Dear Editor,
I read the Redcar & Cleveland Council's leader's letter of 17-06-2014 titled "Regeneration is key" with interest.
For a split second I misread, and imagined a rare moment of clarity had struck Mr Dunning, and he had acknowledged that Degeneration is what he seems happy to allow in East Cleveland whilst all the cash goes to Redcar for (all-too-often ill-advised) “regeneration” projects.
Not many businesses would survive by milking and short-changing such a huge swathe of their customers this way. I’m lucky be able to deploy my skills from the ‘real world’ where I am Director of a market research firm. I have surveyed extensively the issues concerning residents in Skelton, Saltburn, Guisborough and beyond, and I have openly shared the eye-opening findings with the Council. I have yet to receive any concrete information about plans being put in place to address the welter of issues raised.
Your piece: "City Deal to bring massive boost to region's economy" meanwhile points up what the government is doing to deliver economic regeneration in the area. 35,870 apprenticeships were started 2012-2013 in the north east, whilst numbers of Job Seekers Allowance claimants in Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland fell by 28% in the past year. The work goes on.
Kind regards,
Will Goodhand
Conservative Candidate, Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland