Saltburn by the Sea

Tea Rooms re-open

2008-06-21T09:23:00.002+01:00

THE train leaving Saltburn's Valley Gardens at 9.40am on Tuesday, June 17 took passengers to the official opening of the Tea Rooms. The Council's Mayor Councillor Mike Findley led guests from the steam train, run by the Saltburn Miniature Railway Society, to the refurbished facility, which will also provide a unique training scheme. Under the watchful eye of catering supervisor Joyce Hitchen, the tea rooms will be staffed by people currently attending Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council's Learning Disability Day Service. This voluntary work will not only provide them with additional training but also enable them to be supported into paid employment in the catering field in future.The Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Social Well Being Councillor Helen McLuckie said: "This is a tremendous opportunity to enable people with a disability to consolidate the skills they have acquired working in Upsall Hall farm kitchen and to move into paid employment. We anticipate that the catering service in the tea rooms could be developed as a small social enterprise and is part of the Council's plans to develop more paid work opportunities for people with disabilities across the Borough."

The cafe has undergone a real facelift, with a joint £100,000 investment by the Council and the regional development agency, One NorthEast that provides modern catering facilities, a completely refurbished cafe area and a new extension with an accessible toilet. Now, for the first time, thanks to the building being fully insulated, the Tea Rooms can offer year-round opening. The plan is to open the cafe weekdays from 10am-3pm, offering teas, coffees, scones and cakes, plus ice cream, with an aim to be open Saturdays by July and seven days a week later in the year. Council Leader Councillor George Dunning, also the Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, said: "We are delighted with the completed Tea Rooms and I'm sure it's going to make a visit to the Valley Gardens an even more enjoyable experience."

Food Festival

2008-06-19T16:49:00.003+01:00

Food, drink, shopping and fun for all the family make Saltburn the place to be on Saturday 28th June. The Tees Valley Food Festivals’ main food and shopping site will be in front of Somerfield supermarket, Saltburn between 10.00 am and 4.00pm.

The stalls will be showcasing fine local food, artisan crafts and drink. Several stall holders will be cooking foods to eat hot off the stall, as well as stalls offering organic meats, plants and herbs galore, creative house ware, beautiful jewellery, and local brewers – Pinchinthorpe Hall and of course one of our most popular stalls, Skinningrove wines with their fabulous English country wines - to try before you buy!

For inspiration (and a little relaxation) Northumbrian Larder and Food First are providing a demonstration Kitchen Theatre in the market arena. Chefs will be demonstrating cooking techniques and giving you their top tips all day long. Kicking off at 10.00am we have butchery and BBQ cooking/ a quick course on filleting fish /Traditional English cooking with a twist/Thai and Laos fragrant salads and soups. Finishing the day will be food writer and local deli owner Sheila Beswick cooking with shellfish and simple suppers.

If you have children follow the balloons to the Marquees at the bottom of Diamond Street. Waiting here will be The Community Animators in the story tent and Melanie Postill in the Arts and Crafts Tent. There will be plenty of hands on activities to get involved with or you can just chill out in the story tent and let your imagination run wild.

In addition to the festival Saltburn itself proudly boasts its great array of independent shops selling everything from fishing rods to surfboards, Barbour jackets to diamond rings. Plenty of cafes, restaurants and pubs are on hand to fuel your soul and help make your day a relaxing one.

Food First is the new social enterprise which held its first Saltburn market this year. It is supported by about 20 East Cleveland and North Yorkshire based retailers, producers, gardeners and cooks. They aim to encourage and promote the benefits of locally grown food, and show that the North East can join in with the rest of the country when it comes to celebrating what’s grown locally.

Their first Easter Food Market withstood gales that cancelled other food events across the country and so now they say that nothing can stop them – although they are hoping for bright sunshine and blue skies!

The Food Festival will see a mix of game products including wild boar, venison and rabbit. Organic meat will be big on the market with Low Lease Farm pork producers and Emma Padmores’ organic beef and lamb. Ledston Game will be making dozens of game and wild boar sausages and burgers ready for early barbeques.

To help the celebrations along organic wines from Skinningrove and locally brewed beer from Pinchinthorpe will be available for sale alongside vegetables, free range chicken, hand-made chocolate, pickled pink preserves, locally baked museli, hot- water- pastry pies with fifteen different fillings, natural and home-made skincare products, and plants and seeds for gardeners all aim to tempt local shoppers. In addition Real Meals will be cooking up treats to eat – Paella, spicy meatballs, vegetarian curries and a handful of salads, Ledston estate will be BBQ’ing there game sausages and burgers and Low Lease Organic Farm will be roasting organic pork joints ready for lovely pork sandwiches.

