@TeesValleyMonitor

Shock as Teesworks loses its flagship project Ørsted, the overall contract holder for the Hornsea 3 job, has agreed with SeAH that work on the wind farm bases will be discontinued

Crisis at Teesworks' SeAH Wind Factory
Ray Casey reports ondow nturn at SeAH as production of monopiles for Hornsea 3 moves to Spain. What impact will this have for the future of the site? How much public money will go down the drain?
Report is here:
northeastbylines.co.uk/business/sho...

Reality bites at the South Tees Development Corporation Reality check at the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC)

Teesworks: Cause for Concern
While many of us have looked on at the chaotic rollout of Teesworks regeneration project, Ray Casey has meticulously assembled the evidence that confirms our suspicions. Companies are voting with their feet. His report is here:

northeastbylines.co.uk/region/teess...

Red Faces at Reform Redcar
A by-election candidate had the support of the party removed last week. We consider why Reform keeps getting this wrong:

www.teesvalleymonitor.com

an example of which we reported recently - teesvalleymonitor.com/funds-for-teesside-airport-fly-under-the-radar. Could some other Reform-led councils benefit from his expertise in avoiding proper accountability?

And the increased oversight put in place by the Government last year, when the Tees Valley Combined Authority was served with a best Value Notice, appears to have had little success in curtailing the mayor’s idiosyncratic use of public money to fund his favoured projects ...

That may provide him with appeal that Tory MPs lack.
It appears that the mayor being embroiled in scandal is no disincentive in Reform World. Perhaps this is because some degree of scandal attaches to all councils now under Reform control.

Farage himself has denied ‘reaching out’ to Houchen.

There remains the matter of Farage’s 7 May deadline for defections and whether this would apply to the Tees Valley mayor, given that, unlike Tory parliamentarians, he is not currently in opposition but has a power base ...

“There’s a big opportunity for the Tories to regain some trust by just focusing on the economy.”
3. The mayor believes that the Conservatives and Reform will eventually come together.

Oddly, while the FT has been informed that Farage and a Reform staff member met with Houchen in mid-December ...

1. “I’ve always been a Conservative. Loyalty is important to me,” says the mayor.
2. The mayor believes it comes down to a matter of economic competence. In this Reform just doesn’t stack up, he believes. Adding ...

in an attempt to persuade him to ditch the Conservative Party and join Reform.

The first approach was made in December, with a second last week. The mayor has so far rejected his advances. Why? ...

Farage Attempts to Woo Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen

The Financial Times reports today (Nigel Farage seeks to persuade Tory mayor, Ben Houchen, to defect to Reform, Anna Gross and George Parker) that the Reform leader has held discussions with Ben Houchen ...

Ministers Alarmed as BP Set to Build Net Zero Teesside with Chinese-Imported Steel

Our report is here:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/bp-building-...

It gets worse. Government-appointed Best Value Notice panel announced in a TVCA Cabinet meeting in December that it is considering winding up its operation. So who is left to oversee the work of Corney and Musgrave? Houchen?

Is Teesside Airport Really Back in Profit?
Airport pre-tax profit is £1.1 mn, but it received £10.1 mn in grants. TVCA awarded £12.5 mn grant in March. Our investigation reveals TVCA is also source of the £10.1 million. Did cabinet sanction this as well?
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/funds-for-te...

Turmoil at the Tees Valley Combined Authority
TVCA continues to be mired in controversy as the official auditors refuse to sign off its latest set of accounts on the grounds of 'irregularities'. Our report gets down to the detail:

www.teesvalleymonitor.com/turmoil-at-t...

Tees Seal Pups vs Defra
In the week the government reveals its Environment Improvement Plan, our investigation into the seal pup mortality in Tees Estuary shows how hard it may be to persuade Defra to take it seriously:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/defra-in-den...

Thanks, Ray. It's always a thrill when we get some response on Bluesky

Flagging Darlington: Far Right in Feeding Frenzy Flags being installed around town. Does pride or racism underlie it?

Put Out More Flags?

Like it or loathe it, our towns are now adorned with flags. Darlington has hundreds. Who's putting them up? Who is supporting them? Is the council dealing with the anti-social behaviour that has accompanied it?
Our report is here
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/flagging-dar...

Request for Information about Teesside Airport

Tees Valley Monitor received correspondence today containing information about Teesside Airport, but without contact details. We would like to appeal to its author to contact us by email on info@teesvalleymonitor.com, or DM here

More Toxic Waste Heading for the Tees Valley? Where Will It End Up?
Application for a permit to dump radioactive waste at Port Clarence while toxic waste treated as non hazardous at Hartlepool landfill. Is public adequately protected? Our report is here:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/toxic-waste-...

Tees Valley mayor holds first Question Time at Yarm School

Involving some unkind remarks about Private Eye, some reticence about the latest deal that will enrich property developers, and some dubious assertions about NE Security and the Freeport:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/houchen-sees...

No Comment: Deafening Silence from Tees Valley MPs on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza.

We asked six MPs their opinion of the government's arms trade with Israel. Their unwillingness to respond raises issues about democratic accountability.
Our report:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/no-comment--...

Dumping Radioactive Waste Port Clarence? Have Your Say consultation on use of Port Clarence Landfill for radioactive waste is open. EA wants only in technical comments. Local MPs may be more interested.

Permit Applied for to Allow Dumping of Radioactive Waste at Port Clarence.
Public consultation through Environment Agency is now open. However, contacting local MPs may prove more effective. Our report is here:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/dumping-of-r...

Closure of Ensus Bioethanol Plant has implications for public health.
A statement on the prospect of plant closure and a report by the Royal College of Physicians on improving UK air quality in the UK. Our report highlights the connection between the two.
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/public-healt...

Crisis at Teesside Bioethanol Plant
Recent US-UK trade deal allows US bioethanol manufacturers greater access to UK market, causing a crisis for UK producers, one of which is Ensus at Wilton. Knock-on effect on Teesside is considerable.
Our report:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/us-uk-trade-...

Another Day, Another Setback for Teesside Airport

Easyjet announces it will set up a base at Newcastle Airport. How did the management at Teesside let that opportunity slip past them?

In order to have any chance of financial viability, Teesside needs a low cost airline to set up a base there.

TVCA Cabinet: Standing on the Deck of the Titanic
While the mayor proposes inadequate measures to address criticism of the Authority by external auditors, cabinet members fail to challenge them. Are we waiting in vain for them to assert themselves?
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/tvca-in-cris...

Another Day, Another Setback for Teesside Airport
Easyjet announces it will set up a base at Newcastle Airport. How did the management at Teesside let that opportunity slip past them?

Teesside Airport Closed at Short Notice

Flight FR5958 from Alicante on 2 May had to divert to Manchester as Teesside closed shortly before it was due to land.

TVM set out to discover why lay behind the chaos:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/teesside-air...

TVCA Mayor: Questions over Social Media Misinformation The mayor has been challenged about claims about jobs made in this social media posts, and the lack of TVCA support for business. Press needs to investigate

Redundancies at Teesside Airport?
Questions raised about the mayor's claims of job creation after £12.5 million investment. And further questions about the TVCA's commitment to supporting local business. Our report is here:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/tees-valley-...