| Click the link above to find out the latest news of the Kellington Last updated 24th April 2009 |
What Do the people of Stockton Prefer???????
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The Kellington as seen from the slipway at Corporation Quay Sunday 20-04-09 |
Some Facts and Figures on the Newport Bridge
The Newport Bridge was built by Teesside firm Dorman Long. The construction began in 1931 and it was opened to traffic on 28th February 1934. It was built over what had been the Newport Ferry Crossing. In order for the construction to be completed a considerable number of houses had to be removed for its approach road on the Middlesbrough side. The west side of Samuelson St and the east side of Calvert St were demolished and the original hamlet of Newport was also cleared. The 70 or so families were mostly rehoused in the new housing estate being built at Whinney Banks. |
| Help save our maritime heritage by signing the petition http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/historic-ships/ I am sure many of you will be aware of the indifference of the British government, Lottery administrators and heritage organisations to the plight of the Nation's historic vessels, many of which are in mortal danger of being lost to the Nation forever. The Government are currently looking at a new item of legislation, the Draft Heritage Protection Bill. The DHPB is a means of simplifying the 'listing' of heritage assets, intended to reduce bureaucracy and streamline the process of heritage protection. There is much disappointment in the 'heritage shipping movement' that a golden opportunity is being missed to ensure the future of our historic vessels within the framework of the new legislation. The Bill is being engineered more to protect 'fixed' assets, buildings, landmarks, and such like but is omitting the heritage assets which have the least protection of all, historic ships. Certain ships will, however, have some form of 'protection' under the Bill, but this will extend only to 'fixed' vessels (those dry-docked or in museums) and wrecks, which of course are 'fixed' to the sea-bed! The main argument against leaving out ships is that 'listing' is carried out on a 'local' basis, and that the very nature of ships is that they can move around and would need to be 'listed' again each time they found themselves at a new location. This is quite a bizarre complication given that solutions could be found, such as a simple 'port of registration' scheme. There are a number of vessels in imminent danger, and a number that have been lost in recent times. Indeed, the National Historic Ships organisation have created a register of endangered vessels, but have no legal clout whatsoever to do anything about saving them. The last steam-powered Landing Ship, Tank, HMS Stalker of 1944 vintage is close to being broken up in Portsmouth following the indifference of the 'authorities' to her plight in spite of a strong campaign to save her. The Falklands veteran, HMS Plymouth, a proven visitor attraction, is also in danger of scrapping. The money and the will are there, but Plymouth City Council are indifferent to helping secure a berth for her in her home port. Many of our ships, both naval and merchant, are in danger of being lost. Troubled financial times may be with us, but once they are lost they are lost forever. We will be letting our descendents down gravely if we let this state of affairs continue. So please join the campaign to 'Save our Ships' and sign the petition on the Downing Street website, and ask others to do the same. If we speak with one voice then we can force the changes to preserve our past! www.maritimeheritage.co.uk __________________ Please sign the petition to help save our Maritime Heritage! www.maritimeheritage.co.uk And please pass the link on! |
