Latest news with #KimMcGuinness
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hopes Newcastle Centre for Writing will help bridge funding gap
The creation of a new £11m writing centre will help bridge the funding gap between "forgotten" artists in northern England and those living in the south, a mayor has government signed off millions of pounds of funding in January for the Centre for Writing, which will be based in will aim to provide opportunities and careers in the creative industries for those living in north-east East Mayor Kim McGuinness said the North East Combined Authority (Neca) wanted to support "home-grown talent" but said funding for the region's art sector had been outpaced by that in the south for some time. "There is not enough national money – we do seem to have been a bit forgotten about up here," she tank IPPR North said its analysis had found a £450m "culture chasm" between London and the North of England, which had added to a "vicious cycle of regional inequality"."It is unbelievable that this is happening in this day and age," McGuinness said. 'Bold step' Leaders hope the Centre for Writing will cement the region as a hub for writing and literature and attract big-name publishers to the area, as well as supporting Newcastle's Seven Stories and The National Centre for the Written Word in South will acquire a Newcastle property to house the centre, which will then be run by Tyneside-based charity New Writing North and Northumbria University, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Department for Culture Media and Sport has confirmed it will provide £5m towards the Centre for Writing, while Northumbria University is set to provide £2.5m in said it would provide £2m and Newcastle City Council is expected to provide £1m. It is hoped the remaining £850,000 will be secured through additional grants. Newcastle City Council deputy leader Alex Hay said the creation of the centre was a "bold step" for the region's creative industries."This is more than just a building – it is about growing jobs, attracting investment and giving people of all ages a way into the creative industries, ensuring the North East has a strong voice in UK culture," he said. Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Shields Ferry increased cost funds approved
Funds to cover a multimillion-pound increase in the cost of a new ferry landing have been for the future of the Shields ferry crossing were raised after it emerged its current facility in North Shields is no longer fit for purpose.A £14.6m package to build a new landing was agreed last summer, however this week the North East Combined Authority (Neca) was asked to allocate another £5.9m to cover rising East Mayor Kim McGuinness said the money would "fully safeguard" the ferry, which runs across the Tyne to South Shields. The latest funding has been allocated from the £1.85bn transport pot from central government announced earlier this said: "We've all seen the headlines about rising construction costs. "We haven't been immune to that so we have had to put extra funding in to make sure the beloved ferry is is hoped the landing will be completed by 2027. In 2020, the estimated cost stood at £8.8m. Since then, the project has been beset by issues, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Nexus lost a £5.6m grant from the government's Getting Building Fund because it could not meet a requirement to complete construction by spring scheme was later included in a Levelling Up Fund bid from North Tyneside Council as part of a wider regeneration of North Shields, but the application was year Nexus estimated the cost at £14.6m due to the effects of inflation, but that has now increased publicly owned organisation indicated the rising bill was because of the "very complex" nature of building at the Fish Quay, but said it could not confirm the full price tag until it had appointed a contractor. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Tyne Bridge funding rubberstamped to aid centenary restoration
The restoration of the Tyne Bridge will be completed in time for the structure's centenary year, officials say, after significant funding was North East Combined Authority (Neca) has green-lit more than £6m to finish the work in time for the crossing's centenary in October funding was initially announced in June as part of a £1.85bn investment in the region's transport from central now says it has "brought forward" the money, with agreement from the Chancellor and the Department for Transport (DfT), in light of the pressing timescale. Restoration of the bridge began in April 2024. Regional 'landmark' An initial £35.2m was provided by the DfT, but then Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also pledged to provide another £6.2m that would cover the full costs of upgrading the Grade II* listed crossing and the Central placed the award of the additional money under review after the general election last year, leading to fears among local leaders the funding would be in June, the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed Neca was planning to use a portion of the investment into the region's transport to restore the at a cabinet meeting in Dunston this week, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "We are allocating some of the £18.6bn that will transform the region's transport."That includes £6.3m to restore the iconic Tyne Bridge in time for the centenary."I'm so pleased that we have now secured that funding. There was no way that anybody around this table was ever giving up until we did."It would be completely unacceptable to not have the bridge up to standard when we are celebrating that landmark for our region."Deputy leader of Newcastle City Council, councillor Alex Hay, added: "It would be remiss of me as the representative from Newcastle not to mention how overjoyed we are to receive the additional funding needed to restore the Tyne Bridge in time for its centenary in 2028." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cost of new North Shields ferry landing jumps by £4m
The cost of building a new ferry landing has jumped by millions of pounds in a East Combined Authority (NECA) said it is now budgeting £18.7m for the new Shields Ferry landing in North Shields, which is just over £4m above the cost it cited in July East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "The old landing urgently needs to be replaced, so we're pulling out all the stops to get this project delivered for local people."Next week NECA will discuss signing off the final £5.9m required to build the new landing, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. This cash will come from a reallocation of money from the government-funded City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme which had been due to help pay for the expansion of the region's pay-as-you-go smart card said in a report that this money was no longer needed for the expansion which was still due to go ahead. Tyne and Wear transport operator Nexus said the costs of the landing had risen due to the "very complex" nature of the work and it would not confirm the full costs until it had appointed a managing director Cathy Massarella said the project was "crucial" for the "long-term sustainability" of ferry operations on the Tyne."This is a complex scheme, one that requires the use of specialist marine suppliers, the mitigation of environmental impacts and the protection of the existing quay operations," she is hoped the new ferry landing will be complete by 2027.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Solar panels 'to save North East schools thousands' in bills
New solar panels are to be installed at dozens of schools with the aim of drastically cutting energy East Mayor Kim McGuinness allocated £700,000 to provide the technology to 24 schools in Sunderland and said the move was estimated to save a combined £100,000 in bills every year."[It] means schools will have more to spend in other ways, like on breakfast and after school clubs to give kids a better start in life," the Labour Co-op mayor said. Schools receiving new panels include Grangetown and Hylton Castle primary schools in Sunderland, New Delaval primary in Blyth and Kielder Primary said the money was targeted at schools in rural areas and those with the "greatest social need"."Our investment also means the schools cut the CO2 they use by 85 tonnes, the same amount used as 150 homes," she added. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
