Council leader's pledge over opening of station

THE leader of Northumberland County Council has promised residents in Bedlington that the town’s new railway station will be opened as soon as possible.

- JAMES ROBINSON

Coun Glen Sanderson said that the station - part of the new Northumberland Line - would likely be completed in the near future, meaning it would then only need to pass railway regulation checks.

It comes amid concerns over the timeline of the station after it was revealed an additional £37.9m was needed to ensure the remaining stations are fully opened. The council's cabinet is due to consider the funding increase next week.

The council will fund £10m while an additional £17m has been pledged from the Department for Transport. The remaining £10.7m has been requested from the North of Tyne Combined Authority, with bosses set to consider the proposals at the next cabinet meeting.