Cliff path re-opens

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has completed work to reopen the footpath which links Saltburn's Marine Parade to the lower promenade. The £30,000 scheme, undertaken by the Council's highways partner, Alfred McAlpine, has included replacing damaged steps, repairing the handrails and permanently closing off obsolete parts of the footpath. After violent storms in 2000 landslips forced the closure of the two footpaths from Marine Parade to the lower promenade, opposite Emerald Street and Pearl Street, to the general public. The Council commissioned geotechnical advice that recommended the footpath opposite Emerald Street could be re-opened following remedial works, but the footpath opposite Pearl Street should be permanently closed due to the continued danger from landslips. Work on the footpath opposite Emerald Street started in October and was completed last month, removing the landslip material from the existing steps, re-grading the slopes and removing the overgrown vegetation from the steps. Now more repairs on the steps have been carried out to allow the footpath to reopen. The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick said:"Now I'm sure the restoration of the path will be appreciated by everyone and is also bound to be a real asset in the summer, adding another access route from Marine Parade to the prom."

Controversy over the Pearl Street access will continue as many residents believe that the landslip problems can be overcome in much the same way as they have been in nearby Whitby if the Council was prepared to recognise the need for continued support in developing the sea front as a major asset for the town rather than allow the years of neglect to continue.