Staiths progress slow but steady, chiefs say

A partnership aimed at protecting a historical timber structure on the River Tyne is making progress despite frustrations over securing long-term funding, chiefs say.

The Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust (TWBPT), which has responsibility for Grade II listed Dunston Staiths in Gateshead, teamed up with the National Trust (NT) in 2020.

The structure is more than 130 years old and was previously used to load coal on to ships during north-east England's industrial heyday.

It is hoped a soon-to-be submitted £4.5m bid for Heritage Lottery funding by Gateshead Council could help cover the cost of repairs to some sections.

A public open day earlier this month had to be cancelled when damage was found to the decking, although a follow-up event went ahead after a "safe route" was identified for public access.

TWBPT's deputy manager, Kari Vickers, said several steps forward had been taken since the tie up with NT including the structure's inclusion in the Tyne Derwent Way nine-mile (14km) trail connecting historic sites along the river.

A community hub has also been opened nearby and a car park for visitors is currently being constructed.

"The major repairs we did to the west end of the staiths are now 10 years old," Ms Vickers said.

"We've done minor repairs since then, but we'd not had any subsequent big pots of money and so that's why we set up the partnership with the National Trust and Gateshead Council to help look at a strategy.

"Giving context to the staiths through the Tyne Derwent Way has massively changed things for the better, but then of course the funding that comes into that project is widely spread.

"You're delivering while thinking about that next pot of money that you're having to chase. That's probably one of the things that's frustrating, but we're not unique. A lot of organisations are in that position.

"We're all realistic about what we're tackling. We know this is a long-term thing. We know this is going to be decades rather than weeks."

At more than 500m (1,650ft) in length, the staiths is reputedly the largest timber structure in Europe.

It has survived repeated arson attacks, but a large section was torn away by a blaze in 2003.

A £3 visitors' fee was introduced last year to help pay for its maintenance, although people with an NE8 or NE11 postcode are given free entry.

Further suggestions for ways to generate income have included glamping pods and river tours.

However, repairs to the structure need to be funded and finished before any of those suggestions can be brought in, Ms Vickers says.

NT senior urban programme manager Helen Moir said the five years of the partnership had brought a new way of approaching "the stewardship" of the staiths and places like it.

"Previously heritage restoration projects were very much 'done to' places. Moving forward, it's about how to we work with the people who live and work next to it.

"We're at the beginning of the journey. We're all chomping at the bit to see more happen, but I do think we've learned together and developed together.

"Now it's about how do we take it further. Whether it's heritage or nature, we know we can't do it alone."

For its part, Gateshead Council is confident the structure is in safe hands.

Councillor John McElroy said: "Dunston Staiths is a real symbol of Tyneside and of its links with the coal industry and even the National Garden Festival in 1990 [staged on adjacent land].

"It also provides a real centrepiece for that part of the Tyne Derwent Way and hopefully the bid for £4.5m will see further progress.

"A lot has been done, but there's still more to do".

Ms Vickers, meanwhile, remains determined: "We won't give up"

"Our core business is doing up old buildings, but when something is built for a specific purpose like the staiths, having a re-use that creates an income is difficult.

"Covid knocked us back, even with things like attracting volunteers.

"Last year we replaced 12 decking planks at the lower entrance. It cost £20,000.

"There's never enough money, but that's why you've got to be canny with what you do get."

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