'Fair' spending but no promise over Tyne Bridge
BBCLabour has insisted north-east England will get a "fair" share of government spending as doubt continues to surround the Tyne Bridge restoration.
There remains significant anxiety over whether a further £6.2m pledged towards the bridge's once-in-a-generation repairs would be delivered.
The cash was announced by the previous Conservative government, but was subsequently placed under review by Labour after last year's general election.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander made no specific pledges but said the government would be "looking at this issue very carefully" during the Chancellor's spending review, which is expected to conclude in June.
The £6.2m would be on top of £35.2m already provided by the Department for Transport for the project.
Speaking on a visit to the Hitachi Rail factory in Newton Aycliffe, Alexander said: "I cannot pre-empt what the outcome of that Spending Review will be, but I am in touch with the authorities in Newcastle and the North East more broadly to make sure that in that Spending Review we get a settlement that is fair for the region."
Local councils have warned a U-turn on the additional funds would either mean the bridge will not be repaired to the required standard or the cost of completing the restoration would have to be passed to local taxpayers.
This week marks 12 months since the refurbishment of the crossing began and it is still expected that the work will be completed in time for the bridge's 100th anniversary celebrations in October 2028.