lib Dems in local government have worked with the police to find positive ways to use them. We support their use where people are harassing, intimidating, alarming or distressing others, but not where it is on the basis of their presence alone. We would amend the law to take this into account and add safeguards against their misuse.

Lib Dems. Against Labour’s measures to restrict the sale of graffiti spray paints to teenagers.
Opposed measures to limit the sale of spray paint to teenagers, 24 June 2003

This is misleading. Liberal Democrat MPs and councils have been at the forefront of many successful campaigns against graffiti in their areas. We believe graffiti is a serious problem that should be deterred through a combination of street patrols and quick action by local authorities to remove graffiti as it appears.

We were at the forefront of efforts to stop the sale of spray paint to children (e.g. Lib Dem Sutton LBC's voluntary code of practice for retailers to stop sales of spray paint to 10-16 years olds) and welcomed proposals in this area in the Government's Anti-Social Behaviour Bill 2003.

The disagreement was simply that we thought the age at which people should be able to buy spray paints should be 16, while the Government wanted 18 (we were successful in amending the Bill in this respect). This did not prevent us supporting most of the other measures on graffiti in the Bill, including fixed penalty notices.

In Redcar & Cleveland we have a fast response team for the removal of graffiti from public building and usually manage to remove it the same day.

Lib Dems. Against sending teen criminals to court.
Policy Motion F46 ‘Punishment and Rehabilitation of Offenders’ was passed by Lib Dem Conference in Bournemouth, 23 September 2004

Our policy is that 13 and 14 year old teenagers should be brought before a court at the discretion of the Crown Prosecution Service where their actions mark them out as being dangerous and a threat to society.

Those whose crimes are not serious should be dealt with through the children's system which has a better record at rehabilitation. The children’s system has a better record because it is staffed with experts who understand how to intervene to help children with behavioural problems and prevent them from slipping into a life of crime. Under our policy teenagers aged 15 and older would continue to be dealt with through the courts in the normal way.

Lib Dems. Against jail sentences for drug possession.
Lib Dems ‘Law and Order Mini Manifesto’, page 8, 29 March 2005

Of course drug users who commit crimes like burglary or robbery to feed a drug habit should go to prison. And drug dealers should continue to expect long prison sentences. But where individuals are prosecuted simply for having a small amount of a drug in their possession for their own personal use, and no additional crime has been committed, then compulsory treatment should be used instead of prison. Courts could still make use of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs), fines, and other criminal penalties.

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.

If they are so confident of winning why are Labour telling so many porkies?

Posted by Chris

In a leaflet, going out in Coatham Ward, Labour refer to "big fat cheques paid to 4 leaders of the Coalition whilst if Labour were in control you would only have to pay for one leader." Like every thing else Labour are claiming this is way off the mark. If they are so confident of winning the election why do they feel it necessary to tell so many porkies?

The extra amount paid to myself as Lib Dem Group Leader (16 members), the Conservative Group Leader (13 Members) and the leader of the independent group in the coalition (2 members) is actually only £2990 each.

The allowances are worked out by an Independent Panel based on a number of extra hours less one third to reflect the voluntary nature of the job.

What Labour don't say is that their Group Leader (22 members) is paid £7460 extra for being the Group Leader and the leader of the opposition Independents is paid £4480 extra for being the leader of 5.

Under Labour control there would be one leader plus payments to two opposition leaders just the same. They would also still have to pay 10 Labour cabinet members.

Labour owe the people of Redcar & Cleveland an apology for once again misleading them.
More to follow on Labour's silly "Lib Dems soft on crime" nonsense.

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.

Use your vote at Kayleigh's Salon

A Redcar hairdressing salon will be transformed into a Redcar and Cleveland Council polling station when voters go to the polls on Thursday, May 3.

Owner Kayleigh Taberner is shelving her scissors for the day at her 'Diffuse Hair Salon' on Thrush Road, which will be open from 7am-10pm for voters in the Council's Coatham ward.

The salon is probably the most unusual venue among a total of 81 polling stations to serve the Council's 22 wards after Kayleigh agreed to the makeover, complete with 'Polling Station' signs in the salon's window.

Kayleigh, 19, explained: "I don't mind - I'm looking forward to it, I usually only get Sundays off!"

A Council spokesman said: "We're very grateful to Kayleigh. We try and locate polling stations in accessible venues, with the majority in schools and community halls."