The market has been co-ordinated by Lorna Jackson from Food First. Lorna said: “We’re looking forward to a really good turn out, the festival has been supported by Tees Valley Tourist Board, Redcar and Clevelands Legi team and Northern Rail. So with all the lovely food, music from local bands , games for families, and a kitchen theatre there will be loads on offer for everyone. We’ve had speciality markets in Saltburn before, at Christmas and during the folk festival, so everyone who’s been to those knows how much Saltburn comes alive and just how good the atmosphere is.”

So, whether you’re a gourmet cook or just simply enjoy the atmosphere of markets, Saltburn will have something special to offer.

Wildlife Garden takes root.

2008-06-13T16:25:00.000+01:00

Ladies from Saltburn Women’s Institute lent a hand to improve the environment by planting several native orchard trees in Saltburn Allotments Association’s new wildlife garden.
The activity was part of the Action Earth campaign, organised by Community Service Volunteers - the UK’s largest volunteering and training organisation, pictured Maureen Potter, Ann Cowie and Judith Strong of Satburn WI Sue Featherstone from Saltburn Allotments Association.
Action Earth aims to get people taking part in practical environmental projects which help improve the quality of life for now, and for future generations.
And luckily for all concerned, the sun shone down on Saltburn as the trees went in at the allotments off Hazelgrove Road.
Participant Maureen Potter said: “The wildlife garden is a lovely idea and the Action Earth campaign enables local people to become involved in improving their environment.”

Cut off by the Tide

2008-06-09T16:10:00.000+01:00

Lifeboats were launched in darkness last night to save a family who waited more than six hours before raising the alarm. The frightened family became increasingly cut off by the incoming tide at 4pm at the foot of Huntcliff, Saltburn, but they did not raise the alarm until darkness fell, making a frantic 999 mobile phone call to police.
Police officers, the force helicopter and both Redcar RNLI’s lifeboats were called at about 10.40pm to assist.
Guided by the helicopter’s searchlight, the lifeboat was run in towards the water’s edge and two crew members put ashore, who helped the family into life jackets. The family, who were of Polish origin and from Darlington, were then taken to Saltburn beach, where an ambulance was standing by.
Dave Cocks, Redcar RNLI’s deputy launching authority, said: “We’re a bit puzzled why they waited so long before calling for help. They were rescued from is a notorious cut-off point. We would urge people to make careful note of the time of high tide before attempting to walk round the bottom of Huntcliff. They were lucky they were able to get a mobile phone signal so close to the cliffs, otherwise their predicament could have been much worse. They were suffering from mild hypothermia. If they had waited until daylight, they may well have been severely affected by the cold.”
Mr Cocks explained that as a general rule of thumb, people will be cut off at Huntcliff at least two hours before high tide and two hours after, and sometimes even longer.

Methodist Church repair work begins.

2008-06-04T15:11:00.000+01:00

Work to restore Saltburn Methodist Church’s distinctive eight-sided tower and spire is now underway. Built in 1905 at a cost of £6,600 an inspection of the landmark building in 2005 revealed serious brickwork and metal corrosion.
The 85 church members immediately set themselves the task of raising money to carry out work on the spire, as well as pointing and guttering repairs.
The lowest tender for the repair work came in recently at £167,000 and as all but a few thousand pounds is in place the work has finally begun. Most of the funding is coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Impetus Landfill Trust and the Methodist Church’s property fund.
During the work, which is due to take about five months, the public can continue to use the main door in Diamond Street for access to the church.
Thought was originally given to removing the spire, but the building is listed by English Heritage as being of specific historic and architectural interest. Instead the top third of the tower and spire will be removed and rebuilt, largely with refurbished stone.

Saltburn Bank closed.

2008-03-02T11:06:00.003Z

Saltburn Bank will be closed for £50,000 essential maintenance work for five days from Monday, March 3. The road is having to be closed for health and safety reasons as there would not be enough space for safety zones to allow vehicles to pass the workmen if there were temporary traffic lights in place. The Council will undertake specialist work to replace the storm water drain which runs from the top of the Bank to the first bend, which has become damaged with age. To maximise the closure the Council will also carry out major resurfacing works on a badly damaged stretch of carriageway to tie in with the work that was done in 2004.

Road closure signs will be placed at Quarry Lane roundabout notifying drivers heading towards Brotton, Loftus and the bottom of Saltburn Bank to follow the signed diversion route along the A174. Drivers heading towards Redcar, Marske and the top of Saltburn Bank are to follow a signed diversion route again along the A174.
Access to the Spa Hotel and Teddy's Nook will be maintained where possible from the top of Saltburn Bank. The car park and businesses at the bottom of Saltburn Bank will be accessed via the signed diversion route along the A174 and Saltburn Road.

R&C Cabinet Member for Highways, Transportation and Planning, Councillor Mary Lanigan, said: "We apologise for the inconvenience that we know this closure will cause many drivers but it is absolutely essential that the repairs are carried out to this stretch of road, particularly for cyclists, before the busy Easter and Summer seasons."

Riftswood Footpaths Closed

2008-02-29T15:17:00.004Z

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have closed two footpaths this afternoon in Riftswood in Saltburn's Valley Gardens after two people needed hospital treatment. The incident happened in the early afternoon when a tree was blown down in the fierce winds. One person was taken to hospital by ambulance and a second needed to be freed by the fire and rescue service and paramedics before being flown to hospital by the air ambulance.

George Crooks, Redcar Fire Station manager, said: “The two ladies were walking a dog together in the park at Saltburn and a fairly substantial tree came down and hit both of them. The tree had broken into a number of parts. We believe an older tree had fallen and hit it. It broke some three to four metres up the trunk and fell right across the public walkway on to the ladies.” The firefighters involved included the retained crew from Saltburn. Mr Crooks commended the team. “The fire crews raised the tree sufficiently using manpower and levers. It was a very protracted and time-consuming incident, but had to be that way to ensure safety. The partnership approach was a huge success and will hopefully lead to the full recovery of both ladies."

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Leader Councillor George Dunning said: "This has been an extremely unfortunate accident due to the fierce swirling winds in the area. Our thoughts are with the two people who have been injured and we wish them a speedy recovery.We have evaluated the situation and taken the decision to close the two main paths, which both lead parallel from the Saltburn Woodland Centre to Marske Mill Lane because of the high winds and the forecast of more to come this weekend."

Surviving the fall! 200ft from the viaduct!

2008-02-07T20:03:00.000Z

A man plunged nearly 200ft from a Teesside landmark - and survived. The 35-year-old was seen to fall from the Saltburn viaduct on Saturday. Witnesses reported seeing his fall broken by trees - after which he hit the ground and rolled down into the water. A major rescue operation involving police, fire crews and road and air ambulance followed soon after 2.45pm.

Paul Thompson, Cleveland Fire Brigade Watch Manager at Saltburn station, whose crews were first on the scene, said: “It looks like he’s come off the viaduct, about 180ft, hit tree branches and rolled down a steep embankment. We rescued him from the water. He was conscious. He should count himself a lucky man.”
He said the plan for such an incident had been worked out by himself and colleagues a year ago.
He added: “The plan worked well. We had two appliances and the rope rescue team from Coulby Newham station along with police and ambulances.”
He said witnesses had reported hearing a rush of air and the crashing of tree branches prior to the man - believed to be from East Cleveland - hitting the ground.
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said a man was “poorly but stable” in James Cook University Hospital.
Saltburn Viaduct is the same height as the Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough, which is also 180ft.

R&C Strategic Housing Land Assessment Consultation

2008-01-04T15:38:00.000Z

The presentation of early plans for new houses in and around Saltburn has caused concern and confusion amongst many local residents. A number of residents attended a meeting of the Parish Council in December to listen to a short presentation given by a Redcar and Cleveland planner. However, as this was not a public meeting no input from the public was allowed. A spokesperson from Redcar and Cleveland council stressed that there were "currently no plans" to allocate any land between Saltburn and Marske for housing and that a public meeting would be held at some stage in the consultation process.

What is it all about?

A Strategic Housing Land Assessment has recently been completed by R&C Council and has been issued for consultation. The documentation provides a summary of an assessment of potential housing sites which has been undertaken as part of the preparation of the LDF Communities DPD (A Local Development Document in the Local Development Framework which forms part of the statutory Development Plan for the area). The Assessment comprises two documents – a main Report which sets out the purpose of the assessment and a summary of the findings, and supporting Site Assessment Tables. Both documents can be downloaded from the link below. Hardcopies of the Assessment are being made available to view at Belmont House, Guisborough and in public libraries.

SHLA Report and Site Location Maps.

New Years Honours - MBE for Local Historian.

2008-01-02T12:48:00.000Z

Salturn's local historian Tony Lynn, 77, was stunned to receive a letter from the Prime Minister’s office informing him he had been awarded an MBE for services to the community.
Mr Lynn, who has lived in Saltburn for 57 years, is chair of Saltburn Pier and Cliff Lift, a member of Saltburn 500 Club, president of the photographic society, chair of the Friends of Saltburn Library, and chair of the Friends of Hazel Grove.
He said his honour was recognition for all voluntary workers and he paid tribute to his wife Cath.
“I have a terrific amount of support and help from my best friend, my wife. It’s team work whatever we’re doing,” he said.
“I think Saltburn people are absolutely wonderful and I think that living here has given me a style of life I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.I never anticipated anything like this happening to me in my life time, I’ve never even thought of it.”

Polar Express!

2007-12-31T07:47:00.000Z

Visitors to Saltburn looked on in amusement as 36 year old Gareth Ellis, from Great Broughton, dressed himself in a red suit and strode up and down the shoreline pulling two heavy tyres and a rucksack.
Gareth is in training for The Polar Challenge - a 350-nautical mile sled race on foot to the Magnetic North Pole. Determined to help boost his expedition fees, Gareth decided to complete his training dressed as Santa Claus.
“Well it’s Christmas isn’t it?” he said as he headed towards Saltburn Pier.
Gareth has pledged to donate 30% of funds raised to the NSPCC, the Juvenile Diabetes Fund and research into polar bear habitats.
To support Gareth call 07740 078012

Road to the Isles!

2007-12-14T15:31:00.000Z

A special train will head for the Hebrides as the age of Pullman luxury returns to Saltburn.
For several years, Loftus GP Rob Dallara and friends have hired a plush train to take trippers from Saltburn on a yearly jaunt.
They’ve been to Fort William, Chester, Cornwall, Inverness and, earlier this year, Canterbury.
Now bookings are being taken for a four day trip on June 20-23 next year to Oban and the Western Isles.
The Saltburn Hebridean will feature Pullman coaches hauled by heritage diesel locomotives, posh nosh on the train and the choice of three or four star accommodation.
Only about 60 of the 270 seats remain for a trip which also includes optional excursions.
It’s planned the train will head for Oban in Scotland via Newcastle and Carlisle.
Tickets are £340 per person, excluding excursions.

Visit Saltburn Rail Tours for more information.

Late Summer ends.

2007-12-05T15:04:00.000Z

Tens of thousands of visitors flocked to Saltburn beach this mixed-weather summer, which officially ended in November with the cliff-lift shutting for the winter.
The lift, which had carried over 101,000 people up to last weekend, was kept open an extra month following a late burst of Indian summer weather. It was open all week to cater for school half-term holidays.
Last year it carried 102,000 visitors and its use is a barometer of Saltburn’s summer season business. The record number of passengers was 112,000 in 2001. “We’ve had more rain than sun this year and the Indian summer came a little late to help trade,” said veteran beach shop and café owner Edna Vernon. “On hot days we do quite well, but when it rains no one comes.”
Mrs Vernon has invested thousands of pounds in a new shop and takeaway at her rebuilt café near Cat Nab. It is due to open next March.
Nick Noble, who runs the surfing school and equipment hire side of Saltburn’s surf shop, said: “We've done well this year.” Colleague Gary Rogers said: “We’ve had a pretty good autumn and the surf has been tremendous. On a good day we’ve averaged 40 surfers, some from Leeds,
Cumbria and Durham.”
A Redcar and Cleveland Council spokesman said the cliff lift had taken over £49,000 for the year so far and the total expenditure was £67,750. “This is a fantastic and well-loved attraction and we welcome its continuing success.”
The spokesman said there was no planned opening date for the restaurant at the controversial foreshore building opposite the pier. Saltburn Foreshore Committee, made up of businesses and beach users, said it is looking forward to the opening of a community room at the newly-painted building.
Ten new dog and litter bins are to be placed on the lower promenade next spring.

