Saltburn Valley prepares for Pageant of Light

Saltburn Valley has begun preparations to celebrate the end of British Summer Time with a spectacular Pageant of Light on Sunday, October 29. The first in a series of workshops will take place at the Valley's Woodland Centre on Sunday, October 15, from noon til 3pm to make the pageant's illuminated banners. Countryside warden Neil Thirkell explained, "In conjunction with the Friends of the Valley, we're hoping to build on the success of last year's Pageant, which was a real spectacular, with over 600 people joining in the procession creating a wonderful atmosphere. We're planning to produce some banners for the procession with a 'minibeast' theme as part of the National Big Draw event, so come along and discover your creative side." There will be more workshops planned during the schools' half term holiday week, with a minibeasts theme, building up to the procession of music and light on Sunday, October 29, starting at 5.30pm from the Cat Nab car park to the Woodland Centre. The night’s entertainment is free, but a donations box will give proceeds to the Friends of the Valley.
Workshop times:

• Tuesday, October 24, 10am-noon, 1pm-3pm: Making minibeast lanterns.
• Wednesday, October 25, 1pm-3pm: Making percussion instruments.
• Thursday, October 26, 1pm-3pm: Making a bee headdress. £1.

Walking to America?

Students in Saltburn are walking to America.... without even leaving the seaside. The pupils, from Huntcliffe School, have been set the challenge of walking the 3,000 miles they would need to cover to reach a school in Maine. The miles are being clocked up during International Walk To School Month. Head of Year 7, Peter Wright explained, "We are being linked with a school in Maine. We're still waiting to find out the name of the school , but it's sure to be at least 3,000 miles away. We've got 104 students in Year 7 and I'm expecting half to be walking to school. Maybe more when they realise what we're doing, so I'm confident we'll get to 3,000 miles." Redcar and Cleveland Council is co-ordinating work among the borough's primary and secondary schools, linked to individual School Travel Plans, which are geared to reducing car use on the school journey. Councillor Eric Empson, commented, "We're delighted that for the first time all our 11 secondary schools are taking part in the campaign and also pleased that seven of those schools now have Travel Plans in place."

Litter fine dodge proves costly.

A Saltburn woman, who refused to pay fixed penalty fines for dumping black rubbish bags in a back alley in Saltburn, has now been ordered to pay four times the original fine after being taken to court by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council. The woman was prosecuted for leaving black rubbish bags in the alley at the back of her flat in the town's Pearl Street, an area that has recently suffered problems with fly tipping. She was offered the opportunity to pay the £50 fine, accepted it at the time, but never paid. Now Langbaurgh East Magistrates Court in Guisborough has ordered her to pay a £100 fine and £100 costs. The Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Councillor Joyce Benbow, said: "These are strict laws which we are determined to enforce whenever we can. We have given these powers, and our responsibilities, extensive publicity, and no-one can have any excuse for not being aware of the consequences if they choose to drop any form of litter." The Council's Community Safety Warden Service Manager Van Niekerk underlined the determination of the service to fine people under Section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or Section 3 (1) of the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996. He explained, "Depending on the severity of the offence, our Community Safety Wardens will take action, either by offering a fixed penalty notice or the person could be taken straight to court and prosecuted. And if people do not accept the fixed penalty, we will also prosecute to enforce our powers."

The future is bright

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is organising an ambitious multi-thousand pound programme of work to light up Saltburn. The work is in addition to a major lighting and illumination project which resulted in spotlighting the pier, the amusement arcade, the cliff lift – lighting the track and the cars – and the chalets from dusk to midnight. Following the success of this phase of the sceme the council is now looking at lighting features in the town centre. Planning permission is being sought to light up the 130 year old station portico and town clock, which is fifty years old. In addition the council is aiming to light steps leading from the top of the cliff-lift to the lower promenade, as well as lighting along the prom itself - at a suggestion from seafront traders.
The eventual aim of the council is to install lighting schemes across the borough but initial concentration is on Saltburn. A council spokesman said funding agencies wanted to see the benefit of lighting features being concentrated in one area and the focus was on Saltburn because of it's architecture. Other parts of Saltburn being looked at for inclusion in the scheme are the Zetland (former hotel and now apartments) and the Community Theatre.
The proposal for the foreshore building opposite the pier is to have white, green and blue lighting to represent waves. The lighting columns proposed for the Lower Promenade would be six metres high to provide a 'dramatic' effect with a minimum of lighting intensity rather than floodlighting. The Smuggler's Centre would feature a lit-up mermaid at the Ship Inn. At the Community Theatre, the effect would include a "gentle colour change". The Station portico scheme would offer an "attractive and safe environment for people entering the area" and there would be anti-pigeon spikes to avoid problems.


previous articles:- 'Illuminating' and 'Lighting our Culture -Phase 2'

Fresh Appeal by S.A.R.A charity

Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (Sara), is making a fresh appeal for financial help to bring their hopes of building an animal sanctuary to fruition. The charity has raised £407,000 towards establishing a home for strays, since it first launched it's sanctuary appeal in August 1999. While that money means the charity will be able to buy a site, volunteers now face the daunting task of raising a further £100,000 a year, to pay for the sanctuary's running costs. Feeding and maintaining between 50 and 60 abandoned dogs already costs Sara between £2,000 and £3,000 a month. The charity has just printed fresh appeal posters to be displayed in shop windows and veterinary surgeries appealing for help with running costs. Anne Prosser, Sara's chairwoman, said, "We are now seriously looking for a site and hope to find one before the end of this year, but with it being public money we have to make sure we find the right place. It is essential money is raised to help with anticipated running costs. Being able to raise £400,000, in the face of other demands on people's money, demonstrates backing for a sanctuary. However, we need to raise funds for running costs quickly, so the sanctuary can be set up quickly." The charity's second hand shop, which opened in Guisborough just over a year ago, has raised £29,000. "Everything is a step out in faith and we are just waiting to make the last jump," said Mrs Prosser.

Pet dog in 400ft cliff fall!

A pet Labrador had a lucky escape when it fell 400ft from the cliffs on Monday. The owners were walking the animal, called Jake, along the cliff top paths at Saltburn when he lost his footing and fell 400ft, sparking a rescue operation involving the coastguard and police. Skinningrove and Staithes Coastguard rescue teams were sent to the scene, as well as an emergency vet. The dog was found on the beach at the foot of the cliffs relatively safe and well. However, on the walk back up to the cliff top, his owner experienced severe pain in his chest and plans had to be put into place to airlift him to hospital. This very unusual state of events meant that the rescue team had to ensure the owner of the dog received appropriate medical attention as quickly as possible, while the dog received attention from the vet.

addendum: Sadly Jake, a collie cross, who initially appeared to have only minor injuries when he was recovered from the bottom of HuntCliff, by the coastguards and emergency vet James Haddow, has died. Mr Haddow said, "I carried the dog all the way back. It had chest injuries and was having breathing difficulties." At the surgery Jake was put on a drip and a duty vet kept a check on it. Mr Haddow added: "His clot must have moved, he had problems breathing and he slipped away about 11pm. We were all very sorry." The dog's owner was airlifted by an RAF Sea King search and rescue helicopter from Leconfield to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and is said to be recovering today and is in a "comfortable" condition.

A Humber coastguard spokesperson said: "We would like to remind the public when walking their dogs along a cliff to always put their animals on a lead and if they do find themselves in any difficulty with the dog having gone over the cliff to ring 999 and ask for the coastguard."

Fossil Garden Project completed

Work on Saltburn's Top Promenade was celebrated yesterday as organisers cut the ribbon to mark the completion of the environmental improvements at the site. The project, headed by community group Saltburn Forward, has increased access to the Cliff Lift for users with mobility difficulties. The top prom now has an access ramp to the lift, an improved flight of steps, railings and benches. Two sculptures, two telescopes and lighting are still to come. Saltburn Forward was set up in partnership with Groundwork South Tees, which secured funding over a number of years to improve the area. And with funds provided by Impetus Waste Management, a fossil garden has also been created. Local artist Andrew McKeown worked with pupils from Huntcliff School to design the garden, in a new landscaped area on the site. Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "I am really pleased to see the plans have become a reality. In the past, I have had a lot of representation about the need for disabled access in Saltburn. This project will provide full mobility to residents and visitors to the area and is a great example of partnership working."
Many local residents remain skeptical about the development of the site as other access pathways to the Lower Promenade remain closed and continue to deteriorate. The Cliff Lift has seen an increase in usage and council revenue following the closure of cliff paths following storm damage and landslip and the local authority continues to come under criticism about the apparent neglect of Saltburn's prime assest - the sea front.

Previous articles - Harry speaks out... and Clifftop access blocked.