'Hundreds of thousands of pounds' of investment will see Middlesbrough's Tennis World transformed

Hundreds of thousands of pounds will be injected into making Middlesbrough’s Tennis World bigger and better, pledged Mayor Ray Mallon.

The reassurance comes after the Gazette revealed yesterday that new tennis facilities will not be created as part of Middlesbrough’s £18m sports village - as first envisioned.

Both the club members and the Mayor say they are all on board with expanding Tennis World’s current site at Prissick base.

And at a turf cutting ceremony yesterday to mark the start of work on the new sports village, Mayor Mallon revealed how a 12-year-old girl sparked the change of direction for Tennis World.

He explained: “I received a letter from a 12-year-old girl who plays tennis at the facility and she suggested to me that Tennis World should remain on its site as independent of the sports village.

“I listened to the girl in detail and spoke to the manager of Tennis World, and as a result we all came to the conclusion that it was in the best interests of Tennis World if they remain linked to the village, but independent.”

Mr Mallon confirmed that the council, which leases the site to Tennis World, “will be funding a complete revamp” of the popular facility “to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds”, with more indoor courts.

Nigel Garton, centre manager at Tennis World, said staying put and developing the facility “was the right thing to do,” adding “We’re all very positive about it.”

Former Middlesbrough and England footballer Alan Peacock joined the Mayor and local schoolchildren to mark the official start of work on the iconic sports village.

North Ormesby born and bred Mr Peacock, a childhood hero of the mayors who scored 125 goals for Boro between 1954 and 1964, said: “Middlesbrough has a great tradition of producing great athletes – some of whom we’ve just seen at the Commonwealth Games – and the sports village will provide the best facilities to make sure that continues for generations to come.”

The first phase of the sports village includes a new athletics track, fitness gym, multi-functional sport and performance spaces and external flood-lit pitches.

A new access road feeding the site from Ladgate Lane and the car park for The James Cook University Hospital is also part of these works. Willmott Dixon is carrying out the construction on behalf of Middlesbrough Council.

Teenage women forced to apologise and compensate for damage to floral displays in Eston and Normanby

Two teenagers have been forced to apologise and compensate for the damage their admitted causing to floral displays in two Teesside communities.

The 18-year-old women were interviewed and admitted causing damage to floral displays in Eston and Normanby area on July 25.

As a result of their admissions, both were subject to restorative justice which involved them writing a letter of apology.

They also made a donation to compensate for the damage caused.

As reported, Eston in Bloom organisers have been left picking up the pieces as a result of vandals who have damaged their flower displays.

In separate cases, two new signs at the top of Church Lane in Eston were kicked last month just 48 hours after they were installed and the day before Northumbria in Bloom judges visited for their summer judging.

Vandalism (again) to the floral displays at Eston as Northumbria In Bloom judges are due. Ann Higgins is pictured with some of the damage near to an area near to the High St. opposite the Ship Inn Pub.

Tubs and plants were also ruined in April, just before the judges’ spring visit.

And last summer, flowers and plants were dug up and a noticeboard in the community garden was smashed.

Speaking previously, the group’s chairman, Ann Higgins, said: “It is very frustrating. The people of Eston are very angry about it.

“We work all day to look after the work we do - so much effort goes into this.”

“We can’t let it affect us,” added defiant Ann. “We are doing this as a community and we are not going to let these people win.

“We have even talked about getting security in. It’s sad we have to think about that kind of thing. Why should we have to do that?”

After every act of vandalism, the group makes sure that the incident is reported and then rectified.

“We have to go straight in and replace everything,” she said.

“But it is coming to the point of how can we sustain this?”

The investigating officer PC Brian Lightowler said: “These displays take considerable time, effort and money to nurture.

“It is disappointing that they have been damaged.”

Anyone with any information regarding damage to floral displays in Eston and Normanby, is asked to contact PC Lightowler on 101.

Teesside beauty spots keep Green Flag awards thanks to volunteers

Kevin Wilson (Natural Heritage Manager), Councillor Olwyn Peters, Councillor Christopher Massey and volunteers at Flatts Lane Woodland Country park visitors centre

Hard working volunteers have been thanked after three Teesside beauty spots won national awards.

Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park, Saltburn Valley Gardens and Guisborough Forest and Walkway are all visited by thousands of people every year.

Now, following a visit from Keep Britain Tidy judges, they have all retained their Green Flag status which recognises how well they have been maintained.

Redcar & Cleveland Council cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, councillor Olwyn Peters, said: “These three venues are real jewels in the crown of our borough, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

“We are thrilled with the Green Flag Awards, which are testament to the hard work and dedication of so many people in our communities in making these sites such beautiful places to visit.”

