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Since we have had absolutely radio silence form @BenHouchen and his 
Heritage Taskforce 
- it's time to review the much lauded £35m that is being quoted (without scrutiny) on the cost to save the Redcar Blast Furnace.
Another short thread
#saveoursteel
1/x
Heritage Taskforce - it's time to review the much lauded £35m that is being quoted (without scrutiny) on the cost to save the Redcar Blast Furnace.Another short thread
#saveoursteel
1/x
The £35m quoted in the press is actually for a large visitor's centre - not to save the furnace per se. (Sometimes it's £33m, it's depends on what day you catch him on).
Let's be clear - NO ONE ASKED FOR A VISITORS CENTRE.
So let's call it the 'Mayors option'.
2/x
Let's be clear - NO ONE ASKED FOR A VISITORS CENTRE.
So let's call it the 'Mayors option'.
2/x
In the £35m figure for the 'Mayors option' - £5.4m has been assigned for demolition - BUT this has already been accounted for in a separate demolition budget that has already been tendered.
The cost has been counted twice.
3/x
The cost has been counted twice.
3/x
Of the £35m - £6.5m is said to be needed for safe access for the public and stabilising.
Again, no one asked for this. If you have been following @SteelHeritage
proposal, only a fraction of this is needed to keep the main blast furnace structure.
4/x
Again, no one asked for this. If you have been following @SteelHeritage
proposal, only a fraction of this is needed to keep the main blast furnace structure.
4/x
Of the Mayor's £35m plans - he has assigned £2.6m for a Visitors’ Centre.
Whilst nice, this is not necessary. No one has asked for it.
If you follow @SteelHeritage proposals, that money doesn't need spending to save the blast furnace.
5/x
Whilst nice, this is not necessary. No one has asked for it.
If you follow @SteelHeritage proposals, that money doesn't need spending to save the blast furnace.
5/x
If there is no visitor's centre, then the £900k a year (£9m over 10 years) it costs to operate the Mayor's visitor centre is not needed - so we can save the Mayor £9m for his plans.
6/x
6/x
The Mayor also plans to spend £2.1m on corrosion protection - but only a fraction of this would be needed if only the heart of the blast furnace is retained as per @SteelHeritage proposals.
7/x
7/x
The Mayor also wants to spend £6.8m on project management& consultancy fees.
This can be significantly reduced, (as most of the site would be demolished in the SOSH proposal). These sums are already budgeted for as part of site reclamation costs.
Again, £££ costed twice.
8/x
This can be significantly reduced, (as most of the site would be demolished in the SOSH proposal). These sums are already budgeted for as part of site reclamation costs.
Again, £££ costed twice.
8/x
And finally retaining the furnace only takes up 1/1000th of the development site.
Keeping the furnace does not obstruct or hinder development or loose jobs.
That is very clear.
The only hindrance is someone trying to 'cook to books'.
9/x
Keeping the furnace does not obstruct or hinder development or loose jobs.
That is very clear.
The only hindrance is someone trying to 'cook to books'.
9/x
Is it just me, or is there something fishy going on here?
Overpriced works
Costs counted twice
Proposals no one asked for
Sensible proposals overlooked
Heritage lost
It's almost as if the Mayor is mis-selling the story to build his own case for demolition.
10/x
Overpriced works
Costs counted twice
Proposals no one asked for
Sensible proposals overlooked
Heritage lost
It's almost as if the Mayor is mis-selling the story to build his own case for demolition.
10/x
It's fairly clear from a quick examination that the in findings of the Heritage Taskforce that their findings are built on very weak foundations.
The technical report commissioned for the Mayor's Visitors Centre has been designed to look overinflated.
11/x
Heritage Taskforce that their findings are built on very weak foundations. The technical report commissioned for the Mayor's Visitors Centre has been designed to look overinflated.
11/x
The Heritage Taskforce have ignored the only other proposal out there - a very prudent and sensible proposal to simply keep the core of the furnace.
It's not even mentioned. What has theHeritage Taskforce been doing for the past 6 months?
Not alot.
12/x
Heritage Taskforce have ignored the only other proposal out there - a very prudent and sensible proposal to simply keep the core of the furnace. It's not even mentioned. What has the
Heritage Taskforce been doing for the past 6 months?Not alot.
12/x
The common perception locally is that the money could be better spent elsewhere in Redcar - say on the town centre or housing or facilities....
But the truth is that these 'savings' go back to the the treasury if unspent. A disinvestment for the region. A step backwards.
13/x
But the truth is that these 'savings' go back to the the treasury if unspent. A disinvestment for the region. A step backwards.
13/x
It's nice of the Mayor to save the treasury money, but really we think he should be investing in the people, the region and their heritage. Capturing as much investment as possible.
14/x
14/x
We can do much better. The blast furnace deserves saving and it doesn't have to cost the earth!
Please get behind @SteelHeritage - sign the petition and write to your council, MP and the Mayor.
https://www.change.org/p/ben-houchen-stop-the-demolition-of-redcar-blast-furnace?recruiter=34622678&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=ae5ae780-dfe3-012f-a334-40401fa5e37a&utm_content=fht-26859912-en-gb:0
#saveoursteel
15/x
Please get behind @SteelHeritage - sign the petition and write to your council, MP and the Mayor.
https://www.change.org/p/ben-houchen-stop-the-demolition-of-redcar-blast-furnace?recruiter=34622678&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=ae5ae780-dfe3-012f-a334-40401fa5e37a&utm_content=fht-26859912-en-gb:0
#saveoursteel
15/x
And finally, if any of the members of the Heritage Taskforce wish to come forward and wish to explain the logic behind the decision, we'd love to hear from you - the silence is killing me - @Tosh_Warwick , @WillardKate and @JacobYoungMP - thanks 
16/x
Heritage Taskforce wish to come forward and wish to explain the logic behind the decision, we'd love to hear from you - the silence is killing me - @Tosh_Warwick , @WillardKate and @JacobYoungMP - thanks 16/x
