Council agrees to move road at risk of collapse

A council has agreed an initial road realignment plan for a route at risk of collapse due to coastal erosion.

Cowbar Lane, the main road into the north side of the coastal village of Staithes, was progressively eroding from waves and heavy rain, a council report previously found.

Redcar and Cleveland Council's cabinet agreed to the first phase of a scheme which involved moving Cowbar Lane away from the cliff edge and the demolition of a single property.

Planners said its first phrase of realignment would deliver "15 years of safe passage". A £1.8m budget was earmarked for the works, although the council's report warned it could rise to £2.2m.

The lane provides the only vehicle access to properties in Cowbar and on the northern side of Staithes Harbour.

It also serves a Yorkshire Water pumping station for the area and a RNLI lifeboat station, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council previously warned without intervention the area could be "abandoned".

The first phase would see approximately 90 metres (295 ft) of highway realigned.

A new four metre-wide (13ft) carriageway would be created further inland, with some of the old road retained to create parking.

It is part of a three-phase plan which would see the road moved further and further over time, with the last phase expected in 2074 "based on current predicted erosion rates".

Council planners said phasing the road realignment was to "allow homeowners to remain in their homes for as long as possible".

The approval on 22 September will enable the Labour-led council to submit planning applications, procure contractors, acquire property and secure external funding.

The council allocated £550,000 towards the design and preparation of an outline business case.

Meanwhile, funding grant submissions totalling about £900,000 were being made to the Environment Agency and other partner organisations, a report said.

Construction was expected to begin in the spring and last about nine months.

The report added contact was made last year with the homeowner of the property due to be demolished to begin the process to acquire it and was "progressing well".

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