REDCAR AND CLEVELAND NEWS
REGENT CINEMA OPENING ON TRACK
Redcar ’ s new seafront cinema is moving towards completion right on time .
BAM Construction ’ s work on-site is almost finished , with the last fittings going in , as paving is installed around the exterior of the building , canopies and balconies receive their finishing touches and painting and decorating continues inside .
All mechanical and electrical systems are being tested , including heating , lighting , kitchen equipment and toilet facilities . Audiovisual tests in the screen rooms have also been carried out with impressive results . BAM was expected to be off-site by mid-March , after which some final fittingout will be ongoing , while the council holds a tendering process with potential cinema operators .
At present , the invitation to tender is out and due back by the end of the month .
Cinema operators will provide business cases to the council and the selection of which to take forward to a negotiation process can then take place .
Awarding of the contract is expected by June , giving the new operators time to prepare for a summer opening .
Councillor Chris Gallacher , Redcar and Cleveland Council ’ s cabinet member for economic growth , said : “ The building is shaping up beautifully in terms of functionality and aesthetics , and the audiovisual tests were superb .
“ As the tendering process continues , we are highly optimistic that all is on track for a summer opening . Part of the tendering process will involve selecting operators who have a fantastic offer and fair pricing .”
The £ 9.7m facilities have been funded by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority .
RECORD START TO YEAR FOR BOULBY
Operators of the polyhalite mine in East Cleveland say the firm is enjoying a strong start to 2022 after reporting impressive figures in the last year .
The worldwide demand for Polysulphate products from the ICL Boulby mine in East Cleveland has been underlined by figures for 2021 .
They show that more than 2.3m tonnes were handled from its storage and handling facilities on Teesside , with its terminal at Teesdock handling 171 ships .
More than 820,000 tonnes of Polysulphate was transported by sea to destinations including Brazil , the USA , China and India .
The company says January 2022 was a record month for mining and processing .
Council to snap up former Woolworths store
A well-known Redcar store is being bought by Redcar and Cleveland Council as part of moves to “ open up ” space between High Street and the Esplanade .
The council has signed an agreement with Goodwins to buy the retailer ’ s premises – formerly a Woolworths store . The deal – part of the wider Redcar Town Deal Scheme – follows the council buying the freehold for the vacant former Marks and Spencer building .
It ’ s part of a vision to create a “ focal point ” for the town and a link from the High Street to the Esplanade , where events can take place and pop-up food , drink and retailers can trade .
FIRM SETS SIGHTS ON WORLD ’ S DEADLIEST DISEASES
A company based at the Wilton Centre has received global recognition for developing groundbreaking technology to deliver lifesaving drugs .
During the past 18 months , Micropore Technologies has been working with some of the leading pharmaceutical companies that produced Covid-19 vaccines .
It is now in talks about using the same technology to tackle more of the world ’ s deadliest diseases .
In October , Micropore received the 2021 iChemE global award for its Versatile Lipid Nanoparticle Manufacturing .
It was also highly commended in a second category by the Institution of Chemical Engineers ’ judges . The company had previously won an iChemE global award in 2019 .
Anglo American in the driving seat with hydrogen car scheme
Anglo American is playing its part in a pilot scheme designed to help speed up the adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles .
The company behind the Woodsmith polyhalite mine , being built near Whitby and on Teesside , has taken delivery of two Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell cars to use in its operations .
The cars form part of the £ 2.5m Tees Valley Hydrogen Hub scheme , which will see a raft of major employers including the police , health workers and industrial companies testing out hydrogen-powered vehicles in real-world situations , using a new refuelling station at Teesside International Airport .
The Woodsmith Project currently employs more than 1,000 people .
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