Josie Crawford, Lib Dem Councillor for Coatham Ward, met Atonement star, James McAvoy, at a reception following the filming of scenes at Redcar.Nick Murray has posted some exciting Atonement pics on his blog http://www.nick.org.uk/
Tuesday, 29 August 2006
Josie meets James McAvoy
Josie Crawford, Lib Dem Councillor for Coatham Ward, met Atonement star, James McAvoy, at a reception following the filming of scenes at Redcar.Nick Murray has posted some exciting Atonement pics on his blog http://www.nick.org.uk/
Friday, 25 August 2006
Crackdown on antisocial drinking behaviour
Redcar and Cleveland Council is introducing Designated Public Place Orders from Friday, September 1 to curb alcohol fuelled anti-social behaviour for over 300 streets in nine towns and villages across the Borough.
The towns and villages covered are Brotton (22 streets), Marske (30), Redcar (35), Loftus (67), Guisborough (88), Eston (8), Saltburn (30), Normanby (20) and Carlin How (11) as well as a number of parks and playing fields.
The Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety Councillor Joyce Benbow said: "This order is designed to help the good citizens of the Borough enjoy the parks and streets in their free time without harassment from alcohol fuelled individuals”.
Inspector Andrew Bright, Chair of the Redcar and Cleveland Community Safety Partnership’s Violence and Street Crime Task Group, said. “This is another valuable tool in our armoury to help stamp out anti-social behaviour and crime fuelled by the irresponsible consumption of alcohol which so often brings misery to residents and communities”.
Councils can designate public areas where they are satisfied nuisance, annoyance or disorder has been associated with public drinking in that area. There are no provisions under the legislation to create Alcohol Free Zones or blanket restrictions.
If a Police Officer, Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) or community safety warden believes that someone is consuming alcohol or intends to consume alcohol they can require them to stop and/or confiscate the alcohol from people whether the drinking vessel is unopened or not.
If someone, without a reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a request from a Police Officer, PCSO or Community Safety Warden they are committing an offence and further action can be taken which can include a penalty notice for disorder of £50 being issued. A Police Officer can also arrest an offender and prosecute them.
The towns and villages covered are Brotton (22 streets), Marske (30), Redcar (35), Loftus (67), Guisborough (88), Eston (8), Saltburn (30), Normanby (20) and Carlin How (11) as well as a number of parks and playing fields.
The Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety Councillor Joyce Benbow said: "This order is designed to help the good citizens of the Borough enjoy the parks and streets in their free time without harassment from alcohol fuelled individuals”.
Inspector Andrew Bright, Chair of the Redcar and Cleveland Community Safety Partnership’s Violence and Street Crime Task Group, said. “This is another valuable tool in our armoury to help stamp out anti-social behaviour and crime fuelled by the irresponsible consumption of alcohol which so often brings misery to residents and communities”.
Councils can designate public areas where they are satisfied nuisance, annoyance or disorder has been associated with public drinking in that area. There are no provisions under the legislation to create Alcohol Free Zones or blanket restrictions.
If a Police Officer, Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) or community safety warden believes that someone is consuming alcohol or intends to consume alcohol they can require them to stop and/or confiscate the alcohol from people whether the drinking vessel is unopened or not.
If someone, without a reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a request from a Police Officer, PCSO or Community Safety Warden they are committing an offence and further action can be taken which can include a penalty notice for disorder of £50 being issued. A Police Officer can also arrest an offender and prosecute them.
Thursday, 24 August 2006
Our best ever GCSE results
Redcar and Cleveland's 11 secondary schools are celebrating the Borough's best-ever GCSE results this year, with more than half the 2,000-plus students achieving five or more A*-C grades.
The Council's Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Steve Kay said: "We want to congratulate all our young people for their exam successes and the efforts they have made to ensure an excellent level of attainment across all our secondary schools.
"As far as the national standards are concerned, covering five or more A*-C grades, this set of results represent the best-ever, reaching 50.6 per cent, two per cent up on last year."
