A much-needed funding package to save the Shields Ferry from closure has been finalized, marking a significant victory for local transport infrastructure in the North East.
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00:00A much-needed funding package to save the Shields Ferry from closure has been finalised,
00:06marking a significant victory for local transport infrastructure in the North East. The North
00:10East Combined Authority has approved an £8.2 million investment to create a new landing
00:16for the ferry next to North Shields Fish Quay, a long-awaited development. This investment
00:21comes after months of uncertainty, with concerns that the deteriorating condition of the North
00:25East jetty and the loss of previous funding might force the iconic ferry service to shut
00:30down. The new landing is now expected to secure the ferry's future as a vital transport
00:35link across the River Tyne.
00:38The Ferry Landing Fund is part of a wider £208 million transport upgrade programme
00:42for the North East. The programme will fund various projects aimed at improving the region's
00:47infrastructure and enhancing public transport. The rollout of this and other initiatives
00:52is also part of the first phase of a larger £800 million scheme, with plans to complete
00:56these projects by 2028.
01:00Some of those other key projects that were committed to at the meeting here in Sunderland
01:04included a nearly £9 million investment to roll out mobile and smart tickets across the
01:09Metro and Mobile Rail services, where they would also like to install new security gates.
01:13£3.5 million will also be allocated to fund various safety and accessibility improvements
01:19across the region, and £6.5 million will be spent on improving sustainability across
01:23the River Tyne.
01:25Despite these positive developments, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness expressed her desire
01:29for even more substantial investments to address the region's long-standing transport challenges.
01:35She emphasised that the £208 million package was just the beginning, and she hopes that
01:39the further investments will follow.