Latest news with #RiverWear
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sunderland's Crown Works Studios' backer pulls out of film hub
New investment is being sought to finance a major film studio after one of its backers pulled £450m Crown Works Studios project in Sunderland is being designed as a major hub for the TV and film industry and it is hoped it will allow major projects to be created in the north-east of International confirmed it had withdrawn from the project but declined to give a reason for the remaining backer, Fulwell Entertainment, said it remained committed to working with Sunderland City Council to find "appropriate private funding" to allow the development to continue. Crown Works Studios is set to be built on the banks of the River Wear and it is hoped it will create thousands of jobs in the government has already provided £25m towards the project, while the council and the North East mayoral authority have committed to invest about £120m, according to the Local Democracy Reporting much of the funding was expected to come from a joint venture between Fulwell and Cain, which had intended on building 19 sound stages at the riverside site. A spokesperson for Fulwell Entertainment said: "Fulwell Entertainment remains committed to working with the council to find appropriate private funding, complementing the combined NE authority and wider government funding needed to make these world-class production studios a reality." Labour-led Sunderland City Council said the proposals were "being presented to the investment market, with the aim to put in place a final funder and developer later this year".Council leader Michael Mordey said: "These studios represent a game-changing opportunity for the city and we cannot wait to see them progress. "There's an absolute commitment to secure the best possible delivery partner to move this forward and we expect that we will have funding confirmed and be ready to progress the first phase of the studios by the time remediation works complete later this year."Labour's North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said she remained confident Crown Works Studios would be "a flagship site in a thriving industry for years to come." The council's Liberal Democrat opposition leader, Paul Edgeworth, said he hoped the studios would not turn out to be an "empty promise"."Labour have every lever at their disposal to make sure this project is a success," he said. "Sunderland council, the regional mayor and the government must now make it their top priority to make sure this development gets off the ground." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sunderland Keel Crossing: FOI reveals the weird and wonderful alternatives
If 14 people had their way, anyone crossing the newest route over the River Wear would be doing so on Bridgey McBridgeface. A public vote resulted in Sunderland's new footbridge being called Keel Crossing but, despite it being nine years since Boaty McBoatface topped a poll of names for the UK's new polar research ship, the play on words still seemed popular. For some, the chance to make a pun or a political point was too good to miss - with Bridge-it Jones, the Please Fix the Potholes Instead Bridge and Régis Le Bridge all being 1,705 submissions - outlandish and sensible alike - where whittled down to a final three by a panel of representatives from community organisations across the city, with the final choice giving a nod to the "city's rich shipbuilding history", Sunderland City Council said. The new £31m footbridge, which is due to open in the summer, links the city's Keel Square with the Sheepfolds and the Stadium of of the name suggestions revealed in response to a Freedom of Information request by the BBC reflect the city's heritage and many took the vote as an opportunity for a bit of fun with five people suggesting Footy McFootbridge and 31 calling for Régis Le Bridge, after Sunderland head coach and former French football manager, Régis le rather plaintive Would Rather Have Crowtree Back Bridge and Please Fix The Potholes Instead Bridge had one vote each. Drama series Bridgerton was also among the names inspired by TV and film, while Wor Bridgit was another strong word play an older reference, and making good use of the local dialect, one person suggested The Bridge over the River, Aye, and another opted for The Bridge over the River, Niall - a nod to former Sunderland striker Niall secretary and Houghton and Sunderland South MP Bridget Phillipson missed out on being immortalised with Bridgey two people took the naming task more literally and suggested calling the 260m (853ft) structure Brian, or Colin. Football was a popular theme, with many people taking inspiration from the crossing's proximity to Sunderland AFC's home at the Stadium of suggested The Bridge of Light and variations on the words Black Cats, Stadium and wanted to name the bridge after six-year-old Bradley Lowery, who died of a rare form of cancer in shipbuilders and shipyards, lightbulb inventor Joseph Swan, the Wear, and the brewer Vaux were also popular topics. 'Sight to behold' But ultimately the chance of calling the crossing Bridgey McBridgeface was slim, given the 86 suggestions that included the word chance of a quirky sense of humour landing the city with a name it might regret was also averted by only letting Sunderland residents vote on a shortlist of Crossing - named after the structural backbone of a ship - was chosen with 55% of the votes, beating Wear Crossing and Beacon Bridge. City council leader Michael Mordey said the bridge was important as it extended the city centre to make areas such as the National Esports Arena, Sheepfolds Housing, and the Stadium of Light more accessible."I think I speak for every fan when I say I can't wait to see the spectacle of the Keel Crossing being transformed into a sea of red and white shirts and scarfs come matchdays," he said."It will be a real sight to behold." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Durham Regatta crowdfunding appeal to dredge River Wear
Regatta organisers are looking to dredge a river, after low water levels damaged Regatta competitors reported boats hitting the river bed and fins being broken off as they made their way along the River said they had permission to carry out dredging to alleviate the effects of silt accumulating in the river, but they needed about £125,000 to reach their funding target to pay for the work by a private hope to raise the money by crowdfunding. The Environment Agency has been contacted for comment. The 192nd Durham Regatta was held at the weekend, with thousands of visitors flocking to the van Zwanenberg, who has organised the regatta over the years, said future events on the river were in jeopardy."We wouldn't want to lose it," he said. Mr van Zwanenberg said: "In hot summers there will not be enough water to row."You would be able to walk your dog across."At this year's event, competitors said the water was "very shallow".Durham University rower Jacob Popoff said his team's boat had come in contact with the bottom of the river, and that their fin was Thompson from Lambton Rowing Club added that dredging would also benefit rowing clubs further down the river. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