Speciality Market and Christmas Lights Switch On

2007-11-10T11:10:00.000Z

For the start of the Christmas season Saltburn will be holding a two day speciality market on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th November from 10 am to 4pm.
The markets sell locally produced, high quality foods and gifts and were initially started to draw local residents’ attention to the excellent wares available from independent retailers on Saltburn’s traditional high street and the surrounding areas. The main market day will be on Saturday when the town switches on the Christmas lights at 5pm.
The speciality markets will include the ever popular organic meats, organic vegetables and locally produced chocolate delights. There will also be locally made gifts, cards, jewellery and candles as well as fairly traded gifts and a wide selection of traditional Christmas items. The long list of products includes delicious honey, herb vinegars, game, gourmet hampers, wine, jams and chutneys. So come along with all the family as this is the place to start your Christmas shopping.
To celebrate the biggest market ever in Saltburn the BBC bus will be visiting the town centre. There will be many family activities including Specky the clown, Punch and Judy and several brass bands generously provided by Saltburn 500 Club.
During the day children can make Christmas decorations at the market with the help of the Friends of Saltburn Library, the decorations will be used to dress Santa’s Grotto for when he visits the town in spectacular style at 5.15pm.
The Saltburn Christmas light switch on has always been a popular, annual, family event. This year to encourage the older children to join in the family festivities the Saltburn Agora Partnership has secured funding from Tees Valley Community Foundation’s Local Network Fund for a free ice rink in the town centre on Saturday 10am to 8pm and Sunday 10 am to 6pm. The artificial ice rink will feature music, decorations, artificial snow and even a skate coach. Up to thirty people can be on the 8m by 9m ice-rink at any one time.

Saltburn hit by tidal surge.

2007-11-10T10:48:00.000Z

Teesside’s coastline braced itself for the effects of a North Sea tidal surge caused by gale force winds and a high tide.
Saltburn was hit overnight on Thursday, with the coastline affected between 3am and 5am, but the flooding has now receded.
A clean-up operation began yesterday morning after the seafront was battered by storm waves. Rocks, sand, seaweed and other debris was tossed across the coast road by rough high tides.
The flooding subsided as the tide ebbed but the sea remained choppy. Catherine Scott, licensee at The Ship Inn in Saltburn, said: “We were really lucky as the tide came up the slipway but just to the edge of the entrance to the car park. The police and Coastguard were out all night, keeping an eye on the tide, to see how it was going. It has receded now, it has just left a lot of stones. Part of the road was closed during the night too, but that has reopened now.”
Saltburn Pier was also closed yesterday as a precaution.
The Humber Coastguard commented that they were aware of the floodwatch warnings in place and had taken the necessary precautions but stated that the worst of the surge had now passed.
The Environment Agency issued eight severe flood warnings, mainly in areas of southern England which were most at risk from the surge.

Pageant of Light

2007-11-01T15:44:00.000Z

Saltburn woods were lit by flickering lanterns when 2,500 people walked in the annual 'Pageant of Light' at dusk on Sunday, October 29th to the Woodlands Centre.
“It was a great event and everyone was well behaved,” said countryside ranger Neil Thirkell.
Numbers were well up on last year’s 1,000 walkers with everyone celebrating the end of British Summer Time and clocks going back an hour.
The theme of the event, which was organised by Redcar and Cleveland Council and the Friends of the Valley, was the 'Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.' “Three ‘fire-sculptures’ by artist Derek Mosey were a prominent feature, the Orion scouts from Guisborough entertained people in the tea gardens and the Saltburn-based Earthbeat Theatre Company was well received,” said Mr Thirkell.
Saltburn WI provided refreshments at the woodlands centre.
The Butterwick Children’s Hospice, of Stockton, raised about £300 through selling glow-sticks.

Bankside contoversy

2007-10-25T10:16:00.000+01:00

Concerns that a nightclub was on its way to a prominent Saltburn spot have been dismissed. The former Bankside pub is in the middle of a £450,000 refit prior to becoming Vista Mar, which is Spanish for sea view. But an application for a 3am licence provoked suspicion from some locals, who fear a noisy nightclub scenario.
That application has now been revised to 2am by Dave Stokes who will own and run the 'restaurant and concept bar', in conjunction with Enterprise Inns Ltd.

Some residents have voiced opposition to the bid for a licence to allow music, singing and dancing in the premises until 2am. These concerned residents are not opposed to developing the seafront and think the idea of a restaurant is a great idea but they are concerned that the late night concept, with a licence for music, singing and dancing until 2.am will lead to problems with noise and nuisance.