Councillor Christopher Massey, cabinet member for the environment and rural affairs, added: “Each site is supported by friends groups who fundraise and volunteer to maintain and improve facilities.

“These awards recognise their hard work and demonstrate the community spirit and passion of volunteers and council staff for the area that they live and work.”

Sites are assessed for their Green Flag status by volunteer judges who usually have a background in parks management, conservation or ecology.

They judge against eight criteria including testing whether the site or green space is welcoming, healthy and safe and secure. They also inspect how clean and well-maintained it is along with how sustainable and the level of community involvement.

Coulby Newham Juniors FC is hoping this year's Wish Sport campaign will result in much needed funds

A group of keen young footballers are hoping to score plenty of tokens in this year’s Wish Sport campaign.

Formed in 1996, Coulby Newham Juniors Football Club has since rapidly expanded and currently caters for boys aged between eight and 18.

From the next season, the junior club will have a total of 11 teams competing across nine age groups in the Teesside Junior Football Alliance. This will raise member numbers over 150 with each team being managed by a qualified coach.

Colin Geddes, of the club said: “We have entered for the last two years and the money received has been used to purchase much needed training equipment as well as training jackets for all of the team’s players.

“We have just secured a venue for the sole use of our mini soccer teams so the funds will be used to purchase a line marker and lawnmower to maintain the ground as well as new goals.”

The Gazette has teamed up with Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, which is providing £30,000 to share between groups across Teesside.

Tokens are being printed in the Gazette every day for groups to collect. The more collected, the greater the share of the prize pot.

This year the tokens collected will be worth a share of £25,000, with the remaining £5,000 up for grabs during two online bonus days.

All groups will be in with a chance during the bonus days to win a share of the additional money pot – the four that receive the most votes on http://ift.tt/1md60Qe will get the cash.

Ken Devereux of Billingham-based Devereux Transport and Distribution, corporate patrons of the Philanthropic Foundation, said: “Our business is Teesside born and bred and we’re proud of this fact - that’s why we’re giving a portion of our profits to the Foundation.

“We wanted to give something back to Teesside and that’s exactly what the Wish Sport campaign does.

“It is an amazing initiative that is a first class reminder of what a great place Teesside is.”

To help Coulby Newham Juniors FC, send your tokens to: 10 Nutfield Close, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, TS8 9QQ.

Recap: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside

The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Tuesday 29th July, 2014.

You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.

Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.

Recap: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside

The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Wednesday 30th July, 2014.

You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.

Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.

Recap: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside

The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Thursday 31st July, 2014.

You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.

Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.

Asylum seeker who led police on high speed around Teesside while drunk is spared jail

An asylum seeker who led police on a high speed chase while drunk behind the wheel, has been spared jail.

When Nasser Ali was eventually arrested and officers asked him how much he had drank he answered “a lot”, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Nasser, from Somalia, appeared at the court for sentencing after previously admitting a charge of dangerous driving without insurance and driving without an appropriate licence.

The court heard that on May 3 this year at 2.20am police were drawn to a vehicle driven by Nasser at the junction of Mandale Road and Thornaby Road in Thornaby.

Prosecuting, Paul Lee, said the car drove off towards Midddlesbrough Road, consistently accelerating and then braking.

He said: “At one point he came to an almost complete stop before accelerating away.

“Having travelled on to Stockton Road he reached more than 60mph in a 30mph speed limit.”

The car drove on to Newport Bridge where the driver lost control braking sharply on the bridge.

Mr Lee said it eventually collided into a lamp-post. The police car stopped alongside the vehicle and Nasser made off on foot.

A short chase followed before he was caught and arrested.

Mr Lee added: “He was interviewed under caution.

“He admitted that he had been driving but made no comment regarding the nature of the driving. When asked how much he had to drink, he said he didn’t know but said ‘a lot’.”

There was also a passenger in the car and the court heard that he was the owner of the vehicle.

Mitigating, Graham Brown, said Nasser was depressed at the time of the incident. He said he had come to the UK from war-torn Somalia after both his parents lost their lives.

Nasser was living on Teesside at the time of the offence but has now moved to London.

The court was told that he has no previous convictions.

Judge John Walford said: “Those who seek asylum in this country owe an enormous amount of gratitude to this country and they should reflect that in their behaviour and abide by the laws of this country. What you did was to put the lives of other people at risk.”

Nasser was given a 10 month sentence suspended for two years with a three month curfew requirement. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 costs.