Coatham a fishing village before imperial Rome had planted her eagle on the cliffs of old Albion.

Wind-blown sand cascaded across the bustling Coatham enclosure car park. Full to capacity, its town’s people were a play.

The activity was frenetic on the adjacent golden beach sparkling in the March sunshine. Surf gliders suspended by kites swooped, dipping their boards like Oystercatchers into the white breakers chasing across a vibrant sea. Children ran playing ball, families walked throwing beach pebbles for their dogs, Horse boxes awaited the return of their animals that could be seen galloping within the surf, pounding upon the sand, a moment of delight for their riders and bystanders.

Is this pleasure, this recreation to be replaced by towers of brick built upon the community foreshore? This foreshore, which has remained unchanged by its inhabitancy for two thousand years?

Do those seated in the bowels of Eston Town Hall really understand freedom? Do they really sit ensconced by the failed leadership of the concrete 1960’s? A leadership detached, unimaginative, indeed a Council that worship not the mantle of fellowship and the sprit of community, but the accountant’s ledger!

These authoritarian Councillors, protected like feudal Baron’s within their Town Hall chamber are to sell Coatham for profit! Sell our heritage land for housing, sell our foreshore, and sell our open access to the beach.

Disposing of the Coatham land while they entice the townsfolk with a bribe! “Sell and we will build you a new swimming pool”. Shouts the Councils Town crier!
When in reality the plans and the subsequent spend will provide a pool no bigger than the Redcar Green lane paddling pool with a roof.

It’s time for change! Redcar has been denied the chance to have its own none political Mayor to lead and uphold the wishes of its people, is it time to call for our own Parish Council and follow in the footsteps of Saltburn.

Anyone with an ounce of imagination should realise that any Town’s swimming baths needs to be built in the centre of our town. Why not broker a deal with Lord Zetland to build a new green tree Racecourse on Council land at Kirkleatham, and do a swap for the central space that currently bisect the town?

The Town could then develop the old racecourse as a Park with a running track a swimming pool, a youth and Scouting centre, a horse-riding centre using the old stables enhanced by beautiful walks in tree planted glades leading to a bandstand, but most of all an arboretum for community fellowship and space for our children.

Philip Chisholm
01642 485322