Teesside stories you might have missed this week

Heighington Station's future is looking brighter thanks to new funding

The future of some notable buildings has been in the spotlight along with a row over town centre parking - here are some of the stories on Teesside you may have missed this week.

Town's hosting of Turner Prize 2026 a 'major coup'

Mima will host the exhibition by the four shortlisted artists in autumn 2026

The announcement that the Turner Prize is to be held in Middlesbrough has been hailed as a "major coup".

The award, which is given to a British visual artist and is organised by Tate, will be held at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (Mima).

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said it would bring investment and visitors to the area.

The exhibition of work by the four shortlisted artists will open in autumn 2026, with the announcement of the winner following in December.

The prize helped launch the careers of internationally renowned artists such as Damien Hirst, Steve McQueen and Grayson Perry.

• Read more about this announcement here.

'World's oldest' railway station saved

The Heighington Station building had become dilapidated

Campaigners are celebrating after raising £300,000 to save what is believed to be the world's first railway station.

Dating to 1826, Heighington Station, in County Durham, was part of the Stockton and Darlington railway line, which was the first passenger railway to use steam trains in the world.

The building has been shut since 2017 and efforts have been made over the years to revive the dilapidated station.

Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway said the "humble" building's future had been secured thanks to a "significant donation" from Hitachi Rail, as well as a crowdfunding effort.

• And you can read more about this story here.

Council votes to scrap net zero pledge

Reform UK took charge of Durham County Council following the elections in May

A county council has revoked its net zero pledge, despite opposition from cross-party councillors and campaigners.

Reform UK councillors in County Durham moved to scrap the 2019 declaration, with an alternative social care pledge voted through.

Deputy council leader Darren Grimes, who brought the motion to revoke the climate vow, said: "We are done with expensive virtue-signalling tripe, and care about our residents."

Liberal Democrat Mark Wilkes said the council had saved £13m in the past year through climate-saving efficiencies and labelled the Reform motion "cynical and insulting".

• Read more about this story here.

Parking charge review welcomed

Traders in Yarm say the removal of free parking has turned customers away

A business leader has welcomed a review of town centre parking charges.

An hour's free parking in Yarm and Stockton was removed by the local council earlier this year and replaced with a £1.50 charge.

It has been branded "the wrong decision" by Paddy Morton, manager of a family business on Yarm High Street and chairman of the Yarm Business Forum.

Stockton Borough Council said it was now looking to analyse the measure to get an understanding of what it had done to people's shopping habits.

• Further details can be read here.

Diocese to decide future of 1,000-year-old church

St Cuthbert's Church has seen attendance numbers drop

A Church of England diocese is set to make a decision about whether to hold a public consultation over the future of a 1,000-year-old church.

Billingham's parish applied to close St Cuthbert's Church last year due to rising costs and falling attendance.

Friends of St Cuthbert's community group believe they have put forward a viable business plan to take ownership and continue using the building, with secretary Charles Wellington saying closing it would face "massive local opposition".

A decision to hold an open consultation or not is to be announced by the Bishop's Council of the Diocese of Durham on Monday. A spokesperson said "no decisions about the future use" of the church had been made.

• For the full story, click here.