The Yorkshire Flag we registered was the one in common use - YRS

A gentleman, who designed a version of the Yorkshire Flag that is a red and white reversed out Danish Flag with a Yorkshire Rose in the centre of the cross has written to the media questioning the Yorkshire Ridings Society's right to register the traditional white rose on a blue background as the Yorkshire flag.

We asked the Flag Institute to register the traditional flag because that was the one that has been in common use for so many years. We have no wish to quarrel with the gentleman concerned. We have simply registered the white rose flag that we know has been accepted by common use for many years. There was a danger that another county might want to include a white rose in their flag and we needed to ensure that Yorkshire claimed it first.

We agree with the following statement that has been issued by the Flag Institute today:

Earlier this year the Yorkshire Riding Society (YRS) approached the Flag Institute, in the person of our Chief Vexillologist, Graham Bartram, to register the flag of Yorkshire. They had been speaking to their friend across the Pennines who had just registered the Lancashire flag. They wanted to register the traditional design of a white rose on a blue background. Graham asked if they had considered any other designs, and they had. They wanted to stick with the traditional design rather than the other Yorkshire flag they had seen, A red Scandinavian cross on white with a rose en soleil at the cross's centre. They had never seen this design flying and felt it was associated with the concept of a Yorkshire & Humberside Region/Assembly which had fallen through several years earlier. The traditional design has been made in Yorkshire for over forty years, With JW Plant in Leeds being one of the manufacturers, and that was the design they felt happy with.

The only design work Graham undertook was to come up with an official drawing of the flag. Although the basic design has been in use for a long time there has been no standardization of the rose, or the shade of blue of the background. The rose was redrawn several times until we came up with what the YRS thought was an archetypal Yorkshire Rose. The YRS also chose the shade of blue as Pantone 300 which they felt gave a bright and colourful flag.

Another "controversy" is which way round the rose goes. There is no agreement about this in Yorkshire with some people and organizations using it one way up and others the other way up. The YRS went with the majority, the North and West Ridings of the county, where it is normally used with the sepal downwards. These parts of the county are where Leeds, Bradford, Doncaster, Sheffield, etc are located with the majority of the population. The rose is also positioned centrally so there is nothing to stop someone who feels strongly that the rose is the wrong way up flying it the other way up!

So in summary all the Flag Institute is doing is registering a traditional design that has been in use for over forty years and can be seen flying all over the country, and producing a single standard drawing of the flag for future production. The YRS did not design the flag and do not claim to have designed it, they just asked the Flag Institute to register it, which we are happy to do.

Lib Dems Call for Support for Seaside Towns

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council are calling on the borough’s MPs to support a campaign to promote British seaside holidays.

Travelodge, the hotel chain, has launched a “Save Our Seaside” campaign. They hope to open 55 new hotels in seaside locations, and claim this will create 1000 new jobs.

Two Lib Dem MPs from coastal constituencies, John Pugh (Southport) and Norman Lamb (North Norfolk) have submitted an Early Day Motion (EDM 2122) to Parliament congratulating Travelodge on its scheme.

Marske Lib Dem Councillor Margaret Wilson (pictured) is urging Redcar & Cleveland’s two MPs to sign the EDM

Cllr Wilson said:

“Travelodge have realised that reviving our seaside towns will require a partnership of businesses, central and local government and individuals as consumers.

"The Borough Redcar and Cleveland has a terrific coastline and a number of friendly seaside towns and villages. We need to improve and promote them.

“Even the Prime Minister is taking a holiday on the Suffolk coast this year, so I hope the local Labour MPs will at least be able to support this initiative.”

Ghost Walk Guide wins the North Riding Duck Race

The annual North Riding Duck Race, held on Saturday 26th July 2008 in Saltburn beck, was won by Mark Graham of Stamford Bridge, near York.

Mark, who is well known as a guide on the Original Ghost Walk of York, won the Colin Holt Cup and a gift voucher when his plastic duck No 110, named 'Harry' and just pipped Redcar's Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Ian Swales's duck, No 87, 'You Rang Mallard' by half a beak's length. In 3rd place, just a beak away, was Barbara Abbott of Harrogate (Chris's mum), with duck No 42 named 'Cheryl.'

The prize for the best named duck went to 8 years old Sophie Maycroft of Marton whose Duck No 183 was named 'Don't Forget To Duck.'

The race had been held in a slight head wind and a slow current meant the race had to be reduced in length before the ducks started to flow backwards.

I90 ducks were entered into the race, which raised just over £200 for the Yorkshire Ridings' Society's road signs campaign.

Pictures by Ruth Lince

Lib Dems Condemn Tory Footpath Cuts

Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show that North Yorkshire County Council has made severe cutbacks in maintaining the county’s public footpaths.

The Conservative-run council spent only £280k on maintaining the network last year, compared with £505k in 2005/6. The Council now employs 22 full-time equivalent staff on public rights-of-way, compared with 28 in 2005/6.

Even more worryingly, performance indicators show that only 65% of footpaths are now considered easy to use by walkers, compared with 75% last year.

The Ramblers’ Association has also expressed concern at the reduction in resources for footpath work.

Lib Dem Councillor Keith Barnes (Harrogate Oatlands) commented:

"In recent years the County Council has significantly improved the footpath network, responding positively to information from walkers. But the Council appears to be letting things slip now. There is still a lot to do. Many rights-of-way require maintenance as well as work on the large number of path diversions and creation orders awaiting resolution."

Cllr Barnes raised the issue at this week’s meeting of the Council, at which the Conservative portfolio holder conceded that the fall in performance was disappointing.

Cllr Barnes added:

“Walking is a big part of our county’s leisure and tourism industry, bringing a great deal of money into the local economy. It is false economics to let the footpath network deteriorate, especially when the Council clearly has the money.”

WH Smith - What a RIP OFF!

Posted by Chris:

Went into WH Smith in Redcar High Street today to buy a permanent marker to put the numbers on the new ducks we bought for tomorrow's North Riding Duck Race.

They had a Paper Mate W10 at £4.99. I thought that was a little steep so I went across to Wollies to see what they had. I bought the exact same Paper Mate W10 for 99p!

I went back to WH Smith because I have gift tokens that I got from my kids for my birthday and complained about the price of the maker pen. I asked how can you justify charging £4.50 when Wollies sell the same thing for 99p? I was brushed off with "well some companies charge different prices for things."

Lib Dems force changes to Larkswood Road traffic calming measures

The Liberal Democrats campaign, led by John Hannon, to get the road humps in Larkswood Road made less fierce has succeeded.

John's survey in the Kirkleatham Ward Focus showed that 72% of residents actually wanted them removed altogether and only 3% wanted them to stay. Redcar & Cleveland Council have issued the following statement today:

Redcar and Cleveland Council is ready to start work on a traffic calming scheme along a busy town road in Redcar - answering residents' concerns over accident fears.

The £14,000 scheme, programmed to start on Monday, August 18 and last two weeks, will reverse the priority of a pinch point and lower the height of the speed cushions on Plantation Road and Larkswood Road.

Consultation with the residents found overwhelming evidence that the existing measures, introduced in 1999, have met with opposition, and the Council is now confident the new arrangements will ease worries.

The Council's traffic engineers have assessed the pinch point arrangement on Plantation Road and will reverse the priority, allowing traffic heading out of Redcar to leave more easily - and cut out fumes created by queuing traffic."

'Love it, Hate it' Exhibition

Many people have said that Redcar seafront needs a facelift.

