Thursday, 17 April 2014

Coatham Dunes - A plea to Redcar residents from FRED - Friends of Redcar



*Updated 22nd March 2015* 
This is a plea to every Redcar resident and anyone else who cares. Start filling out this form and complain https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Forms.nsf/ComplaintForm_3?readform

Please share and sign our petition 


Redcar campaigners hit the beach in a push for safer dunes http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/redcar-campaigners-hit-beach-push-8896669#ICID=sharebar_twitter

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Check out our videos here:


As you may know we already have 100's of images of building material on Redcar beach from Coatham to Zetland. Well early this year (2014) we also received tons of pictures of Coatham Dunes. 

 

These pictures are from same location. One looks West, the other East. The East side requires lots of attention. 

http://friendsofredcar.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-plea-to-redcar-residents-from-fred.html


These images we're so serious we took over a complaint to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) from a third party on the 7th August 2014. The HSE had their Principle Officer looking into it but have delivered no action that improves this site. (February 2015 see link below)


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This issue has been clearly identified by us but there has been no foreseeable action. We are not prepared to sit back and do nothing over such a dangerous area. What on earth is RCBC thinking of, how have we let this go on for so long and how much longer are we going to risk injury to our children and visitors?


Please share and sign our petition 


How did they/we allow our beach area around Coatham dunes to become this bad without any thought to keep it safe for weekends and holidays and for our kids to play on. Why isn't this area safe and clean?


Please share and sign our petition http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/conserve-coatham-dunes 

Heartbreaking doesn't begin to describe this mess. We'd sort it ourselves if the funding was available to hire heavy equipment and we were able to remove these vast heavy objects, remove all the broken glass and cover over with sand.


The dunes are made up of broken masonry from the 1980's. These are landfill sites that we allow our children to play on. Dissipating sand has revealed the truth. This will only get worse over time if we continue to do nothing.


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If you don't care, who will? Who will sort out our beach if you don't push for it? Councillors who have little interest or influence? Decision makers who don't live in Redcar and who rarely visit the beach or view this issue important? Make a difference. Your action is important. https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Forms.nsf/ComplaintForm_3?readform


Please share and sign our petition 


It has to be Redcar residents who champion this. That means you. You, reading this right now. Please act, this is wrong. https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Forms.nsf/ComplaintForm_3?readform


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Redcar is roughly around the same size as Scarborough - they manage their beaches and without any support from hugely profitable industries living on their doorstep.


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Redcar belongs to us - own it! The beach is all of ours to enjoy. Reclaim our beach back from this unbelievable mess. https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Forms.nsf/ComplaintForm_3?readform


Please share and sign our petition 


Our kids and their kids deserve a decent home and it's down to YOU. How can you make a difference? Complain. https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Forms.nsf/ComplaintForm_3?readform


Please share and sign our petition 


Please, please, please - ACT. If this matters to you, share this blog with your social media community and ask them to share it too.


Please share and sign our petition



Please go here and complain. https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Forms.nsf/ComplaintForm_3?readform  

 Take you own photos and complain and keep complaining until we have a council willing to listen.


Please share and sign our petition 


Post and repost, tweet, like and share. Start this ball rolling and keep it rolling until things change for the better. Tell the press. Raise awareness and get published.


Please share and sign our petition 


Apathy is a loud statement that says "I don't care". And if you don't, if there is no pride, then here we are living it because when we say nothing - it's the same as saying "It's ok".


Please share and sign our petition 


Together we can change our culture. Please break the mould and act now. Don't moan without action - tell the right people. https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Forms.nsf/ComplaintForm_3?readform


Please share and sign our petition 


Remember, we have elected representatives. Are they doing anything about this? Have they been on the dunes? Who's your representative? 


These pictures were taken right outside the caravan park where the holiday kids will be playing as well as locals who walk with their families. It's at best a claim and at worst a death trap.


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Would you let your children play here. These do. We see kids doing somersaults and handstands here. Did you know this is what they're playing amongst?



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Barefooted amongst glass and debris. Please complain. Surely this should stop?  






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Here is a suggestion. Preserve and rebuild the dunes and allow wildlife to thrive. 





Thank you.

 Our beach, our town, our home - Redcar

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Location: Redcar Redcar

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

FREDs Redcar Beach inspection 9th April 2014 - Complaint part 7





FRED have been back on Redcar beach examining the building debris with the Environment Agency (EA),  Birse (now Balfour Beatty) and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (RCBC). 

The rubble and materials left over along Coatham and Zetland from the Coastal Defence project is a real eyesore and a hindrance to Redcar's tourism, residents, businesses, visitors and event organisers. 

Coatham
Zetland




To progress the complaint, FRED met officials on the 9th April to find a way forward. Carl Quartermain and Angela Garbutt of FRED showed Alan Cadas and James Mead of the EA, Simon Kirtlan of Birse and Stuart Ainsley of RCBC the extent of the problem with a beach walk that stretched from the TunedIn building in Coatham to The Stray in Zetland.

Redcar Beach has so much potential. It's tough sand is ideal for numerous events. Long panoramic  shots look great but don't reveal areas unbecoming of a vibrant and forward thinking seaside town.

FRED believes there is a total lack of care and a 'degeneration' to the beach area that's been going on for years but incredibly has been exasperated following the 'regeneration' work.