The Council is reminding people of the importance of spending 20 minutes on polling day to go out and vote by highlighting what local government will be doing in that same 20 minutes.

National statistics show during any 20-minute spell, local authorities in England will spend £3,693,531 on the services they provide, which range from care for the elderly and running schools to keeping roads and pathways in good condition.

The breakdown includes: £1,369,254 spent on education, £349,277 spent on culture, the environment and planning, along with 12,975 books borrowed from public libraries and 259 tonnes of household waste recycled.

Mayor's Charity Ball

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Mayor, Councillor Mary Ovens, hosts the main fund-raising event of her civic year with the Mayor's Charity Ball at Gisborough Hall on Thursday, April 26.

Proceeds from the black tie/evening wear occasion will be shared between her two charity choices, Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Redcar-based young people's project, The Junction.

After a drinks reception, and a three-course meal with wine, the evening, hosted by Stewart McFarlane, will feature live music from Gene Jarred's Swing Eight Band, a charity auction, tombola and raffle.

Tickets are priced £35 and available from the Mayor's Secretary Jane Holmes on 01642 444501.

Here is the new Eston sign

Coatham new signs with the Yorkshire rose

Posted by Chris

Coatham ward Councillors Josie Crawford (pictured right) and Irene Curr (left) are pictured with one of the two Coatham signs that were installed today, complete with Yorkshire Rose. Irene and Josie asked for these signs because they felt Coatham, which was originally a separate village to Redcar should be signed.

It could be more than 100 years since signs identifying Coatham were last in place, I can't be sure, perhaps someone could let me know. New signs for Redcar and Eston have also been provided by the Coalition Council, each bearing the Yorkshire rose symbol. The Coatham sign is displayed the right way up for the North Riding. The Eston sign is not but it also includes an ironstone mining symbol. It costs nothing extra to place these on signs and as all are set in stone work they look rather attractive.

The Coatham signs are actual millstones and they will look even better tomorrow when I will post a new picture.

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.

Florence is still active for the Lib Dems at 95

Redcar Liberal Democrats oldest member is Florence Artley, 96 years old in May, but still delivering the Party's local newsletter, Focus, and baking cakes for fund raising coffee mornings.

Florence is helping the Liberal Democrat Candidates, John Hannon and Paul Smith, in Redcar's Zetland Ward, where she lives in Ripon Road, along with her daughter, Alex who is also a party member. Sadly her husband Frank died 7 years ago aged 80.

Out delivering the latest Focus newsletter in marginal Zetland ward, Florence said, "I really enjoy doing my bit for the Liberal Democrats. It keeps me active and a get a real kick out of seeing the success of the Lib Dems on our Council. I want to make sure the keep up the excellent work they've been doing here."

Redcar's Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Ian Swales, said "Florence is an inspiration to us all. Not only is she incredibly fit she is also still very sharp mentally and wonderful to talk to. Although Florence has lived in Redcar for over 60 years and brought up her family here she still has the charming accent to show that she originally came from Northern Ireland".is Florence Artley, 96 years old in May, but still delivering the Party's local newsletter, Focus, and baking cakes for fund raising coffee mornings. (picture attached)

Florence is helping the Liberal Democrat Candidates, John Hannon and Paul Smith, in Redcar's Zetland Ward, where she lives in Ripon Road, along with her daughter, Alex who is also a party member. Sadly her husband Frank died 7 years ago aged 80.

Out delivering the latest Focus newsletter in marginal Zetland ward, Florence said, "I really enjoy doing my bit for the Liberal Democrats. It keeps me active and a get a real kick out of seeing the success of the Lib Dems on our Council. I want to make sure the keep up the excellent work they've been doing here."

Redcar's Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Ian Swales, said "Florence is an inspiration to us all. Not only is she incredibly fit she is also still very sharp mentally and wonderful to talk to. Although Florence has lived in Redcar for over 60 years and brought up her family here she still has the charming accent to show that she originally came from Northern Ireland".

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.

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.

Atonement captured

See the filming of Atonement and the locals who took part in it through the eyes of an award winning professional Teesside photographer who visited the set. The Bellamy Pavilion at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Kirkleatham Museum is hosting the exhibition from April 7 until June 10 featuring photographs of the making of the movie by the 2006 UK Events Photographer of the Year, Pam Ainsley.

