Chris Monk
Well-known member
MEDIA RELEASE
Issued on behalf of the RSPB and Teesside Environmental Trust :news:
16 November 2006
WILDLIFE TOURISM INITIATIVE GETS FUNDING GO AHEAD :clap:
A new multi-million pound wildlife visitor attraction in north east
England has received an investment boost of £3.7 million, the RSPB
and Teesside Environmental Trust announced today (16 November 2006).
The funding will make the vision for a ground-breaking wildlife
conservation project on Teesside a reality, creating a major new
visitor attraction and international nature reserve.
Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast has today approved the
multi-million pound funding package for the wildlife tourism project
at Saltholme near Stockton, and is investing £2.3m in the project,
through the Tees Valley Partnership. The European Regional
Development Fund is contributing a further £1.4m through the
Government Office for the North East.
The decision has major implications for North East England, as the
region will benefit from the transformation of former industrial land
in the Tees Valley into an innovative new visitor attraction with
nationwide tourism and education links, alongside a new
internationally important wetland wildlife reserve.
The 380-hectare Saltholme site is situated near the mouth of the
River Tees between Billingham and Seaton Carew and with around
100,000 visitors expected every year, the site will be one of the
largest tourist attractions in the region, bringing wildlife and
people together for a unique experience. At least twenty-three new
jobs will be created at Saltholme and visitors to the site will bring
an additional £1.4 million-a-year to the local economy.
The creation of lakes, pools, grasslands and reedbeds will attract
new, exciting and rare wildlife to the area, boosting the Tees
Valley's biodiversity. New species of birds likely to colonise the
area include bittern, marsh harrier and avocet. The same habitats
will also encourage popular and more familiar wildlife such as
kingfishers, swans, herons, butterflies and dragonflies.
An inspirational and iconic `Wild Bird Discovery Centre' will be at
the heart of the site, providing a family-friendly experience of
wildlife, and facilities for recreation, education and local
community activities.
Overall, the cost of turning the Saltholme site from derelict
wasteland to a place where people can enjoy wildlife will cost at
least £7 million. Today's decision by One NorthEast is the final
piece in the funding jigsaw and means that work can now start in
earnest. Saltholme is expected to open to the public in 2008. The
project has already attracted over £3m from business and other
funders and today's announcement has been welcomed by business
leaders throughout the region.
Kevin Bayes, RSPB Saltholme project manager, said: "On every count,
the Saltholme project is a massive opportunity for the region and we
are delighted that One NorthEast, the Tees Valley Partnership, the
Government Office North East, Stockton Council and our other funders
share our enthusiasm for the project and have confidence in its
potential. Thanks to their investment, we can now get stuck into
creating a site that the region can be proud of and one that will
provide important benefits for wildlife and people. The project
will further demonstrate how the environment of this region can
deliver real benefits to the local and regional economy, whilst being
protected for future generations to enjoy."
John Holmes, Head of Regeneration and Tourism at One NorthEast
said: "Saltholme will be one of the biggest visitor attractions in
North East England and one of the most significant wildlife visitor
attractions in the country.
"We are pleased to fund this because we see an opportunity to harness
the economic potential of an important wildlife site, contributing to
the creation of jobs whilst making sure the site is protected and
cared for.
"It has great potential to attract visitors throughout the year
thanks to the high quality facilities and year round wildlife
interest. We expect it to generate more than £1 million a year from
visitors and create new jobs in the local area. With the current
interest in ecology and the environment, the site will also act as a
focus for education and community programmes bringing in significant
benefit to local people as well as visitors."
Tees Valley Partnership Programme Manager Martin Simpson believes
that the Saltholme project will bring enormous benefits to the entire
area. He explains "Of course, the fact that Saltholme will be
drawing in many thousands of people from far and wide and will make a
substantial boost to our local tourism sector is a crucial element in
the support we have provided for the project.
"But equally important is the educational benefits it will provide,
allowing schoolchildren and adults to discover the multitude of
wildlife on their own doorstep, and the fact that it will give a
significant uplift to an area of the Tees Valley with significant
deprivation problems."