The Council has arranged an exhibition to get the views from the public – and the views from YOU – about what you would LOVE to see in a new design for the seafront – and also what you would HATE to see.

Your views will then be forwarded to the designers and architects who are taking part in the challenge to come up with a design for the seafront.

You will be extended a warm welcome by the staff who are manning the exhibition tomorrow or over the weekend – so, please take a little time to call in at the ‘Love it, Hate it’ marquee to share your ideas with them and take part in shaping the future of our town.

The exhibition is in a marquee on the seafront - opposite Woolworths and next to the Lifeguard Station – open daily 10am to 4pm.

Yorkshire flag welcomes people to Redcar

This is the sight that now welcomes visitors into Redcar by train. The Yorkshire flag has replaced the Union Flag which had worn in half over Hartgrove's Removal depot.

The Redcar Station complex also houses the constituency office of Redcar's MP, Vera Baird, who may need to be told what the flag stands for.

Family History Courses

Four Redcar and Cleveland branch libraries will be hosting 30-week family history courses, led by former reference librarian turned Redcar Adult Education tutor Larry Bruce.

Enrolment has started for the courses, which begin on Wednesday, September 24 at Redcar, between 10am-noon and Marske, between 2pm-4pm, on Thursday, September 25 at South Bank, between 10am-noon and on Friday, September 26 at Laburnum Road, Redcar, between 10am-noon.

You can enrol by telephone, e-mail, personal application or post to Redcar Education Development Centre, Corporation Road, Redcar TS10 1HA. For more information, call 01642 490409 or 475397.

Intrepid Tykes, Roger and Chris Sewell, to walk from Hull to York carrying the Yorkshire Flag

Retired teachers, Roger and Chris Sewell of Goole, will set off from Hull, carrying the newly registered Yorkshire flag, shortly after 12.45 PM on Tuesday 29th July.

Accompanied by members of their local walking group, they will leave Queen’s Gardens , following a ceremony during which the Lord Mayor of Hull will unfurl a newly made Ceremonial Yorkshire Flag. They will arrive at Walmgate Bar in York in time for the annual readings of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity around the walls of York.

Roger, who is Vice-Chairman of the Yorkshire Ridings Society, who have organised the ceremony to mark the registration of the Yorkshire flag, said:

'We will do the walk in easy stages with the intention of arriving at Walmgate Bar in York at 10.30 am on Yorkshire Day, Friday 1st August. If you see us crossing the Wolds and the Vale of York please give us a wave or even join us for a short distance.

"Registration of the flag establishes the white rose on a blue background as the flag of the historic county of Yorkshire, irrespective of any administrative areas which have been superimposed on the county over the past 35 years. It was arranged in time for this Year's Yorkshire Day celebrations so we thought it would be a good idea to walk to York with the flag.”

Roger's wife Chris said:

'We were delighted when the Lord Mayor of Hull agreed to attend the ceremony and unfurl the flag for us.'

In the summer of 2005 Roger & Chris walked around the whole boundary of historic Yorkshire, over 600 miles and next year they plan a walk from York to Minden in Germany to celebrate the link between Yorkshire Day and Minden Day. During the Battle of Minden, in 1759, it is reported that Yorkshire soldiers picked white roses in memory of their fallen comrades. This is one of the reasons for why Yorkshire Day is celebrated on1st August by the Yorkshire Ridings Society and by many other people all over the county.

Guisborough prepares for Yorkshire Day

There will be a temporary road closure and parking restrictions in Guisborough as Redcar and Cleveland Council welcomes civic dignitaries from across Yorkshire to march along Westgate at 10.30am as part of the Yorkshire Day celebrations on Friday, 1st August 2008.

Westgate and Church Street will be closed between 10am and noon and signed diversions will be in place for the celebrations to take place. The car park at Church Street will also be closed between 10am and noon and parking restrictions will be in place on the High Street and Westgate.

The Council's Mayor, Councillor Mike Findley, explained: "I would like to apologise to local businesses, residents and visitors for any inconvenience caused by the temporary road closures and limited access around Westgate, but hope everyone can help support the day and show what a fantastic Borough we live in.

"It will be a superb spectacle to celebrate all that is good about Yorkshire and I am really looking forward to welcoming the civic dignitaries from across the county."

There will be an 11am service at St Nicholas Church, with hymns, readings and a sermon given by the Archdeacon of Cleveland, The Venerable Paul Ferguson. The one hour service will also include the Yorkshire Day Anthem and the reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity.

It reads:

I, (your name) being a resident of the (North/West/East) Riding of Yorkshire declare:
That Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York, with these Boundaries of 1133 years standing;
That the address of all places in these Ridings is Yorkshire;
That all persons born therein or resident therein and loyal to the Ridings are Yorkshiremen and women;
That any person or corporate body which deliberately ignores or denies the aforementioned shall forfeit all claim to Yorkshire status.
These declarations made this Yorkshire Day 2008
Yorkshire for ever!
God Save the Queen!

Roseberry Road Resurfacing Scheme Deferral

The Roseberry Road resurfacing works have been deferred due to the road closure on Corproration Road (Redcar Technical College improvement works). The works on Corporation Road are programmed to last 10 weeks, Roseberry Road is on the traffic diversion route and cannot go ahead until the Corporation Road works are completed or at least until the road can be re-opened.

Tyke Ducks take to the water in Saltburn Beck on Saturday

The Yorkshire Ridings Society's (YRS) annual North Riding Duck Race takes place in Saltburn Beck, at 2.30 PM on Saturday 26th July 2008.

Hundreds of yellow plastic ducks will be dropped from the first footbridge and the first duck back to the weir, just upstream of the road bridge will win the Colin Holt Cup.

The entry fee is £1 per duck. There are prizes for the first three back and for the best named duck. Anyone wishing to enter can do so on the day or by contacting us on 01642 487557 or mailto: There is no charge for admission.

Pictured is the finish of a previous NR Duck race, featuring left to right Josie Crawford, Val Miller and our daughter, Kelly, waiting to net the winner.

Pictures of Great North Air Ambulance Bikini Challenge Redcar Beach

Pictures by Colin Crawford.

Labour Councillor omitted from list of Councillors in Council mag

It has been drawn to our attention that South Bank Labour Councillor Pearl Hall's name and address has been omitted from the list of Councillors in the Council publication People, Progress, Pride.

Has this Councillor actually resigned from the Council? If not why has the name been omitted?

Lib Dems Concerned Over Take-Away Food Plans

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council are concerned that attempts to limit the number of hot food takeaways will not apply to smaller parades of shops.

The Labour-run Council today voted for an interim policy of restricting the number of hot food takeaways on main shopping streets.

Redcar Lib Dem Councillor Mary Ovens (pictured) is concerned that smaller parades of shops will not be included.

Cllr Ovens said:

“I fully accept that hot food takeaways have their place and that there is demand for them.

“But there is a danger that some shopping areas get dominated by them. Many are closed in the daytime and make shopping areas appear dead.

“I hope the interim policy is accepted by planning inspectors. Unfortunately it does not extend to small parades of shops where there can be a real danger of the majority of shops being takeaways. Maybe the policy can be improved in the future, but I fear it will be too late for some shopping areas."

Lib Dems Attack Labour Road Safety Hypocrisy

Liberal Democrat councillors at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council today accused the Council’s Labour leadership of hypocrisy over road safety issues.

The Labour-run council recently scrapped its Road Safety Committees and transferred their functions to Area Committees, where road safety issues will not get the same attention.