Pam visited the Redcar on three different occasions during filming, taking snapshots of activity on the set as it happened from people's living room windows overlooking the set and the beach during the day and evening.

Pam Ainsley said: "It was a fantastic experience to be able to view the making of the film and capture it from a different perspective on another kind of film.

"I knew that many of the 1,000 extras were from Redcar and the surrounding area so I made a point of getting photographs of them.

"After viewing the large amount of images taken I wanted the people who took part in the film to be able to see them. I contacted the Museum who looked at the prints and were more than happy to arrange for the exhibition, so here we are!"

In total there are 250 photographs on display ranging in size from large black and white canvas to standard colour prints.

People spotting themselves in the exhibition will also have the opportunity to purchase the photographs for posterity.

A stretch of the Esplanade in Redcar, from the Regent Cinema to the boating lake, was closed and transformed into 1940's Dunkirk while director Joe Wright filmed his adaptation of Ian McEwan's bestseller.

Atonement is due to be released on September 14.

Ian Swales is selected again for Redcar

Liberal Democrats in Redcar Constituency have selected local resident Ian Swales as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate. Members voted on a short list of three candidates at a hustings meeting at James Finegan Hall, Eston.

Ian Swales said “I am very pleased to be selected again after a hard fought contest. I look forward to meeting more residents and will continue to campaign for a better deal for the area. After a big swing in our favour last time it is clear that people see us as the real alternative to Labour in this constituency. I will be working hard from now until the next General election whenever that might be”.

Chris Abbott, Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Redcar and Cleveland Council said “I am delighted to be able to continue working with Ian Swales who is an excellent local choice for the area”.

• Ian Swales lives in Redcar. He is married with 3 children.


• Formerly a senior manager at ICI Wilton he now runs his own training and consulting business.


• He fought the 2005 General Election for the Liberal Democrats in the Redcar constituency.


• He moved the Liberal Democrats into 2nd place with a swing against Labour of 8.2% (share of the vote).


• Husting meeting was held on Saturday 24th March 2007

Planning for Monday evenings

Redcar and Cleveland Council planning officers will be available to personal or telephone callers at their offices in Belmont House, Rectory Lane, Guisborough for a trial period on four Monday evenings until 7pm next month.

Planning Committee chairman Councillor Peter Spencer said: "The idea is part of the Planning Team's desire to be as accessible to the public as possible. Last year we were the most improved Local Planning Authority for e-planning, giving the public a One Stop Shop service.

"However, we acknowledge there are times when only a face-to-face discussion or telephone call with a Planning Officer will do and this is not always possible during normal office hours. If interest is strong, we will look to this becoming a permanent arrangement".

Apart from Easter Monday, April 9, late opening will be on Mondays, April 2, 16, 23 and 30. The number to ring is 08456 126 126.

Emergency Planning Unit awarded Beacon Status

The Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit has won national recognition for its innovative work to ensure the safety of local people.

The unit which operates on behalf of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland Councils, has been awarded Beacon status.

The Government-sponsored award which reflects excellence and innovation in local government, was announced at an Oscars-style ceremony in London on Tuesday.

The unit joined forces with Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade to highlight the successful inter-agency partnership arrangements operating in the area, and its application for Beacon status was one of only six successful “bids”. Twelve had been short-listed

Chief Emergency Planning Officer Denis Hampson said: “The multi-agency civil protection plans and arrangements that we have developed put us at the leading edge of emergency planning and our partnership arrangements are something of which we can all be proud.

“I am very proud that the unit has been awarded Beacon status which recognises how well the four local authorities across Cleveland and our emergency service colleagues work together in planning for and managing major emergencies, and protecting residents.”

Local Government Minister Angela Smith said: “This year, we have a comprehensive group of Beacons that I hope will be proud to share their knowledge and excellence across the country.”

Warden Carolyn scores a winner

Community safety warden Carolyn Bircham has scored a personal triumph for her work in setting up football with matches for young people and giving them the chance to help design a new play area.

Carolyn's extra commitment to her role as Redcar and Cleveland Council's warden supervisor for South Bank, Grangetown and Teesville was 'highly commended' by the annual North East Regional Wardens awards, organised by the Middlesbrough-based North East Regional Resource Centre.

