Tees Valley Monitor

17/09/2025

Put Out More Flags?

Like it or loathe it, our towns are currently being adorned with flags. Darlington has hundreds. But who's putting them up? And who is supporting the flaggers? And how well is Darlington council dealing with the anti-social behaviour that has accompanied this initiative?

Our report is here:

Flags being installed around town. Does pride or racism underlie it?

09/09/2025

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 [email protected], or via Facebook messenger or using direct messaging on X or Bluesky.

31/07/2025

More Toxic Waste Heading for the Tees Valley? Where Will It End Up?

An environmental services company wants a permit to dump radio-active waste at Port Clarence. We consider the safety issues around this, particularly in light of an incident at a Hartlepool landfill site and the failures of government agencies to ensure public safety. Our report is here

Proposal to dump radio-active waste in the region. Consultation is too narrow in scope. We assess the dangers and discuss failings by Environment Agency.

25/07/2025

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, Corney and Musgrave, and some assertions of dubious veracity about NE Security and the Freeport.

Tees Valley mayor holds Q&A with the public, but struggles to focus on the issues at hand. He is condescending at times, and makes false statements at others.

02/07/2025

No Comment: Deafening Silence from Tees Valley MPs on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza.
This week the government won a case in the high court that challenged its commitment to supply arms components to Israel.

We had previously asked six MPs their opinion of the government's policy. Their unwillingness to respond raises some serious issues about democratic accountability.

Our report is here:

Government challenged in High court over arms sales to Israel but MPs in Tees Valley fail to respond to request for comment. Should they be obliged to?

23/06/2025

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:

consultation on use of Port Clarence Landfill for radioactive waste is open. EA wants only in technical comments. Local MPs may be more interested.

22/06/2025

Closure of Ensus Bioethanol Plant has implications for public health.

Ensus released a pessimistic statement this week about the prospect of its Wilton plant closing down. Coincidentally, this week also say the publication of a report by the Royal College of Physicians on the need to improve air quality in the UK. Bioethanol has a role to play in that challenge, so that, while the consequences for local jobs is important, the risk of this industry has much wider implications for public health as well as energy security.

Read our report here:

US_UK trade deal undermines UK bioethanol industry. This industry has capacity to improve air quality and public health. Government should support it.

29/05/2025

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:

Trade deal allows improved access to UK for US bioethanol. UK producers in jeopardy, and risks for Teesside economic regeneration are disproportionate

23/05/2025

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. This is the first time in years that a carrier has set up a base in the North East. Teesside has the capacity to host it, but the company chose to go elsewhere. The airport's management now has some questions to answer.

22/05/2025

TVCA Cabinet: Standing on the Deck of the Titanic

While the mayor and TVCA officers propose 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?

Cabinet meeting discusses letter of complaint by external auditors. Meeting is short, and cabinet members do not challenge proposals, despite their inadequacy

08/05/2025

Teesside Airport Closed at Short Notice

As an incoming flight approached the airport on 2 May, the pilot was informed that the airport would be closed at its scheduled arrival time. The flight had to divert to Manchester before completing its journey.

Tees Valley Monitor set out to discover what lay behind the latest episode in a catalogue of failures at the airport:

On 2 May a plane approaching Teesside had to divert to Manchester as the airport had closed at short notice. We look into the circumstances.

15/04/2025

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:

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