Middlesbrough Centre Square Developers Ashall Projects chain saw trees before time

Last Thursday Ashall Projects, the Developers for the Councils Centre Square project, chain sawed trees from around Wilkinson lake and the surrounding park land.  Remaining logs and wood chip were hauled off to the empty Phase one building site (the old registry building site) where no work has yet started.

“Cutting down the trees at this time, well before any work has even started on Phase one of the project, is just malicious robbing the people of Middlesbrough of what was a lovely pond well used by the public” said Friends of the Earth Co-ordinator Robert Tucker.  “It’s a stitch-up, the Council said these New offices were vital to bring new jobs to Mbro, but almost all of Phase 1 will be the Council moving in - hardly any new jobs at all. Real work on Phase 2 may be months or years away and was only supposed to start after companies had been found to take up rooms, but they have vandalised this public space. The birdlife is bewildered and shocked.  The public meantime can enjoy tree stumps instead of lovely green trees in the showpiece centre of our town.  To say people are angry is an understatement”.

A compromise plan was proposed by Friends of the Earth saving Wilkinson lake and the trees there from being turned into a private underground car park.  The New Offices could use half of the car spaces behind Mima and other spaces instead.  This was turned down by the Council.

The controversial development deal meant that Middlesbrough Council gave the land in Centre Square, worth millions, to developers Ashall Projects for free if they built the New offices.

New Middlesbrough Centre Square offices really needed?

New Middlesbrough Centre Square offices really needed?

"This is a Damming photo of premier empty offices overlooking the beautiful nature lake Middlesbrough Council plans to bulldoze so they can build yet more offices and a car park! You couldn't make it up.  We were asked by the public to look into this", said Rob Tucker, Co-ordinator for Middlesbrough & Redcar Friends of the Earth. "While we all want the Boro to prosper the council should scale back or cancel these plans in Centre Square and listen to people.  There is clearly good office space available here and in Middlehaven, as well as empty plots more suitable for development ".

Fountain Court, the huge office that was missing from Mbro Councils report on Empty office space and the Evening Gazettes article, is overlooking the very Nature pond they want to turn into more offices and a car park! Notice the TO LET sign on the left of the building in the photo clearly visible from the Civic centre and town hall.  Fountain Court is a 3 storey modern building built in 1990. The ground floor is empty and the TO LET sign indicates that the other two floors may be available if required.  Far from housing staff with high incomes that the report said would be attracted to Middlesbrough by posh offices, stories 2 & 3 houses a call centre with most folk on £7.50ph.  The KPMG economic report that suggested blue chip companies would come to Middlesbrough but had been put off by a lack of premier office space, is still held as confidential by the council and is off limits to the general public. How substantial is the evidence for this?  Before the premier office scheme, the council had other ideas of building a 5 star hotel on the land as well as extend Mima.

Melrose House, (below photo) is another mainly empty office building, located just yards behind Fountain Court and the nature pond.  

A consultation exhibition canvassing opinion on the proposed scheme is being held at the Central library, for two weeks starting Friday 24th Feb.  You can object to the development (or support it, here)
 http://www.centre-square.co.uk/feedback-form/

What colour do you want the gates of local fracking sites to be?

Letter sent to Evening Gazette, Northern Echo and Coastal View and Moor news

What colour do you want the gates of local fracking sites to be?

Perhaps Red?  That could be the limit of local people's input to decisions about shale gas production, according to a letter leaked to Friends of the Earth.

The letter reveals that the government is planning to take decision-making away from local councils. The letter was written by Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, Communities Secretary, Greg Clark and Environment Secretary Liz Truss to George Osborne last July and it sets out proposals for a government shale gas strategy.

The ministers say they want “a maturing shale gas production industry” within 10 years.  Among the proposals to make this happen is changing who would take decisions about planning permission for shale gas production.

The Govt has ALREADY taken away UK landowners mineral rights to what is beneath your own home so they could beaver away without your permission, which they at least have in the US. The Govt has ALREADY moved the goalposts to allow fracking under national parks.  In repeated surveys the general public have increasingly said  they are against fracking, but the Govt and our MPs are not listening.  

At present only the cost of oil, which has bankrupted some US fracking companies, is holding them off and North Yorkshire will have little say being in the "desolate North East" when it bounces back up. Contact your MP (who maybe pro fracking) and tell them what you think, get involved with Friends of the Earth or Frack Free Cleveland but do not wait until it is to late.