The Council's warden service was also applauded by the Centre, funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, for achieving a distinction for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund's nationally-recognised quality standard. Centre manager Sian Bunn said: "Redcar and Cleveland did extremely well - not only did they achieve the national standard, but achieved it with a distinction."

Carolyn was quick to praise her team after collecting the award in the 'excellence in working for young people' category - Lesley Fell, Louise Dobson and Dave Grimwood, along with Police Community Support Officer Paul Walker. "To be recognised for the work we've done was fantastic - as far as I'm concerned, it was a team award."

She was also delighted to report more sporting progress - with the creation of a football league next month and a hoped-for start by Coast & Country Housing to create a recreation area on wasteland at the junction of Steel Crescent and Strauss Road, South Bank in the spring.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety Councillor Joyce Benbow had special praise for Carolyn and the warden service.

"I think it's absolutely excellent, thoroughly well deserved. She's done a lot of work with young people and the more work that's done like this to keep them out of trouble, the better for everybody.

"I think our service continues to improve and with the recruitment of a dozen new wardens next month, it will improve further and make the lives of residents much happier."

Eyes down for more investment in unmade streets

A walk to the bingo will be a lot smoother for pensioners in Brotton and Lingdale thanks to Redcar and Cleveland Council's £1million additional investment to tackle unmade streets.

Community Campaigner Norma Morris is pictured, left, with Brotton Ward Liberal Democrat Councillors Val Miller, centre, and Kay Walker in one of the unmade streets on the Park at Brotton which could benefit from the funding.

Pensioners in the two East Cleveland villages have given the thumbs-up to the start of work in tackling unadopted streets in an ongoing investment that has already allocated £1.3million to tackle 19 schemes across the Borough.

The Council's Cabinet Chairman Councillor Eric Empson, whose portfolio covers the commitment to target unadopted highways, is delighted with the results - and the promise of more to come.

"We began the three-year programme of improvements in April, 2004 and so far 19 schemes have been completed or are nearing completion," he explained.

"The adoption of these roads has to be a benefit not just to the people living there, but to the whole village or town. We have had positive feedback from every piece of work we've carried out.

"The success of the programme has brought numerous requests from residents across the Borough and a further £1m will be allocated over the next four years to try and meet the demands."

Funding of £250,000 has been provided for works to be undertaken in Brotton and Lingdale during 2007/08 and engineers are in the process of drawing up and prioritising a list of possible schemes to take to consultation with councillors and residents.

Brotton ward councillor Kay Walker, a regular at the Thursday afternoon community bingo at the Village Hall, said: "The work is going to be very popular, not only with pensioners, but also young families."

Councillor Steve Kay, who represents the Lockwood ward, which covers Lingdale, said: "We can also hail the investment as an accident prevention scheme as there have been several senior citizens involved in nasty falls. It's not surprising as they have tried to negotiate treacherous unmade streets, full of potholes and covered with loose material.

"I'm delighted that the people of East Cleveland have been given a real say in how this project has evolved and we're looking for more improvements to come over the next 12 months. No-one can deny they are needed."

To date, streets throughout the Borough have benefited from the scheme, including streets in Redcar, Guisborough, Loftus, Boosbeck, Moorsholm, Aysdalegate, Charltons, Lingdale and Dunsdale.

Brotton Library relocation - a real success story

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Libraries Service has a real success story to tell with the relocation of Brotton Library to Freebrough Specialist Engineering College at Brotton.

Book borrowing is up by 23%, with 2,762 issues in February, compared with 2,229 last year, and, encouragingly, junior issues have jumped by 68%, with 1,061 in February, compared to 706 for the same period last year.

The number of active borrowers has also increased, up 16% in the two months since the move from Brotton High Street in December, with 1,729 borrowers, compared to 1,496 borrowers.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick said: "I am absolutely delighted with the public's response, especially younger readers."

Librarian Diane Lonsdale said: "We've had marvellous feedback since the move and are doing all we can to increase interest in the new building even more."

Attractions include a new Saturday morning club, the War Hammer Fantasy Fun Club, from 10am-noon, a children's reading group on Thursday afternoons, from 4.30pm-5.30pm, aimed at five-12 year olds and a Friday afternoon homework club, from 3.45pm-4.45pm.

Solving problems with new Joint Action Groups

A multi-agency task force is being in created in Redcar and Cleveland, aimed at focusing on troublespots across the Borough.

