Latest news with #MartinGannon
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Demolition of flyover earmarked for autumn
Work to start tearing down a flyover is set to start in the autumn, council bosses have said. The A167 Gateshead Highway was closed in December due to safety concerns and it has since been earmarked for demolition. The 1960s-built route, which previously carried about 40,000 vehicles a day, should see preliminary removal work begin in June. Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon said "something radical" was needed "to make a real difference to Gateshead's future and the prosperity of its residents". The Labour-led authority formally agreed in March the flyover should go, allowing for a wider town centre regeneration, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "The flyover is an eyesore and isn't a structure that we need any more in terms of transport," said Gannon. "We are taking the opportunity this closure has presented us with, to demolish the flyover, helping us make Gateshead and the town centre attractive for residents and businesses, as well as for visitors - and for investors." In March, Gannon said the flyover would be "gone within a year, for definite", while the council provisionally earmarked £18m for the works. It is also planning a campaign encouraging people to shop in the town centre. This is in response to high street traders having warned the disruption caused by the flyover closure risked killing off local businesses. The flyover's closure also sparked a festive travel crisis on Tyneside, with underground Metro services having to be suspended due to fears it could collapse. Repairs have since been carried out to encase two failing pillars in new concrete, thereby reinforcing the structure. Council chiefs have held ambitions of removing the flyover since 2008, replacing it with a tree-lined boulevard and new housing and job opportunities. But those plans have never before had the funding to proceed and there have been repeated warnings that such future development will be reliant on government support. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. High Street plan downsizes to speed up project Flyover checks were not weekly, council admits Closed flyover to be demolished 'by end of year' Gateshead Council
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Gateshead flyover demolition will start in autumn, council says
Work to start tearing down a flyover is set to start in the autumn, council bosses have A167 Gateshead Highway was closed in December due to safety concerns and it has since been earmarked for 1960s-built route, which previously carried about 40,000 vehicles a day, should see preliminary removal work begin in Council leader Martin Gannon said "something radical" was needed "to make a real difference to Gateshead's future and the prosperity of its residents". The Labour-led authority formally agreed in March the flyover should go, allowing for a wider town centre regeneration, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."The flyover is an eyesore and isn't a structure that we need any more in terms of transport," said Gannon."We are taking the opportunity this closure has presented us with, to demolish the flyover, helping us make Gateshead and the town centre attractive for residents and businesses, as well as for visitors - and for investors."In March, Gannon said the flyover would be "gone within a year, for definite", while the council provisionally earmarked £18m for the works. It is also planning a campaign encouraging people to shop in the town centre. This is in response to high street traders having warned the disruption caused by the flyover closure risked killing off local businesses. The flyover's closure also sparked a festive travel crisis on Tyneside, with underground Metro services having to be suspended due to fears it could have since been carried out to encase two failing pillars in new concrete, thereby reinforcing the chiefs have held ambitions of removing the flyover since 2008, replacing it with a tree-lined boulevard and new housing and job those plans have never before had the funding to proceed and there have been repeated warnings that such future development will be reliant on government support. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Gateshead High Street plan to 'downsize' to help speed up project
A £13m regeneration of a high street is to be downsized to help speed up its progress, a council has to revitalise Gateshead High Street South began in 2019, but it became the subject of delays and controversy following the Covid-19 pandemic and budget of the buildings, which are due to be regenerated to bring people back to the town centre, have remained empty. The plans had included 700 new at Labour-led Gateshead Council are due to sign off a "revised" boundary after acquiring nine properties within the new site. The plan aims to bring people back to the town centre by building a mix of multiple new commercial venues, as well as new delays, it was subject to criticism by opposition councillors, who last year said the project was moving "at a snail's pace". Council leader Martin Gannon said: "It is about wanting to get on and do this, that's the issue. There have been comments in the past."But we have had to go through a long and laborious process of acquiring properties. "We have concluded a number of these discussions, we have acquired the majority." 'Getting started' After acquiring nine properties, the local authority said it was negotiating with seven other property owners, while 14 properties remain in place. The council added that compulsory purchase powers would be a last the project was paused in 2020, it was designated as a "delayed project" with a budget of £1.7m over three years. In February 2022, following a post-Covid review into the council's funds, a new project budget of £13m was approved to obtain property on High Street South. Council documents claimed the new shrunken scale of the project would provide "the best use of council capital funding", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."To get progress and move at pace it is not massively reduced but it is concentrated on getting that redevelopment started," Gannon said."The rest of the site will be, I am sure, once the newly designated redevelopment site is completed and development plans and developers are approved and in place that the rest of the site will be viable."As for the previously included part of the regeneration scheme, documents said: "For present purposes they are no longer proposed to be acquired by the council whether by agreement or by the use of compulsory purchase powers." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bus route reopens as flyover work completed
A bus route has reopened after work to prop up a flyover was completed. Gateshead Council said work to encase two pillars in concrete to support the A167 structure was completed at the weekend, meaning temporary props have been removed. The road has been closed since mid-December after an inspection flagged serious concerns over the structural integrity of two of its supporting pillars. The Labour-led authority confirmed it had reopened the Sunderland Road bus and cycle lane on Monday. Plans to demolish the flyover in the future remain subject to approval. The council said the work to prop up the flyover was "an interim" measure. Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said he appreciated the frustration of residents and businesses for the uncertainties around the road. He added: "Our officers are continuing to talk to partners to bring forward a deliverable and funded plan not just for the roads, but for the regeneration of the town centre and wider area around the flyover." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Flyover checks were 'almost weekly' - leader New strengthening begins at doomed flyover Flyover demolition 'could take a year' Gateshead Council
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Gateshead flyover work completed as bus route set to reopen
A bus route is due to reopen after work to prop up a flyover was Council said work to encase two pillars in concrete to support the A167 structure was completed at the weekend, meaning temporary props have been road has been closed since mid-December after an inspection flagged serious concerns over the structural integrity of two of its supporting Labour-led authority said it aimed to open the Sunderland Road bus and cycle lane "early this week". Plans to demolish the flyover in the future remain subject to approval. The council said the work to prop up the flyover was "an interim".Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said he appreciated the frustration of residents and businesses for the uncertainties around the added: "Our officers are continuing to talk to partners to bring forward a deliverable and funded plan not just for the roads, but for the regeneration of the town centre and wider area around the flyover." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
