South Shields had big plans in their bid for £20m of levelling up money.
They turned to dust and local MP Emma Lewell-Buck was naturally incensed, telling voters: “Freeports bid – rejected; towns fund bid – rejected; two levelling up bids – rejected. Levelling up is just an empty slogan.”
Government data shows South Tyneside has the sixth highest rate of absolute child poverty in England.
The funds would have transformed the town centre, all but deserted yesterday, with a new cultural quarter, and a Northern Renewable Energy Centre of Excellence.
New student accommodation was intended to boost opportunities.
Cllr Tracey Dixon, leader of South Tyneside council, believes the area, rich in mining and shipbuilding history, has “enormous potential” to be at the forefront of the green revolution. She added: “But we need further support and investment.”
On King Street, South Shields’ main shopping thoroughfare, locals were feeling a sense of betrayal.
Former guest house owner Gary Gray, 72, said: “This is a Labour town. While the Tories are in power, we will get nothing, it’s as simple as that. It was built on coal mining, shipyards and seafaring, and now we have none of that but do we get any help? Of course not. Just looking along this high street is depressing.”
Fruiterer Rachel Smith, 42, said that the town is on its knees. “There are no jobs, no opportunities. I have four brothers, every one of them has had to leave to find work. The town centre is dead. If anywhere needed help, it’s this place.”
Retired psychiatric nurse Ian Taylor, 66, described it as “the forgotten town in one of the forgotten regions of the country”.
Instead of patchy handouts he called for a coherent nationwide economic plan.
Nikita Slipper, 30, wants Tories such as Rishi Sunak to spend a day in South Shields. She said: “It feels hopeless. For years we’ve had nothing spent on this town. The people are fantastic but there’s nothing to keep them here.”
Jamie Reah, 31, who works in a discount store, had just seen motorbike raiders “riding along the pedestrian high street and helping themselves to stuff from a shop”.
“It’s no surprise there’s so much crime when people have no money.”