In 2003, when in opposition, Labour wrongly accused the Council of scrapping Road Safety Committees. The Coalition then running the council did not scrap them but simply stopped paying expenses to councillors for going to the meetings.

In the Northern Echo in July 2003 the current Leader of the Council, Labour’s George Dunning, said that scrapping Road Safety Committees would be “a disaster” that “could mean more deaths and injuries on our roads”, and that the committees “provided the ideal forum where local fears could be discussed in detail”

We couldn’t agree more.

So why has his administration now done exactly what he said he was against back then?

Redcar needs a senior football team

Posted by Chris

I told told a meeting of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council tonight that it is a real shame a town the size of Redcar does not have a senior football team playing at least at Conference North level.

I have been impressed by the way football fans in Scarborough got together and rallied round to form Scarborough Athletic FC when Scarborough FC went bust. I understand they set up a trust and each contributed around £12 to help get the new team underway. They may be playing home games at present in Bridlington but at least they are back on the Football League Pyramid and have had a successful first year.

A town like Redcar, with a population of more than 40,000, should have a senior football team.

Not since the demise of Redcar Albion many years ago has Redcar had a successful senior team. In recent years we had Redcar Town who played in a very lowly north-east league but soon dwindled away.

It is obviously not easy to get a team off the ground but the Council can help facilitate this and get people together.

Roseberry Road – Carriageway Resurfacing Scheme

Redcar & Cleveland's Highway Services Department have issued the following information to residents:

As part of the Council’s continuing highway maintenance programme, we shall be shortly carrying out essential resurfacing works at the above location, in conjunction with our Highway Services partner, Carillion. All our highway improvement schemes have been programmed to minimise disruption to the local community and the Borough as a whole.

The works are programmed to start on Monday 4th July 2008 and will take approximately 5 days (weather permitting) although we will endeavour to carry out the work in a shorter period.

The scheme involves the resurfacing of the carriageway on Roseberry Road from Kirkleatham Lane to Low Farm Drive and from outside number 98 Roseberry Road to outside number 2 Roseberry Road. The section of carriageway outside Roseberry Road shops will be resurfaced at a later date, this delay is due to potential utility works along this section of carriageway.

To ensure the safety of the travelling public and the work force the works will be undertaken by means of a lane closure using traffic lights. Access for residents and businesses within the extent of the works, will be maintained at all times where possible.

We would ask residents and visitors to refrain from parking on the road (and parking bays) during working hours.

Pedestrians and road users are requested to exercise caution for the duration of the works and thereafter. Parents are requested to remind their children of the dangers of playing near road works.

If you believe you may experience difficulties or have any queries or reservations regarding the scheme, please contact either Clive Allen on (01287) 612607 or Nick Fraser on (01287) 612556. If you experience any problems regarding the actual roadworks, the Contractor (Carillion) can be contacted on (01642) 455600 (office hours).

Free parking to support world record attempt

Redcar and Cleveland Council is suspending car parking charges on Redcar's Majuba Road car park on Sunday, July 20, between 8am-midday in support of the 11am Great North Bikini Challenge on Redcar beach, which is hoping for over 1,010 women to claim a new world record

Programme for the Yorkshire Flag Ceremony at Hull on 29th July

This is the actual design of the Yorkshire Flag agreed with the Flag Institute and Ceremonial unfurling of a Yorkshire Flag,

This is the programme for the ceremony to commemorate the registration of the flag with the Flag Registry.

A Ceremonial unfurling of a Yorkshire Flag,
To commemorate the registration of the flag with the Flag Registry.

To be held at Queen’s Gardens, Hull.
On the 29th July 2008 at 12.30.

12.20. Music by Brass Ensemble.
Arrival of YRS party and Guests.

12.30 Raising of Union Flag and National Anthem.

Welcome Roger Sewell Vice Chairman YRS

Reading A Yorkshire Anthem Hilary Slights Membership Sec YRS

Flag Institute Representitive.

Lord Mayor, President of YRS and Flag (CS) move into place infront of Union Flag. Ensemble, Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill
President of YRS Invites Lord Mayor to unfurl the flag

Flag is unfurled by Lord Mayor of Hull.
Ensemble, Fanfare
Lord Mayor.

Presentation to Lord Mayor by Chris Abbott Chairman YRS.

Declaration of Yorkshire Integrity. Read in East Yorkshire Dialect (Doreen Putnam CommitteeYRS and Modern English Judith Anderson President YRS
Ensemble Ilkley Moor

Brief description of walk and Invitation to join us at York or celebrateYorkshire Day locally. Thanks. Roger Sewell

Flag leaves Queen’s Gardens on first stage of walk to York

Ensemble, Grand Old Duke of York.

180 jobs affected as SABIC Europe closes plants at North Tees and Wilton

SABIC Europe today announced plans to re-structure its aromatics operations based on Teesside, UK following a wide-ranging review of the long-term viability of the business.

The plans involve closure of the Aromatics 2 unit at the SABIC UK Petrochemicals North Tees Site near Seal Sands and the Paraxylene plant at the Wilton Site near Redcar. The plans also include an upgrade of the remaining Aromatics 1 plant at North Tees.

The economics of the units planned for closure have become untenable and have forced SABIC Europe to face up to this difficult decision. The aim of the proposed way forward is to bring the total SABIC UK Petrochemicals Teesside Site operational and commercial performance to a sustainable level.

Paul Booth, President – SABIC UK Petrochemicals, commented: “On Teesside, SABIC UK Petrochemicals remains fully committed to its Olefins Cracker operations at Wilton, Cyclohexane production at North Tees and to continuing its investment in the major Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) project at Wilton.

“We will also continue to process Pyrolysis Gasoline feedstock from our Wilton Cracker on the Aromatics 1 unit in order to optimize our Cracker operations across Teesside,” added Mr Booth.

The proposed closure of the Aromatics 2 and Paraxylene units is expected to affect approximately 200 operational and support positions. The main impact of this will be at the manufacturing facilities on Teesside, but the numbers also include some job reductions in SABIC Europe’s support functions in The Netherlands. A clearer idea of job numbers will be known once the full details of the restructuring plans are worked out. SABIC UK Petrochemicals will seek to minimize the effects through redeployment and voluntary means wherever possible.

Paul Booth added: “Our plans include seeking sanction for new capital investments to improve the total Teesside site performance, including Aromatics 1 and associated infrastructure to ensure a sustainable long term future for SABIC on Teesside.”

Further details of the restructuring will be completed over the next few weeks taking into consideration the interests of all concerned parties and consultations with employees’ representatives.

The impact on customers is under review and is subject to discussions with the relevant parties.
It is currently envisaged that the proposed closures will take effect by end 2008.

In an email to councillors Bill Perfitt Director, UK Public Affairs SABIC UK Petrochemicals wrote:

"In a nutshell, we are today announcing proposals to close our Aromatics 2 plant at North Tees and the Paraxylene plant at Wilton (which takes its feedstock of mixed xylenes from Aromatics 2). The number of jobs affected on Teesside will be approximately 180 (plus about 20 in our support operations in Sittard, southern Holland). However, as ever, we will do our best to achieve as many job reductions as possible through either voluntary means or redeployment.

"On the positive side, we are looking urgently and seriously at plans for a potential major multi-million investment to upgrade our remaining Aromatics 1 plant at North Tees in order to help secure its long term future, but this will be dependent on economic conditions prevailing in the future. In summary, we firmly believe that these necessary changes will help to strongly underpin our remain core businesses of the Olefins Cracker, our new Polyethylene operations at Wilton and the remaining Aromatics business going forwards."