Sacred Heart RC at Redcar and St Peter's RC at South Bank have achieved their best-ever results, with Sacred Heart's success rate up 4.3 per cent to 64.3pc and St Peter's rising to 40pc from 34.8pc. Huntcliff School at Saltburn also made considerable progress, up 13.4pc to 66.4pc.
Extremely encouraging results have been recorded at Gillbrook College, Eston, previously the Borough's lowest performing school.
Following best-ever results at Key Stage 3, the College has increased its GCSE five or more A*-C grade percentage by over 12 per cent to 33.5pc. Higher grades in maths rose by 13pc (36.2) and science grades were up 18pc (31.9).
Councillor Kay explained: "With a new headteacher and deputy head arriving for the start of the new school year next week and the move to a new purpose-built school in October, the future looks very bright for the students at Gillbrook.
"Everyone at the College should be congratulated on this substantial increase in standards."
Improvements in the core subjects - Maths, English and Science - were made in most schools. English at Redcar Community rose 13pc to 45.2, with Huntcliff reporting a ten per cent rise in Maths (63.5pc) and 17pc to Science (65.4pc).
Provisional percentage results for five or more A*-C grades in the Borough's secondary schools (with 2005 results in brackets) are:
Bydales, Marske 56 (48), Eston Park 46 (44), Freebrough 28.1 (28.6), Gillbrook 33.5 (21.1), Huntcliff 66.4 (53), Laurence Jackson, Guisborough 59.2 (68), Nunthorpe 70.1 (69.4), Rye Hills, Redcar 45 (46.8), Sacred Heart 64.3 (60), St Peter's RC, South Bank 40 (34.8), Redcar Community College 41.4 (44).
The Council's Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Steve Kay said: "We want to congratulate all our young people for their exam successes and the efforts they have made to ensure an excellent level of attainment across all our secondary schools.
"As far as the national standards are concerned, covering five or more A*-C grades, this set of results represent the best-ever, reaching 50.6 per cent, two per cent up on last year."
Sacred Heart RC at Redcar and St Peter's RC at South Bank have achieved their best-ever results, with Sacred Heart's success rate up 4.3 per cent to 64.3pc and St Peter's rising to 40pc from 34.8pc. Huntcliff School at Saltburn also made considerable progress, up 13.4pc to 66.4pc.
Extremely encouraging results have been recorded at Gillbrook College, Eston, previously the Borough's lowest performing school.
Following best-ever results at Key Stage 3, the College has increased its GCSE five or more A*-C grade percentage by over 12 per cent to 33.5pc. Higher grades in maths rose by 13pc (36.2) and science grades were up 18pc (31.9).
Councillor Kay explained: "With a new headteacher and deputy head arriving for the start of the new school year next week and the move to a new purpose-built school in October, the future looks very bright for the students at Gillbrook.
"Everyone at the College should be congratulated on this substantial increase in standards."
Improvements in the core subjects - Maths, English and Science - were made in most schools. English at Redcar Community rose 13pc to 45.2, with Huntcliff reporting a ten per cent rise in Maths (63.5pc) and 17pc to Science (65.4pc).
Provisional percentage results for five or more A*-C grades in the Borough's secondary schools (with 2005 results in brackets) are:
Bydales, Marske 56 (48), Eston Park 46 (44), Freebrough 28.1 (28.6), Gillbrook 33.5 (21.1), Huntcliff 66.4 (53), Laurence Jackson, Guisborough 59.2 (68), Nunthorpe 70.1 (69.4), Rye Hills, Redcar 45 (46.8), Sacred Heart 64.3 (60), St Peter's RC, South Bank 40 (34.8), Redcar Community College 41.4 (44).
Green light for Bydales wind generator
Green energy will help power a new school and educate its pupils into the benefits of solar energy after Redcar and Cleveland Council approved the installation of two solar panels and a wind turbine.
The headteacher at Bydales Specialist Technology College, Tony Hobbs, who will welcome the school's pupils into new buildings later this year, said: "We are delighted. This gives us the go-ahead to work with the Centre for Process Innovation and the Council.