The Council has joined forces with senior officers from Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Youth and Children's Services, Redcar and Cleveland Primary Care Trust and Coast & Country Housing to establish Joint Action Groups.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety Councillor Joyce Benbow explained: "These groups will be building on our existing partnerships at ground level, bringing together a wealth of expertise and experience to try and solve all sorts of problems.

"The issue might be off-road motorcylces, antisocial behaviour, even uncollected wheelie bins - issues which affect a number of partners for different reasons.

"It's all about our drive to ensure ongoing environmental improvements, making the Borough a greener, cleaner and safer place to live and work."

Redcar and Cleveland Police's District Commander Superintendent Ian Richards believes the new JAGs can only build better inter-agency work.

He explained: "This problem solving group will further cement the excellent multi agency working which exists within Redcar and Cleveland and can only be of benefit to the local community through the delivery of better all round services."

The six JAGs, which will be chaired by a senior Cleveland Police officer, will dovetail in between the schedule of meetings already scheduled for the Council's existing six Area Environment Committees, which meet on a six-week cycle. The first meetings are planned to start in May.

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.

Kerry and Neil share the care

When Kerry Lewis and Neil Young began dating, there was one extra caring commitment for them both to consider...

And just as their love has blossomed, with a May wedding on the horizon, so their relationship with 14-year-old John* has flourished through their dedication as carers.

Redcar and Cleveland Council is highlighting their partnership and John's progress to promote Share The Care Week, from March 19-March 25, hoping more people will be persuaded to follow the couple's shining example.

Kerry's links with John, who has special needs, dates back nine years. She remembers: "I was giving him one-to-one care at school then he needed care at home - so I took him, took my work home! And it went from there - I fell into it, then fell in love with him."

Neil, who works for the Council as a school sports co-ordinator, explained: "I fell into the role with dating Kerry - John came with that. It was hard at first, he was a bit jealous with a new person on the scene. But now we're best friends. It's different every day - he's fun, enjoyable, like having another brother rather than being a dad."

And Kerry agrees: "He's like my little kid brother. We have him several nights a month, it's still extremely challenging, but it's really rewarding and great to see how John has developed. It makes me really proud. How long will I do it? For as long as he needs me - forever."

The Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Social Well Being Councillor Valerie Halton said: "Kerry and Neil are marvellous examples of the sort of people we would welcome with open arms.

"Foster carers who join the Shared Care scheme provide not only a break for parents and siblings, but also a different environment that offers her or him different experiences of life, which can spread horizons and improve wellbeing."

Glynis Horner, the Shared Care scheme's social worker, explained: "We have eight shared care foster carers who offer respite care to a number of families and we are always looking to recruit new carers for whom we provide training and ongoing support."

Anyone interested can ring 01642 495910 for an informal chat.

*John is not his real name.

Community Achievement Award winners announced

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Mayor, Councillor Mary Ovens, is holding a civic reception for the latest winners of the annual Mayor's Community Achievement Awards on Wednesday, March 14.

Councillors have nominated 15 individuals and groups from across the Borough for the awards in recognition of their voluntary work.

The ceremony is being held in the Mayors Parlour at 7pm.

Councillor Ovens said: "The work these people do is simply fantastic and I'm delighted to be able to officially give them the recognition they deserve".

The full list is:

# Carol Anderson & Sue Franks: Are guide leaders of the Marske and New Marske Girl Guides. This nomination is fully supported by past and present members of the movement and especially parents, who appreciate their devotion to the care and development of their children.

# Wendy Arundale of Teesville: Puts much of her own time and effort into helping all areas of the community and arranges fundraising activities for many charity groups raising lots of money.

# Brotton Village Hall Committee: This group of local people have improved the hall by refurbishing the toilets and kitchen area, as well as fundraising to keep the important community facility from closing.

# Barbara Brown & Carol Waller: Are part of a group of volunteers helping to raise funds for the Parish of Kirkleatham, via the Church Charity Shop in Roseberry Square, Redcar. This award is for the group's many years of service to their local community.

# Geoff Frewin: Currently the District Commissioner for Redcar and Eston Scout District, he continues to contribute to the grass roots of youth community work, running cub packs and scout troops that would otherwise close because of a shortage of volunteers in the area.

