Public warned to remove vehicles as Teesport operator prepares for temporary closure of South Gare
Members of the public have been warned to remove their vehicles ahead of a temporary closure of the South Gare near Redcar.
The closure for potential engineering works affects the road from the boundary of PD Ports’ private land, adjacent to Paddy’s Hole, to the tip of the breakwater. Tenants and licence holders who use facilities on the Gare will still be able to gain access, although they have been warned of potential disruption.
In a previously published notice “to whom it may concern” PD Ports warned members of the public that they must move vehicles in advance of the closure, which begins on Sunday. It said if vehicles were not moved the company would take action to remove them.
The peninsula is a popular location for visitors taking advantage of its coastal views and rolling sand dunes. Earlier this year PD Ports told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the Gare was “not a certified campsite” after complaints that the narrow stretch was regularly clogged with motorhomes and people setting up camp for several days with the congestion at its worst over the summer.
A statement from the Teesport operator said: “The closure is due to begin on Sunday (Sept 29) at the boundary of PD Ports' private land towards the tip of South Gare.
“The closure is expected to last three to four weeks. Tenants and licence holders have been informed of the works and arrangements have been made for their continued access throughout.
“A reminder that the area in question is private land, owned and operated by PD Ports, and as such there is no general right of access to the public.”
Posting on X, Coatham ward councillor Carl Quartermain said he had met PD Ports representatives at their Middlesbrough HQ recently and “there is no suggestion whatsoever that there is to be a permanent closure”. He said management fully recognised the area had been used by residents and visitors historically.
PD Ports, and its predecessor companies, have been guardians of the River Tees and its environs since 1852 as a statutory harbour authority. The company was responsible for the building of the breakwater as a means of protecting the entrance of the port from rough sea conditions.
Meanwhile, the listed lighthouse at the tip of South Gare, which was established in 1884 and is one of only a few left operational in the UK, continues to provide vessels with a safe entry into Teesport.
In December last year PD Ports said £1.5m worth of repairs were required after the breakwater suffered serious damange during October's Storm Babet.
Its chief executive Frans Calje said weather conditions had been "extraordinary". He said at the time: "The scale of the forces that hit the structure that day are hard to imagine – huge concrete blocks were tossed about like pebbles."
The first phase of repair works saw 200 cubic metres of concrete injected into the voids left by the broken slabs to repair the immediate damage, with work set to continue into 2024.
Mr Calje added: "We are looking at our options beyond the immediate repair to see what can be done to strengthen the breakwater and keep it operating as it has done since 1888.”
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