Updates on transport projects across Teesside you may have missed
Funding concerns for Redcar Central station improvements and South Bank’s footbridge were discussed. One of the platforms at South Bank station has been out of action for more than five months, with trains not calling at the station on journeys bound for Saltburn.
Out of 97 projects within the wider transport capital investment programme, two of them come up as red as part of TVCA’s affordability assessment, while the majority are green/amber. South Bank’s temporary footbridge is listed as red, while Redcar station’s improvements are listed as amber/red. Phase Two of Wynyard’s pedestrian and cycling improvements is the second project to come up in red and this was also discussed during the meeting.
Redcar Central station improvements
The TVCA’s “programme deliverability assessment” describes the project to construct a new footbridge that is compliant with modern accessibility standards as “likely”. However, the funding assessment is currently the only project rated as amber/red with not all funding being available. Documents state that out of the estimated costs of £4.5m, £3.5m has been allocated by TVCA.
Alan Weston, Head of Transport at TVCA, explained that a bid was put into the ‘Access for All’ pot, but the pot was significantly oversubscribed and as a result there is a funding gap. There has been a significant amount of inflationary pressure, and work is ongoing to produce an updated cost.
Redcar and Cleveland Labour Councillor Carl Quartermain said: “Obviously, very disappointing, Redcar Central station not getting that investment, watching other stations in the Tees Valley getting investment and we’re missing out there.”
Mr Weston responded, saying: “It’s disappointing in the sense that we haven’t got the whole funding package to deliver the scheme, because we haven’t been able to secure the external funding but that’s why we want to understand what that whole updated cost is and see whether we can achieve that”, adding that TVCA recognises “it complements the investment that the local authority [Redcar & Cleveland] is making to the old station building adjacent to where this would be.”
South Bank temporary footbridge
In October, the footbridge at South Bank train station abruptly closed, removing access to platform two, which sees eastbound services head towards Redcar, Saltburn and other destinations.
Redcar and Cleveland Council, which has responsibility for the bridge, apologised at the time. Northern Rail has been operating a replacement mini bus, in place of the once an hour service. The mini bus departs Middlesbrough station and calls only at South Bank and Redcar, at which point travellers can board eastbound services.
Platform one has remained unaffected by the closed footbridge, so the hourly service to Bishop Auckland, which calls at stations including Middlesbrough and Darlington, has continued to run.
A new station at South Bank is planned in the medium term, but before that, documents presented at the Transport Committee outlined the aim to have a temporary footbridge installed at the current site to enable access to platform two and the Teesworks site across the railway line. TVCA documents state that the target date for work to commence is April 2025 and outlines a completion date of June 2025. However, the funding assessment lists the project in red.
Cllr Quartermain said: “The bridge there, for want of a better word, is knackered and needs demolition. I think Redcar and Cleveland have agreed to pay for the demolition of that, even though we’re very tight on funds… the temporary bridge that needs to go there hasn’t been identified within the funding.” He highlighted the concern that “we could have a station there without a footbridge for a period of time”.
Mr Weston outlined that gaining approval to deliver a new station is the wider ambition, and it is a “two/three year project”. Meanwhile, the search for a “temporary solution” continued. He added the aim was to have access to not only the station but also over the railway line at that location and that “intense work” is ongoing. When Mr Weston was asked how quickly a footbridge could be installed, he didn’t wish to commit to a hard date, but said that it was moving day-by-day.
Phase Two of Wynyard Pedestrian & Cycling Improvement
The project on A689 / A19 to improve infrastructure to facilitate cycling, wheeling and walking was also listed in red as far as the funding assessment was concerned. Improvements around tender costs are approximately £3m over budget.
Stockton Labour Councillor Clare Besford commented on the scheme, and how she thought the problems it faced could apply to several projects. She said: “That budget was allocated, I think, four or five years ago now, and so I would absolutely expect it to have increased,” adding: “Probably my biggest concern, as we head towards 2027, there’s still a huge amount of projects which haven’t been started.” She quizzed officers on the feasibility of projects (funded by the CRSTS1 pot) being delivered before the deadline.
Mr Weston said: “I think one of the challenges that we have at the moment is… how does the CRSTS1 programme potentially merge into the CRSTS2 programme, what flexibilities is that going to bring or otherwise, and I think it’s fair to say at the moment that we don’t have that clarity.” For context, CRSTS2 is funding that is currently under review as part of the chancellor’s spending review.