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EAST CLEVELAND KLONDIKE GRAND PRIX 2018 4 page Souvenir Pull Out
Online at www.coastalviewandmoornews.co.uk The Community Newspaper for the Towns and Villages of East Cleveland, Redcar & North York Moors, telling the real news and views of the people of our region
Issue 89 May - June 2018
•• This month 26,300 copies ••
Labour has plans for Loftus
L
abour’s ambitious plans for an East Cleveland Town were put under the spotlight recently at Redcar and Cleveland Council. Responding to a petition from Loftus residents calling for more investment Council Leader Sue Jeffrey said: “Last month we published our growth plans for the Borough which include Loftus as a priority for investment. “But that is just a small part of what needs to be done, it is only by working together that we will deliver the change that we all want to see and we welcome this petition which clearly sets out community priorities. “The Council does not have all the solutions or all the funding that is needed but by working together we can deliver a successful future for the town and residents are already very active with multiple community led
plans and projects underway. “We know however that there are some big concerns. These included tackling the issues of empty small shops on Zetland Road and the High Street and addressing the problem of abandoned buildings. We also know that if the town is to thrive and grow there needs to be more parking close to the shops. “Current proposals include a £236k project to deal with empty buildings and £75k to provide incubator space for retailers in the town who are just starting out and need to be in a supportive environment.” Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Bob Norton said: “This investment will make the High Street a place to be once again proud of and it also delivers the housing development called for in the petition. Old buildings will be turned into new homes, preserving the historic
fabric of the empty buildings but bringing them back into sustainable use to meet housing need for local people. “New housing is also planned, we are actively marketing the council owned site on Rosecroft Lane for housing development. This could deliver up to 71 new homes and there has been recent interest in the site including from a national house builder. “Loftus also has tourist potential as a gateway route to the North York Moors and the proposed Grinkle Park Hotel development of 60 woodland lodges and cottages offers East Cleveland further potential for boosting tourism and growing the local economy. “The community initiated and led very successful Klondike cycle race, and the longstanding Scarecrow festival are first-class sporting and entertaining attractions, placing Loftus and the surrounding villages firmly on the tourist map.” Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Councillor David Walsh said: “We are also working closely with Coast and Country Housing on the final stage of their comprehensive redevelopment of the old Westfield estate providing a mix of houses for rent and to buy. “There have been suggestions for how that remaining unoccupied part of the estate could be utilised, including a new supported housing complex similar to schemes elsewhere in the Borough, which cater for supported, but independent living for older or disabled people, and this is one idea I’d like to talk to Coast and Country about.” Cabinet Member for Resources, Chris Massey,
said: “Ambitious plans come at a price, and we have carefully costed what we are proposing. The residents in the petition make a request for some £2m to “kick-start” the “overdue” regeneration of Loftus. Loftus, as with all other wards in this borough, has had, and continues to receive, capital investment from the council through the public realm scheme. “In addition to this the Area Growth Plan for East Cleveland identifies a further £1m for regeneration projects. The same growth plans identify opportunities to attract further funding in partnership with the community and other external organisations, and so significantly grow the £1m that is already firmly on the table.” Sue Jeffrey added: “The issues that we are tackling today in Loftus and East Cleveland are found across the Borough. “The loss of traditional manufacturing jobs, most recently for Loftus at the Boulby Mine, the decline of our high streets; the closure of key services like banks, limited public transport and the reduction in council services caused by government cuts and austerity have all played a part. “These are huge challenges but ones that we are up for and that we are already working together to tackle. There is some really positive news on jobs with the continuing rapid development of the Sirius Mine and ambitious plans for the nearby South Tees Development Corporation. “I believe that Loftus has a great future, there is already lots happening and we look forward to working with local people and businesses to do even more.” Continued on page 6 ►►►
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