"It's welcome but long overdue": Council secures funding for scheme to improve disabled access at Billingham station

The £2million scheme, to install new lifts, has already received funding pledges from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

But almost £1million of Government cash is needed for it to go ahead and the latest in a string of Council-led bids to Government has finally been successful.

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: "Billingham station is the only railway station in the Tees Valley with no disabled access and quite frankly, that's unacceptable.

"This scheme is about ensuring people with disabilities can access public transport. We've bid for this funding a number of times without success, which has been incredibly frustrating, so this breakthrough is welcome but it's long overdue.

"The bid is for £880,000 - we're still awaiting confirmation of exactly how much funding we'll get but obviously we hope it's enough to get on with delivering the scheme at long last."

The bid, to the Government's Access for All programme, was submitted by Northern on behalf of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.