Elected Mayor or strong Leader?

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Democracy Commission has begun to discuss how it will consult the public about implementing the Executive arrangements in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2008.

The Act requires any Council in England to operate one of the following models:

Option 1 Mayor and Cabinet Executive

A Mayor directly elected by the people in a stand alone election separate to that of Council.

The mayor would ask a small number of councillors to join her or him to share in the leadership of the authority (cabinet).

Option 2: Council Leader and Cabinet

Leader chosen by fellow Councillors.

All councillors would be elected by the public and together would form the Council. The council leader would have the power to choose their cabinet.

The form the public consultation will take is currently under discussion by the Democracy Commission and will be looked at by the Scrutiny Board in Septemebr. A final decision has to be taken by 31st December 2010 and implemented three days after the May 2011 Council elections.

Pictures of Luciano Becchio's goal as Leeds thrash Tranmere at Elland Road

Five in fight for South Bank

Our eldest lad Steven has been nominated as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the South Bank By Election on 17th September.

There are five candidates contesting the vacancy caused by the sad death of Labour Councillor Marilyn Bramley, herself a By-Election victor last October.

Steven Abbott - Lib Dem
Joan Bolton - Con
Martin Gordon Bulmer - UKIP
Sue Jeffrey - Lab
Vincent Smith - Ind

The result last time
By-Election 16th October 2008
The result.

Marilyn Bramley (Labour).... 652 (49.9; -0.6)
Toni Meir (Liberal Democrat) 288 (22.1; +12.3)
Bernard Collinson (BNP)..... 206 (15.8; +1.4)
Oz Sadiq (Independent..... 101 (7.7; -7.3)
Joan Bolton (Conservative 59 (4.5; -5.8)

Turn out 27.6%
Majority 364
Lab hold
Swing 6.45% Lab to LD

Road works at Coatham roundabout

Redcar and Cleveland Council's highways partner Carillion begins work on a £50,000 road improvement programme on the Coatham Road roundabout, Redcar on Tuesday 25th August.

The carriageway resurfacing works are expected to last four days, and have been timed for the school holidays and between 9am-4pm to minimise disruption. Temporary traffic lights will be in operation and, a partial road closure with signed diversion. Access to Warrenby will be maintained at all times.

Tower blocks fall in Middlesbrough

Two 1960's tower blocks fell today in Netherfields, Middlesbrough and this blog was there to see it. Unfortunately it happened so fast we were not quick enough to get a picture of them coming down.

The two 16 storey blocks, Fulbeck House and Glentworth House, were demolished with plastic explosive at 12 noon and we took our 5 years old grandson, Daniel, to watch. Chris, who has in the past done electrical work in both blocks, was poised to take a picture of them falling and expected to hear a siren before they fell but it happened all of a sudden and was over in a second or two.

Last look at the doomed towers.

The crowd waits in anticipation.

In a second they are gone.

TRANSPORT LAUNCHED BETWEEN LEISURE CENTRES

Due to heavy flooding last month causing damage to the swimming pool at Eston Sports Academy, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has organised a shuttle bus service between Eston Sports Academy and both Saltburn and Loftus Leisure Centres.

The free bus service will allow children to continue to access free swimming throughout the Summer holidays whilst work is carried out on the pool at Eston.

The shuttle service will be in operation Monday to Friday, it is important to note that because of the limited capacity of the bus, booking is essential and can be made at the Eston Sports Academy reception.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult on the bus and normal pool rules apply for Under 8's and Non swimmers.

For booking and enquiries please contact Eston Sports Academy on 01642 452488.

Finley's boost white rose sales at Eston

An extra £44.50p is going to Redcar Lifeboat from the sale of white roses in Finlay's newsagents at Eston, bringing the total raised this Yorkshire Day to £414.50.

£370 raised for Redcar Lifeboat on Yorkshire Day

The Yorkshire Ridings Society and Redcar Ladies Lifeboat Guild raised £370.00 for Redcar lifeboat from the sales of white roses on Yorkshire Day in Redcar and Saltburn.

Sunday's Yorkshire Day celebrations in Saddleworth

At 11.34am on Sunday 2nd August Mr Gilbert Symes of Delph reads the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity at the Ammon Wrigley statue.

Chris speaks on behalf of the Yorkshire Ridings Society

Glynis carries the banner through Uppermill High Street,
in the Yorkshire Day Parade, with help from
grandchildren Charlotte and Daniel.

The Yorkshire Day Parade

The Yorkshire Day Country Fair at the
King George V Playing Field, Uppermill.