# Susan Jacklin: Is a countryside warden volunteer at Guisborough Forest and Walkway, she gives her time freely at Christmas and events organised throughout the year, going above and beyond the call of duty.

# Lazenby Environmental Group (LEG): This group formed in 1990 and meets every couple of months with representatives from all the companies on the Wilton International Site, leading to an excellent working relationship between the village and their industrial neighbours, ensuring any environmental problems are dealt with.

# Lingdale Lift-Off: In little more than a year this group has done much to improve the village. They help keep it tidy and brighten it with flowers and Christmas Lights. They have worked to build community spirit, optimism and self-help, as well as pride in Lingdale.

# The Loftus Community Forum: Is a shining example of community involvement. They draw in thousands of pounds in outside funding helping Loftus improve as a whole, making the town a better place with their help, support and commitment.

# Peter Brian Maidens and Joy Simpson: Have worked over many years giving their time to community projects in Saltburn, including the annual In-Bloom competitions and Christmas Lights as well as other community events.

# The Marske Leisure Centre Committee: Took over running the centre in 1984 and the community of Marske is indebted to them for their time, effort and commitment in keeping the centre going for the benefit of the people of Marske.

# The North Skelton Belles: Have for many years organised flowers and Christmas decorations for the village on an annual basis and through fundraising and getting involved in local events they are an asset to their local community.

# The Friends of Redcar Cemetery: This group’s efforts have enabled partnership working and funding to be found for the restoration of the entrance gates and new fencing. Other work they do includes general tidying up, litter picking, bulb planting and bird boxes. The meet regularly and produce a quarter newsletter.

# George Rowden: This 77 year old has every day for the last four years, including Christmas Day, visited Zetland Park and cleaned up all the litter and bagged it for collection, he maintains the park to a high degree and all the park users and the Friends Group much appreciate his efforts.

# The Friends of Zetland Park: This group works hard in fundraising and obtaining grants and forming partnerships to improve the appearance and increase the usage of the park.

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.

Coalition Council plans to restore Marske Valley Gardens

Hundreds of residents in Marske are getting the chance to have their say in restoring the town's Valley Gardens to their former glories in a £200,000 investment scheme.

Groundwork South Tees, working in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Council, begin door-to-door interviews at over 400 homes from the end of this month.

The Gardens, originally created to form a link between the beach and the town centre, were constructed in the 1930s, and now one of the main jobs will be to repair the 'vicar's trod' the main path originally used by the vicar and the monks to cross the Valley to St Germain's churchyard.

Other works are set to include improvements to the footpaths and boundaries as well as the reinstatement of some of the Gardens' original features.

The Friends of the Marske Valley Gardens, formed in August last year, are delighted at the initiative. Chairman Susannah Henderson said: "We are a new group who want to see the Valley Gardens restored and we are sure the people of Marske would like the chance to be involved."

Ian Moran, a community project officer for Groundwork South Tees, explained: "We are committed to a wide-ranging public consultation, starting with a blank canvas.

"We are aiming to have sketch proposals drawn up by May and then we will return to the homes to see if they're in agreement. Work is programmed to start in November and take two months."

The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick said: "We would be delighted to hear the views of local people. It's a wonderful opportunity for the public to get what they want - and can only open access to the Gardens and encourage tourism."

Locke Park ready for £300,000 facelift

Redcar's Locke Park is ready for a £300,000 investment to include a new pavilion and better footpath links as part of a Borough-wide environmental improvement programme.

The facelift also includes refurbishment of perimeter fencing and two park shelters and the installation of new front gates along with de-silting the lake and work to improve the surface of the tennis courts.

Redcar and Cleveland Council and the Friends of Locke Park is using funding from the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund allocation to deliver recommendations from the park's Conservation and Management Plan.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick said: "The investment in the park is part of a much bigger commitment to ensuring we provide good facilities to create safer, strong communities across the Borough.

"We also want to encourage greater numbers of our residents and visitors to Redcar to use our green spaces to support a healthy lifestyle for themselves

"There will be other improvements to sites across the Borough, including the Valley Gardens at both Saltburn and Marske, the Coronation Park at Loftus and the Eston Recreation Ground."

For the Friends of Locke Park, the investment will be compensation for the failed bid for Heritage Lottery funding in 2005. Friends chairman Ann Best said: "We were so disappointed when we didn't get the Lottery funding, but we're over the moon now, it's absolutely super.

