Threats made against opposition of new arena in Redcar

Earlier this month it was confirmed that Redcar and Cleveland Council had agreed terms to lease land at Coatham for the project being piloted by Coatham Arena Limited (CAL), whose directors count a number of local businessmen among them.

But while there has been strong local support in the form of a petition with thousands of signatures and a previously packed out public meeting, some living in the vicinity of where the arena could be built are against the plans and are expected to object if and when a planning application is brought forward.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has been in contact with residents who, while unwilling to be named, have alleged they have been  threatened after speaking out.

Coatham Bowl, latterly known as Redcar Bowl, was demolished in 2014 (Image: LDR)

One woman said: “We have been threatened with having dog faeces put through our letterboxes if we continue to object.”

She said the continued proposal was causing a “lot of stress and upset” and when attempts had been made to contribute to any debate online over the planned scheme its critics had been removed from popular Redcar-based Facebook groups.

The resident said: “Sadly, we have been silenced, ignored, threatened and told our opinion is not of value.”

She said there were fears about there not being enough parking provision, access for residents and the impact on amenity, including noise and potential overlooking of homes, with local ward councillors “failing to offer a voice for us”.

CAL lengthily rebutted similar criticism over its plans last year by members of an independent group which formed part of the previous administration on the council until May.

The group said it had “serious concerns” about the location – the site of the former Coatham, later Redcar Bowl – and the arena could “dwarf” surrounding homes in Newcomen Terrace and Queen Street, while causing “massive detrimental changes” to residents’ quality of life.

It also questioned how the multi-million pound cost of an arena would be funded.

Representatives of Coatham Arena Limited previously pictured at the former Coatham Bowl site in Redcar (Image: LDR)

Another resident, who lives in Newcomen Terrace, said: “I can confirm [there have been] threats.

“Me and my neighbours are dead set against the arena.”

He said stress levels among residents unhappy with the scheme were at “breaking point”.

Coatham ward councillor Carl Quartermain told the LDRS: “With all projects you will have people for them, against, and people who aren’t really that bothered one way or another.

“But we all have to be respectful of each other’s point of view.”

Meanwhile, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner, who is a non-executive director of CAL and also lives in Redcar, said there would be lots of opportunity for people to comment and air concerns with a public consultation planned.

Mr Turner also said there was a “lot of water to go under the bridge” before an arena could be built.

In a statement a spokesman for CAL said it did not condone the alleged behaviour and would not encourage such actions.

He said: “We are perfectly comfortable with the expression of views and concerns about the development, but hope they are based on facts and the proposals actually being put forward.”

The spokesman said CAL was “anxious to be a good neighbour” and had committed to spending £75,000 on the public consultation exercise referenced by Mr Turner prior to the submission of a planning application.

Members of the public watch on during a presentation at a public meeting in Redcar over the Coatham arena proposals (Image: STUART ARNOLD)

The spokesman said: “Our negotiations with the local authority have been extremely detailed and thorough, addressing a great many matters which will continue to be reviewed as we move forward.”

Referencing some of the specific concerns about the development, he said any noise and disturbance would be “minimised by design, technological applications, limitation on construction times, effective stewarding and vegetational screening”.  

Architectural consultants would also take into consideration, in the design of the building, its visual impact and the potential for overshadowing.

The spokesman said that CAL had committed to producing a transport strategy as part of any planning application.

He claimed that similar arena developments elsewhere had resulted in a rise in local property values and in Redcar’s case could generate £42m a year for the area.

Announcing earlier this month that a heads of terms agreement had been reached, CAL said the project would be privately funded with the council receiving an annual rent payment, business rates and car parking income.

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Chairman Frankie Wales said: “Our agreement with the council provides the foundation for the granting of a 125-year lease option on the land and is tremendous news for Redcar and the wider region.

“It is welcomed by our many supporters, local businesses and the events industry and allows us to now move forward with a detailed planning application in the expectation it will open by 2028.”

Council leader Alec Brown said the project could provide a “huge boost” to the local economy, potentially securing hundreds of jobs and thousands of visitors.

The former Coatham Bowl, whose capacity was around 900 people, once played host in its heyday to the likes of Chris Rea, Whitesnake, Slade and Ozzy Osbourne, but was demolished in 2014.