Peter Smith, Head of European Programmes, Government Office for the
North East said: "We are very pleased to support this project which
will enhance tourism potential in the Tees Valley. It will link into
other ERDF-funded tourism projects, such as mima in Middlesbrough,
demonstrating how our wide range of investments is broadening the
visitor experience."
David Kitchen, Chairman of the Teesside Environmental Trust,
added: "Today marks the most important step in the realisation of a
long held vision by the Teesside Environmental Trust to provide a
world-class wildlife and tourism experience in the Tees Valley. We
are delighted by this fantastic news and enormously grateful to our
funders for their support. We can now move with confidence into the
next phase of development at Saltholme, which will create a wonderful
new resource for people in the Tees Valley and throughout the north
east of England."
Newcastle-based architects, Jane Darbyshire & David Kendall Ltd will
design the Wild Bird Discovery Centre at Saltholme. The innovative
building fuses 21st Century architecture to both modern and
traditional materials. The Discovery Centre will be the starting
point of a visit to Saltholme and will be built in a unique wetland
setting next to the reserve's main lake.
Work on the new building will start in the New Year and Saltholme is
expected to be fully open to visitors in 2008. Follow the latest
developments by logging on to www.rspb.org.uk/england/north and
clicking on the Saltholme feature.
The RSPB and Teesside Environmental Trust are grateful to all the
organisations that are supporting the Saltholme project. They
include:
One NorthEast/Tees Valley Partnership - £2,362,500
Augean Waste Ltd, Premier Waste Ltd, County Durham Environment
Trust - £1,77,146
European Regional Development Fund/Government Office North East -
£1,408,809
Biffaward £500,000
Stockton Borough Council - £250,000
Northern Rock Foundation - £250,000
SITA Trust - £150,358
Shears Trust - £40,000
For more information about the Saltholme project call Kevin Bayes at
the RSPB Northern England regional office on 0191 2334300 or e-mail
[email protected]
Issued on behalf of the RSPB and Teesside Environmental Trust :news:
16 November 2006
WILDLIFE TOURISM INITIATIVE GETS FUNDING GO AHEAD :clap:
A new multi-million pound wildlife visitor attraction in north east
England has received an investment boost of £3.7 million, the RSPB
and Teesside Environmental Trust announced today (16 November 2006).
The funding will make the vision for a ground-breaking wildlife
conservation project on Teesside a reality, creating a major new
visitor attraction and international nature reserve.
Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast has today approved the
multi-million pound funding package for the wildlife tourism project
at Saltholme near Stockton, and is investing £2.3m in the project,
through the Tees Valley Partnership. The European Regional
Development Fund is contributing a further £1.4m through the
Government Office for the North East.
The decision has major implications for North East England, as the
region will benefit from the transformation of former industrial land
in the Tees Valley into an innovative new visitor attraction with
nationwide tourism and education links, alongside a new
internationally important wetland wildlife reserve.
The 380-hectare Saltholme site is situated near the mouth of the
River Tees between Billingham and Seaton Carew and with around
100,000 visitors expected every year, the site will be one of the
largest tourist attractions in the region, bringing wildlife and
people together for a unique experience. At least twenty-three new
jobs will be created at Saltholme and visitors to the site will bring
an additional £1.4 million-a-year to the local economy.
The creation of lakes, pools, grasslands and reedbeds will attract
new, exciting and rare wildlife to the area, boosting the Tees
Valley's biodiversity. New species of birds likely to colonise the
area include bittern, marsh harrier and avocet. The same habitats
will also encourage popular and more familiar wildlife such as
kingfishers, swans, herons, butterflies and dragonflies.
An inspirational and iconic `Wild Bird Discovery Centre' will be at
the heart of the site, providing a family-friendly experience of
wildlife, and facilities for recreation, education and local
community activities.
