Uncertainty over Tees Transporter bridge repair funding
Plus: Social housing in crisis and immunosuppression
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Today’s feature, the first behind the paywall, is about my diagnosis earlier this year with a long-term chronic illness, and having to suppress my immune system.
However, this edition starts with news about the fate of a local icon…
The future of the Tees Transporter bridge remains uncertain as Middlesbrough Council will be told this week that securing funding for essential repairs is still unresolved.
In a report to Wednesday’s full Council meeting, Cllr Peter Gavigan, who is Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability, is expected to tell members discussion for future operating models of the iconic bridge “are ongoing”, while “funding streams need to be resolved to progress the project further.”
In January a structural report into the bridge said it was at risk of "catastrophic collapse".
Money to repair and restore the bridge had been promised by Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, as part of his claimed “billion pounds” spend on transport projects in the region. That “billion pound” budget, is in fact £978m from the central government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements 2 pot (CRSTS2) - a scheme created by the previous government for areas with metro mayors to fund transport projects from 2027/28 to 2031/32.
After cancelling HS2 last year the Conservative government increased the funding in CRSTS2 for all metro regions by £5 billion. Tees Valley’s increase saw an additional £361m added to the initial £617m budget.
In January, Tees Valley Combined Authority’s cabinet approved spending plans for that £978m, which included £30m earmarked for restoration of the Tees Transporter bridge.
However, since the change in government and the decision to make £22bn in cuts to spending, most major capital spending has been under review. Although the Department for Transport (DfT) tells me the government is committed to CRSTS, funding for CRSTS2 is subject to its Spending Review, which isn’t due to report until Spring 2025.
The problems with capital transport spend are being seen across the country, as well as closer to home. Plans costing £1.3bn to dual the A66 road were approved by the last government in March, but they’re also now on hold. After lobbying from MPs on both sides of the Pennines, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has only been able to offer reassurance this week by agreeing to meet with them. Hardly an assertive vote of confidence.
Despite being found to be at risk of collapse a year ago, nobody seems to be acting with any urgency to stop the Transporter bridge from falling into the Tees.
Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah put pressure on the new government this week to deliver the funding the previous administration had promised for the restoration of the Tyne Bridge. Who’s doing the same for the Tees?
Tees Valley Combined Authority did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this story, so using my initiative I spoke to senior figures at other combined authorities.
The consensus seems to be that despite the government review on spending, there’s no reason to believe combined authorities won’t get the money they’ve been promised in some form or other. However, the big devolution news in last month’s Budget was the confirmation of integrated settlements for the North East, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Combined Authorities from the start of the 2026-27 financial year. That is a single pot of money for the combined authorities to spend how they want, with no ringfencing from central government.
In the announcement of integrated settlements was the caveat, which only applied to Tees Valley, that any combined authority subject to a “commissioned independent review or a statutory inspection or intervention” in the last 18 months was not eligible.
So without an integrated settlement, and the fate of CRSTS2 in the balance, where does that leave Ben Houchen’s Tees Valley Combined Authority?
A statement from a DfT spokesperson, given to The Teesside Lead, remains non-committal, leaving the Transporter Bridge’s fate uncertain.
“We know reliable transport links drive economic growth and opportunity, which is why we are committed to improving connectivity across the North, working with local leaders to do so,” they said.
“In last month’s Budget, we announced an extra £200m for City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, which will help to transform local transport networks.”
Teesside stories you may have missed…
❄️ The coldest temperature in England in 14 years was recorded in North Yorkshire this week
🏛️ Middlesbrough Council is set to appoint a new permanent chief executive this week…
🏛️ …As well as a new Finance Director
⚽ Guisborough Town FC has suffered a second break-in in as many months
Over on The Lead’s national title, former Big Issue North editor
has written about the crisis in social housing in the north of England.His piece covers how Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council struggles to enforce the affordable housing quotas they put onto new developments in the area.
Tom Zagoria from Housing Action Teesside explains in the article: “From our perspective the biggest issue has been the loss of social housing.
“Across most of the boroughs of Teesside the social housing has been given away to these unaccountable, effectively private organisations.
“When we go out and door-knock we’re seeing huge numbers of people who’ve got damp or mould. Kitchens were promised to be replaced every 10 years and they’ve been waiting 25 years.”
Read more at the link below…
Redcar and Cleveland councillor Graham Jeffery was granted a six month exemption from attending meetings this week due to his health.
The Liberal Democrat councillor has been diagnosed with a lung condition and has been given medical advice to avoid large gatherings. A report given to councillors says this is “due to issues with his immune system [which leaves him susceptible to other illness.”
This story struck a chord with me, as I received a letter this week sent from the hospital to my GP. It said:
This is just a short letter to explain that Leigh has commenced immunosuppression…
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