The people of Tyneside have been promised that the Shields Ferry will not cease to exist, even if bosses fail in a bid to secure desperately-needed funding to secure its future.
Major fears have surrounded the future of the historic river crossing between North and South Shields due to the rapidly deteriorating condition of its north landing. A bid was launched to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) earlier this year to pay for the building of a new jetty nearer the North Shields Fish Quay, with warnings that the ferry would have to be shut down unless the project can be funded and built by 2025.
It was reported by the Financial Times this week that the second round of the Government's flagship investment programme to boost struggling areas has been delayed again until January. Despite that setback, which causes prolonged doubt over a range of North East funding bids, including for the new Gateshead Quayside arena, chiefs at Nexus are now insistent that they will not be abandoning the Shields Ferry regardless of what happens with the LUF.
