Saltburn Ward Newsletter March 2014

Councillor Stuart Smith
stuart.smith@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Contact no. 07557 540628

PURCHASE OF CHILDREN BOOKS FOR SALTBURN LIBRARY The three Saltburn Ward Councilors’ have agreed to fund the purchase of 70 new children’s books for ages 0 – 5 for Saltburn Library from their Ward Councilors’ fund .

RESUMPTION OF GARDEN WASTE COLLECTIONS The collection of garden waste has resumed from the 1st March. This waste is collected together with the blue recycling waste bin.

BIG STEP TOWARDS CLEANING UP THE SALTBURN GILL
The Coal Authority working in close partnership with the Saltburn Gill Action Group and the Environment Agency has successfully halted the worst of three flows of polluted water from the abandoned ironstone mines of East Cleveland. Mine water has flowed from old mine workings to the south of Saltburn since 1999 causing severe pollution of the Saltburn Gill and Skelton Beck. The unsightly orange stream flowed over the beach and into the North Sea. The Saltburn Gill Action Group was set up by concerned local residents with help from the Environment Agency to raise the profile of the problem; The Coal Authority became involved initially in an advisory capacity in 2008 to guide the group through a feasibility study. During the summer of 2013 the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) funded the Coal Authority to pump water from the mines to halt the polluting outflows. This water is partially cleaned up as it passes through the first stage of a treatment scheme built by the Coal Authority. The treatment works are clearly visible on the opposite side of the Skelton –by-pass road opposite the new Asda store. Due to the Coal Authority treatment scheme the worst of the polluting flows has been halted. It will continue to pump in order to dry up all the mine water pollution. In 2014, a large wetland will be added to the treatment scheme to remove iron from the water using natural processes before the treated water is returned to the Gill. These reed beds will provide both filtration of the mine water to remove iron particles and a new environment for wildlife in the area and will restore the Gill into a place where nature can thrive once again.

SALTBURN LEISURE CENTRE IMPROVED VISITOR NUMBERS The numbers of visitors to Saltburn Leisure Centre are at a record high under the new operators ‘Everyone Active’. To date from the 1st April 2013 there have been 266,000 visits, an increase of 33,000. Everyone Active have invested over 400K in Saltburn Leisure Centre creating a new fitness suite, a larger dance studio, completely refurbished dry-side changing rooms, redecorated reception, improvements to the external appearance and undertaken the refurbishment of the Parish Council office and chamber which are located in this building. They have also increased the choice and numbers of fitness classes available at the centre.

CUT THROUGH FROM THE CRESCENT TO PIG ALLEY
The three Saltburn Ward Councillors lobbied hard for the reopening of this popular used walkway between The Crescent and Marske Mill Lane after the owners Coast and Country Housing closed it on safety grounds. This resulted in the resurfacing of the cut and the replacing of new safety bollards.

UPDATE ON REFURBISHMENT OF DRIVERS STATION CLIFF LIFT
Work commenced on the 24 February and will take 6 weeks to complete.