Cold and wet but still flying the Yorkshire flag in Thornaby on Tees

Rain affected Yorkshire Day in Thornaby this year. The Thornaby Yorkshire Day Society had a stall at the Yorkshire Day Celebrations, organised by Thornaby Town Council at Linear Park. The Mayor of Thornaby, Councillor Geoff Green and his wife is Celia, attended the event and read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity. The Town Council has put £2,000 aside for the event for the last 2 years.

Beryl Robinson

Jim Lince Chairman of the
Yorkshire Ridings Society North Riding Group

Ruth Lince

Yorkshire Day in Saltburn Photographs

The Duck Race gets underway with Ian Swales commentating
and Chris Abbott shepherding

The British Legion stall. Dave Blissett (left) and Councillor Eric Howden

Secretary of Yorkshire Ridings Society Nancy Hudson

Glynis Abbott on the YRS Products stall

The Saltburn Miniature Railway always flies the
Yorkshire flag on Yorkshire Day

BBC Tees snubs Yorkshire Day

Posted by Chris:

As if the rain wasn't enough! To add insult to injury BBC Tees refused to report that today was Yorkshire Day and totally snubbed the big events that were taking place in Saltburn, Redcar, Thornaby and Whitby.

Clearly the powers that be in the Tees Valley quangos have been whispering again in the Wig and Pen about promoting that nonsense area instead of our real County. It is time they realised Tees Valley is NOT a county and never will be. It is a name made up by unelected quangocrats for an organisation of five unitary authorities on either side of the Tees, covering parts of the North Riding and Durham. The campaign starts now to bring back Stewart McFarlane, Mark Turnbull and Alan Wright who always gave Yorkshire Day fair coverage.

Our Daniel wins the North Riding Duck Race

Posted by Chris:

You wait years for Yorkshire Day (1st August) to fall on a Saturday, organise a bigger event than usual event and it rains!

The miserable weather kept the crowds away from our Summer Fayre and Duck Race and even some of the stall holders stayed at home.

Prospective Lib Dem MP for Redcar, Ian Swales and Councillor Eric Howden started the day off in Redcar High Street where Eric promoted the sale of white roses by the ladies of Redcar Ladies Lifeboat Guild, in aid of Redcar lifeboat and Ian read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity.

In Marske Yorkshire flags were flying from several properties in the High Street and another flew proudly from the pole outside the Saltburn Conservative Club.

The North Riding Duck Race in Saltburn Valley Gardens was combined this year with a Summer Fayre, expertly organised by Councillor Irene Curr on behalf of the Yorkshire Ridings Society. The miserable weather kept the crowds away in spite of the fact that we were able to give hundreds of free packs of Yorkshire Tea away courtesy of the Yorkshire Tea Company of Harrogate.

The weather also severely hit our duck race entries with an all time low of only 88. It was such a pity because for the first time in the ten or so years we have held the event the conditions in Saltburn Beck were perfect. The wind was blowing the correct way and there was enough water flowing to move the race along quickly.

Ian Swales commentated on the race whilst I donned my waders (which I bought a few years ago for fishing and have only ever used for the Duck Race) to rescue all the snagged ducks. The result of the race probably reflected those who had sponsored the most ducks with such a small number of entries.

Our five years old Grandson Daniel's duck, Divito, was the first to reach the weir. He is pictured above with the Colin Holt Cup and £15 worth of book tokens.

The result of the 2009 Duck Race was as follows:

First Place - Duck No 51 'Divito,' Daniel Abbott, Redcar
Second Place - Duck No 37 'Breast of Luck,' Anne-Marie Swales, Thornaby
Third Place - Duck No 77 'Kookie,' Councillor Irene Curr, Redcar

The winner of the Best Named Duck was Alf Muir of Middlesbrough with "Cor Luv a Duck," chosen by Eric Howden and Dave Blissett of the British Legion.

The raffle prize, of a basket of Yorkshire grocery products, was won by Emma Morgan of Redcar.

Yorkshire flags for sale

It's Yorkshire Day on Saturday and there is just enough time to order your new Yorkshire flag and other Yorkshire products. Please download and print off the form above and send it to YRS Products 39 Essex Close, Redcar, Yorkshire, TS10 4BY.

North Riding Duck Race 2009

To enter the 2009 North Riding Duck race please download, fill in and send off the form above to: Cllr Chris Abbott, 39 Essex Close, Redcar, Yorkshire, TS10 4BY together with entry fees (£1.00 per entry). Please make cheques payable to Yorkshire Ridings Society.

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Licence No LOTO241. Promoter Chris Abbott, 39 Essex Close, Redcar, Yorkshire, TS10 4BY.

