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Headland residents’ anger over plans to demolish promenade
CONCERNED residents have launched a petition against coastal defence plans which could see the partial demolition of an historic promenade.
Hundreds of homes on Hartlepool’s Headland, the historic Heugh Gun Battery, St Bega’s Primary School, the lighthouse and the memorial are under threat from coastal erosion within the next 100 years unless millions of pounds is spent on sea defences.
Hartlepool Borough Council brought in Mott MacDonald consultants to examine the first lines of defence and they have put forward four options, three of which include various ways of strengthening the sea wall.
But it is the fourth – and cheapest option – to demolish the sea wall and promenade, adjacent to the Town Moor, that has angered residents.
Dozens crammed into The Fisherman’s Arms pub on Saturday to voice their anger.
Robert Price, 41, is chairman of the Stop the Heart from Being Ripped out of Hartlepool group, which set up the petition.
He said: “There is clearly a real strength of feeling against option four. The Town Moor and the promenade are essential to the Headland.
“The main aim of the group is to remove option four from the consultation as it is entirely inappropriate,” added the dad-of-two, a lawyer, from the Headland.
Members also plan to submit a question calling for councillors to support their cause at a meeting of the full council in August.
A letter outlining their concerns will also be sent to Mayor Stuart Drummond, the consultants, Defra and council officers.
Residents also moved to quash flooding fears.
Peter Murray, 43, who runs a haulage business in town, said: “There was complete agreement from everyone at the meeting that option four is not an option.
“Removal of the sea defence will expose what is already likely to be a fragile cliff face.
“That would leave the Town Moor undefended and subject to high rates of coastal erosion.
“You cannot have flooding in an area of land that is above sea level and which does not have any rivers or gorges,” added the married dad-of-two, who lives in Radcliffe Terrace.
Noel Cornforth, 50, who lives with wife Pauline, 54, in Cliff Terrace, said: “This is about protecting the heritage of the Headland.”
Pauline added: “Everyone in town is going to be affected by this as the promenade and Town Moor are popular.”
Derek Lowther, 53, of Beaconsfield Street, said: “I was disgusted that option four was even an option.
“Most people know that the promenade was built to stop the erosion because the cliff face was not sound.”
Concerned residents will also be attending a Headland Parish Council meeting on Tuesday at 6.45pm at the Borough Hall and a ward surgery meeting on Tuesday, August 30, at the same venue between 6pm and 8pm.
Independent councillor John Marshall, of St Hilda ward, is hoping to get senior officers and civic leaders to attend.
Copies of the petition are available in Headland pubs. For more information about the campaign visit www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk and select the link at the bottom of this story.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
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