Local News

Police are warning drug users about the risk of potential harmful batches of heroin being circulated after a man died and a woman is critically ill in hospital;

Park users in Redcar and Cleveland can look forward to a bright future as Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has today voted in favour of establishing a new Foundation to manage eight much-loved parks;

...and free afternoon parking returns to Redcar and Cleveland for Christmas shoppers in all council-operated car parks and pay & display on-street parking bays.

Police are warning drug users about the risk of potential harmful batches of heroin being circulated after a man died and a woman is critically ill in hospital.

Officers believe the death and illness are linked to heroin which has possibly been laced with fentanyl or carfentanyl.

The death and illness can only be 100% linked with the heroin once proven by toxicology reports.

Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than street heroin with Carfentanyl 100 times more potent than that. Fentanyl is an anaesthesia used to help prevent pain after surgery or other medical procedures. It has the same effects as morphine but is significantly more powerful. Carfentanyl is a drug which is used on animals.

Anyone who has information about drugs activity in their area is asked to contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Park users in Redcar and Cleveland can look forward to a bright future as Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has today voted in favour of establishing a new Foundation to manage eight much-loved parks.

The Council has secured £194,000 in funding to form a Parks Foundation from Rethinking Parks, a joint project between The Big Lottery, The Heritage Lottery Fund, and Nesta, supporting park innovators across the UK to adapt to changing circumstances.

The Park Foundation, made up of trustees from the community, local businesses and the Council, will take over the day-to-day management of Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park, Guisborough Forest and Walkway, Eston Recreation Ground, Locke Park, Zetland Park, Borough Park, King George V Playing Fields and Marshall Drive Playing Fields, Brotton.

While the Council will remain the owner of the parks, the Foundation will deliver maintenance, litter picking and be responsible for future developments and all commercial activity such as cafes and events.

Free afternoon parking returns to Redcar and Cleveland for Christmas shoppers in all council-operated car parks and pay & display on-street parking bays.

Car parks and on-street parking bays across the Borough will be free for motorists after 1pm every day for the next eight weeks.

Parking charges still apply between 8am and 1pm.

Normal charges will resume on Monday 7 January 2019.

For more information on the free parking scheme, motorists should refer to notices in each council car park or go to www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/parking.