Mr Stokes, former tenant at Windsor’s bar in the town, said the site had been crying out for a good quality bar-restaurant. The development is not intended to be a nightclub - it’s a bar-restaurant where people can chill and enjoy good service in comfort. He added that there would be no dance floor, no DJs - just a background music system. He emphasised that the site had been an eyesore for some time and that everyone wanted something doing with it. Mr Stokes said he was happy to talk to anyone concerned about the plans. He stated that he was aware that the Bankside site had had its problems and a certain reputation over the years but his idea is to create an environment where people can have a good meal, a drink and enjoy the view in comfort. On the food side, Mr Stokes is employing three full-time chefs and providing an expanded kitchen. And so customers can drink in the sea view, a large balcony area, complete with floor to ceiling glass and an outside area, is being built.
The planned opening date is December 6.

No progress in developing Saltburn's Foreshore Building

2007-10-02T16:18:00.000+01:00

Local businessman Harry Meckiffe is furious at an apparent lack of progress in the successful utilization and use of Saltburn's Lower Promenade building. Mr Meckiffe opened a kite and extreme sports equipment shop in one of the building's commercial units in 2004. More than three years later his business is standing firm, but a restaurant and community room are still not open and another season has come and gone. Although the council says it is doing all it can to realise the buildings full potential Mr Meckiffe disagrees and he has even withheld rent from Redcar and Cleveland Council, claiming the terms of his lease aren’t being followed.
Mr Meckiffe, who is also a personal fitness trainer, has expressed his dismay at the fact that so little is being done with the building. “It costs more to maintain this way than if they got the place running properly. You’ve got a building here that looks derelict half the time. One visitor thought it was a water treatment works. At no point in its history have all the shutters been up and the building fully open.”
Mr Meckiffe chairs the Saltburn Foreshore Committee. The committee want the council to open the building, improve seafront maintenance and put some effort into development of the foreshore. As part of this remit Mr Meckiffe has contacted the Audit Commission over the lack of progress - a constant complaint since the building, originally costing £570,000, was mooted by the now defunct Saltburn Improvement Company in the late 1990s. Construction work was completed in 2002 but since then, funding and legal wrangles and even a water leak from the adjacent hillside have hampered progress.
The council’s Cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, Councillor Sheelagh Clarke, sympathised but said the authority was “doing all within its power to progress the situation so businesses within the building can thrive commercially”.
She explained the proposed restaurant was originally given a domestic gas supply “inadequate for the purpose of opening a restaurant”. British Gas is now due to fit the correct supply on October 20. The restaurant operator is also seeking planning permission to alter the unit’s façade.
She said the building would be cleaned and painted during the first week in October - work which will hopefully help secure a commercial operator for the currently vacant third commercial unit.

Another blooming year!

2007-09-20T15:44:00.000+01:00

Dazzling floral displays have helped two Teesside towns take gold and silver in this year’s Northumbria in Bloom competition.
Stockton celebrated a gold medal award in the “best city” category whilst Saltburn also came up smelling of roses in the annual competition by scooping a silver gilt medal for best coastal resort. Saltburn earned its silver gilt after judges were impressed by the enthusiasm of local people.
Special mention was given to Saltburn in Bloom stalwart Jackie Taylor for her tireless work in bringing together a “wonderful team”.
In July, when the NIB judges arrived to inspect the town, they were met with around 350 hanging baskets, bought through fundraising and sponsorship. They also took in the allotments, the new planting at Albion Terrace and the picnic area at Marine parade.
Jackie paid tribute to the loyal band of volunteers and thanked Redcar and Cleveland Council and Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council for their support.
This year marks the 20th time Saltburn has entered the regional floral competition organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, also winning silver gilt and named best coastal resort in 2006. Both Stockton and Saltburn are also representing the region in this year’s Britain in Bloom competition with the awards announced later this month.

Organism appears on Top Prom!

2007-09-08T18:29:00.001+01:00

A sculpture based on one of the world’s most vital sea organisms has arrived at Saltburn.
Organism, a sculpture by Teesside artist Andrew McKeown, has been installed on Saltburn’s Top Prom. It was inspired by microscopic sea organisms called diatoms - a single-cell algae which inhabits virtually all of the world’s aquatic environments. They are considered the most important of all plankton, as they form the basis of nearly all food chains in the oceans. As such, they are considered one of the most important organisms on the planet. Diatoms remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce approximately up to 50% of the world’s oxygen.
Individually, they are invisible to the naked eye but in large concentrations they are seen as brown or golden brown patches in the ocean. The sculpture is part of the Saltburn Top Prom Improvement Project and complements a fossil garden - with work also by Andrew McKeown - which was opened last year by Dr John Frood, chairman of Saltburn Forward.