Overall, the cost of turning the Saltholme site from derelict
wasteland to a place where people can enjoy wildlife will cost at
least £7 million. Today's decision by One NorthEast is the final
piece in the funding jigsaw and means that work can now start in
earnest. Saltholme is expected to open to the public in 2008. The
project has already attracted over £3m from business and other
funders and today's announcement has been welcomed by business
leaders throughout the region.
Kevin Bayes, RSPB Saltholme project manager, said: "On every count,
the Saltholme project is a massive opportunity for the region and we
are delighted that One NorthEast, the Tees Valley Partnership, the
Government Office North East, Stockton Council and our other funders
share our enthusiasm for the project and have confidence in its
potential. Thanks to their investment, we can now get stuck into
creating a site that the region can be proud of and one that will
provide important benefits for wildlife and people. The project
will further demonstrate how the environment of this region can
deliver real benefits to the local and regional economy, whilst being
protected for future generations to enjoy."
John Holmes, Head of Regeneration and Tourism at One NorthEast
said: "Saltholme will be one of the biggest visitor attractions in
North East England and one of the most significant wildlife visitor
attractions in the country.
"We are pleased to fund this because we see an opportunity to harness
the economic potential of an important wildlife site, contributing to
the creation of jobs whilst making sure the site is protected and
cared for.
"It has great potential to attract visitors throughout the year
thanks to the high quality facilities and year round wildlife
interest. We expect it to generate more than £1 million a year from
visitors and create new jobs in the local area. With the current
interest in ecology and the environment, the site will also act as a
focus for education and community programmes bringing in significant
benefit to local people as well as visitors."
Tees Valley Partnership Programme Manager Martin Simpson believes
that the Saltholme project will bring enormous benefits to the entire
area. He explains "Of course, the fact that Saltholme will be
drawing in many thousands of people from far and wide and will make a
substantial boost to our local tourism sector is a crucial element in
the support we have provided for the project.
"But equally important is the educational benefits it will provide,
allowing schoolchildren and adults to discover the multitude of
wildlife on their own doorstep, and the fact that it will give a
significant uplift to an area of the Tees Valley with significant
deprivation problems."
Peter Smith, Head of European Programmes, Government Office for the
North East said: "We are very pleased to support this project which
will enhance tourism potential in the Tees Valley. It will link into
other ERDF-funded tourism projects, such as mima in Middlesbrough,
demonstrating how our wide range of investments is broadening the
visitor experience."
David Kitchen, Chairman of the Teesside Environmental Trust,
added: "Today marks the most important step in the realisation of a
long held vision by the Teesside Environmental Trust to provide a
world-class wildlife and tourism experience in the Tees Valley. We
are delighted by this fantastic news and enormously grateful to our
funders for their support. We can now move with confidence into the
next phase of development at Saltholme, which will create a wonderful
new resource for people in the Tees Valley and throughout the north
east of England."
Newcastle-based architects, Jane Darbyshire & David Kendall Ltd will
design the Wild Bird Discovery Centre at Saltholme. The innovative
building fuses 21st Century architecture to both modern and
traditional materials. The Discovery Centre will be the starting
point of a visit to Saltholme and will be built in a unique wetland
setting next to the reserve's main lake.
Work on the new building will start in the New Year and Saltholme is
expected to be fully open to visitors in 2008. Follow the latest
developments by logging on to www.rspb.org.uk/england/north and
clicking on the Saltholme feature.
The RSPB and Teesside Environmental Trust are grateful to all the
organisations that are supporting the Saltholme project. They
include:
One NorthEast/Tees Valley Partnership - £2,362,500
Augean Waste Ltd, Premier Waste Ltd, County Durham Environment
Trust - £1,77,146
European Regional Development Fund/Government Office North East -
£1,408,809
Biffaward £500,000
Stockton Borough Council - £250,000
Northern Rock Foundation - £250,000
SITA Trust - £150,358
Shears Trust - £40,000
For more information about the Saltholme project call Kevin Bayes at
the RSPB Northern England regional office on 0191 2334300 or e-mail
[email protected]
