Leaky boat lake finally fixed, council says

The lake has had low water levels for years

A boating lake which has been blighted by leaks for more than three years has finally been fixed, a local authority has said.

The lake at Newcomen Terrace in Coatham, Redcar, has been undergoing repairs since September 2024.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough council leader Alec Brown said: "We're thrilled to see it filled with water once again, ready for the community to enjoy."

Due to the lake's low water levels in previous years, Redcar Model Boat club had been forced to race radio-controlled cars there instead.

Brown said restoring the lake had not been a "straightforward job", due in part to its size.

The local authority said it had found significant cracking throughout the lake's entire concrete basin slab which required repairs to be carried out by hand.

Repairs began in 2024 when the lake was emptied with the hope it could return to its former glory in the spring.

But a test refill in April failed, prompting a fresh round of works to the 1930s structure.

During new test refills in August, Redcar Model Boat Club member Dale Patterson told the BBC there was "light in the end of the tunnel".

The council is now planning to organise a community event to mark the restoration of the lake.