Plan to protect countryside

Redcar and Cleveland Council is expected to welcome a major piece of work, detailing what will be done to sustain and enhance the area, when the cabinet meets on July 7.

The Countryside Strategy 2009-2014 and various action plans aim to protect land for future generations.

Council Leader Councillor George Dunning, whose portfolio covers rural affairs, said: "There is a firm commitment from this council to sustainably manage, conserve, protect and enhance such important landscape for current and future generations."

The council manages the majority of the Borough's countryside, including three country parks and associated visitor centres, six local nature reserves, significant national and regional trails and part of the Heritage Coast.

Around a quarter of the borough sits within the North York Moors National Park.

Coun Dunning said he hoped the public would do their bit to help maintain the countryside He said: "An underlying factor of the strategy will be the continual participation of the public.

"Involving the local community in how their local Country Park develops is essential if a real sense of ownership is to be felt by the local community.

"If the community feels this sense of ownership, this can have many positive benefits, from a reduction in vandalism to help in raising funds for new developments."

Ideas included in the five-year plan are getting the public to help survey the local footpaths in local areas or checking rights of way remain open and are safe to use.

Attracting more people into the countryside could also help to combat the problems of rural crime and the fear of crime when walking alone.

Coun Dunning added: "Walking clubs and other organised groups can help people feel more comfortable in the countryside.

"By encouraging more of the community to use country parks, and the borough's countryside generally, they will become more inviting and less intimidating to other more nervous or unsure groups."