Boost for Gateshead Quay welcome but where is levelling up money for Northumberland towns, asks Northumberland Labour

Northumberland Labour welcomes the £20m boost to improving the Gateshead Quay area. It is also encouraged by the £14.7m being invested in walking and cycle routes which will benefit Bedlington and Tynedale.

However Northumberland Labour group leader Scott Dickinson said: “One of the greatest things the government could have done on levelling up is invest in the BritishVolt electric car battery plant. A government investment to get this going would have had far reaching positive spin offs in terms of direct and indirect jobs and given younger people a rich source of future employment.

“Any levelling up measures are welcome but the government needs to understand what the term levelling really means and they need to put their money (or, rather, our money) where their mouth is.”

Cllr Caroline Ball representative for Ashington Central said:

“Towns like Ashington and Blyth need major investment to make them attractive places to live, work and enjoy leisure time and the draw people into the towns.”

“In Ashington we’ve been left with a giant hole with many promises all yet to come to fruition, we see nothing but a kick in the teeth yet again for the people of Ashington.”