MP hits back on Town Deal
MINISTER ACCUSED OVER ‘CARVE UP’
REDCAR MP Jacob Young has hit back at criticism that he has failed to act over the “carving up” of planned Town Deal regeneration projects.
Redcar and Cleveland councillor Carl Quartermain, the cabinet member for highways and transport, said he was “extremely disappointed” that some elements had been withdrawn from the £25m scheme. He suggested Conservative Mr Young, who is a minister within the Government’s Levelling Up department, should have “fought and applied for the funding required to protect the integrity of the projects”.
The MP replied that it was a “great shame that Cllr Quartermain has chosen to frame this collaborative effort to improve Redcar as a matter for petty party politics” and also said his administration was responsible for not continuing to fund free car parking in Redcar.
Last week it was announced that a £250,000-plus revamp for 14 terraced properties in Newcomen Terrace, Redcar, providing a colourful Balamory-style facelift, was being dropped after agreement could not be fully reached with all of the buildings’ owners.
Public realm improvements planned in Station Road, which runs from the train station to the Regent cinema on the seafront, including resurfacing footpaths, new tree planting and lighting have fallen foul of inflation – which has made materials and labour more expensive – and have been withdrawn because the cost can no longer be met within budget.
A proposed illuminated feature light along the centre of the High Street, which was to recognise Redcar’s link with the Plimsoll line used by ships all over the world, also won’t now proceed for the same reason.
In a Facebook post, Labour’s Cllr
Inflation, unfortunately, has been a fact and adjustments have been made MP Jacob Young
Quartermain, who represents the Coatham ward, claimed other elements had been previously withdrawn, including new access on to the beach at Coatham and street scene improvements in Queen Street.
He wrote: “Extremely disappointed about Redcar’s Town Deal projects being carved up even more.
“Why hasn’t Jacob Young MP, who is a minister within the Levelling Up department – the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up, no less – fought and applied for the funding to protect the integrity of the projects?
“This hasn’t just crept up on us. Inflation has been impacting for a long time. Redcar deserves so much more than an MP who works in the department expecting us to simply be content with cut-up projects and what’s left. “It is not good enough.” Mr Young was previously a member of the Town Deal board, made up of local business people, elected representatives and other prominent figures in the town, which has the task of drawing up projects using the £25m worth of Town Deal funding secured in 2021.
The MP, who stepped down from the board after taking up his levelling up post, said: “It’s a great shame that Cllr Quartermain has chosen to frame this collaborative effort to improve Redcar as a matter for petty party politics – anyone would think there was an election coming up.
“When I see all the hard work that the town board have put into getting projects over the line, such as the investment in Coatham and at Redcar & Cleveland College (where a clean energy education hub has been developed), I feel an immense sense of gratitude and pride.
“Inflation, unfortunately, has been a fact and adjustments have been made in line with reality. But we’re delivering and the external demolition of the former M&S and Goodwins buildings is due to start this month.”