A CANDIDATE in the Tees Valley Mayoral election is looking to improve transport links across the area by developing a new river crossing.

Liberal Democrat candidate Chris Foote Wood believes that a dual road and rail bridge over the River Tees would lead to a boost in economic regeneration across the area.

The veteran campaigner, who is a former civil and bridge engineer, has identified a suitable place for the proposed bridge and believes, if he is elected, he will be able to deliver his plan.

“This would not only boost transport and jobs over the next ten years, it would continue to underpin the local economy for decades ahead, even for the rest of this century,” he said.

“Everyone agrees that an additional road crossing is needed right now to relieve traffic congestion, but I firmly believe that we also need a new downstream rail crossing to complete a loop Metro system, similar to that on Tyneside.

“I would also introduce an Oyster card with concessions to greatly enhance the ability of all our people to travel quickly and easily to work, to school, to hospitals and for shopping, sport and leisure.”

Mr Foote Wood is hoping that the crossing would enable a Tees Valley metro system, similar to the one on Tyneside, to be built to connect all the major towns in the area, especially bringing Hartlepool onto the same network as the rest of the area.

He said: “The whole of the Tees Valley is in effect a single journey-to-work area and should be planned and developed as such. Many people live in one district and work in another. Creating better transport links will enhance people’s education and job opportunities and enable everybody to use more facilities.

“While some people support a second crossing close to the existing A19 across the Tees near Middlesbrough – a job I worked on, by the way – that would do little or nothing for Redcar and Hartlepool who need to be much more closely connected.

“I will press for the second crossing to be downstream of the Transporter Bridge, in the South Bank area somewhere near Tees View Point. I have walked the whole length of the Tees from the source to the mouth, and this seems the logical place for a new downstream crossing.

“A new, double crossing would not only boost Hartlepool and Redcar, it would help the Tees Valley as a whole and would encourage new industrial development on both sides of the river."

Other candidates standing in the election on May 7 are: Ben Houchen, Conservative; Sue Jeffrey, Labour; John Tait, North East Party; and John Tennant, UKIP.