True Yorkshire Credit Crunch Calendar 2010

We are now taking orders for our black and white 2010 True Yorkshire Calendar featuring Yorkshire recipes, which is published on Yorkshire Day, price £1 plus 80p postage and packing. A5 on card.

Please make cheques payable to Yorkshire Ridings Society and post your order to:

YRS Products, 39 Essex Close, Redcar, Yorkshire, TS10 4BY.

Lib Dems make it a hat trick of wins from Labour in Redcar

Redcar Liberal Democrats completed a hat trick of sensational victories from Labour in less than twelve months when Eric Howden won the Dormanstown By Election held on Thursday 23^rd July.

The result was as follows:

Eric Howden LD 805 (52.3; +27.2)
Lab 515 (33.5; -18.6)
BNP 145 (9.4; +9.4)
Con 73 (4.7; -18.0)
Majority 290
Turnout 29.88%
LD gain from Lab

For the third time Labour has lost its overall majority on the Council. After each of the previous two by-elections Labour managed to persuade one of the Council’s seven independents to help them cling onto power.

Candidate Eric Howden said: "I am delighted we have won. It was an extremely professional campaign by the Lib Dems. I will do my best to repay the confidence they and the people of Dormanstown have placed in me."

Prospective MP for Redcar, Ian Swales, said: “This is a terrific result for the Liberal Democrats. It's clear that people have had enough of Labour both locally and nationally. This is yet another election showing that it's the Liberal Demorats who can beat Labour here.

“We had an excellent candidate in Eric Howden and I'm sure he will do a great job for the people of Dormanstown.”

Councillor Chris Abbott, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Council said: “The cock has crowed three times for Labour and it is time they got the message. In the two years they have been back in control of the Council they have destroyed all the good work the previous Lib Dem led Coalition had achieved.”

The composition of the Council is now:

Labour - 24

Liberal Democrats - 16

Conservative - 11

Independents supporting Labour - 4

Independents – 3

Vacancy - 1

In the town of Redcar Liberal Democrats now hold 10 of the 15 seats, to Labour’s 4 and the Tories 1.

Lib Dems at the Save our Steel Rally in Redcar

Part of the Lib Dem team at Saturday's Save our Steel rally in Redcar. Left to Right back row. Steven Abbott, Debbie Abbott. Front row Cllr Mary Ovens, Ian Swales Prospective MP for Redcar, Cllr Chris Abbott, Jackie Carling, Ann Wilson, Eric Howden, Lib Dem Candidate in Thursday's Dormanstown Ward By Election, Cllr Mike Carling, Cllr Glyn Nightingale.

Call for Scrutiny Panel investigation into the flooding problems in Redcar

From our back door on Friday

From our front door on Friday

Posted by Chris.

I have sent in the following request for a Scrutiny Panel investigation into the flooding problems in Redcar and the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland as a whole.

I find that there seems to be a certain amount of concern about whether enough is being done by the relevant authorities to reduce the threat of flooding, which is devastating to those it keeps happening to.

I would like to suggest that a Scrutiny Panel is set up to investigate the problem of flooding in the Borough as a whole and would be obliged if you will forward this for consideration.

Residents have a number of theories about what is going wrong and it they need to be investigated.

1. Is the Council carrying out gully clearing often enough and in some areas is it being done at all?

2. There are underground streams which were culverted in years gone by but are they capable of handling the type of rainfall we occasionally get nowadays? I understand the West Dyke, which runs through Locke Park also meanders around the area of Mersey Road which is prone to flooding. The same properties are affected this time.

3. Protection of wild fowl habitats on Coatham Marsh is a wonderful thing but is the water that is being held back for their benefit contributing to the problem of flooding? Are sluice gates being kept closed to prevent water draining away?

4. I understand that Northumbrian Water recently carried out major drainage works in the corner of Locke Park where it meets the junction of Corporation Road and Kirkleatham Lane. Major flooding occurred there. What were these drainage works and have they been successful.

5. More and more concrete is placed on the ground in the Borough. As years go by is the drainage system capable of dealing with this? Are there areas where water has nowhere to run off?

6. Is the drainage system in the older parts of Redcar and other areas of the Borough capable of dealing with all the extra housing that has been built and is planned in the future?

Have you got a picture of the foods in Redcar? Email me and we will publish them in this blog.

Celebrate Yorkshire Day in Saltburn

Celebrate Yorkshire Day
August 1st

Saltburn Valley Gardens

Watch the

North Riding Duck Race
2:30 p.m.

Visit the Owls
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Sports and Activities
for Young People

Kiddie’s Trampolines and Rides

Various Stalls

Raffle, Tombola

Yorkshire Tea and Cakes
In the Tea-Room
All Day (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)