Common plan split town from the outset (From The Northern Echo)

Common plan split town from the outset

10:44am Wednesday 4th April 2007 in News

THE moment the plans for the Coatham Common development came off the drawing board, Redcar was a town divided.

The biggest single development ever proposed for the seaside town led to a prolonged and, at times, bitter wrangle between the borough council and objectors, led by Redcar resident and former stand-up comedian Chris McGlade.

The council has always maintained that the housing planned for the site was the only way the town could get the leisure facilities it so badly needs.

The ruling coalition backed the plans, despite claims that the town was not in need of more housing and that the site had been designated as open land to be maintained as public leisure space.

Campaigners maintained that the housing would ruin the seafront and put more pressure on the town's already congested and inadequate transport system.

The council said that would be countered by the leisure facilities breathing new life into the town, creating up to 200 jobs and increasing the number of visitors.

Accusations of political point-scoring abounded, and public meetings ended in uproar, with slanging matches commonplace.

A survey commissioned by the council in December 2005 found that most people in the borough were in favour of the plans.

A house-to-house survey, conducted by market research company NWA Social Research, found that only 21 per cent of people were against the development.

The scheme also had the approval of youngsters at an event held at the City Learning Centre, in nearby Eston, Middlesbrough.

More than 80 per cent of the 11 to 19-year-olds present gave Coatham Links their backing.

About 72 per cent thought it would make Redcar a better place to live, work or visit, with that figure rising to 76 per cent in a questionnaire sent to youth clubs and schools in the area.

Councillor Vera Moody, the then cabinet member for economic development, said: "This research reinforces what people have been telling us - that they want the Coatham Links scheme."

The attempt to block the development saw campaigners fighting to have the Coatham site designated as a village green.

But after a six-day inquiry, an independent Government inspector recommended their application be rejected.

Efforts to make the matter the subject of a judicial review were rejected in the High Court.

Campaigners organised a protest march in October last year, attended by more than 300 objectors.

The march was backed by Redcar MP, Vera Baird, who accused the council of not being open about the plans.

In a letter read to the marchers, Mrs Baird said: "I feel that this council has failed because it has not been open in providing answers to legitimate questions.

"By not being open and transparent, and trying to keep people in the dark, the council has only created an atmosphere of distrust."

Those feelings were evident at yesterday's planning committee meeting to determine the application.

Objectors were adamant that the decision was flawed and that no matter what arguments they raised, the decision was a foregone conclusion.

Despite the planning committee giving the scheme the go-ahead, the developer has one last hurdle to clear.

Because the proposed development is not within the area adopted by the local plan, the matter has to be referred to the Government Office North East for final approval