"The work on the paths will certainly make it a lot safer and we're already planning to see if we can get more funding to add some new children's play equipment."

The new pavilion will be for community use, including a meeting room for the Friends, disabled toilets, storeroom and a kitchen, replacing the tennis pavilion, the victim of an arson attack last year.

The perimeter path around the lake and the three main entrance paths that point the way to the Coatham Parish Church spire will be restored to their original red colour.

The Friends are now planning for their annual Gala Day in the park on Saturday, July 14, from 11am-4pm and would welcome new members. Anyone interested can contact Friends secretary Carolyn Farrance on 01642 484487 or attend the group's annual meeting on Thursday, May 17 in the Redcar Station Business Centre at 5.30pm.

Council demands a fair allocation of development support

Posted by Chris:

The nonsense in today's edition of the Evening Gazette criticising our withdrawal of funding from Tees Valley Regeneration needs proper explanation:

We have agreed not to pay £50,000 towards the costs of two project officers.

We have already paid out a quarter of a million pounds to this organisation over the past four years and they have not promoted a single project in our Borough. The organisation is concentrating its efforts in the area between Middlesbrough and Stockton. They refused to support Coatham Links but expect us to back Middlehaven, which we are happy to do, but they must treat us equally and there is a view amongst our officers and members that this is not happening.

We have not pulled out of the organisation but have fired a warning shot that we are not prepared to continue being ignored and that we demand investment in our Borough.

We have today fiercely defended our position in what was one of the best debates the Council has had for a long time. We took advice from our officers and I hope that our points will be put across when the Gazette reports on the debate.

It has absolutely nothing to do with our promotion of the area as part of Yorkshire, as the opposition are claiming. We have to work with the Tees Valley organisations and the North East for economic development and strategic planning purposes and do so willingly, but we are not prepared to waste public money funding staff who are doing nothing for our area.

Councillor Glyn Nightingale is leading on this for the Coalition.

Redcar & Cleveland Council to host County celebrations in 2008

Posted by Chris:

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is to host the Yorkshire Society's Yorkshire Day Celebrations on 1st August 2008. A motion was passed at today's meeting of the Full Council and only the Labour councillors voted against it.

We will be setting up a steering group to begin preparations as soon as possible.

The Council had received an invitation from the Yorkshire Society to host the celebrations. I should add that this is a completely separate organisation from the Yorkshire Ridings Society, which I currently chair.

The Yorkshire Society was formed in 1980 and has held this event in a different town each year since about 1984.

This, in my opinion, is a wonderful opportunity for our Borough and especially for whoever will be our Mayor in 2008. Around 250 Civic heads/dignitaries and Yorkshire Society members attend a Church Service of Celebration for Yorkshire (the historic County) and a formal Banquet, including a civic procession (in full colourful regalia) to Church and to the Banqueting Hall. The Civic guest list is prepared and passed from one host to the next, and updated as necessary on an annual basis. Of the 250 in attendance around 30 or 40 are Society members.
The hosting Council selects a guest of honour and speaker at the luncheon, and the Mayor usually makes a welcome speech.

The cost of the event is met by the hosting Council, which I understand from previous hosts can be defrayed by means of sponsorship from local/regional businesses. The luncheon is again covered by a ticket price for those in attendance.

The event is being held in Hull this year and last year it was held in Penistone.

Our event does not necessarily have to be held in Redcar. It could be Guisborough or Saltburn or Eston and we could perhaps let each town bid for the event.

Where ever it is held the event and the celebration gives the Council a fantastic opportunity to promote itself, our community and our region across the County and beyond.

Mayor plans fund raisers

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Mayor Councillor Mary Ovens is planning two major fund-raisers for her civic charities, the Marie Curie Cancer Care and the young people's Redcar support base, The Junction.

There will be a concert featuring the Marske Fishermen's Choir and the talented youth choir, the Topline Community Arts Project, on Friday, March 30, in Redcar's Christ Church, Coatham Road, starting at 7pm. Tickets are £3.

The annual Mayor's Charity Ball is at Gisborough Hall on Thursday, April 26 from 7pm. Tickets are £35 which includes a reception drink,three-course meal with wine and live entertainment. There will also be a raffle/tombola and auction.