About SABIC:

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) is the world’s 5th largest petrochemicals company. The company is among the world’s market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.

SABIC operates six interlinked strategic business units: Basic Chemicals, Intermediates, Specialty Products, Polymers, Fertilizers and Metals. In 2007 SABIC Innovative Plastics was launched as a global manufacturer and supplier of highly engineered thermoplastics. SABIC has significant research resources and has 16 dedicated Research and Technology and application centers in the Middle East, the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The company operates in more than 40 countries across the world with over 31,000 employees worldwide.

In Saudi Arabia, the company has 20 world-scale complexes and 19 of them are located in the industrial cities of Al-Jubail and Yanbu. Some of these complexes are operated with multi-national joint venture partners such as ExxonMobil, Shell and Mitsubishi Chemicals. Elsewhere, SABIC manufactures on a global scale in more than 45 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. SABIC’s overall production has increased from 27 million metric tons in 2001 to 55 million metric tons in 2007.

Headquartered in Riyadh, SABIC was founded in 1976 when the Saudi Arabian Government decided to use the hydrocarbon gases associated with its oil production as the principal feedstock for production of chemicals, polymers and fertilizers. The Saudi Arabian Government owns 70 percent of SABIC shares with the remaining 30 percent held by private investors in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

About SABIC Europe:

SABIC Europe (headquartered in Sittard, The Netherlands) is a SABIC subsidiary group which includes all SABIC’s polymers and base chemicals activities in Europe and employs around 3,300 people. SABIC Europe has a European sales offices network, logistic hubs and three petrochemical sites in Europe: at Geleen (The Netherlands), Teesside (United Kingdom) and at Gelsenkirchen (Germany). SABIC Europe produces 3 million metric tons per annum of polyolefins* and 5.7 million metric tons of basic chemicals, mainly for the European market.

* including the projected numbers for the SABIC UK Petrochemicals 2008 LDPE plant.

Aromatics Product chains:

The Aromatics 1 and 2 and Paraxylene units currently operated by SABIC UK Petrochemicals on Teesside supply raw materials into different product chains, known in the chemical industry as ‘C6’ and ‘C8.’

Aromatics 1 is part of the C6 product chain, producing Benzene and Cyclohexane, which are widely used in the nylon fibre and plastics industries. Aromatics 1 is very important to SABIC UK Petrochemicals major Cracker complex at Wilton, which supplies large quantities of Pyrolysis Gasoline feedstock to Aromatics 1.

The Aromatics 2 and Paraxylene plants are part of the C8 product chain, which processes mixed Xylenes for the polyester industry and it is envisaged that as a result of the review SABIC Europe will be exiting this area.

Redeployment opportunities:

Paul Booth, President – SABIC UK Petrochemicals, said the Aromatics business had been subject to worsening economic conditions for a long time. He commented: “We have worked incredibly hard for a number of years to make the Aromatics and Paraxylene assets viable in a fiercely competitive environment.

“Our employees have also supported us strongly in our efforts and, on behalf of SABIC UK Petrochemicals, I would like to give them my very sincere thanks. I would also like to emphasize that we will make effort to treat individuals affected by this review as supportively as possible.

“In the event of redundancies, we will explore opportunities for redeployment both inside and outside the company.

In order to bring the SABIC UK Petrochemicals Teesside site to a sustainable level of performance, SABIC Europe is committed to its Cracker and Polymers operations on Teesside and will continue to invest in them to ensure their long term sustainability, including the production of Pyrolysis Gasoline feedstock for processing on Aromatics 1 producing Benzene and Cyclohexane. SABIC Europe has been and is continuing to invest significantly in its UK operations since it bought them at the end of 2006. These substantial investments are in addition to the ongoing construction of the new £200 million (250 million Euros) LDPE project at Wilton, which will be the largest of its kind in the world when completed by around the end of this year.

It's the Redcar seafront experience!

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is hosting a unique interactive seaside exhibition that will give the public the chance to inspire architects to deliver a scheme geared to regenerate Redcar's seafront.

The 'Love it, Hate it' exhibition will be in a marquee on Redcar Esplanade from Wednesday, July 23 to Sunday, July 27, 10am-4pm each day, and hopes to welcome hundreds of visitors to choose what type of design or use of space they would love to see - and what they would hate to see.

The exhibition feedback will be included in a briefing document for an exciting design competition, created by the Council, in partnership with the Environment Agency, and co-ordinated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which invites design professionals to generate ideas linked to the town's planned coastal defence scheme.

The design brief is for ideas and approaches for the public realm aspects of the sea wall scheme, as well as a linked set of proposals for the roads, building facade and sites along the seafront.

RIBA will draw up a shortlist of five schemes for the second stage of the competition, with the authors invited to present proposals to a Jury Panel. Each shortlisted competitor will receive a £4,000 honorarium with the winner receiving an additional £4,000.

Log on here for details of how to register for the competition. Registration will close on Wednesday, August 20 and the deadline for submissions is 2pm on Wednesday, August 27.

The effect of strike action on Refuse Collection and other Environment Services

The following changes to front line services are being made due to the forthcoming strike action:

Refuse & Recycling Collection (domestic wheelie bin, green waste wheelie bin and clear bags for cardboard/plastic)

Revised collections as follows:

Tuesday 15th - normal collections
Wednesday 16th - collected Friday 18th
Thursday 17th - collected Saturday 19th
Friday 18th - collected Monday 21st

Service will resume to normal from Tuesday 22nd

Kerbside recycling collections of green box and blue bag will be unaffected as this is delivered by Ward's Recycling

Junk Jobs

The Council will still take bookings as normal, although the service will be prioritised for the paid service. Free junk jobs will be collected within 14 days and may be collected anytime between Monday - Sunday.

Trade Waste

A limited service is being provided by 1 crew on Wednesday 16th July for food waste collections only i.e restaurants, takeaways, schools

Burials

No burials will be undertaken on Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th and will resume mid morning on Friday 18th.

Public Conveniences

A number of public conveniences will be closed, but it is hoped that Moore Street in Redcar, Station Portico toilets in Saltburn and Fountain Street, Guisborough will be open. Signs advising of the nearest facilities will be erected on toilets which are closed.

Dickie Bird joins in our Yorkshire Day celebrations

Famous Yorkshireman and retired Test cricket umpire Dickie Bird has appealed to Redcar and Cleveland residents to help celebrate Yorkshire Day on Friday, August 1.

Dickie, the star attraction at a sportsman's dinner, explained: "I am pleased to be part of the celebrations at Redcar and Cleveland and hope residents will follow my enthusiasm and join in on the day."

Council Leader George Dunning said: "It's an honour for Redcar and Cleveland to have been chosen by the Yorkshire Society to host this annual event for the first time. And it's great that Dickie can be part of the celebrations."

The day begins at 10.30am with the Council's Mayor, Councillor Mike Findley, welcoming 250 civic dignitaries from across Yorkshire to Guisborough and leading a parade along the town's Westgate.

There will be a church service at St Nicholas Parish Church and following the service at 1pm the dignitaries will then sit down for a special lunch at Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough.

The hall at Laurence Jackson School will then be transfromed for the sportsman's dinner, and Dickie will be joined by comedian Billy Bean who has worked alongside soccer stars Paul Merson and Sir Bobby Charlton. Tickets for the dinner are £30 and include a two-course meal.

Dickie explained: "At the dinner I will be recalling many of my favourite memories of Yorkshire and my days as a cricket umpire. Yorkshire Day is a fantastic event to celebrate all that is good across the county."

