Loftus, Saltburn and Marske Connectivity

Saltburn to Marske-by-the Sea

Saltburn to Marske Route Improvements – What’s Happening?

In January 2023, the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) received £20.8 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The goal is to make it easier for people to get around by walking, biking, or using wheelchairs and mobility aids. This is especially helpful for short trips to places like work, school, shops, and healthcare.

One of the projects chosen to be funded in our area is the improvement of the active travel (walking, wheeling, and cycling) route connecting Saltburn and Marske.

What You Told Us

People were asked to share their thoughts on travel improvements in Tees Valley during summer 2024. There were several in-person events where people could give feedback.

Another round of more detailed engagement with public events happened in early 2025. These events were advertised on social media and letters were sent to the properties fronting the planned route from Saltburn to Marske.

We listened to feedback from:

• Recent engagement event held in early 2025
• A Road Safety Audit
• A panel of experts who reviewed the design (Active Travel England)

What’s Changing based on Feedback

1. Spain Hill will have an “Access Only” restriction, meaning only certain vehicles can use it.
2. A special bike lane which allows cycling in both directions (called a “contraflow lane”) will be added on Church Lane.
3. A safety island will be built at the start of the contraflow bike lane, at the junction where Spain Hill meets St Germain’s Lane.
4. A raised side road across the entire junction will be built at Spain Hill and Windy Hill Lane to slow down traffic.
5. A raised table planned for Scanbeck Drive has been removed because of underground utility issues.
6. The parking bay on Milton Street (near house numbers 147 to 169) will be shorter, and a  “H-bar” marking will be painted to protect driveway access.
7. New signs will help people find their way along the route.

More Information

• A 20-mph speed limit will only apply to streets that are part of this project.
• People asked about traffic calming on Howard Drive and Church Howle Crescent. Based on this feedback, raised platforms will be added at two junctions:
  • Windy Hill Lane and Church Howle Crescent

• Hummershill Lane and Church Howle Crescent
• These areas will also get a 20-mph speed limit and painted bike symbols on the road.

Other Concerns

Lighting: Some people were worried about light pollution on the off-road path. TVCA is working on a lighting plan and will feed all comments into the design.

Anti-social behaviour: People were concerned about crime and off-road bikes. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are putting a case forward for funding to install a CCTV camera to help deal with this, while keeping the path open for everyone.

Updated design and Next Steps

The current updated designs for Loftus, Saltburn and Marske Connectivity are available on request by emailing [email protected].

We listened in July-August 2024

Between July and August 2024, we asked for your feedback on creating a link between Marske and Saltburn Town Centre, to make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle between Saltburn and Marske.   

Your feedback included: 

• Plans were generally well supported.  There was particular support for improvements to the junction of Milton Street and Marine Parade to make it safer for people walking, wheeling and cycling to cross the road.   
• Other improvements suggested finding ways to limit speeds, improving crossings and visibility to improve safety for pedestrians 
• Widen and resurface the Black Ash Path from Howard Drive and Milton Street to make it safer and easier for cyclists and wheelers.  
• Traffic calm and reduce the speed on Church Howle Crescent and Howard Drive to make it safer for cyclists. 

Taking your view on board

Based on your feedback and design reviews Tees Valley Combined Authority, in partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, have made some further changes to the proposals for the improvements from Saltburn to Marske, with the aim of making walking, wheeling, and cycling safer and more attractive. 

The plans are as follows: 

• A new zebra crossing at the junction of Milton Street and Marine Parade/Hilda Place. 
• Wayfinding signs along the route. 
• Traffic calming measures along Church Howle Crescent and Howard Drive.  
• Resurfacing and widening where feasible on the Black Ash path.

The Levelling Up Funding (LUF) secured for this project is fully pledged for sustainable transport projects to promote more walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport in our area.

For an enlarged version of the map, please click here.

Visualisations

For an enlarged version of the visualisation, please click here.

Next Steps 

The plans will be finalised based on further feedback from the survey closing on 21 March 2025. Once finalised, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, in their role as the Highways Authority, will hold a formal advertisement on final plans from March 2025.  

Additional plans to improve transport are in development and will be available for public review in spring 2025; please sign up to stay up to date.

Wider Vision for Loftus, Saltburn and Marske Connectivity

The coastal area south of Redcar is diverse with lots of different villages and towns like Marske, Saltburn, and Loftus. These towns are all by the coast in Redcar and Cleveland and are linked together by the main road, the A174.

Loftus has a rich coal and ironstone mining history and is a bustling centre with Town Hall, a range of shops, cafes and pubs and services for the local community including schools, churches, leisure centre and job centre. We are continuing to investigate the feasibility of rail services to Loftus.

North of Loftus, Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a popular destination for visitors as well as the local community and can get very busy with day trippers and holiday makers wanting to enjoy the traditional Victorian resort. It’s home to independent shops, cafes and restaurants, the historic pier, and the Saltburn Cliff Lift. Saltburn Railway Station serves as the heart of the town, and it marks the end of the Tees Valley Line. From here, trains run to various destinations including Redcar, Middlesbrough, Darlington, and beyond.

Marske-by-the-Sea is a coastal village north of Saltburn. There are a range of pubs, cafes and shops, historic buildings including Marske Hall and a seafront promenade and sandy beach meaning it is also popular with visitors. The Railway Station is by Station Close at the edge of the village.

Wider Vision for Loftus, Saltburn and Marske Coastal Area

The area has already seen recent investment. In Loftus, over £11 million pounds of funding from Redcar and Cleveland Council, Tees Valley and the Future High Streets Fund is helping deliver ambitious plans to transform the High Street. Click here for further information.

Tees Valley in Partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Council want to help improve transport connections in the area to make it easier for people to travel between the towns and villages.

For an enlarged version of the map, please click here.

For an enlarged version of the map, please click here.

Current Issues

Buses through Saltburn, Marske and Loftus can be delayed by slow moving traffic and parked cars. There are also limited continuous paths for walking, wheeling, and cycling. We want to improve the travel options available to make walking, wheeling, cycling and using the bus quicker, safer and more convenient.

More Information

Previous Plans

FAQs & Glossary of Terms

Image Library