Unsafe train station footbridge shut indefinitely

A railway footbridge has been closed off indefinitely after an inspection uncovered safety concerns.

The facility, at South Bank railway station, near Middlesbrough, provides access to platform two serving eastbound train services between the town and Saltburn.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which has responsibility for the bridge, said it would be working with engineers on a long-term plan for the crossing.

Rail operator Northern said minibuses were operating in order to allow passengers to travel between Middlesbrough, South Bank and Redcar Central station.

A reopening date for the footbridge has not been confirmed.

The westbound platform remains open to train services.

Former South Bank ward councillor Sue Jeffrey told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it was unacceptable the "only station for the whole of the TS6 area is in effect partially closed for the foreseeable future".

In March, Labour's South Bank councillor Neil Bendelow said the bridge, which was also inaccessible to wheelchair users, was in a poor condition and an upgrade was required urgently.

The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) previously allocated a package of funds for various upgrades at the station, including a fully accessible footbridge so disabled passengers could use it.

However the scheme remains in the development phase and the work, which would need planning permission, is yet to begin.

The funding stream for it, the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements 2 (CRSTS2), is also currently under review.

Last month, an update on the station project for TVCA cabinet members described the footbridge as a "life expired asset", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A start date of next September was predicted for the project.

A spokesman for TVCA said: "The station project is already a top priority, however, funding from CRSTS2 [the relevant tranche of funding] is currently under review.

"Once we get the green light from government, we can deliver the project."

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