Tickets for the event can be purchased from the Borough's three Tourist Information Centres at the Esplanade, Redcar 01642 471921, Saltburn Station 01287 622422, Gisborough Priory 01287 633801.

Around the walls of York on Yorkshire's special day

Below is the programme for the Yorkshire day celebrations in York on Friday 1st August 2008.

10.30 Yorkshire Flag arrives at Walmgate Bar after being carried from Hull for readings of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity, in the four languages used in Yorkshire sice the first written reference to the Ridings in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles of the year 876. Flags then carried around walls of York stopping as below for readings.

10.45 Walmgate Bar
11.33 Mickelgate Bar
12.15 Bootham Bar
12.45 Monk Bar.

Then the flags will be carried into the city centre for the final reading at 1.00 in St Sampson's Square, where York City Council are organising a special Yorkshire Day event with stalls and entertainment.

Fun for all at Saddleworth

Saddleworth's Yorkshire Day celebrations will be held five days early on Sunday 27th July, 11am at Saddleworth Museum.

Mr Michael Hall, Vice Chairman of Saddleworth White Rose Society will open the ceremony and welcome the Chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council Cllr. Mrs Pat Lord who will be invited to say a few words.

The Yorkshire Declaration will be read at 11.33 near the Ammon Wrigley statue, by Mr Gilbert Symes of Delph.

A Local Band will lead the parade to the back meadow (King George V) playing field. For anyone wishing to go straight to the playing field, activities will begin there at 9.30 am.

This years event will include the third Yorkshire Day Country Fair.

Anyone able to help on the day setting up, helping to run stalls and clearing away and tidying up at the end of the day will be most welcome and very much appreciated. Please contact the Secretary: Mr. Roy Bardsley, 52 Church Road, Uppermill, Saddleworth, Yorkshire, OL3 6EJ. Tel: 01457-878768 Website:www.whiterose.saddleworth.net Email: whiterose@saddleworth.net

Yorkshire Day in the Borough of Redcar & Cleveland

This year’s reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity in Redcar takes place at the Town Clock at 4pm on Yorkshire Day, 1st August.

Silk white roses are on sale at £1 and all proceeds go to Redcar Lifeboat. To get yours or for more information please contact us.

The later time is because Redcar Council is hosting the annual Yorkshire Day Civic Parade in Guisborough on behalf of the whole County.

Over 250 Mayors and civic dignitaries are expected to take part in the event. At 10.15 am they will parade to St Nicholas Church from Laurence Jackson School for a service at 11 am, followed by lunch at Guisborough Hall. A fee is charged to each guest for the lunch.

North Riding Duck Race 2008

The North Riding of Yorkshire DUCK RACE 2008 takes place on Saturday 26th July 2008, at
2.30pm in Saltburn Beck, Saltburn. The Winner will receive the Colin Holt Cup. There are prizes for the first three back and a prize for most original name.

Entry Form
£1.00 per entry
Your Name:......................................
Address:...........................................
.........................................................
Telephone:.......................................
E-Mail:..............................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Name of Duck:.................................
Please return this form with entry fee to the Promoter
Chris Abbott 39 Essex Close, Redcar, Yorkshire, TS10 4BY.

or email us

Please make cheques payable to the Yorkshire Ridings Society

Refuse collection arrangements

Redcar and Cleveland Council is apologising to residents for changes in refuse collection arrangements because of the industrial action planned for Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 17.

Properties expecting their residual wheelie bins, green waste wheelie bin and clear bags for cardboard/plastic to be collected on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be subject to new arrangements.

Wednesday collections will now be collected on Friday, July 18, Thursday collections will now be collected on Saturday, July 19 and Friday collections will now be collected on Monday, July 21.

The recycling collections of green box and blue bags will be unaffected.

Cartoon Capers at Kirkleatham Museum

Redcar's Kirkleatham Museum is offering lots of free summer holiday fun, centred around its exhibition of cartoon characters, drawn by the late Robert T Nixon from South Bank.

You can start in the Museum's Cartoon Workshop, open until August 31, exploring the 'No Boundaries' exhibition and then design your own cartoon character, write your own comic strip or have five minutes peace in the quiet corner and read some old favourite comics and annuals.

Every Tuesday and Thursday of the school holidays, there are family crafts and activities, with drop-in sessions between 10am-noon and 1pm-4pm. Most activities take about half an hour to complete. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Dates and activities are:

Thursday, July 24: Make a door dangler with a comics and cartoons theme.
Tuesday, July 29: Make up a story and tell it with a photo frame and your own photos.
Thursday, July 31: Draw cartoon caricatures and make masks.
Tuesday, August 5: Make a comic-style house or even a whole village - using only card!
Thursday, August 7: Control and direct your own comic movie
Tuesday, August 12: Organise a comic makeover for your bedroom
Thursday, August 14: Make an X-Ray, then use light to reveal what's inside
Tuesday, August 19: Make a crazy spinner and give your friends a shock!
Thursday, August 21: Make manic eyes and a mad mouth
Tuesday, August 26: Make your cartoon fancy dress costume
Thursday, August 28: Make a bug bookmark

The Museum also has 'Memories of Childhood' family loans boxes, containing a selection of garden-size traditional games, such as skittles, quoits, snakes and ladders and dominoes, skipping ropes, boolahs and kites.

Families can borrow a box to play with in the Museum's gardens and grounds for a couple of hours. Loans boxes may be booked out by placing a returnable £20 deposit or leaving your car keys at the Museum's reception desk.

*Out-of-school groups, playschemes and other groups of 15 or more can individual activity sessions on Wednesdays throughout the school holidays. Contact Education Officer Liz Vine on 01642 496400 for details.

The Museum's summer opening times are Tuesdays-Sundays, 10am-5pm.

Liberal Democrat campaigners are calling for action to open up a former school site to the public

The site of the former Sacred Heart School and the playing field in Mersey Road, Redcar, have become overgrown and closed to the public.

Ian Swales Liberal Democrats Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Redcar said: "As a condition of the planning permission for the new Sacred Heart School it was agreed that the former site would be retained as public open space to compensate for the loss of green space on the new site.

"It is now more than two years since the new school opened and the old school has been demolished."

Lib Dem campaigner John Hannon and a former Sacred Heart pupil, has called on the Council to honour its agreement to open the land up to the public. "The grass has not been cut for months and the land has become over overgrown and neglected."

Lord Mayor of Hull to unveil newly registered Yorkshire flag

The Yorkshire Ridings’ Society recently requested the U K Flag Institute to enter the Yorkshire Flag in the U K register of flags which is maintained by the Institute.

Members of the society were very surprised that the well known flag was not already included in the register, so made the request.

Since a change in regulations, last year, relating to the flying of flags, registered county flags have been included, alongside national flags, the European Community flag, and certain saints flags, as ‘exempt flags’ which means that they are exempt the planning requirements to which other flags are subject.

As the Yorkshire Ridings’ Society has encouraged the flying of the Yorkshire flag, especially on Yorkshire Day (1st August), it was thought important to in time for this year’s celebrations.
Registration of the flag establishes the white rose on a blue background as the flag of the historic county of Yorkshire, irrespective of any administrative areas which have been superimposed on the county over the past 35 years.

To celebrate the registration of the Yorkshire flag, a commemorative Yorkshire flag has been made by J.W. Plant, flag makers, of Leeds, for the Yorkshire Ridings Society. This flag will be ceremonially unfurled, by the Lord Mayor of Hull, at a ceremony on Tuesday 29th July at 12.30. The event will take place at Queen’s Gardens in Hull (Outside the Flag Institute’s Library.