Paraglider survives cliff crash

2007-08-25T08:13:00.000+01:00

A novice paraglider had a miraculous escape after smashing into the side of the cliffs near Saltburn on Thursday afternoon. The 46 year old, from Malton, is a member of two gliding clubs in the region. He had only just passed his Club Pilot’s Licence and has had only an hour’s air time since passing. Despite the conditions being perfect for gliding the pilot got too close to the ridge and hit it at about 20mph. Several other paragliders were in the air at the time and watched in horror as he hit Huntcliff. They called the emergency services. Humber Coastgaurd called in an RAF Helicopter from Boulmer because of the difficulty in getting the casualty from half way down the cliff to the cliff top to the ambulance.The injured pilot was winched to safety by a search and rescue RAF Sea King helicopter and was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital where he was admitted for observation but his injuries are not believed to be serious.
The incident took place just 300 yards from the Ship Inn and the area was sealed off while the crash was investigated. The incident has been referred to the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association which oversees pilot and instructor training standards.

Craft Show returns after 50 years

2007-08-24T08:14:00.000+01:00

This month Saltburn held it's first craft and produce show for over 50 years. The event was last held in 1953 and this month the organisers saw their hard work pay off when the Saltburn Craft and Produce Show was reborn. Mystery surrounds why the show ceased but with the efforts of volunteers and support from the community, the event was successfully re-launched on Saturday 18th August in the Emmanuel Church hall.
Helping in the celebrations was mine-clearing expert David Alderson, who lost a leg following an explosion in Lebanon, when he went to the aid of a shepherd who had become stranded in an unmarked minefield.
Saltburn-born Mr Alderson, whose heroic efforts made national headlines and won him a bravery medal from the Royal Humane Society, told the crowd: "I was very pleased to be asked to come and open this show, as it has not been held on a yearly basis since 1953. As you can see around the room, there is a lot of good stuff that local people produce - so enjoy it."

Methodist Church gets £63,000 Lottery Grant

2007-08-23T10:31:00.000+01:00

Saltburn Methodist Church, with its tower and distinctive eight-sided spire, was built in 1905 at a cost of £6,600, helped by £1,000 from the 20th Century Fund for Church Building. More than a century later, the Milton Street building’s future is again dependent on grant funding. In 2005 the building was inspected and concern was expressed that the lighning conductor might be broken. It was discovered that the lightning conductor was OK but there were serious reservations about the tower and spire. The brickwork needed repairs and there was a lot of metal corrosion. The Church is a listed building so money had to be found to pay for the repairs. The 85 church members set themselves the task of raising £109,000 to carry out the work on the spire as well as the additional pointing and guttering repairs. This time some of the cash is coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund. With the grant offer of £63,000 and nearly £40,000 they have raised themselves, they are just a few thousand short of the figure needed to pay for the crucial repairs. The Church members feel that the The Heritage Lottery grant is absolutely vital as once given Lottery fund approval, other trusts tend to be more willing to give money. It is hoped the work can begin later this year.

Tracking Saltburn's Industrial Heritage

2007-08-03T07:57:00.000+01:00

Maritime archaeologists and volunteers want to uncover more of Teesside's history during the next phase of survey work below Saltburn Cliffs. The surveyors will spend a week recording rutways - ruts cut into the bedrock - believed to be associated with the alum and ironstone industries between the 17th and 19th Centuries.
It is believed the rutways were cut to take the wheels of the Yorkshire carts, which were used to load and unload the ships and boats servicing the industry. The archaeologists and volunteers from Tees Archaeology, the Nautical Archaeology Society North-East and the Teesside Archaeological Society have already recorded a complex network of rutways, including sets of points, where tracks met or crossed.
Rachel Grahame, Tees Archaeology's project officer, said: "More than 100 years of constant coastal erosion has erased many of the rutways. It is important that we record what is left of a fast-disappearing aspect of Saltburn's industrial heritage."
Gary Green, regional co-ordinator of the Nautical Archaeology Society North-East, said: "We have had some excellent results, uncovering an impressive network of rutways stretching round to Skinningrove."

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2007-08-01T08:20:00.000+01:00

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