Local News

A round up of Local News in Redcar and Cleveland for 5th January 2016

There has been positive news for former SSI contractors after it was confirmed that some of them will now receive full statutory redundancy pay.

29 workers employed through Jo Hand Recruitment worked at the SSI steelworks in Redcar, and are owed a total of almost £300,000 in unpaid wages.

Following the closure of the steelworks and the liquidation of Jo Hand Recruitment, the former contractors were told that, because of their status as agency workers, they were not entitled to statutory redundancy pay like their permanent colleagues.

However, Redcar MP Anna Turley took up the matter on their behalf and pressed the case with the Official Receiver.

So far 11 of the 29 workers have now received confirmation from the Insolvency Service that they will receive full statutory redundancy pay.

The status of the remaining 18 workers is still to be confirmed.

Anna told Zetland FM that she welcomed the news and was pleased that the Official Receiver had recognised how deeply unfair it was to deprive these contractors of the entitlements that their SSI-employed colleagues have received.

She said that she will continue to push for support for the remaining contractors.

Ten appliances from Cleveland Fire Brigade were sent to Lotte Chemicals at the Wilton International site following reports of a small fire yesterday lunchtime.

The fire broke out at noon today at the chemical plant at Lazenby near Redcar. Cleveland Fire Brigade said that ten appliances were sent as a “precaution” to the scene due to the fire being at a chemical plant.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Fire Brigade said that this was later scaled down to five appliances and said the fire was not serious.

Nominations are now open for the 2015 North East Disability Sports Awards.

The Awards, which are now in their ninth year, celebrate the fantastic achievements and contributions North East athletes, coaches, clubs and schools have made to disability sport across the region in 2015.

It recognises and rewards them for their tireless and dedicated commitment. 

The categories are Male and Female Personality, Young Male and Young Female Achiever, Team and Coach of the Year, in addition to awards for Service to Sport, Participants, Schools and Clubs. The 2014 awards saw over 100 individuals and clubs nominated for eight awards. Two new categories have been added this year making 2015 the biggest awards to date.

Winners at the 2014 awards included British record holder in swimming Matthew Wylie and Paralympian wheelchair track athlete Jade Jones. The Club of the Year award went to the North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club and football coach Craig Riach won Participant of the Year.

Nominating for the 2015 awards is easy. Simply fill out the online form at www.nedsa.co.uk or you can request a hard copy form by calling 01642 342287. The closing date for nominations is Sunday 31 January.