North East economy rests on trains, planes and automobiles

Jan 28 2010 by William Green, The Journal

THE North East needs strong connections to the rest of the country and beyond to secure its economic future.

Business chiefs have identified transport as a top priority, highlighting how they need good links to build the region’s recovery.

It is essential the region’s major trunk routes are upgraded, rail links maintained and strengthened, and regional airports and ports supported.

And that is why a strong unified voice is vital to get our message across about the importance of transport connections.

Without it, the danger is local rivalries will drown out the regional voice, with potential infighting denting our case for much-needed improvements.

Such fears have been increased by the possibility that the Tories could scrap regional development agencies, potentially splitting the North East into at least three mini-regions, with Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham, and Teesside all set against each other.

Plugging the region into a new high-speed rail network is critical to boosting our economic development, with rapid journey times to London an important component to growth.

The North East is facing a two-month wait to discover whether it will be linked into a new high-speed rail line, making it vital pressure is kept on the Government to include the region in its plans.

Without a regional approach, would Transport Secretary Lord Adonis really be so ready to listen to the needs of the North East? But what about the region’s prospects under a new Government?

Whichever party is in power then, it will be severely constrained by the need to reduce the United Kingdom’s £178bn public deficit.

The North East’s rivals will also be seeking money to fund projects in their own areas.

Ross Smith, head of policy at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “Businesses have consistently said that we need investment in strategic infrastructure and we know that money is clearly going to be a lot tighter.