The flag, mounted on a specially made staff, which represents the three Ridings of Yorkshire and the City of York, will then be carried, by members of the society and friends to York. It will arrive at Walmgate Bar at 10.30m on Yorkshire Day, 1st August to be used in the Yorkshire Day celebrations around the walls of York and in St. Sampson’s Square.

First glimpse of Roger the Dodger at Kirkleatham Museum

For the first time the illustrations of a Teesside cartoonist whose work featured in some of the country's best known comics will be on display at Redcar's Kirkleatham Museum from Saturday, June 28.

Examples of the late Robert T Nixon's work have formed a new exhibition which has been brought together by his family, including over 32 fantasy and landscape scenes and over 20 illustrated comics.

His daughter Catherine Nixon explained: "It's great to see my father's work in this new exhibition. This is the first time the collection has been open for the public to view and the whole family is really pleased to be able to show the collection in the local area where he grew up and lived."

Robert T Nixon was born in South Bank and moved to Guisborough with his family in the early 1960's. Robert worked as a cartoonist for DC Thomson's of Dundee and Fleetway, the comic division of the International Publishing Corporation.

Robert was a cartoonist for over 35 years, and is best known for his work in the Dandy, Beano, Whoopee, Monster Fun, and Shiver & Shake comics. Most of his work involved 'ghosting' many popular comic characters such as 'Lord Snooty' , 'Roger the Dodger', 'Korky the Cat' and 'Frankie Stein' to which he added his own cuter style.

He also brought to life his own creations, including 'Kid Kong', 'Gums', 'King Arthur and his Frights of the Round Table' and 'Ivy the Terrible'.

Pictures from the Yorkshire Regiment Freedom Parade in Redcar today

Pictures from the Yorkshire Regiment Parade today taken by Derek Hudson. Tyne Tees TV news showed us waving the Yorkshire flags during their news coverage of the event.

A chance to wave the Yorkshire flag in Redcar when the Green Howards parade

More than 500 soldiers from The Yorkshire Regiment 2 Yorks (Green Howards) will mark their return from Afghanistan by marching through Redcar next week to receive Redcar and Cleveland Council's Freedom of the Borough.

The Regiment Band will lead the soldiers, all with bayonets fixed, as they set off from Majuba Road on Wednesday, June 18 at 2.30pm to formally receive the Borough's highest civic honour.

They will take a route through the town before stopping on the Esplanade, with the Council's Mayor, Councillor Mike Findley, taking the salute at 3pm, inspecting the troops and presenting a Freedom scroll to the officer in charge, Major Mark Bower, QGM.

The route starts from Majuba Road, turns right on to Lobster Road, left onto Coatham Road, left on to West Dyke Road/West Terrace towards the Town Clock, turns right at the Clock on to the High Street.

At the end of the High Street, the parade will turn left on to the Esplanade, then stops for the presentations along the Esplanade, with a dais opposite Dundas Street.

The Redcar Bowl car park will be closed to the general public. From 1pm onwards, Majuba Road, after the main car park entrance, (the main car park will still be open), Newcomen Terrace and The Esplanade will be closed until after the parade at approximately 4pm.

Lobster Road, Coatham Road and the High Street will have a rolling road closure and will reopen immediately after the parade has passed.

A special map, with key times, showing the route can be seen and/or downloadable from the Council's website.

Photograph your holiday reading

Redcar and Cleveland Council's libraries are setting borrowers a summer holiday challenge: Take a snap to show the holidaymaker's most unusual spot for a read!

The idea links in with The National Year of Reading's theme for June, Reading Escapes, and most of the Borough's libraries are featuring displays of books that take the reader to other countries and other worlds.

At the end of the summer, the aim is to create a travelling exhibition of the most weird and wonderful photos to display in the libraries. You can hand in photos at your local library or send them by email.

Do you need help putting out your wheelie bin?

Redcar & Cleveland Council is updating the list of people requiring assistance with presenting their wheelie bin and recycling box for collection

The entitlement for this is that there are no able bodied persons living at the property.

If you require assistance with this service, please complete and return the slip below to: FREEPOST RRUH XEXZ UEXS, Area Management, Fairway House, Limerick Road, Redcar, TS10 5JU.

If you have any queries regarding this matter please contact Tracey Thistlethwaite on 01642 776966.

Name: …………………………………………… Phone No:…………………………

Address:………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Reason why assistance required





No of able bodied people in home: …………………

Ages of able bodied people:……………………..

Length of time at property:………………………………………………….

Signed:………………………… Date:……………………………………..

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."

Don't use clear sacks for cans and glass please

Redcar and Cleveland Council is reminding residents not to use the clear recycling bags for the collection of cans and glass because of the possible health and safety risk to collectors.

Clear sacks must only be used for the collection of plastic bottles and clean cardboard. If residents requires a box or blue bag, please call 01642 774774.

Farmers Market on Redcar High Street

On Thursday, 5th June - the Northern Dales Farmers Market, will open on Redcar High Street, from 9am-4pm.

The market will return on the first Thursday of each month until September. It offers a range of high quality, locally produced products including pork, beef, lamb, jams, chutneys, apple juice, patisseries, pies, vegetables, cheese, chocolates, herbs and plants.

Question time at Area Committees

Redcar and Cleveland Council's five Area Committees give a chance for the public to ask questions in an hour-long open forum.

Written questions can be posted to the Council's Community Development Co-ordinator Julian Feakes at Fairway House, Limerick Road, Dormanstown, TS10 5JU or by email

Dates and venues for the next cycle of meetings is:

Redcar: Wednesday, June 4 at Sacred Heart RC School, Mersey Road.

East Cleveland: Wednesday, June 11 at Gleneagles Community Centre, New Marske.

Greater Eston: Tuesday, June 17 at Ravensworth Junior School, Normanby.

Kilton: Wednesday, June 18 at Moordale Court Community Centre, Lingdale.

Guisborough: Tuesday, June 24 at Belmont Primary School, Lauderdale Drive.

Disaster as the Mighty Whites fall at the last hurdle

With Leeds United selling all their allocation of 36,000 tickets for the League 1 Play-Off final ticketless United fans had to nip down to Donny for one. Many of them were seen in the sparsely populated Donny end, proudly wearing Leeds colours. It was a bit like the scene on any day in Doncaster where there are always lots of fans wearing Leeds shirts in the streets.

The Mighty Whites nearly lifted the Wembley roof with boos when the League Chairman, Lord Mawhinny, walked onto the pitch to shake hands with the Leeds players, who looked at his lordship with stony faces.

But the rest of the match belonged to Donny. They outplayed United with pure passing football; they were quicker in the tackle and got into the game much faster than the Mighty Whites.

The first ten minutes were all Doncaster and the mighty Viking, Casper Ankergran, twice in one minute had to snatch the ball from the feet of Donny players who were through on goal. United rode out the storm but never looked like scoring. The chances they had never troubled the Donny goalie, ex-Leeds man Neil Sullivan.

Donny came out for the second half and immediately went on the attack. Disaster struck United when Donny forced a corner and James Hayter headed in, only two minutes into the second half, 1-0.

United tried but were simply not good enough on the day and Sully was clearly the master of the Donny goal area. He grabbed every ball that found its way in.

