Top boss turns heat up

Mar 16 2006 By Ross Smith, The Journal

The boss of one of the North's top companies yesterday turned the heat up on transport ministers over their refusal to deal with blocks on North-East jobs.

Chris Jobe, North-East director of Newcastle-based bank Northern Rock, called for Government action to stop development being hampered by the poor state of the region's major roads.

His own firm has seen an Article 14 holding notice slapped on its planned new office complex at Rainton Bridge, Sunderland, because of the potential impact on the A1 and A19.

The order stops a decision being taken to approve the development, which is likely to lead to 2,500 jobs, and has been given firm backing by regional development agency One NorthEast.

Speaking at the North East Chamber of Commerce's Tyne and Wear annual general meeting yesterday, Mr Jobe said: "The fact is that we have 10,000 jobs - some of my own jobs at Northern Rock - held up. £1bn investment is under threat and some of that has probably gone.

"It is quite ridiculous. Our own roads system cannot cope, something we have been shouting about for years. But the current chicken and egg situation is not the answer.

"The Journal, Evening Gazette and North East Chamber of Commerce have run a successful Go For Jobs campaign to date.

"But until action is taken by the Government to do something fairly serious about our road network all they are doing is rearranging the deckchairs."

His comments came a day after Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman claimed the situation in the North-East was an "awful lot of fuss".

Last night, Mr Ladyman said: "The Government is fully committed to ensuring the continued growth of the North-East's economy and frankly it is ridiculous to suggest otherwise. But we also have to make sure that our roads operate as effectively as possible to maximise the opportunities from existing and new developments."

The fact that only four planning applications are outstanding out of 263 in the North-East referred to the Highways Agency between May 2004 and February 2006 "exposes the fiction" that it is blocking development, the minister said.

He added: "Of course we support the creation of jobs in the region, but in choosing the locations for development, we must understand the impact any extra traffic will have. We simply cannot abandon proper transport planning. No one will benefit from congested roads."

Page 2: Rising unemployment prompts demand for more investment