Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

Politicians in Redcar and Cleveland have expressed disappointment that the area will remain under the highest level of restrictions.

Jacob Young, Conservative MP for Redcar, said:"People across Redcar and Cleveland have worked incredibly hard to get the virus down.

"I am incredibly disappointed and frustrated that we are not being separated from the rest of the Tees Valley when our numbers justify us being placed into tier two.

"But now we are where we are, I urge everyone to keep doing what we're doing - it is working to bring infections down."

His view was echoed by the council's independent leader, Councillor Mary Lanigan,

She said: "We are disappointed the government has not recognised the huge effort from everybody in our borough to keep themselves and others safe, and to restrict the spread of the virus."

Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "The Tees Valley has made huge strides over the last month and if this progress continues, we will need to revisit the question at the next review point in two weeks.:

"But the most important thing now is that we stick by the rules that are designed to keep ourselves and others safe."

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Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "The Tees Valley has made huge strides over the last month and if this progress continues, we will need to revisit the question at the next review point in two weeks.:

"But the most important thing now is that we stick by the rules that are designed to keep ourselves and others safe."

A pilot programme of rapid Covid-19 testing is under way in Redcar.

The community testing pilot is being held in Grangetown community hub to help protect people most at risk.

The lateral flow tests will give a result in about 30 minutes

Redcar and Cleveland Council says testing will be expanded across the borough in the new year.

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People showing symptoms of coronavirus are asked not to attend for a test.

Redcar is to start community testing for coronavirus next week.

Grangetown Community Hub will be providing lateral flow tests to asymptomatic residents for five days from Monday.

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The tests use a saliva sample and provide results within about 20 minutes.

However a positive result then needs to be confirmed with a further test, which involves a swab to the nose and throat before the samples are sent to a laboratory.

Redcar had been earmarked for a mass coronavirus testing pilot in October, but the plans were dropped when Redcar and Cleveland Council council leader Mary Lanigan said the government "decided to prioritise Liverpool" for the study.

The leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council said she is "disppointed" to have been placed in tier three, along with the rest of the North East, when the lockdown ends next week.

Mary Lanigan said: “The ongoing restrictions put a huge strain on people’s lives and threaten the prosperity of our borough as businesses cannot trade freely or plan with any confidence for the future.

"This is particularly acute in our brilliant hospitality sector, which cannot prosper at the busiest time of the year."

The rules for tier three mean pubs and restaurants will remain closed except for delivery and takeaway.

Quote Message: “However, it has been apparent for a number of weeks that the infection rate in Redcar and Cleveland has been too high and we have seen growing numbers of hospitalisations and people continuing to lose their lives to this terrible virus.

“However, it has been apparent for a number of weeks that the infection rate in Redcar and Cleveland has been too high and we have seen growing numbers of hospitalisations and people continuing to lose their lives to this terrible virus.

Quote Message: We should never forget that for many families, Covid-19 has meant the loss of a loved one." from Councillor Mary Lanigan Leader, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

We should never forget that for many families, Covid-19 has meant the loss of a loved one."

So-called Covid "ambassadors" are to be deployed on the streets of Redcar to ensure people understand and abide by coronavirus restrictions.

It follows the council being awarded £84,000 from the government to recruit seven to the role.

As well as street patrols they will be on hand to "advise and support" residents and businesses through the pandemic.

The latest lockdown is due to run until 2 December.

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Redcar and Cleveland Council leader Mary Lanigan has described the further postponement of the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race as a “real shame”.

A section of the tour was due to take place in east Cleveland, finishing in Redcar, on 30 April, but it was postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic.

Race organisers have now confirmed it will not take place until 2022 at the earliest because of the continued uncertainty surrounding the outbreak.

Mrs Lanigan said: “It is a real shame that the Tour de Yorkshire, which is a hugely popular event, won’t happen next year.

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Quote Message: We remain hopeful that the tour will come to Redcar and Cleveland in the future, which is a hugely exciting prospect.

We remain hopeful that the tour will come to Redcar and Cleveland in the future, which is a hugely exciting prospect.

Quote Message: It is a wonderful event which attracts some of the world’s best cyclists and it presents a fantastic opportunity to showcase our beautiful area to an audience of millions in countries around the world." from Mary Lanigan Leader, Redcar ad Cleveland Council

It is a wonderful event which attracts some of the world’s best cyclists and it presents a fantastic opportunity to showcase our beautiful area to an audience of millions in countries around the world."

Redcar was due to be the host town for the finish of stage one of the four-day event with cyclists setting off in Beverley and travelling through Bridlington, Filey and Whitby before crossing the Redcar and Cleveland boundary at Cowbar.

From there they would have passed through Easington, Loftus, Carlin How, Brotton, Saltburn and Marske before a sprint finish along the Stray in Redcar.

Campaigners wanting to save the Redcar blast furnace from demolition have released an artist’s impression of what a slimmed down version may look like.

The Save Our Steel Heritage Group want to retain the "heart of the furnace", which would be lit at night by hydrogen-powered electricity.

They say it would only require a small proportion of land on the site and would be "testament to the tens of thousands of people who worked in the iron and steel industry on Teesside over 170 years",

Chairman Geoff Taylor said: “We firmly believe that the creation of many iconic structures across the world should be celebrated here in the cradle of their construction.”

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However, an independent report published by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen,described the blast furnace as "extremely dangerous", which would cost £35m over the next 10 years to preserve.

Ben Houchen said it was an "astronomical cost" and, most importantly, would harm plans to create jobs on the site.

Discussions on whether tighter restrictions should be imposed on Teesside have been taking place.

The leaders of Redcar and Cleveland, Darlington, Stockton and Hartlepool councils, along with the mayor of Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley Mayor have been meeting with government officials, but no decision has as yet been made.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Councillor Mary Lanigan, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, described discussions as "ongoing".

She said: "Nothing has been agreed and we anticipate further discussions on Monday.

"We will continue to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our residents, supporting businesses and saving jobs as we press for the best possible outcome for the Tees Valley.”