After a long and courageous season, when the Mighty Whites clawed back the 15-point deficit in the shortest possible time, it was the spell of lost matches at the end of last year, following the departures of first Gus Poyet and then Dennis Wise, that spoilt it for Leeds.

In terms of points earned United did enough to earn promotion and it is a bitter pill to swallow that it was not enough to take us up. They did well to turn around the deficit too, in the play-off semi-final against Carlisle but it was always going to be a lottery at Wembley and United could not pull a winner out of the hat.

At least next season we start with the same number of points as the rest of the teams in lowly League 1. Let us hope that we can sustain the stability that Gary McAllister brings to the club. Marching on together.

Oh dear! This means Donny Rovers are playing in a higher league than the Mighty Leeds. Well done to them, it is nice to see another West Riding team doing well and playing in a super new stadium.

Attendance 75,132

Doncaster Rovers 1 Leeds United 0

Get ready for recycle now week

Redcar and Cleveland Council is ready to encourage residents to recycle more household waste during Recycle Now Week from Monday, June 2.

The Council's Community Waste Liaison Officer Barbara Webster will be at Asda, South Bank on Tuesday, June 3, from 10.30am-1pm promoting bags for life.

She will be at Morrisons, Redcar on Thursday, June 5, from 10am-12.30pm and at Station Square, Saltburn on Friday, June 6, from 10am-2pm, promoting waste minimisation and the benefits of recycling

Monti, the Council's recycling mascot, visits three primary schools, Skelton, Ormesby and John Batty, Redcar on Wednesday, June 4, encouraging children to reduce, re-use and recycle.

Newcomen Primary School building for the future

A Redcar primary school, excited at the prospect of a planned £5million rebuilding programme due to start later this summer, has been given another boost by Government inspectors.

Newcomen Primary School, says the Ofsted report, is "a good school with some outstanding features. Children make good progress in all aspects of their education, particularly in their personal development which is outstanding."

The report adds: "The pupils are polite, friendly and helpful. Their behaviour is exemplary. They are justly proud of their school and enjoy their education. They view the school as an oasis of peace in a challenging world."

Parents, too, are pleased with Newcomen. One parent told inspectors: "I have nothing but praise for this school and its dedicated staff."

The leadership of headteacher Barbara Linthwaite and her management team is "good" and the report says: "In the last four years, the headteacher has moved the school forward significantly.

"She has a vision of a school that challenges individual pupils to develop their learning skills and understanding of the wider world. This is shared by the highly committed staff team. Teaching and learning is good and in some lessons outstanding. This enables the majority of pupils to achieve well."

Mrs Linthwaite is delighted with the Ofsted verdict. "The report is a wonderful testament to the hard work of everyone connected with the school, pupils, parents, all staff and governors.

"It was also very rewarding to see Ofsted congratulating the school for continuing to provide quality for the pupils during the disruption caused by the building works.

"We are all delighted and the report has strengthened our feelings of empowerment and excitement as we take the school forward to our new build."

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education Councillor Ian Jeffrey said: "Life is never easy for a school that is on the brink of such a major rebuild, but I'm delighted at how well Newcomen has done and that all their good work has been rightly recognised by the inspection team."

Council choose Guisborough to host Yorkshire Day parade

Redcar and Cleveland Council has announced details of its plans to celebrate Yorkshire Day on Friday, August 1 - with Mayors from all over the White Rose county.

The Council has accepted an invitation from the Yorkshire Society to host the annual event, which brings 250 civic dignitaries to a civic celebration and church service.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Sheelagh Clarke said: "We're hoping it will be a lovely day for all of us - and we're keeping our fingers cross that the sun shines."

The day will begin with the Council's newly-elected Mayor, Councillor Mike Findley, welcoming the visitors to Guisborough and lead a parade along the town's Westgate to a church service at St Nicholas Parish Church.

The invited guests will then be given a tour of Gisborough Priory, which will be the backdrop for a series of official photographs to mark the occasion before a special lunch is served at Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough.

The Yorkshire Ridings Society, a separate organisation, will be holding its readings of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity in Redcar as normal and selling artificial white roses in aid of Redcar Lifeboat. Full details will be provided soon.

We're on our way Wembley - two-goal Jonny Howson wins it for Leeds

Nineteen years old Jonny Howson was the toast of Leeds when he turned around Monday's one-goal deficit from the first leg of the League 1 play-off semi-final at Elland Road and then banged in the winner in injury time at Brunton Park.

Leeds United looked like a different team as they started the second-leg, with the same line-up. They were compose, patient and disciplined. They won the headers, controlled midfield and played a slick passing game.

Dougie Freedman, who had a hand in both goals, shone out with his clever touches and unselfish play. He really is the new Bobby Collins or Gordon Strachan.

In the 9th minute Freedman's well placed pass, from outside the penalty box found Howson who fired in from five yards to level the aggregate score, o-1.

A 12th minute cross from Bradley Johnson reached the head of Jermaine Beckford but his response was weak. A 19th minute volley from Neil Kilkenny was caught by Blues keeper Keiran Westwood.

Carlisle came close with a couple of chances that tested Casper Ankegran and the Viking did well to stop a goal-bound shot from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson on the stroke of half-time.

Leeds began strongly in the second-half and within a minute Freedman fired in a screamer, from 30 yards that was caught by Westwood. Prutton tried one a minute later, which sailed over the bar. It was Beckford's turn to fire over the bar shortly afterwards.

A header from Carlisle's Danny Graham in the 50th minute was caught by the Viking.

A 51st minute shot by Kilkenny, from just outside the penalty area, went well wide. A minute later he fired in from 30 yards but this time it sailed over the bar. Beckford had a shot from 25 yards in the 57th minute that also went over the bar.

Carlisle began to put the pressure on around the hour mark but their efforts were well defended by Leeds.

On 75 minutes a one-two with Beckford nearly came off when Freedman fired in from 25 yards but it was deflected for a corner. A series of three corners ended with a smart header by Johnson that went wide.

On 80 minutes a Carlisle free-kick was easily dealt with by Leeds and an 82nd minute shot by Leeds skipper, Jonathan Douglas, was deflected for a corner.

Then just as everyone was expecting the whistle to blow for a period of extra-time and the possibility of a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out, Freedman combined once again with Howson who fired in the winner and sent us all leaping in the air with delight, 0-2.

United are on their way to Wembley, after giving all the other teams in League 1 a 15 point start on them. Only 90 minutes and either Southend or Donny stand between mighty Leeds and a quick return to the Championship.

Attendance 12,873 (1600 Leeds)

Carlisle United 0 Leeds United 2 (aggregate 2-3 to Leeds)

Post Office consultation branded a sham

The news that all 37 post offices scheduled for closure in Teesside and surrounding areas will in fact close has been greeted with disbelief by local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Ian Swales.

He said "there has been a tremendous campaign to keep a number of these post offices open particularly the four in the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland.

The fact that the Post Office management have refused to listen to any protests proves that all the decisions were already made. The consultation process was a sham.

It would have helped if MP's had voted to delay the process in March when they had the chance. However, not one of our local MP's backed the call.

I welcome the news that Redcar and Cleveland Council is aiming to support the communities involved. We still have to see the details but whatever they do will hardly compensate for the loss of a Post Office.

I am also disappointed that they have not mentioned Roseberry Square, Redcar where the loss of the post office through the renewal of the shopping centre is affecting far more people than the other closures in the Borough."

One million still losing out despite Chancellor's by-election budget

Commenting on the Chancellor's plans to compensate low paid workers who lost out when the 10p income tax rate was abolished, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Ian Swales said:

"This Government's tax policy has descended into a complete farce.