"We will be creating cutting-edge learning activities for pupils that relate to sustainable energy with particular emphasis on renewable energy, such as photo-voltaics and wind generators.
"It will allow pupils to investigate how they work, how the energy can be stored and how it can be used to power objects within the school. We also intend to display the outputs on plasma screens around the school."
The Council's Planning Committee today (Thursday, August 24) agreed with officers' recommendation to approve the school's application for the installation of a three-metre mast and solar panels at the new school building on the Coast Road, with two conditions, including controlling any noise from the wind generator.
The 800 Bydales pupils are expected to start lessons in the new school, being built as part of the Council's massive PFI schools modernisation programme, on the first day of the winter term, Monday, October 30.
The headteacher at Bydales Specialist Technology College, Tony Hobbs, who will welcome the school's pupils into new buildings later this year, said: "We are delighted. This gives us the go-ahead to work with the Centre for Process Innovation and the Council.
"We will be creating cutting-edge learning activities for pupils that relate to sustainable energy with particular emphasis on renewable energy, such as photo-voltaics and wind generators.
"It will allow pupils to investigate how they work, how the energy can be stored and how it can be used to power objects within the school. We also intend to display the outputs on plasma screens around the school."
The Council's Planning Committee today (Thursday, August 24) agreed with officers' recommendation to approve the school's application for the installation of a three-metre mast and solar panels at the new school building on the Coast Road, with two conditions, including controlling any noise from the wind generator.
The 800 Bydales pupils are expected to start lessons in the new school, being built as part of the Council's massive PFI schools modernisation programme, on the first day of the winter term, Monday, October 30.
Wednesday, 23 August 2006
Misinformation about 'Coatham Links' funding and flooding issues answered
At Redcar & Cleveland's Grand Scrutiny meeting, held yesterday, the Council's Chief Executive, Colin Moore, was asked two questions about Coatham Links and these are the answers he gave:
In answer to the question of whether in the event of planning permission being granted the Council had the resources to complete the Leisure provision he said:
"The cost of the two swimming pools, bowling alley, leisure centre including five a side pitches and dance floor is £11.5 million. The Council has £14million secure through the capital receipt from Persimmon, Sport England Grant and prudential borrowing. This is £2.5 million in excess of the leisure provision requirements.
"In addition there is £12million required for all groundworks, surrounding infrastructure, utilities including a combined heat and power plant, promenade improvements, art works and a new coast guard station. The Council has £11.3million pledged in the forward plans of funding bodies. This can be confirmed after planning permission has been granted. If Planning Permission is not granted there is no need to confirm the funding as nothing will be built anyway.
"In addition Mr Richardson reported earlier in the meeting that the Council had £5million unallocated capital resource. There is therefore more than enough to complete the Coatham Links and carry out further investment in the Borough.
"The Council is looking for in excess of £13million to add a visitor and exhibition centre with viewing tower at Coatham. At present only half the amount necessary has been raised from funders. This is the last element of the scheme and, if permission is granted, will be two to three years away from starting. By then we are very confident the visitor centre will also be fully funded.
"Just to remind Members the legally binding development agreement with Persimmon does not allow any houses to be built without the building of the leisure provision.
"There is no reason for anyone to claim doubt over the funding of Coatham Links. There is no room for doubt. The Council has more than it needs to complete the leisure at Coatham Links"
The second question was about whether the Council was acting irresponsibly in building on an identified flood risk area. Mr Moore's reply was as follows:
"The Council is very much aware that the 1 in 200 year flood plain map shown by the Environment Agency encroaches into the Coatham Links Site. In fact it covers the very eastern end of the site covered by the boating lake. Persimmon Homes employed consultants to look at flood risk issues related to both coastal and fluvial flooding and also to come up with a solution for dealing with surface water drainage generated from the Coatham site.
"That assessment has resulted in the following :
a) Discussions with the Environment Agency in relation to Flood Risk issues
b) Advice from the Environment Agency to build floor levels to a minimum level of 5.19m AOD. This takes account of current predicted worst case tide levels, 400mm to take account of predicted climate change impacts and free board protection of 600mm to all buildings. Persimmon has adopted this position.
c) A formal part of the planning submission has been the preparation of a Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) 25 Flood Risk Assessment. This was completed and submitted as part of the planning submission.
