JAN 2009:
SAVE CENTRAL GARDENS!
MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL:
BEACON OF HYPOCRISY
WATCH NOW !
JAN 2009: After recently sending in the bulldozers to destroy Longridge Wood in Marton, Mayor Ray Mallon and Middlesbrough Council have turned their sights to Central Gardens. They are now planning to fill in the lake and build on the only green space in the centre of M’bro. Office blocks, a multi-storey car park and a hotel for a town centre already full of empty office blocks and hotels not full – what “Green Beacon Status Authority” would consider such a hair-brained scheme??? A group of local residents have started a campaign to stop it so I have made this video to help them get the word out.
10 FEB 2009:
4 ECO-CAMPAIGN FILMS
Plus 4 Guest Speakers
“We would love to hear from you and hope you share in our enthusiasm”
Middlesbrough Council – ‘Green Spaces Action Strategy’ 2006
YOU GOT IT!
MAR 2009:
1,000 DVDS & FLYERS GIVEN AWAY!
Thanks to an anonymous sponsor, a 1000 dvds featuring both the Longridge Wood and Central Gardens films (‘Bulldozing Democracy’ & ‘Beacon of Hypocrisy’) plus a 1000 leaflets were pushed through letterboxes close to the sites and sent out to the media just days ahead of Middlesbrough Council’s ‘Local Action on Climate Change’ conference. THE TRUTH IS NOW OUT THERE !
10 MARCH 2009:
COUNCIL CONFERENCE AMBUSHED!
Campaigners fighting to save Central Gardens, in solidarity with The Friends of Longridge Wood, descend on Middlesbrough Council’s “Local Action on Climate Change” conference. The demo was named “Local Action on Council Hypocrisy” 🙂
100s of DVDs and leaflets given out to the Council’s guests!
BBC POLITICS SHOW, BBC TEES, NORTHERN ECHO, EVENING GAZETTE all show up as Ray’s spin doctor and bodyguards look glumly on…
BUT WHERE WAS RAY???
We awaited Ray Mallon’s arrival but he didn’t show BUT then he was in the building at 9.30 to give his speech so how did he do it?! He told BBC Tees that he went in his “usual way via the back gate” BUT we checked the back gate just after 9am and it was padlocked. We were also told that the back gate had never been used since the front entrance was put in a year or two ago! So he must have come in the back of the police van that sped through around 9.15 ! Either way he knew we were there and avoided us!
BBC Sunday Politics Show – Mallon’s hypocrisy and arrogance exposed to the region.
2023:
CENTRAL GARDENS TODAY
14 years on and Mallon and Budd are long gone. Their ridiculous plans thankfully didn’t fully happen. Two office buildings have been recently built on the Eastern edge of Central Gardens (now renamed as part of Centre Square). They wholly obstruct the immediate connection that the residents of Elder Court previously enjoyed BUT at least the lake and most of the green area has survived. Seeing a heron at home right in the centre of Middlesbrough was a sight to behold! Â Â Â