Sunday 4 October 2015

FRED Beach Action Group October 2015


Cracking morning on the beach with FRED volunteers. Started in the TunedIn car park before clearing the bin of 15 bags of beach litter. 

Great to see that the council are finally securing the area under the cinema. The bars will be followed by doors and will prevent the anti social behaviour that has gone on down here for years. Hopefully the smashed glass and needles around this area will reduce and attempted arson  will be a thing of the past.

We stopped to wave at Zetland FM and finished up sending them a message to give us a shout out on the radio.

FRED - join us












Tuesday 15 September 2015

Coatham Issues, ideas and solutions

Dear friends,

Since myself and Neil Baldwin were elected as Coatham Councillors we have brought along and been confronted by many issues. It's only been three months but feels longer. Throughout this week we will be talking to residents and delivering our first leaflet that is part generic part specific to Coatham.


One of the gripes I've always had is transparency and poor communication which of course leads to mistrust and second guessing. So I shall attempt to assist your questions and involvement as best I can. 

Over many years (nearly 30) I have moaned and groaned about Redcar. I've instigated and agitated reaction. I have complained and complained. But nothing happened. 

I complained about the loss of heritage buildings before and after my arrival, I complained about Regents Walk, I complained about the level crossings, the traffic lights, the drabness of West Dyke Rd, the reconstruction of West Dyke Rd, the housing, the lack of art and flowers, the chosen pedestrianisation of the town, the shop fronts, the lack of things to do, the state of Craigton house, the lack of coastal pubs and restaurants, the filthy paving, derelict areas, the beach and dunes, the weather ... I could go on but I'll stop for a breather!

Then the sea defences and infrastructure went up...

and I complained about all of that too! 😡

One thing that particular upset me was the unauthorised landfills on the beach as you may well know 😉. Moan, moan, moan. Nothing happened.

It was at this time that I realised that I was part of the problem actually. I complained but why did nothing happen?

My complaining wasn't a solution. It made no difference not least because of who I had complained to. Mates, family, forums, bloke down the pub ... Etc. I also hadn't done much community work either I just made assumptions and my own truths and annoyed myself really.

We all like to moan don't we? We get a rebuttal and then label everyone the same "the council" "the police". We make up our own explanations and ask "why didn't they try this..." without knowing if they tried that in the first place. However I've learnt that individuals make up these organisations.

So I formed FRED and decided to tackle solutions head on - actively. I set up social media to get others' reaction, experience and ideas. I wrote to council officers, managers, councillors, authorities, bodies, groups and businesses. And guess what... Things happened. Not a lot at first but definite action and then we got the support to clean the beach and apologies from the Environment Agency, RCBC and... No nothing but reluctance from Balfour Beatty (Birse). 2 out of 3 ain't bad! 😃

What annoyed me still though was - not getting a reply from some individuals - not "the council" but individuals who work for the council or councillors who wouldn't get back to me. So I'd go higher up the tree or around and my copy list grew and grew. Still some relevant characters didn't reply. 

And that's why I stood as councillor in the end because I thought "I can't do worse than not replying to someone - Love me or hate me, but don't ignore me!"

I actually found there to be a lot of good council workers and councillors (all parties) and all as frustrated as everyone else, by the procedural bureaucracy formed from historical experience that created - policies (Argh!). 

Transparency and communication rule ok? So...

My preferred email is carlquartermain@gmail.com My mobile is 07966 985 444 😃👍

For information on, suggestions about or concerns over Coatham and Redcar call or write. I'll even meet for a chat and a coffee if free - Regardless of your political persuasion.

Surgeries



Coatham NAP 

Meetings are usually 6pm in SureStart bldg but are irregular so if you live in Coatham ward and want to be informed we need your email for our distribution list.

Please do contact us (myself, Neil or your own councillor) if you have issues and anywhere in the borough because we can push them forward to the right people. 

Do keep moaning it is important to complain to show we care about our home but give the councillors an opportunity to hear your issues because you might learn they are being dealt with or your idea is the one that works or why it won't work or why it takes ages. 

