Ferry landing costs rise as another £6m needed

THE cost of building a new landing for the Shields Ferry has jumped by millions of pounds. It has emerged that more money will be needed to build a long-planned replacement for the ferry’s north landing in North Shields.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

After repeated warnings that the river crossing was at serious risk of being shut down unless cash could be found for a new jetty close to the North Shields Fish Quay, a funding package was agreed by North East mayor Kim McGuinness last summer. But she and other members of the North East Combined Authority (NECA) cabinet are now being asked to hand over almost £6million more, with the estimated bill for the project having escalated.

A further £5.9m award to ferry and Metro operator Nexus is due to be signed off at a NECA cabinet meeting next Tuesday, where the recently-announced final £6.3m of Government funding for the Tyne Bridge's restoration will also be given the formal seal of approval. It is hoped that the new ferry landing, which will receive at least £18.6m of public funding, will be completed by 2027.

Ms McGuinness, said: “I said in my election campaign we would save the Shields Ferry and now we are close to agreeing a final funding package to bring it to the Fish Quay for the first time.

“Next week, we'll discuss approving the remaining money needed to get a new landing built with work starting next year.