Rob Tucker

Co-ordinator Mbro, Redcar & Stockton

Friends of the Earth

"Question Time" Hustings events for Middlesbrough and Redcar

Press Release: Question Time events for Middlesbrough and Redcar

Middlesbrough 2012 Election Hustings event (c) Mbgro & Redcar Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth, are holding two "Question Time" Hustings events in Middlesbrough and Redcar;

Middlesbrough Linthorpe Road Methodist Church & Resource centre Tuesday 28th April 7-9pm

Redcar Coatham Memorial Hall, Wed 29th April 7-9pm chaired by the CofE Bishop of Whitby.

"All your local Candidates will be there and this is your opportunity to ask them those questions that interest YOU.  It is not just the party you are voting for but the person as well!  We have had good feedback from our previous election events over many years.  So if you are undecided who to vote for come along" said Rob Tucker co-ordinator for Middlesbrough & Redcar Friends of the Earth.  

"We would ask that only people registered to vote in that area attend".

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1511978995722661/

http://middlesbroughfoe.blogspot.com

Friends of the Earth object to Port Clarence Biomass power station

Friends of the Earth have objected to this new application for a Biomass power station at Port Clarence and hope that Stockton council will listen to other views rather that just going for the jobs angle.  Details of this objection are below;
1) The RSPB, GreenPeace and Friends of the Earth have examined the issue of Biomass and found it not to be carbon neutral http://tinyurl.com/meqzfbo 
2) The UK waste wood source that this power station is expected to use is likely to become increasingly scarce and there are not stringent enough regulations to stop it using other sources
3) Although this power station may have the capability for CHP (Combined Heat and Power) it is unlikely that this option will ever be taken up. The previous application looked at possible CHP usage and examined piping it across the Tees to housing on the south side, but there is no new housing stock there. MGT’s application in contrast, had several companies interested.
4) Eco2 sold its last Biomass power station straight off to another company which is not good practise http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/cardiff-biomass-plant-sold-160m-5716610 
5) Teesside has a number of biomass projects that already have planning permission; Air products, MGT, Sembcorp
6) Although this power station will not hold waste wood stock piles, a number of yards on Teesside and elsewhere that will supply this power station have had major fires one of them lasting 16 days http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/uk-wood-recycling-plant-blaze-6854278 

This is a subsidised scheme, taxpayers money, and it should be well spent. If Eco2 had expressions of interest for CHP then this would change the application, but they do not.

Supporting Guisborough/Bankfields windfarm

Our local Friends of the Earth group are supporting the Bankfields windfarm as a good project and hope it will be given planning permission subject to addressing consultee concerns. 

Banks Renewables have a lot of experience of windfarms, energy & construction projects. They should be expert in minimising noise, dust, disruption and getting the project to run smoothly.

Noise should not be a problem in operation or construction. HGV traffic will come from the A19/A174 or Teesport and down Wilton Lane.

The farms that are in the 700-900m zone are benefiting from the scheme and are being compensated. The Mount Pleasant row of terrace houses is over 1km away from the scheme.  It has been agreed that the scheme will provide up to £5000 per house for energy efficiency or renewable measures and as I believe that Mount Pleasant is off the gas mains this will be a major plus for them.

A third of project costs will be spent in the NE. This is one of the first projects in the UK where the x5 towers will be manufactured locally. Up to 14 apprenticeships will be created and £2m go to a community fund. New provision is to be made for wildflower meadows, bat habitat and nature ponds.

Over a large part of Guisborough the scheme cannot be seen due to buildings and where partially visible are not prominent. It will not affect tourism, house prices or hypnotise drivers!

https://planning.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/(S(rjnrlhrb3vm3q0medh0z4byj))/welcome.aspx
The Application R/2013/0674/FFM can be commented on till the end of the week 

Rob Tucker
Co-ordinator Mbro & Redcar
Friends of the Earth

Film screening " More than Honey" Friday 4th Oct with Andy McDonald MP

Screening of film "More than Honey" Friday Oct 4th 7pm with Andy McDonald MP

you are invited to our screening of an excellent film "More than Honey" at the Middlesbrough Quaker Friends meeting house on Friday 4th Oct 7-9pm with a small talk & cuppa at the end by Derek Herring of Cleveland Beekeepers Association and Andy McDonald Middlesbrough MP.  Bees are having a difficult time worldwide and the UK Govt has said it will have a plan for Bees (not a plan B :-) but has not given any details or budget!

