Teesside stories you might have missed this week

The Transporter Bridge has been closed since 2019 over safety concerns

Views sought on Transporter Bridge options, a bomb disposal expert's concern over faulty ear plugs and fears over a council's financial black hole.

Here are some of the stories from Teesside you might have missed this week.

Council facing £4.5m black hole, report says

It has been predicted Middlesbrough Council will overspend this financial year

A council has forecast an overspend of £4.48m at the end of the financial year.

Middlesbrough Council predicted that if no further action was taken, there would be a black hole equating to 3.1% against the approved revenue budget, which is valued at £143.304m.

In September 2024, the council was predicted an overspend of £3.7m but it came in at the end of the financial year with an underspend of more than £2m.

Council officials have been encouraged to "make every effort" in order to control costs to achieve a balanced budget.

• And you can read more on this story here

'Thousands of servicemen suffering over ear plugs'

Rikki Drury went on tour to Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland

A former bomb disposal expert says he is partially deaf after setting off explosives while wearing ear plugs which "did not do the job".

Rikki Drury, from Redcar, regularly wore the ear defenders while serving in the Royal Logistics Corp on tour in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.

The 40-year-old now has partial hearing in his right ear and suffers from constant tinnitus, a high-pitched ringing sound.

He has joined thousands of other servicemen in legal action against American firm 3M over defective ear plugs.

• You can read more on this story here

Opinions sought on replica transporter bridge

The Grade II listed structure opened in 1911 and shut in 2019 after its condition deteriorated

Views are being sought on plans to either build a replica of Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge or to repair the original structure.

The Grade II listed structure opened in 1911 and was one of only six operational transporters left in the world before it was closed in 2019 over safety concerns.

In 2024, a report found the bridge had deteriorated to such an extent that it presented a risk to the public, with an investigation into its structural stability ongoing.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said repairing the bridge would come at "significant cost" while building a replica would be "much less".

• Read more about the options here

Bella Culley told 'substantial' sum would free her

Bella Culley, pictured at a previous hearing, appeared at Tbilisi City Court

A British teenager on trial in Georgia for drug smuggling has been told a "substantial" sum of money is needed to free her or reduce her sentence.

Bella Culley, 19, from Billingham, Teesside, had previously been told she could face up to 20 years in jail or life imprisonment if convicted.

Tbilisi City Court heard defence and prosecution teams were negotiating the terms of a bargain which would see the teenager freed for a sum of money with "many zeros", understood to be in Georgian Lari.

• You can read more here

Housing estate refused over heritage loss fears

Residents raised concerns over highway safety, flooding and infrastructure capacity

Plans to build 156 homes as part of a £20.7m housing estate project have been refused over concerns it would "destroy" a village's link to its heritage.

Durham County Council turned down the estate, planned for land near Westerton Road, in Coundon, Bishop Auckland, after it said it received hundreds of objections.

Partner Construction wanted to build a mix of apartments, bungalows and multi-bedroom houses, on 10.6 hectares (26 acres) of greenfield land.

But residents raised concerns that building there would "destroy the open countryside character" of the field, which dates back to 1843.

• And you can read more on this story here.