"The abolition of the 10p rate was designed to help Labour win the election that never was. Now this by-election budget is designed to help them cling on to Crewe in next week's vote.

"The Chancellor is desperately trying to backtrack from the disastrous decisions of the Prime Minister but has still hasn't managed to get it right. This u-turn leaves 1.1 million of the lowest paid workers losing up to £100 each.

"We can have no confidence in either a Prime Minister or a Chancellor who continue to make tax policy on the hoof, while still leaving the poorest out in the cold."

Dougie Freedman's last gasp goal gives Leeds hope as Blues win first-leg

Blogged Live.

Elland Road is packed, the crowd is in good voice and the first leg of the play-offs is about to start. Leeds United kick-off with super striker Jermaine Beckford back in the side after being sidelined for four matches with an ankle injury.

Carlisle's Marc Bridge-Wilkinson hit the bar in the seventh minute, from 18 yards, when he picked up a cross from Danny Graham.

Dougie Freedman came close in the 11th minute when he collected a cross, 20 yards out, turned and fired in one move, which was tipped round the post by Carlisle keeper, Keiren Westwood. In the 13th minute he chested down a long pass and fired in a superb volley that was caught by the keeper.

Carlisle's Scott Dobie is booked for a foul on Lubomir Michalik in the 22nd minute. Carlisle on top in terms of possession and attempts on goal.

29th minute Freedman picks up the ball just inside the Carlisle half, passes to Beckford, who shoots from 25 yards, tipped round the post by Westwood.

Shot from Carlisle's Simon Hackney in the 31st minute is deflected in, 0-1.

39th minute, shot by Jonathan Douglas after great work by Kilkenny, saved by Westwood.

42nd Minute Kilkenny puts Beckford through, saved by Westwood.

Half-time 0-1.

Grumble - we have just seen on Sky that the goal came from a corner. It should never have been given. The ball was put out of play by a Carlisle player being challenged by Michalik, who never touched the ball.

Four minutes into the second half and United are scrambling about their own penalty area like they don't know what they are doing. It all ends in disaster with Bridge-Wilkinson stabbing the ball in from six yards, 0-2.

57th minute Beckford is replaced by Tresor Kandol. Becks is furious.

United are pressing but Carlisle are defending well. Crosses are going in but the Blues are holding firm.

67 minutes - Westwood saves Carlisle again when a misplaced back header from a Carlisle defender was on its way in.

19 minutes to go and a penalty claim is denied as David Prutton attempts a shot from just inside the penalty area, it bounces off a Carlisle defender. Two minutes later and the crowd call again for a penalty as Freedman is bundled over in the same spot.

77th minute, Prutton is replaced by Seb Carole.

78th minute, a long range shot by Bradley Johnson is deflected away.

82nd minute, a long range shot by Kilkenny, over the bar.

85 minutes - United get a free-kick just outside the penalty box. Kilkenny sends it goal bound but it is headed away for a corner. Two corners taken, Westwood saves them both. He has played a blinder.

89th minute - Andy Hughes replaces Jonathan Howson.

Goooooal! In the last seconds of the game a scramble in the Carlisle penalty box ended when Dougie Freedman manages to push the ball into the back of the net with his right foot, 1-2.

Huge relief!!! Leeds have lost and deserved to but we are still in here with a chance after yet another last gasp goal by the Super Whites. We now only have to claw back one goal, instead of two, when we face the Blues again on Thursday at their place. Unfortunately, they have the best home record in League One. It is going to be tough but we can do it.

This was Carlisle's first ever win at Elland Road.

Attendance 36,297.

Leeds United 1 Carlisle United 2

Work on the Wesmorland Road Allotment's fence put back another month

The painting of the rusty iron rail perimeter fencing, around the Allotments in Westmorland Road, was due to start 1st week in May but due to workload of the contractor these works have now been put back to the second week in June.

The Allotment holders are being informed that the fencing will be removed and a temporary fence will be erected whilst the fence is being painted. This may compromise security for a short period. The tenants have also been asked to remove anything they have attached to the fence ahead of the works progressing.

Super Leeds sink the Gills

Leeds United supporters surrounded the statue of Billy Bremner to let Gillingham fans know exactly what they felt about the 15-point deduction and their Chairman, Paul Scully's gloating comments when the Football League's penalty was endorsed by the vested interests of rival clubs.

Billy's statue is situated right outside the entrance/exit to the away fans corner. It was all light hearted stuff and the fans where hamming it up for a film crew who were there to record it. It could have turned nasty when half a dozen bobbies got in behind to move them, unnecessarily, off the pedestal but no-one was bothered:

15 points who gives a stuff?

We're Super Leeds and we're going up!

United had overcome the penalty by amassing 91 points, which should have seen them automatically promoted. The prize of a trip to Wembley now awaits the Super Whites if they can carry on this winning run for the two games against Carlisle. Then we can really show the world what we think about the Football League "family."

38,256 packed into Elland Road, the Football League's biggest crowd of the season, to watch United play Gillingham.

The first half was a scrappy affair with the teams packed into an area about the size of the centre circle for much of the time. United found the Gills hard to break down and paid the price on 20 minutes when nippy striker, Simeon Jackson, took advantage of an error by Paul Huntingdon, then skipped across the front of goal and blasted the ball past the helpless Viking, 0-1.

Backed by the noisy crowd (whose rendition of 'Marching on Together' made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up), United got on top in the second half. The introduction of Seb Carole for Peter Sweeney, in the 69th minute, made a difference and it was Carole's cross to Bradley Johnson the equalled things up. Johnson hit a superb volley from just outside the penalty box, 1-1.

United boss, Gary McAllister, rested a number of players and brought in youngster Scott Gardner for his first game since August and Tresor Kandol came back into the starting line-up. Gardner made a nervy start but by the second half was making some exciting runs down the flank that had the Gills on their toes.

Rookie, Fabian Delph, came on for Jonathan Douglas in the 76th minute and looked good.

Kandol looked low in confidence and took a bit of stick from the crowd at times. He looked hesitant in making passes, when he helped out in midfield, but all that went out of the window, with two minutes to go, when he collected a pass from Andy Hughes, slipped the Gills defence and walloped the ball into the back of the net, 2-1.

Gillingham had to win this game to stay up. In the end it did not matter because Cheltenham won against Donny so the Gills were down anyway.

United go into the play-offs as the team in-form and with the Arbitration Panel's decision still rankling, our hopes are high for a swift return to the Championship against all the odds.

Leeds United 2 Gillingham 1

Leeds lose appeal - now let's get on and win the play-offs

Leeds United have lost their appeal against the deduction of 15 points. Three reasons given by the arbitration panel are bizarre.

* United agreed in writing to the 15-point decision.
* took too long to get around to the arbitration
* it would be unfair to the other clubs pushing for promotion to give Leeds the points back at this late stage.

United had no choice but to agree. They would have been out of the League if they hadn't signed. They have been arguing since 30th August for an appeal and did everything they could to get to this stage. The other clubs have benefitted from this unfair and as yet unjustified penalty placed on the Mighty Whites.

If a team other than Leeds gets promoted it will be without really earning it. Our job now is to make sure United win through. It's us against them and that is the best possible incentive for Leeds to get through the play-offs.

If Swansea take the Championship trophy without beating Leeds on points then they cannot in all fairness take real credit for their achievement. If the Swans get three points tomorrow or if Leeds don't win against the Gills then Swansea deserve the title and good luck to them.