"The Environment Agency are a Statutory Consultee in the planning process and only if the PPG25 Flood Risk Assessment meets their requirements can planning approval be granted. Clearly the Council hopes the groundwork undertaken by Persimmon ensures this is the case. If it doesn't we will revisit and do all things necessary to ensure that the Environment Agency are content."
In answer to the question of whether in the event of planning permission being granted the Council had the resources to complete the Leisure provision he said:
"The cost of the two swimming pools, bowling alley, leisure centre including five a side pitches and dance floor is £11.5 million. The Council has £14million secure through the capital receipt from Persimmon, Sport England Grant and prudential borrowing. This is £2.5 million in excess of the leisure provision requirements.
"In addition there is £12million required for all groundworks, surrounding infrastructure, utilities including a combined heat and power plant, promenade improvements, art works and a new coast guard station. The Council has £11.3million pledged in the forward plans of funding bodies. This can be confirmed after planning permission has been granted. If Planning Permission is not granted there is no need to confirm the funding as nothing will be built anyway.
"In addition Mr Richardson reported earlier in the meeting that the Council had £5million unallocated capital resource. There is therefore more than enough to complete the Coatham Links and carry out further investment in the Borough.
"The Council is looking for in excess of £13million to add a visitor and exhibition centre with viewing tower at Coatham. At present only half the amount necessary has been raised from funders. This is the last element of the scheme and, if permission is granted, will be two to three years away from starting. By then we are very confident the visitor centre will also be fully funded.
"Just to remind Members the legally binding development agreement with Persimmon does not allow any houses to be built without the building of the leisure provision.
"There is no reason for anyone to claim doubt over the funding of Coatham Links. There is no room for doubt. The Council has more than it needs to complete the leisure at Coatham Links"
The second question was about whether the Council was acting irresponsibly in building on an identified flood risk area. Mr Moore's reply was as follows:
"The Council is very much aware that the 1 in 200 year flood plain map shown by the Environment Agency encroaches into the Coatham Links Site. In fact it covers the very eastern end of the site covered by the boating lake. Persimmon Homes employed consultants to look at flood risk issues related to both coastal and fluvial flooding and also to come up with a solution for dealing with surface water drainage generated from the Coatham site.
"That assessment has resulted in the following :
a) Discussions with the Environment Agency in relation to Flood Risk issues
b) Advice from the Environment Agency to build floor levels to a minimum level of 5.19m AOD. This takes account of current predicted worst case tide levels, 400mm to take account of predicted climate change impacts and free board protection of 600mm to all buildings. Persimmon has adopted this position.
c) A formal part of the planning submission has been the preparation of a Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) 25 Flood Risk Assessment. This was completed and submitted as part of the planning submission.
"The Environment Agency are a Statutory Consultee in the planning process and only if the PPG25 Flood Risk Assessment meets their requirements can planning approval be granted. Clearly the Council hopes the groundwork undertaken by Persimmon ensures this is the case. If it doesn't we will revisit and do all things necessary to ensure that the Environment Agency are content."
Coatham Enclosure is not a Village Green
Councillor Vera Moody, speaking as Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: "Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has been told that an application for judicial review for a Village Green at Coatham in Redcar has been refused.
"The Honourable Mr Justice Collins at the High Court of Justice, London, found that 'the inspector's findings of fact, following a careful and detailed review of the evidence heard over 6 days at the inquiry, cannot be impugned'.
"This means that following a lengthy and thorough process of review the final decision is that the land at Coatham Enclosure is not a Village Green.
"His observations also state 'in the circumstances, it is quite impossible to show that the Council's decision was wrong in law. It is highly likely that this claim was not lodged within the maximum period of 3 months and certainly it was not lodged promptly. There has been no excuse provided for the delay which is another reason not to grant permission'.
