The old railway line from guisborough woods

[changingman]

I don’t disagree, but it shouldn’t need the levelling up fund to do it.

Maybe I’m just being flippant about the use of the levelking up fund to complete something that won’t level up anything in respect of economic growth of the area. I agree it’ll be great for cyclists/leisure/health but it isn’t generating anything with respect to the economy of the area. Anyway, it was a flippant quip really but there is a bit of a point to it.

You don't see how improving connectivity between different areas, regardless of mode, will drive economic output?

One of the quickest "switches" this country could make to drive growth is much improved connectivity.

 

[El Guapo]

You don't see how improving connectivity between different areas, regardless of mode, will drive economic output?

One of the quickest "switches" this country could make to drive growth is much improved connectivity.

Of course I do. I just don’t see a cycle route making a huge difference to the North / South divide and the rebalancing of the country with respect to the overall economy. As I said earlier in response to others, I hope I’m wrong and that it contributes beneficially in however small a way. Every little helps as they say I guess.

I think you knew all that though.

 

[Nobby_Barnes]

This preaching on being 'uniformed' from the man who evidently doesn't know the difference between a counselor and a councilor.

Ridiculous

Thanks

I think you'll find both ways of spelling it include a DOUBLE 'LL'

I'm fighting a losing battle here....

 

[Nobby_Barnes]

Local taxation like in every other nation.

Not as easy as that when it involves 2 local authorities a train track and various landowners I'm afraid.... Council coffers and services. are cut to the bone...
The only way this sort of stuff gets off the ground is with external funding, that's the reality

 

[Muttley]

I just don’t see a cycle route making a huge difference to the North / South divide and the rebalancing of the country with respect to the overall economy.

Of course something like this won't make a "huge difference" to anything. But, it would be money spent here rather than in the poverty hit stockbroker belt. Money that would go to workers in and probably from this area and largely spent in this area, to suppliers in this area and would provide a facility here.

Lots of little things can make a huge difference.

 

[thewanderer]

Not as easy as that when it involves 2 local authorities a train track and various landowners I'm afraid.... Council coffers and services. are cut to the bone...
The only way this sort of stuff gets off the ground is with external funding, that's the reality

No I don't you are understanding this. In pretty much every other country small infrastructure projects like this are simply funded and carried out by local authorities with virtually no input from national government.

Compare to the UK where councils have to pay large of sums of money to submit a bid to Whitehall who then decide who gets what like a big raffle.

 

[El Guapo]

Of course something like this won't make a "huge difference" to anything. But, it would be money spent here rather than in the poverty hit stockbroker belt. Money that would go to workers in and probably from this area and largely spent in this area, to suppliers in this area and would provide a facility here.

Lots of little things can make a huge difference.

I don’t disagree that any money spent here is welcome but this and it’s benefits pale into insignificance when compared to what is done in other areas.

Cross rail v a small section of cycle path. Yes it’s an extreme example and yes every little helps but the point still stands, it’s minuscule. As said elsewhere it shouldn’t need the levelling up fund money to fund it. In a balanced country the LA would be able to afford it without having to bid for funds.

Anyway, an attempted glib joke about ‘levelling up’ has extended to a much wider chat which is fine but wasn’t really the intention of my first comment. I should’ve used a smiley giggle thing .

FWIW, I don’t think any of us disagree on this thread on the wider conversation point re ‘levelling up’.

 

[Nobby_Barnes]

No I don't you are understanding this. In pretty much every other country small infrastructure projects like this are simply funded and carried out by local authorities with virtually no input from national government.

Compare to the UK where councils have to pay large of sums of money to submit a bid to Whitehall who then decide who gets what like a big raffle.

This isn't another country though

 

[Redwurzel]

Ref Connectivity - A 4 mile? rail link would make a significant difference to Guisborough, and to South Middlesbrough traffic - How much time is currently lost on the Marton Crawl, that people tell me is a big problem at peak times. The link would save millions each year in gained time.

Millbrook - Depends what you are all interested in and budget e.g outdoor high active, outdoor low active, history, scenary, food, music, sport, films.

Guisborough : Priory, Robert the Bruce family tomb @ St Nicholas Church, restaurant and interiors @ Guisborough Hall, small Museum, Tocketts Mill (Working water mill), lots of woodland walks through Forestry Commision land and old railway walkway, up to High Cliffe look out point, with very fine views. Great off road cyle tracks through the hills, New Gin refinery in Town Hall. There is a also an annual outdoor music concert in Priory grounds, Afternoon tea in style @ Pinchinthorpe Hall, Brickyard Bakery home made bread, sandwiches and cakes, book shop.

Redcar (4 miles) : Kirkleatham best set of Georgian buildings in the UK, interesting museum (Steel Stories, Gertrude Bell, Saxon Princess, local art), new Walled Garden, Brand new iconic cinema and cafe built over the beach, Sea Breeze one the best Fish and Chip shops in the UK. Race course events.

Great Ayton (4 miles) One of the prettiest villages in the UK for a riverside picnic, Captain Cook school house, walk to Roseberry Topping (marvellosu views, only UK location named after a Norse God), Sinclairs ice cream, Petchs pies. Drive up to Grizedale and walk up to Captain Cook monument, possibly over the start of the Moors to Commondale. Pub - Kings Head at Newton under Roseberry with decent carvery.

Iconic Pubs - Ship Inn @ Saltburn - old smugglers pub. Lion Inn @ Blakey Ridge both not far from G'Boro.

NYM centre at Danby is probably only 8 miles from Guisborough - nice cafe, location, small walks, and upmarket art gallery, there is also an infomative exhibition about the moors and some of its past industries.

Also a new totally renovated Ironstone Mining Museum @ Skinningrove. They say the beach at Skinningrove is one the top 10 in the UK, if you just want to chill on the beach/in the sea without crowds of people.

What you find is everything on the whole is very quiet compared with Whitby, so its fairly stress free to drive and park, but you need to check on opening times and events, as these are likely to be more restricted. Parking is often free or cheap.

 

[Muttley]

Oh the underlying narrative is one of an overly controlling national government using money that should be allocated to local government and using it to curry political favours. Agreed 100%

Some of the blame for this lies historically with councillors using LA money for pet vanity projects and the way in which funds a "siloed" for certain purposes on a "use it or lose it" basis. At the moment I am frequently seeing Darlo council diligently gritting roads on nights when the forecast does not show sub-zero temperatures. I don't know, but I suspect this is to make sure that the budget for gritting is not cut for 2024?

 

[WoodallServices]

It’s a complete nightmare to be honest and knackering to boot in having to lift you’re bike over stile after stile just to avoid having the ride on the a174 or via great ayton roads

Knackering?? What are you riding a Penny Farthing? These days the sandwich in your back pack weighs more than the bike.

 

[HolgateCorner]

Anybody who knows this potential link up of a safe off road cycling route from Nunthorpe to Guisborough will be aware of how popular it would be. Families could take their young kids on a superb flat ride to the excellent cafe at the Pinchinthorpe visitors centre for an ice cream, a cake or a picnic and vice versa from the Guisborough end or the more serious bikers could get easy access to the forest from Nunthorpe, Marton and beyond. Also good just for a decent walk.

The frustration is that as one of the richest countries in the world we don’t seem to have any money for anything which benefits ordinary people.

We have billions upon billions to look after refugees, fight wars against Putin or send the country into extended lockdown but low profile local projects which can significantly improve the leisure time of the people….I‘m afraid not, we are skint, oh and while you are on where’s your business case?

It needs to get better.

 

[WoodallServices]

Try reading the rest of the article...

Opening up that cycle route will provide safe access for cyclists to link up with Guisborough Forest and all the cycle routes up that way from South Middlesbrough. It's a brilliant for the environment and public health in general, should have happened years ago but better late than never

As usual you’re missing the point, El Guapo (correct me if I’m wrong) was alluding to the fact that levelling up money is meant to make the north as rich as the south not supply a cycle track that should have been in place years ago.

 

[El Guapo]

As usual you’re missing the point, El Guapo (correct me if I’m wrong) was alluding to the fact that levelling up money is meant to make the north as rich as the south not supply a cycle track that should have been in place years ago.

Pretty much, yes, and the fact that it highlights the disparity of investment in infrastructure etc and the size of the added / resulting benefit.

 

[r00fie1]

No I don't you are understanding this. In pretty much every other country small infrastructure projects like this are simply funded and carried out by local authorities with virtually no input from national government.

Compare to the UK where councils have to pay large of sums of money to submit a bid to Whitehall who then decide who gets what like a big raffle.

....And Central Government holds the financial strings - cutting support and reducing councils to mere cuts-brokers for the Government!
Perhaps we should seperate the country into "Departments" like in France? Give 20% to Central Government and decide what happens locally to the rest?