Councillor ‘dismayed’ at lack of talks over funds bid

A COUNCILLOR says he is “dismayed” at the extent to which he has been involved with a multimillion pound Government levelling up fund bid being prepared by Redcar and Cleveland Council.

Guisborough ward councillor Bill Clarke said he’d had to make do so far with two one-hour meetings with council officers.

On Friday the council confirmed the outline of its bid, which will include £8m to help the retail and commercial regeneration of Eston, £8m for a new pool in Eston and the wider regeneration of the Normanby Road site and £4m to deliver a cycle/footpath route linking the Teesworks site to Eston and the south of the borough and one from Guisborough to Nunthorpe.

Another £20m bid, which is being made jointly with Middlesbrough Council, will include £13.7m to help deliver town centre and public realm improvements in Guisborough, as well as improved accessibility to Teesworks and the North York Moors National Park.

It is also hoped to secure £1m to develop a business case to deliver a transport hub in the Guisborough/Nunthorpe area and £5m for a highway scheme at Newham Grange to help unlock the site for additional housing.

Coun Clarke, said at a council meeting: “I was promised that we would all be involved in these bids. I don’t call two one-hour meetings with officers being involved with the levelling up bid.”

Cabinet member for economic development Coun Christopher Gallacher said: “Following last year’s unsuccessful bids to the Levelling Up Fund, the council has acted upon feedback from civil servants and ensured the revised bids are more focused on the need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity and regeneration.”