@TeesValleyMonitor
teesvalleymonitor.bsky.social
@TeesValleyMonitor
@teesvalleymonitor.bsky.social
media site reporting on political issues in the Tees Valley
Put Out More Flags?

Like it or loathe it, our towns are now adorned with flags. Darlington has hundreds. Who's putting them up? Who is supporting them? Is the council dealing with the anti-social behaviour that has accompanied it?
Our report is here
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/flagging-dar...
Flagging Darlington: Far Right in Feeding Frenzy
Flags being installed around town. Does pride or racism underlie it?
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
September 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
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 info@teesvalleymonitor.com, or DM here
September 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
More Toxic Waste Heading for the Tees Valley? Where Will It End Up?
Application for a permit to dump radioactive waste at Port Clarence while toxic waste treated as non hazardous at Hartlepool landfill. Is public adequately protected? Our report is here:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/toxic-waste-...
Toxic Waste in the Tees Valley: A Growing Hazard?
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.
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
July 31, 2025 at 10:22 AM
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, and some dubious assertions about NE Security and the Freeport:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/houchen-sees...
Houchen Sees Red During Mayoral Question Time
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.
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
July 26, 2025 at 7:41 AM
No Comment: Deafening Silence from Tees Valley MPs on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza.

We asked six MPs their opinion of the government's arms trade with Israel. Their unwillingness to respond raises issues about democratic accountability.
Our report:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/no-comment--...
No Comment: Tees Valley MPs and the War in Gaza
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?
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
July 3, 2025 at 10:41 AM
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:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/dumping-of-r...
Dumping Radioactive Waste Port Clarence? Have Your Say
consultation on use of Port Clarence Landfill for radioactive waste is open. EA wants only in technical comments. Local MPs may be more interested.
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
June 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Closure of Ensus Bioethanol Plant has implications for public health.
A statement on the prospect of plant closure and a report by the Royal College of Physicians on improving UK air quality in the UK. Our report highlights the connection between the two.
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/public-healt...
Health Implications of Closure Ensus Bioethanol Plant
US_UK trade deal undermines UK bioethanol industry. This industry has capacity to improve air quality and public health. Government should support it.
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
June 22, 2025 at 3:45 PM
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:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/us-uk-trade-...
US-UK Trade Deal: Negative Impact Teesside Bioethanol
Trade deal allows improved access to UK for US bioethanol. UK producers in jeopardy, and risks for Teesside economic regeneration are disproportionate
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
May 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
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.
May 23, 2025 at 8:22 AM
TVCA Cabinet: Standing on the Deck of the Titanic
While the mayor proposes 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?
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/tvca-in-cris...
TVCA in Crisis: Cabinet Hold Very Extraordinary Meeting
Cabinet meeting discusses letter of complaint by external auditors. Meeting is short, and cabinet members do not challenge proposals, despite their inadequacy
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
May 22, 2025 at 11:32 AM
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?
May 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Teesside Airport Closed at Short Notice

Flight FR5958 from Alicante on 2 May had to divert to Manchester as Teesside closed shortly before it was due to land.

