Saltburn Bank closed.

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

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!

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

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.