"This is simply the fantastic news that we've been hoping for. You simply have to look at the Coatham Enclosure to know that it is not a Village Green.
"Sir Andrew Collins observations about no excuse for delay, show to me, that this was never a genuine claim but simply an attempt to sabotage a scheme that will breathe new life into Redcar and the Borough and that the applicants stalling for time has simply undermined their case.
"This means that one less hurdle stands in the way of a fantastic development that will create at least 200 new jobs, bring much needed high quality housing, state of the art leisure facilities and hundreds of thousands more visitors to Redcar a year."
"The Honourable Mr Justice Collins at the High Court of Justice, London, found that 'the inspector's findings of fact, following a careful and detailed review of the evidence heard over 6 days at the inquiry, cannot be impugned'.
"This means that following a lengthy and thorough process of review the final decision is that the land at Coatham Enclosure is not a Village Green.
"His observations also state 'in the circumstances, it is quite impossible to show that the Council's decision was wrong in law. It is highly likely that this claim was not lodged within the maximum period of 3 months and certainly it was not lodged promptly. There has been no excuse provided for the delay which is another reason not to grant permission'.
"This is simply the fantastic news that we've been hoping for. You simply have to look at the Coatham Enclosure to know that it is not a Village Green.
"Sir Andrew Collins observations about no excuse for delay, show to me, that this was never a genuine claim but simply an attempt to sabotage a scheme that will breathe new life into Redcar and the Borough and that the applicants stalling for time has simply undermined their case.
"This means that one less hurdle stands in the way of a fantastic development that will create at least 200 new jobs, bring much needed high quality housing, state of the art leisure facilities and hundreds of thousands more visitors to Redcar a year."
Titanic Exhibition becomes Redcar's added attraction
Redcar's Kirkleatham Museum is offering another look back in time with its hugely-popular exhibition on the doomed ocean liner, Titanic, attracting over 2,000 visitors a week.
The publicity which has put the town in the national spotlight with the transformation of the Esplanade into 1940s Dunkirk for the filming of the hoped-for blockbuster, Atonement, is also having a marvellous spin-off for the Museum.
As total visitor numbers approach 20,000 since the exhibition opened nine weeks ago, staff have this week welcomed coach parties from Birmingham, Bradford and Durham en route to the seafront.
Redcar and Cleveland Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick said: "We waited a long time to secure the Titanic exhibition, which was always going to be a really good attraction. Visitor numbers bear that out, and with the added interest from the film-making, it's become a fantastic time for the town.
"It proves if we have the right attractions we can get people into Redcar and adds more strength to our plants to regenerate the town."
The exhibition, which will be open on Bank Holiday Monday and runs right through to December, features over 200 exhibits and, thanks to two more visitors from the Torbay Maritime History Society, who are hoping to take Titanic: Honour and Glory to the south west, there are new additions.
They donated three books by W.T. Stead, the famous journalist and social reformer, who at 22 in 1871 was the youngest editor in the country, taking over Darlington’s Northern Echo newspaper. He lost his life on the Titanic on his way to speak at a conference on World Peace at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Other fascinating exhibits include costumes and props from James Cameron's epic movie and artefacts from Titanic's sister ships.
*It was 11.40am on Sunday, April 14 when Titanic struck an iceberg off Newfoundland Grand Bank. Within two and a half hours, only 705 passengers on the 'unsinkable' liner had been saved from the 2,200 who set sail from Southampton.
The publicity which has put the town in the national spotlight with the transformation of the Esplanade into 1940s Dunkirk for the filming of the hoped-for blockbuster, Atonement, is also having a marvellous spin-off for the Museum.
As total visitor numbers approach 20,000 since the exhibition opened nine weeks ago, staff have this week welcomed coach parties from Birmingham, Bradford and Durham en route to the seafront.
Redcar and Cleveland Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick said: "We waited a long time to secure the Titanic exhibition, which was always going to be a really good attraction. Visitor numbers bear that out, and with the added interest from the film-making, it's become a fantastic time for the town.
"It proves if we have the right attractions we can get people into Redcar and adds more strength to our plants to regenerate the town."
