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Vow to press ahead with Vaux site development after Tolent goes into administration. The firm was working on a key housing project in the city.

Kathy Pickering: These companies are over stretching themselves financially. They should be thoroughly investigated before contracts are exchanged. This is not the first time our city has been let down. Lessons learned?

Che Thornton: They are a National Contractor. They work for multiple clients in the Public and Private Sectors. As was the case with Carillion, who were one of the biggest Contractors in the country at the time. These things happen sometimes and there's often no warning. Particularly when we're going into a massive recession.

Fred Smith: Shame for the company. Hopefully the new developer will have more ambition when it comes to the design of the new houses. They looked like tiny little boxes all crammed together on the plan.

Betty Cotton: Shame for the project and those who lost their jobs. Hopefully whoever and whenever completes they try to use the same Labour skills if

they are still out of work.

Tony Gibson:

Can only happen in Sunderland.

Louise Marrin: But it hasn’t, they’ve got massive projects right across the north east. So you can add, Durham, Gateshead and Tees Valley to your list too.

Nick Mapplebeck:

Let’s hope a new operator can be found to take on the original project left by Tolent and bring it to fruition. It would be a shame to leave the land derelict and unused as a consequence.

Alan Wright: Very sad news. Tolent has been a great contractor for years. Hope the employees get fixed up soon.

Steven Spoors: Is that Vaux site jinxed? Hope whoever takes over can re-employ the lads who where working on it.

Andrew Watson: The second a council steps in to actively help or assist a private business is the day the floodgates open. Do it for one, you have to do it for all. It’s actually a shame SCC don’t have the funds to complete this work themselves.