MP ramps up pressure on council chiefs to fix broken South Shields bridge
South Shields MP Emma Lewell is ramping up pressure on new council chiefs to fix the Heugh Street Bridge.
An MP has stepped up pressure on council chiefs to fix a broken South Tyneside bridge by launching a petition she hopes will push home her stance.
Emma Lewell said the move was designed to encourage councillors to step up their efforts to get Heugh Street Bridge, at River Drive, near South Shields town centre, repaired or replaced.
The South Shields Labour MP said the petition also asked them to pursue all possible funding options so that work could start.
The single lane bridge was closed to traffic in November after structural defects were found and further checks have shown it is too dangerous to be used other than by pedestrians.
Earlier this month, South Tyneside Council said detailed investigations had confirmed it to be in a poor condition, with significant deterioration in key structural elements.
The local authority has applied to the Department of Transport’s Structures Fund to support further technical assessment and planning.
In a statement regarding her petition, Ms Lewell said: “I first contacted South Tyneside Council the day after the bridge was closed, asking questions on behalf of my constituents and followed up regularly with further casework about the matter, asking for updates.
“I took the issue to Parliament in March, asking the Government to offer support to help resolve the ongoing situation.
“The response was a recommendation to apply to the new Structures Fund - which I asked the Council to do - and Council officers did that as soon as the new fund opened.
“I also asked the Council to explore opening up alternative routes to ease congestion.
“My petition now asks the elected Members of the Council to take further actions while we await the outcome of the Structures Fund bid, to seek other funding options, to expedite this serious issue and to make preparations for any funding being awarded.
“I am also asking them to open up alternative routes as a matter of urgency.”
The council has said it had no option but to close the bridge once safety issues were identified, and that further studies were being done to assess long-term options.