TVM set out to discover why lay behind the chaos:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/teesside-air...
Teesside Airport Closes as Alicante Flight Approaches
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.
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
May 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
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:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/tees-valley-...
TVCA Mayor: Questions over Social Media Misinformation
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
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
April 15, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Reality Bites for Houchen as Best Value Notice Starts to Take Effect
Tees Valley mayor will step down as chair of three development corporations. Why didn't he do it sooner? And what else might be in the pipeline?
Our report is here:
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/reality-bite...
Reality Bites for Houchen: Steps Down as Chair of MDCs
Tees Valley mayor will step down as chair of development corporations this year, as recommended by the Tees Valley Review. But why didn't he do it last year?
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
April 13, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Interesting
@teesvalleymonitor.bsky.social
There are allegations that a certain duo who have handsomely filled their pockets in Great Teesworks swindle have been setting up new companies based on what they can get government subsidies for this is according to a supplier who has had to open new accounts,?🤔
April 13, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Reposted by @TeesValleyMonitor
@teesvalleymonitor.bsky.social Great in Bedford getting a universal theme park,Can we do this @ Teesworks ? it would be Benny Land,they’ll have virtual tours round the site and see all the virtual jobs 👍 as in reality that’s all we have £546 million peed away and Lord Airport has conned us all
April 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
while we welcome the award of a best value notice, we question why it took so long. And yes, Labour MPs in opposition did more shouting than was prudent about the NAO. But the TVCA is still functioning so we are interested to see whether the BVN is robust enough to turn things around
Lying Labour MPs promised accountability of Houchen when on the campaign trail,9 months on WTF ,the moneys has gone squirrelled away by a group of weasels our assets spent on HIGH END cars and trainers ,so has the publics ownership and any real benefit to the people it’s a charade led by Houchen
April 3, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Tees Valley Authority issued Best Value Notice
After months of speculation the government has today finally published proposals to scrutinise the dysfunctional authority led by Lord Ben Houchen. The recent cabinet meeting highlights some of its issues
www.teesvalleymonitor.com/tees-valley-...
Tees Valley Authority issued with Best Value Notice
MHCLG has issues TVCA with best value notice due to concerns over governance and value for money. Recent cabinet meeting highlighted some of the issues
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
April 3, 2025 at 11:29 AM
The issue in Redcar planning seems to be with the high number of cases that are decided by officers and not passed on to the planning committee. And that committee is itself dysfunctional. Grangetown incinerator is an example of this
On my last FOI to Redcar Council I asked how many officers were paid over £50k and under £100 k pa it was 154managers so surely they must be able to do something right?
March 30, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Yes. But Redcar Council Planning Department seems to be a very dark place. Who knows what will happen?
Mr Green stood down from the Redcar Arena ltd,but Turner is involved? without being a director.
The company has 0 money O assets so Redcar council shouldn’t be renewing it’s option on the land,as they have no tangible assets,& it must be up for renewal about now unless someone is trying a grab🤔
March 30, 2025 at 7:56 PM
We think the Turners are a perfect fit for Reform UK, where being loud and obnoxious are essential qualifications. And, yes the Stephen Green-Turners mutual admiration is very interesting.
@teesvalleymonitor.bsky.social why do Reform want the caustic Turners in their ranks? it’s beyond sense & a certain ticket to failure? their cheerleader is a Steve Green who is an interesting guy 17 active directorships all based at 1 address in Redcar but not a great deal of cash,what his agenda?
March 30, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by @TeesValleyMonitor
@teesvalleymonitor.bsky.social why do Reform want the caustic Turners in their ranks? it’s beyond sense & a certain ticket to failure? their cheerleader is a Steve Green who is an interesting guy 17 active directorships all based at 1 address in Redcar but not a great deal of cash,what his agenda?
March 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM
At least Doncaster Sheffield was run as a business and could be again. On the other hand, Teesside is a vanity project by the Tees Valley mayor that serves no one's interests other than his business associates. And the government is standing back and allowing it to happen
A government committed to “bringing real change for working people and families”, as Angela Rayner put it last week, seems surprisingly keen to divert vast resources from essential local services into regional airports that few people will use.

Full story online: www.private-eye.co.uk/in-the-back
March 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Flights to Oblivion: Houchen Proposes New ‘Investment’ in Teesside Airport
Is it a grant or is it a loan? The mayor is looking for agreement on £12.5 million. Time for the TVCA cabinet to assert itself and make demands of the mayor and his pet project.

www.teesvalleymonitor.com/flights-to-o...
Flights to Oblivion: Houchen ‘Investment’ in Airport
Tees Valley mayor proposes investment to support businesses at Teesside Airport. But airport has just disclosed losses. It's time for the TVCA cabinet to act
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
March 17, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A Life Less Innocent

ex-PCC, Steve Turner, alleges he’s victim of witch hunt, while TVM reveals more complaints about his conduct in office, some from a Tory Party insider. Plus, his pitch to take over Reform UK, Redcar:

www.teesvalleymonitor.com/perpetual-vi...
Perpetual Victim: complaints against PCC Steve Turner
Several complaints against ex-PCC were submitted to oversight body, Police and Crime Panel, and allegations of dishonesty also came from within Tory Party
www.teesvalleymonitor.com
March 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM