‘Secret’ bridge plan doubts rumoured

Jul 18 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

AN ICONIC crossing planned for the River Wear has been labelled “the most secretive bridge in England” as city planners refuse to divulge their ambitious plans.

Speculation is mounting that Sunderland councillors are worried their chosen design for a bridge to compete with those on the Tyne could fall through, as the Government will only fund the basic costs and not the ambitious proposals currently being considered.

The new Wear crossing, to link Claxheugh and Castletown, would be 1,000ft long and, if the Government agrees to bankroll it, could carry four lanes of traffic plus pedestrians and cyclists.

But city leaders want much more than just a basic bridge provisionally approved by the Government, and it is this ambition which is forcing them to be so secretive with their intentions.

Whitehall has given its approval, but not the budget needed for the high quality design by South Shields-born architect Stephen Spence.

If the council and development agency One NorthEast can agree a funding system, the Wear could be spanned by a suspension bridge formed from two gigantic Bull’s Horn-style posts emerging from the river banks meeting together to form an arc from which the road is suspended.

The basic cost of the bridge is covered, but funding chiefs at ONE have said they will only pay an extra £8.9m if the bridge is “iconic”.

This has forced Sunderland Council to look at its bank books and consider again wether the city’s budget can match its ambitions. Conservative opposition leader Lee Martin urged the council to provide the money for more than just a basic bridge.

He said: “It is ridiculous that they should keep the bridge secret for political reasons. We have played an almost second fiddle role to Tyneside for too long. I think we should stand up and say this is our ambition, this will put us on the map and give us an iconic development that will play a huge role in our regeneration.

“And if we are open about our ambition the Government will not be able to ignore us, especially not with an election coming up and a city-centre seat that they will face a battle to keep.

“We want to be proud of our ambitions but the council leaders are shying away from revealing this design while they check they can actually afford it. That is not the way to force the issue.”

Councillor Martin said the project had been described in trade circles as “Britain’s secret bridge” as national architect groups scratch their heads over the council’s hush-hush approach.

Leader Paul Watson last night said: “Once it is confirmed that the business case is accepted by the Government we can look in detail at the bridge options and make that information available to the public, including the design details.

“It is important to note, however, that the Department for Transport funding will not cover the costs of the concept design and that significant work would need to be undertaken to finalise this design in any case. The final choice will therefore depend upon affordability, best use of council resources and ultimately on detailed investigative and technical work over the next year or so.”

Ed Rowley, acting director of regeneration at One NorthEast, said: “This has enormous potential and therefore it is vital the design of it is absolutely right.”

The Department for Transport funding will not cover the costs of the concept design...