Moaning here and there will circulate round and round but even on my own fb issues can be missed, so be constructive and forward to those who want to help.

And throw your hand up to volunteer too wherever possible, it's empowering. We are seemingly good at complaining but bad at volunteering and besides it validates complaining even moreso and gets us closer to the issues that we care about.

Cheers and thanks for showing you care about the issues as much as we do. Do contact me direct. Text too if you like but don't bombard me as I'm only human and am receiving vast amounts of phone calls, texts and emails everyday and I do reply to all the clean ones.😃👍

Cllr Carl Quartermain (Coatham Ward)

Sunday 19 July 2015

Redcar and Cleveland Dog Walkers


Dear Friends,

We would like to reach out to all dog walkers.

What do you think about the creation of a dog owner community group?


For example, you could meet new friends

Through a website/social media you could:

- buy, sell, borrow and give and share information of vets, insurance, etc.,

- map out popular dog walking routes both locally and around other areas throughout Redcar and Cleveland and North Yorkshire and organise communal dog walks

- report issues such as blocked access, lack of dog bins, ASB, lost or stolen pets, dog fouling

- source funding 


What do you think? Is this of interest?

Sunday 5 July 2015

British Landsailing Championship returns with The Redcar Regatta


British Landsailing Championship returns with The Redcar Regatta

On the 4th and 5th July, Redcar beach saw the successful return of the British Landsailing Championships with the 3rd Redcar Regatta.


The York Landyacht Club with support from various volunteers and sponsors such as Zenith Leisure Outdoor Adventure , EDF Energy Renewable, FRED, Tees Valley Community Forum and RCBC saw the  successful two day competition at Majuba sands, Coatham Bay for the third successive year.

All four classes of land yachts were in action from the "mini's" to the powerful Class 3 yachts with 30+ competing participants.


Organiser Kevin Skelton said: “"British Landsailing is delighted to be back in Redcar for a third time to stage a Championship Regatta on one of Britain's best beaches. 

"We would like to thank Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for the support they provide and the people of Redcar for the loan of their brilliant beach."

He added, "Most of all we would like to thank the local volunteers and The Friends of Redcar who marshalled the event and kept the public and our pilots safe.

Cabinet member for jobs, skills and leisure, and FRED chairman, Councillor Carl Quartermain presented the winning sailors with trophies and said:

 "Having stewarded the last two years, I have nothing but praise and admiration for everyone involved in bringing the Regatta here. Long may it continue to grow and for Redcar to become a world class, internationally recognised venue for extreme and alternative sports. 


"It was a real honour to present the beautiful Redcar Regatta Landsailing awards to the 12 winners. I would encourage our seaside town's businesses and residents to get involved and help Redcar to further these incredible sports and activities."


If you're interested in Landsailing check at:

yorklandyachtclub.weebly.com www.britishlandsailing.org.uk/contact.html and please email Kevin Skelton at: ylycregatta@gmail.com

REF:

http://m.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/13366945.Landsailing_to_take_over_Redcar_beach_at_the_weekend/

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/britains-top-landsailors-return-coatham-9591292



Tuesday 2 June 2015

Environment Agency back in Redcar and true to their word



Dear Friends,

Remember pictures like this one from 2013? 


Or this from November 2014?



The latter was how much rubble was pulled from our beach in one session by the Environment Agency following months of FRED volunteers campaigning for a return. We had already cleared over 30 tonnes ourselves.

 This mess was formed after Birse (Balfour Beatty) created two unauthorised landfills on Redcar beach following the sea wall defence project either side of the commercial area.

You'll be pleased to know that FRED has never stopped stopped campaigning and a secondary return was always planned for Spring 2015. 

And the EA have been true to their commitment and came out again on Thursday morning at 9am, picking up any rubble they found on Redcar beach particular the worst area in Zetland ward.


As project manager, the EA are responsible for this removal. A service team of around 10 are arriving on Thursday morning to do yet another sweep. 

The Zetland area is notably now the worst part for this detritus on the beach so we shall be directing their and our attention there over the coming months.





Previous link http://friendsofredcar.blogspot.com/2014/07/environment-agency-return-to-redcar.html