Indoor arena opponents 'threatened with faeces'

The arena could be built at the site of the former Redcar Bowl which was knocked down in 2014.

Opponents of a 5,000-seat indoor arena claim they are being threatened with faeces for objecting to the plans.

Redcar and Cleveland Council has agreed to lease land at Coatham for the arena but those living near the proposed site are expected to object to the plans.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: “We have been threatened with having dog faeces put through our letterboxes if we continue to object.”

The company behind the development said it did not condone such actions.

She claimed that critics of the development had been removed from popular Redcar-based Facebook groups, stopping them from contributing to the debate.

She added: "Sadly, we have been silenced, ignored, threatened and told our opinion is not of value.”

Members of the public attending a consultation about the arena plans

The new arena has strong local support but those living near the proposed development are expected to object, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Concerns include a lack of parking provision, access for residents, noise concerns and the potential overlooking of homes.

The proposed location of the arena is the former Coatham Bowl site, which had a capacity of 900 people and once hosted Chris Rea, Whitesnake, Slade and Ozzy Osborne.

It later became Redcar Bowl and was demolished in 2014.

The arena is being developed by Coatham Arena Limited (CAL).

A CAL spokesman said they did not condone the alleged behaviour and would not encourage such actions.

“We are perfectly comfortable with the expression of views and concerns about the development but hope they are based on facts and the proposals actually being put forward,” he said.

The company added that it was spending £75,000 on a public consultation on the plans.