 Carl Quartermain, FRED Chairman said, "The main point we wanted to demonstrate was that the problem isn't down to tidal drift or the consequences of years of development. Much of the rubble is left over from the breakup of the previous seafront as well as materials Birse used to build the new one. Many pieces are far too large to have just floated here in any case.

During preparation for the Atonement movie  there was a clear beach. Bottom Left  of this picture is a slipway that has subsequently been broken up. Many remnants of this, as well as the previous defence, seafront paving and brickwork from Coatham to Zetland remain on the beach.
"If what we are looking at is tidal drift or from decades of development then it shouldn't discriminate from distributing itself in the only section that is clear of this problem along the new defences - the commercial area along the Esplanade.

"Before the breakup of the previous defences and the Turner Street slipway, the East side of the Regent Cinema was rubble free. Today it resembles a building site.

 "What we have is a stockpile of rubble, bricks, felt, building sand and building fabrics from the bandstand next to the boating lake all the way around the Regent and up to the Beacon. 

Redcar beach is dogged by this fabric which shows up at Coatham and Zetland and is often half buried and impossible to shift by hand


FRED Redcar - Friends of Redcar
Redcar Beach when LEO's was where the Beacon stands today families would set up wind breakers and bathe around this point. Today unless they want to be sat amongst building rubble and fabrication they just wouldn't bother.

"When LEO's was where the Beacon stands today families would set up wind breakers and bathe there. Today, this isn't comfortably possible. 

"Before the work, families could typically bathe anywhere along the coastline right up to The Stray. Unless you don't mind sitting on the stepped defences in your shoes looking out on broken bricks and concrete, it'snow only possible at two points; Majuba (where incidentally no regeneration work took place) and of course the Esplanade, commercial area. 



Inexplicably clear of the rubble that is
found either side of this commercial area

"Remarkably the rubble inexplicably clears, to a CLEAN section of beach in front of the 'commercial area' where unsurprisingly no demolition took place and the new defence steps were built over the previous defences.

"This clear sand area remains until the Zetland museum area. Then another trail of building materials begins which continues onto The Stray where regeneration work also took place. The Zetland area can only be described as a landfill.

"During the inspection Birse vowed to provide a couple of workmen and spend a couple of days with FRED on the beach. However they have stated they will not bring mechanical diggers.

"We appreciate all the help we can get but made it quite clear that this wouldn't even scratch the surface." Carl said. 
Building felts are found all over along with buried concrete and bags of building sand

"Our own efforts have removed around 40 tonnes of material and we're nowhere near shifting it. We've determined that land clearance for the beach using heavy machinery would cost between £700 and £1000 per day and would be required on at least eight sections of beach and possible take up to two weeks.

"We have asked The RCBC, the EA and Birse to help us find a solid solution and suggested providing FRED the funding to order the clean up ourselves. 

"To be honest they all appear to be at a loss as to what to do, in relation to any real clean-up operation following the celebrated and extensive Flood Alleviation work they've done. 

"On the face of it both the RCBC and EA are seemingly allowing Birse who are advertised as a responsible contractor, to leave Redcar having buried all manner of building materials along the coastline from Coatham to Zetland. Why? 

"Because following the £30 million+ regeneration of the seafront, cleaning the beach afterwards and truly realising Redcar's potential as a tourism hotspot was overlooked, unplanned for and subsequently buried along with the masonry - to Redcar's detriment and shame."



We'll keep you posted. For the full transcript of our ongoing complaint, click on here. 

 If you don't like this article please do like we do and follow this link. Cheers.
https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Forms.nsf/ComplaintForm_3?readform




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Thursday, 3 April 2014

Invitation for Friends of Redcar to inspect beach with the Environment Agency




Friends of Redcar (FRED) has been invited to meet up on the 9th April to inspect the beach again with the Environment Agency(EA) with a view to clear up this mess once and for all. 

 As you know we've had an ongoing complaint about the building materials on our beach following the work carried out by Birse. The ongoing saga has been catalogue here - http://friendsofredcar.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html

 Our goal is simple we want a clean beach and we would like Birse (now Balfour Beatty) to bring diggers, skips and crews to come and clear it up. 

 As always we'll keep you posted. If anyone would like to join us to voice their constructive opinion please let us know and we'll give you the details. 

 Below is the latest reply from the EA
Dear Carl

Further to recent correspondence the site management team is making a return visit to Redcar on Wednesday 9th April to review follow up works to the project.  We will look then to programme in the beach clearance visit shortly after.

I hope that we can meet at some time during that day, we can be flexible on time. If you could get back to me if that is convenient and keep Alan copied in.

Thanks and regards

James

James Mead
Project Manager
Redcar Flood Alleviation Scheme
Friends of Redcar
Our beach, Our town, Our Home - Redcar
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Location: Redcar, Redcar and Cleveland, UK

FRED, TSB and ASDA Redcar April 2014 Beach Action


JOIN FRIENDS OF REDCAR



WITH TSB REDCAR 

ON SATURDAY 10AM TO 12PM 

AT THE BANDSTAND 
FOR A LITTER PICK


AND LATER 




And 12:30PM TO 4PM

 AT ASDA
 ROSEBERRY SQUARE, REDCAR
FOR BAG PACKING

 TO HELP RAISE REDCAR'S IMAGE AND KEEP OUR BEACH TIDY

LET'S BE PROUD OF OUR TOWN


Our beach, Our town, Our Home - Redcar
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Location: Redcar, Redcar and Cleveland, UK
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