The exhibition, which will be open on Bank Holiday Monday and runs right through to December, features over 200 exhibits and, thanks to two more visitors from the Torbay Maritime History Society, who are hoping to take Titanic: Honour and Glory to the south west, there are new additions.
They donated three books by W.T. Stead, the famous journalist and social reformer, who at 22 in 1871 was the youngest editor in the country, taking over Darlington’s Northern Echo newspaper. He lost his life on the Titanic on his way to speak at a conference on World Peace at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Other fascinating exhibits include costumes and props from James Cameron's epic movie and artefacts from Titanic's sister ships.
*It was 11.40am on Sunday, April 14 when Titanic struck an iceberg off Newfoundland Grand Bank. Within two and a half hours, only 705 passengers on the 'unsinkable' liner had been saved from the 2,200 who set sail from Southampton.
Chance for closer view of Atonement
The public will be given a fascinating chance to get an even closer view of Redcar Esplanade's incredible transformation into 1940s Dunkirk when filming for the hoped-for blockbuster, Atonement, is completed.
The stretch of the Esplanade, from the Regent Cinema to the boating lake, has been out of bounds to the thousands of people who have flocked to see the action this week, involving 1,000 locally-recruited extras for director Joe Wright's adaptation of Ian McEwan's bestseller.
The road closure is expected to be lifted some time on Sunday when the tons of rubble, which have been strewn across the surface, will have been cleared, but there will be be plenty to see on Bank Holiday Monday and Tuesday before three days of work starts on Wednesday to dismantle the scenery.
Redcar and Cleveland Council will complete the final stage of work to return Redcar back to 2006, with the reinstatement of street lighting and street furniture, as well as restoring the stone penguins to their spot near the boating lake after that.
The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick, who has been given an inside tour of the action, said: "I was absolutely fascinated to see how they've altered the buildings, camouflaged them and turned the area into a film set.
"The town has been packed all week and I'm sure we've seen an awful lot of investment come into the area. Now there's this marvellous chance to see close-up how much work has been done."
Location manager Adam Richards, who earmarked Redcar as the 'perfect' location in December last year, is still thrilled at the end product. "I've been doing this job for 20 years and I'm staggered by the scale of what we've achieved."
There will still be a few permanent reminders of the days Hollywood came to Redcar with 300 crew, the £50 a day extras and 40 assorted vehicles.
The Regent Cinema, which has been turned into a French bar for a fight scene, involving 25 stuntmen, is being given the scenery - and Universal Pictures are in discussions over the prospect of a Redcar premiere, when the film hits the big screen in September next year.
The stretch of the Esplanade, from the Regent Cinema to the boating lake, has been out of bounds to the thousands of people who have flocked to see the action this week, involving 1,000 locally-recruited extras for director Joe Wright's adaptation of Ian McEwan's bestseller.
The road closure is expected to be lifted some time on Sunday when the tons of rubble, which have been strewn across the surface, will have been cleared, but there will be be plenty to see on Bank Holiday Monday and Tuesday before three days of work starts on Wednesday to dismantle the scenery.
Redcar and Cleveland Council will complete the final stage of work to return Redcar back to 2006, with the reinstatement of street lighting and street furniture, as well as restoring the stone penguins to their spot near the boating lake after that.
The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick, who has been given an inside tour of the action, said: "I was absolutely fascinated to see how they've altered the buildings, camouflaged them and turned the area into a film set.
"The town has been packed all week and I'm sure we've seen an awful lot of investment come into the area. Now there's this marvellous chance to see close-up how much work has been done."
Location manager Adam Richards, who earmarked Redcar as the 'perfect' location in December last year, is still thrilled at the end product. "I've been doing this job for 20 years and I'm staggered by the scale of what we've achieved."
There will still be a few permanent reminders of the days Hollywood came to Redcar with 300 crew, the £50 a day extras and 40 assorted vehicles.
The Regent Cinema, which has been turned into a French bar for a fight scene, involving 25 stuntmen, is being given the scenery - and Universal Pictures are in discussions over the prospect of a Redcar premiere, when the film hits the big screen in September next year.
Monday, 21 August 2006
Now Atonement-mania hits our libraries
Redcar and Cleveland Council's libraries are coping with Atonement-mania as moviemakers move into Redcar to film author Ian McEwan's international bestseller.
The work on creating the set, transforming a stretch of the town's Esplanade into 1940s Dunkirk, has already attracted hundreds of people to the town.
When this week's hectic filming schedule is complete, involving 1,000 extras, a three-day localised daytime road closure on Newcomen Terrace, between Henry Street and Turner, next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - August 30, August 31 and September 1 - will allow the dismantling of scenery on top of the former Olympia Health Club.
That work can be viewed by the public throughout the three days - and there has already been great interest in a special 'Atonement' exhibition at Redcar Central Library.
The wartime story is certainly capturing readers' imagination with increased supplies of 13 ordinary copies, one spoken word and two large print versions, already out to borrowers and more on order to keep pace.
The exhibition, mounted in the library foyer, features a showcase with World War II helmets, shell casings and ammunition, as well as request forms for borrowers.
The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick said: "I think people are delighted with the fact that the film is here - it's creating a terrific amount of interest right across the Borough and beyond.
"And what a positive spin-off we've got with people wanting to read the book, too. It's a real win, win situation for everyone."
The story of Atonement, rated 'McEwan's best novel so far, his masterpiece', is:
“On the hottest day of the summer of 1935, 13-year-old Briony Tallis sees her sister Cecilia strip off her clothes and plunge into the fountain in the garden of their country house. Watching her is Robbie Turner, her childhood friend who, like Cecilia, has recently come down from Cambridge.
“By the end of the day, the lives of all three will have been changed for ever. Robbie and Cecilia will have crossed a boundary they had not even imagined at its start and will have become victims of the younger girl's imagination. Briony will have witnessed mysteries and committed a crime for which she will spend the rest of her life trying to atone.”
The work on creating the set, transforming a stretch of the town's Esplanade into 1940s Dunkirk, has already attracted hundreds of people to the town.
When this week's hectic filming schedule is complete, involving 1,000 extras, a three-day localised daytime road closure on Newcomen Terrace, between Henry Street and Turner, next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - August 30, August 31 and September 1 - will allow the dismantling of scenery on top of the former Olympia Health Club.
That work can be viewed by the public throughout the three days - and there has already been great interest in a special 'Atonement' exhibition at Redcar Central Library.
The wartime story is certainly capturing readers' imagination with increased supplies of 13 ordinary copies, one spoken word and two large print versions, already out to borrowers and more on order to keep pace.
The exhibition, mounted in the library foyer, features a showcase with World War II helmets, shell casings and ammunition, as well as request forms for borrowers.
The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick said: "I think people are delighted with the fact that the film is here - it's creating a terrific amount of interest right across the Borough and beyond.
"And what a positive spin-off we've got with people wanting to read the book, too. It's a real win, win situation for everyone."
The story of Atonement, rated 'McEwan's best novel so far, his masterpiece', is:
“On the hottest day of the summer of 1935, 13-year-old Briony Tallis sees her sister Cecilia strip off her clothes and plunge into the fountain in the garden of their country house. Watching her is Robbie Turner, her childhood friend who, like Cecilia, has recently come down from Cambridge.
“By the end of the day, the lives of all three will have been changed for ever. Robbie and Cecilia will have crossed a boundary they had not even imagined at its start and will have become victims of the younger girl's imagination. Briony will have witnessed mysteries and committed a crime for which she will spend the rest of her life trying to atone.”
Sunday, 20 August 2006
Regency Mansions (formally Coatham Hotel) transformed into Hotel L'Hirondelle
Picture by Colin Crawford 
Sunday, 13 August 2006
August 2003 Draft development plans released for consultation
Focus 229 August 2003
Draft Development Plans for Coatham Enclosure about to be released for Public Consultation
PROPOSALS to develop Coatham Enclosure with a mixture of Housing and leisure facilities will go out to public consultation in the next few weeks.
The plans, presented by Persimmon Homes, include 294 houses and apartments, a swimming pool, an extreme sports centre, viewing tower, shops and a pub.
All will be subject to public approval, finance and further technical considerations. If approved it is expected that they will be considered for Planning Permission in May 2004, with a possible start on site in January 2005.
The above article was distributed in both Newcomen and Coatham Wards
Consultation took place in the autumn of 2003 and the results were referred to the Council's cabinet on 16th March 2004. At Cabinet we responded to the views expressed by residents and requested numerous changes to produce an even better, more ambitious scheme.
It included the provision of both a 25 metre swimming pool and a leisure pool, reduced size of sea front apartments, sea front parking, a dance floor, extra parking and better sight lines through the housing part of the development.
This was to delay progress and went to a second public consultation. In spite of a determined campaign to disrupt it, the results showed considerable public support for the proposals and this was backed up by a Mori survey.
In Issue 233 we surveyed residents with the following question:
Please highlight what should be the Council's priorities for Redcar
YES/NO - Develop Tourism in Redcar
YES/NO - Development of Coatham Enclosure
YES/NO - Support Wind Turbines in Coatham Bay
YES/NO - Make Redcar the civic centre of the Borough
In Issue 235 we reported back the results as folows:
Develop Tourism in Redcar
Yes 180, No 26, No Answer 64.
Development of Coatham Enclosure
Yes 144, No 64, No Answer 62.
Support Wind Turbines in Coatham Bay
Yes 106, No 92, No Answer 72
Make Redcar the civic centre of the Borough
Yes 156, No 24, No Answer 90.
Draft Development Plans for Coatham Enclosure about to be released for Public Consultation
PROPOSALS to develop Coatham Enclosure with a mixture of Housing and leisure facilities will go out to public consultation in the next few weeks.
The plans, presented by Persimmon Homes, include 294 houses and apartments, a swimming pool, an extreme sports centre, viewing tower, shops and a pub.
All will be subject to public approval, finance and further technical considerations. If approved it is expected that they will be considered for Planning Permission in May 2004, with a possible start on site in January 2005.
The above article was distributed in both Newcomen and Coatham Wards
Consultation took place in the autumn of 2003 and the results were referred to the Council's cabinet on 16th March 2004. At Cabinet we responded to the views expressed by residents and requested numerous changes to produce an even better, more ambitious scheme.
It included the provision of both a 25 metre swimming pool and a leisure pool, reduced size of sea front apartments, sea front parking, a dance floor, extra parking and better sight lines through the housing part of the development.
This was to delay progress and went to a second public consultation. In spite of a determined campaign to disrupt it, the results showed considerable public support for the proposals and this was backed up by a Mori survey.
In Issue 233 we surveyed residents with the following question:
Please highlight what should be the Council's priorities for Redcar
YES/NO - Develop Tourism in Redcar
YES/NO - Development of Coatham Enclosure
YES/NO - Support Wind Turbines in Coatham Bay
YES/NO - Make Redcar the civic centre of the Borough
In Issue 235 we reported back the results as folows:
Develop Tourism in Redcar
Yes 180, No 26, No Answer 64.
Development of Coatham Enclosure
Yes 144, No 64, No Answer 62.
Support Wind Turbines in Coatham Bay
Yes 106, No 92, No Answer 72
Make Redcar the civic centre of the Borough
Yes 156, No 24, No Answer 90.
April 2003 Going for Gold Lib Dems pledge to give priority to re-development of Coatham Enclosure
Focus 226 April 2003
The back page of this edition comprised of a summary of Going for Gold the Liberal Democrat Manifesto for the 2003 Council Elections.
Slap bang in the centre is the following pledge:
Liberal Democrats will give priority to the redevelopment of Coatham Enclosure.
The result of the election led to the formation of the successful Lib Dem/Conservative/Independent Coalition. In Redcar more Liberal Democrats were elected than the other two parties:
Lib Dem - 7
Labour - 6
Conservative - 2
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