Highways boss lined up to face the forum

Dec 29 2005 By Ross Smith, The Journal

The North-East's top business leaders are to meet the region's Highways Agency chief to discuss the row over delays to vital developments.

The agency's director for network strategy in the North, John Bagley, has been invited to the first meeting of the Northern Business Forum in 2006.

The forum, which contains senior members of the major business groups operating in the North-East, want to talk to Mr Bagley to find solutions to his organisation's use of controversial Article 14 orders on January 6.

A string of developments have been hit with the orders, that allow the agency to halt planning applications if it believes they will allow more traffic on major roads such as the A1 or A19.

Mr Bagley has been invited to address the forum's regular meeting as the row over the tactic deepens.

The use of the notices is estimated by the North East Chamber of Commerce to have cost the region £1bn in investment and 10,0000 potential jobs.

NECC is running a campaign with The Journal and our sister paper on Teesside the Evening Gazette to persuade the agency to rethink its policy.

The campaign also calls for vital improvements to the region's major roads to encourage development that will bolster the region's economy.

NBF chairman Alistair Arkley said: "We think transport is an absolutely crucial issue for the business community.

"We want some reassurances from him and we want to be able to communicate to him the importance to us of transport, and of setting the appropriate priorities."

The meeting will involve members of NECC, the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Directors, and manufacturers' body EEF.

Senior figures from Government Office North East and regional development agency One NorthEast are also expected to attend.

Mr Arkley added: "I don't see this as a confrontational-type meeting. It's an attempt to explore ways forward.

"We want to understand the issues the Highways Agency has and to try to explain to them the impact of their action.

"Hopefully, from that, we can come up with something positive that can be done by both sides to address this situation."

NECC chief executive George Cowcher said: "I think we're already making some inroads into their attitude. But what we'll be looking for is some signs of pragmatism and flexibility in relation to our key development sites."

A Highways Agency spokeswoman said last night: "The Highways Agency wants to work closely with developers and others and is always happy to talk to them."

What is go for jobs?

It is a campaign backed by The Journal, our sister paper the Evening Gazette and the North East Chamber of Commerce. It is prompted by the Highways Agency's use of Article 14 to stop business developments, potentially creating thousands of jobs, if they involve adding more cars to the A1 or A19.

What is an article 14?

It is a piece of legislation which allows the agency to block planning applications where they could add more traffic to congested roads.

What's wrong with that

It may be valid in areas where roads are already upgraded and the economy is over-heating.

But in the North-East, the transport infrastructure suffers from under-investment, and the economy has to catch up with the rest of the country. This will delay road improvements, and block new job-creating businesses, in a region that badly needs both.

What should happen?

We believe the Highways Agency should immediately lift Article 14 orders that are in place, and stop using the powers around these roads.

So how do we deal with congestion?

The agency and local councils need to come up better alternatives to ease congestion.

These could include a `fast lane' on the Western bypass for through traffic, which is closed off to junctions. There also should be a robust public transport system.

How about the long term?

There should be no further delay to the upgrades to the A1 and A19, with an extra lane where necessary on the Western bypass, to give Newcastle and Gateshead a comparable transport link to other major UK cities.