PLANS to dramatically improve an east Cleveland mining museum have taken a big step forward after an £800,000 grant bid went through to the next stage.

But there was disappointment for campaigners attempting to create a new theatre in Redcar after their £500,000 grant application was rejected.

A further seven projects from the Redcar and east Cleveland area were also rejected by the Government-backed Coastal Communities Fund (CCF), but it is expected many will be resubmitted.

The successful initial bid from Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum in Skinningrove, means the CFF generally approve of the proposal and agree there is a need. However museum staff must now produce a business plan and provide more detail.

Graham Banwell, project manager at the museum, explained that in March another first phase bid, also for £800,000, for the same project was approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) but the HLF also need more detail before handing over the money.

If both the CCF and the HLF grants are eventually fully approved work on expanding the museum, creating a classroom for 60 children, building new offices and state-of-the-art archive collection and storage space with better public access will start next October.

Mr Banwell, who explained that visitor numbers are up despite part of the underground mine space being temporarily closed, said: “It’s good news. To get through the first round is probably the most difficult part. They’ve got to like the idea. We will now be working very hard on the second part of the bids.”

There is bad news for a Redcar Development Trust plan to turn Coatham Memorial Hall into a theatre. It was one of eight funding bids turned down by the CFF although details of the other seven have not yet been provided.

Councillor Carl Quartermain, the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Leisure, vowed to help the various projects try again. He said: “We are really pleased for the museum and we were pleased to help and assist in the submission of this bid, and look forward to the development going ahead in bricks and mortar terms.

“Success in Skinningrove has come alongside the rejection of a number of schemes in Redcar. But we don’t intend to just give up and go home after this setback. There will be a new opportunity to submit these bids again as well as other possible bids from the Redcar area...The deadline for the next round of bids is likely to be June and July 2017...We will work to see if they can be strengthened.