Please could you mention the event at meetings, and find it on FaceBook inviting relevant FB friends & forwarding this email in the North Yorkshire area.

   

http://darl-quakers.gn.apc.org/?page_id=39

Middlesbrough, Redcar & Stockton Friends of the Earth Facebook page

With new developments in media we have decided to devote more time to our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/foeteesside
We have been achieving some fantastic things, planting trees, holding talks and exhibitions, running stalls etc on our Bee friendly and Clean British Energy campaigns. We have also looked more locally at some windfarm projects and developing wildlife gardens.

Please [share] our Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/foeteesside
and consider joining us!

The Mbro FoE Team

Hustings & Middlesbrough By-election 2012

The lively proceedings at the Friends of the Earth 2012 Middlesbrough Hustings went well, with members of the audience asking over 20 questions on topics ranging from education and services to employment and the environment. Six of the eight MP candidates were invited (left to right);  Imadad Hussain - The Peace Party, Mark Heslehurst - Independent, John Malcolm - Trade Union and Socialist Coalition, (Simon Bowens chairperson), Ben Houchen - Conservative, Andy McDonald - Labour and George Selmer - Liberal Democrats. 

 

Despite the terrible weather over 100 people made their way to the Hustings; the Environmental agency asked people not to make non essential journeys and I know that a number of "floating" voters, especially the elderly, decided they could not venture out. Our Friends of the Earth team came by bike, train, bus and car share (might be a film title in there somewhere!) We all encountered flooding. 

There were some excellent speakers and a chance to compare candidates side by side.

Hustings for Middlesbrough By-election 2012

photo from Redcar 2010 hustings

Friends of the Earth are to hold a public hustings at Saint Barnabas church,  Monday 26th Nov 7-8.30pm. Co-ordinator Rob Tucker said "This is democracy at work, voters should be able to speak, meet and question the candidates. We learnt a lot from hosting them in 2010 and were amazed at the turn-out.  Saint Barnabas church can seat over 300 people and we hope to fill the hall".

Friends of the Earth successfully held Hustings for the 2010 elections in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Darlington and gave voters their only chance to see the candidates side by side and put their own questions to the panel. At the Middlesbrough hustings over 130 people attended and in Redcar the room overflowed with people standing in doorways and isles.




http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/elections-2010/teesside-general-election-news/2010/04/29/candidates-hit-out-at-sir-stuart-bell-84229-26337577/
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/05/05/expenses-row-is-still-on-voters-minds-84229-26380685/
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/elections-2010/teesside-general-election-news/2010/05/01/middlesbrough-general-election-candidates-answer-voters-questions-84229-26352761/

Tree Planting

We have over 400 small trees to plant this November from the Woodland trust and are looking to plant them at local schools and other areas.  They are particularly suitable for wildlife.  This photo is  from our planting at Ormesby Hall.  If you want to get involved get in contact.

Bee Friendly - WIldflower meadows project

Our Bee Friendly campaign has resulted in a partnership with Coast & Country housing and it looks promising that we might have a £3-4000 project with a number of large and small wildflower meadow areas in the Spencerbeck region of Middlesbrough to improve forage for bees, butterflies, birds and wildlife.  We hope to include the local primary school.

Energising Britian - offshore renewable event

Held at Teesside university on October 19^th this prestigious event hosted by Friends of the Earth, drew together about 30 people from business, politics and the environmental sectors to look at the job, contract and export benefits of the Dogger bank and Hornsea large offshore windfarms. Four grid connections will be coming onshore into Teesside April 2017 and £170 Bn will be invested nationally by 2020. 

Left to right. Simon Bowens (FoE), Stephen Pugh (TV unlimited), Gareth Lewis (Forewind), Jane Thomas (FoE), Ian Wright (MP), Kevin Rowan (TUC)

Cycling through the wind farm

After reading so many negative letters in the press about wind farms I thought I would double check things. I decided to cycle through the new Seamer/Hilton wind farm on cycle route 65, just a few miles away from Hemlington.
I was a beautiful, crisp day and I used the Teesvalley Cycle path map, got a little lost, but enjoyed going round Hemlington lake with the fishermen and dog walkers, past the schools and through the Stainton Way underpass – into another world. Thornton is a tiny village, with quaint cottages and ancient churches, the smell of cow muck and honeysuckle your in the countryside! Turning right I cycled on into Maltby with its village hall, pub and expensive houses. Then back into hedged country lanes. I caught sight of them first over the hedgerows, quite small and had to zoom my camera in to photograph them. When I got onto the Seamer–Hilton road, which is also route 65, I cycled right through the turbines and the line of pylons that were already there.  

