North Tyneside Council will be celebrating the opening of a new Transport Hub and Town Square in North Shields, this Saturday 2nd September at 1100, with live music and outdoor arts performances.
The Hub is a major part of North Tyneside Council’s ambitious plan to improve North Shields, transforming the town into an attractive, family-friendly destination, with a vibrant, high-quality town centre.
The £12,994 million Transport Hub and Town Square is funded through the Transforming Cities Fund via Transport North East, the North of Tyne Combined Authority, and North Tyneside Council.
Local musicians will be performing, and a series of films made by local schoolchildren, celebrating the town’s rich heritage, will be shown on the new big screen in the square. Please see below for the full programme.
The building is North Tyneside Council’s first building to be fully carbon-neutral in construction and its operation, as part of the council’s wider aim to be carbon net-zero by 2030.
There are plans for public art to be installed in the Hub. The art has been designed by local artist, Colin Davies, and young people from the area. It honours North Shields’ past, present and future, and some of the designs were chosen by hundreds of North Tyneside residents in a public vote. These include a 24 metre artwork on the Transport Hub wall, illustrating stories from local people in morse code and maritime weather maps.
The opening of the Transport Hub at 1100 marks the start of a big day of celebration in North Shields, with the free family festival North Tyneside Together also taking place in Northumberland Square. There will be music, entertainment, stalls and fairground rides.
Dame Norma Redfearn, North Tyneside Council’s Elected Mayor, said, “I’m delighted this new Transport Hub and Town Square are opening, as they’re such an important part of our ambitious plans to transform North Shields into an attractive, family-friendly destination.
North Tyneside council has already invested millions of pounds to regenerate the area, transforming the historic Northumberland Square, supporting venues for our Cultural and Creative zone, and is creating an Embankment Walkway to link the town to the Fish Quay.
“It’s fantastic to have local artists work with young people to create public art installations celebrating the heritage of North Shields.
“I’m also proud that this Hub is the first carbon-neutral building in its construction and operation that we, as a council, have built. With buses, the Metro, taxis and cycling infrastructure all in the same place, it’ll be much easier for our residents to choose cleaner and greener forms of travel, bringing us a step closer to our aim of being carbon net-zero by 2030”.
The Hub will be safe and secure, with Changing Places toilets, which provide extra equipment and space for people with a disability, to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably.
Bus services will start from the North Shields Transport Hub on Sunday 3rd September. For more information about the services, please see www.nexus.org.uk
Entertainment Programme at Transport Hub:
10.30am - Linskill Community Choir
11am - Official opening with Elected Mayor, Dame Norma Redfearn DBE
11.15am - Emma Robson, North Shields singer
12pm - Big screen - Of Mice and Women - A Digital Dolly
- The significance of the Wooden Dolly throughout her 200-year history in North Shields, with New York Primary School
- Big screen - Don’t Look the Other Way
- A documentary made with year 5 pupils at Waterville Primary School telling the story of slavery and abolitionists in North Shields
12.15pm - Dan Mason, North Shields singer
1pm - Big screen - Victor Noble Rainbird - Broken Dreams
- Documentary exploring the life of North Shields artist Victor Noble Rainbird, with Wellfield Middle School
1.15pm -Paul Reed, North Shields singer
2pm - Big screen - Hard Times and Petty Crimes
- What social conditions and crime were like in early 19th century North Shields, with Christ Church Primary School
2.15pm - Big screen - North East Film Archive footage of North Shields
2.30pm - Paul Reed, North Shields singer (45 minutes)
- Artist Colin Davies will be available throughout the day to talk to visitors about his maps and morse code inspired installation.
Entertainment Programme for North Tyneside Together:
Main Stage
11.15am - North Tyneside Steel Band
12pm - Introduction and welcome from the Elected Mayor and Young Mayor
12.15pm - True Colours Theatre
12.45pm - Ukraine Flash Mob
1pm - Kanvee Adams
1.15pm - Fit Step
2pm - Voices of Virtual Choir
3pm - Love over Gold
Marquees & Library
11am – 3.30pm - Community Art - Main marquee
11am – 3.30pm - Face Painting- Childrens’ marquee
11am – 2pm - Storytelling and craft for 4–7 year olds - North Shields Library
11am – 12.30pm - Ukrainian doll making workshop – Childrens’ marquee
12.30pm – 1.30pm & 2.30pm – 3.30pm - Lego fun – Childrens’ marquee
1.30pm – 2.30pm – Pebble painting workshop – Childrens’ marquee
All timings are approximate and subject to change at short notice
