Redcar & Cleveland area set for improvement with £3m environment scheme

A £3m programme to improve the Redcar & Cleveland Borough area is entering a new phase.

This year plans for improvements to parks will be a key focus of the council’s Public Realm scheme.

Public Realm is designed to make relatively small scale, environmental improvements to public buildings, roads, parks, pathways, signage and more. It is entering its third and final phase, said to conclude in 2021.

The programme has already completed 85 schemes ranging from major highway improvements, renovating cenotaphs and new lighting.

Councillor Bob Norton, cabinet member for economic growth, said: “It’s not only the bigger schemes but the smaller projects which can have a big impact…

“For example, a new footpath link at Teesville has really helped people get out and about and a new picnic area at Saltburn Valley Gardens is really well used.

“The community engagement is also fantastic from all our councillors to hundreds of members of the public who have come up with some good, practical suggestions.”

Another 65 are still in progress and are due to be completed by 2021. They include: a £115k plan to improve four play parks in East Cleveland; a £72,500 project to improve Westgate Park in Guisborough; £30k to improve Rosedale Play Area, Nunthorpe; and £50k for improvements to South Park Wood, Normanby.

Other bigger projects planned for this year include £40k plans to improve Saltburn’s woodland walkway as well as improving the drainage throughout the woodland from Hazel Grove to the promenade.

This is said to include the re-installing a new wooden footbridge and replacing handrails on a second bridge.

Since 2014, more than 1,000 feasible schemes have been put forward by councillors via the public.