At the time of writing Oct 2012 the turbines are built but not operational yet. Although one can be seen from Hilton village High street I did not find it intrusive.

Bankfields windfarm exhibition

Banks Developments held an exhibition in Guisborough for the Bankfields wind farm a proposed six wind turbine scheme, on the hill ridge to the north of Guisborough with the road carriageway between them. A terrace row of about 15 houses “Mount pleasant” is over a kilometre from one of the turbines looking out uphill over back yards, which also includes an existing line of pylons. This is not major.
5 farms would be situated down hill close to individual turbines in the 600-800m range, although  it is likely that turbines locations will be changed. Not every farm has a dwelling and It looks like on cursory examination that these are not generally facing up hill and large farm buildings could also be in the way.  I am confirming this with Banks

Darlington Council Wildflower meadows visit

Darlington council, ecology officer visit
Rob visited several wildflower meadow sites and took Catherine Boyle from MEC and Michelle Johnston from Coast & Country housing along as well. Darlo council has over 3 years experience in planting meadows, and we saw several examples of different sites.
1 where there had been a survey in the 70’s with lots of wildflower varieties. This site was allowed to grow naturally without being cut every couple of weeks as normal. 50% of local varieties came up!
2. This site was sprayed off and then re-seeded with a grass/wildflower mix. The meadow was only cut once. Brown unsightly docks that came through were sprayed again. Sheep can be used to keep grass down. Farmers often used as contractors as grass has to be collected.
3. Beck area with houses close by. A large amenity area for playing football etc and a windy wildflower area, with a desire line by the beck. Got a lot of initial criticism but now neighbours very happy.
4. Area near nature reserve that extended the wildlife corridor. Areas for football, dog walking, had desire line paths and amenity stripes near roads so it looks cared for.
We really enjoyed the visit and learnt a lot!

Community Environmental Forum Redcar & Cleveland

Rob went along to give a small presentation on how councils can put in wildflower meadows that are Bee & wildlife friendly. Redcar & Clevelands area has so many large green areas that are really a bit boring and formless and the council could make a big difference by putting meadows in and it would not cost any more money!  

Mr Blooms Nursery CBeebies TV programme

The Mr Bloom's Nursery children programme: Get Set, Grow Tour sees Mr Bloom and the Veggies take to the road with an exclusive live show. There will also be a host of fun and inspiring activities for families with children aged six and under.  Friends of the Earth are running a Bee friendly stall there Sunday 22 July, Ward Jackson Park (Hartlepool) - You can get tickets here

The activities are designed to help children learn about their living environment, how our food is grown, and the wonders of nature, by getting hands on with everything from worms to building bug hotels. There's also the chance to compete in the Veggie Games.

The Mr Bloom's Nursery The Get Set, Grow Tour will be at the locations below in July and August. Events will start at 10am and finish at 5pm. Entrance is free and everyone is welcome to take part in the activities, but to see Mr Bloom and the Veggies' live show, When Julian lost his Wiggle you will need to apply for free tickets.

Groups doing well

Friends of the Earth in Middlesbrough & Redcar are doing well, in fact we are looking to start a new Stockton group.  We are all meeting to get it off to a great start at;

Yarm Road Methodist Church, Yarm Road, Stockton  7pm Thursday 28th June http://goo.gl/maps/2aDm

There are lifts available over to Stockton and this would be a great time to get involved as there will be a number of new people.  This year we have been campaigning to have more research done for bees, planted 420 trees, planted a Bee garden and are looking to liaise with councils to have more set aside wildlife/wildflower areas.

May meetings

We have a stall at Stewarts Parks Open day 1-5pm Sat 26th May. South Tees Friends of the Earth meeting 6.30pm Tuesday 29th May, Guisborough Library. Mbro & Redcar Friends of the Earth meeting 7pm Thurday 31st May, quaker meeting house, 131 Cambridge Rd, Linthorpe, Mbro TS5 5HL