There is an increasing risk of a critical new landing for the Shields Ferry not being built by a 2025 deadline, after a Levelling Up bid was rejected.
Transport chiefs have warned that the future of the river crossing could be in jeopardy as its existing north jetty is in a worrying state of disrepair – potentially putting an end to centuries of maritime tradition. Nexus wants to build a new landing closer to the North Shields Fish Quay, but that project has suffered multiple money setbacks and remains well short of the funding needed.
The ferry and Tyne and Wear Metro operator lost £5.6m of Government funding for the scheme in 2021 as it could not meet strict building timescales, while a recent bid to the Levelling Up Fund failed. A report to councillors this week has now warned that there is an “increasing likelihood that the new landing will not be completed by 2025”.
