Warning of North’s economic isolation
Nov 15 2007 by William Green, The Journal
THE North-East’s economic development will be dragged into the slow lane unless ministers act to upgrade the region’s road network, a hard-hitting new report warns.
The Road Users’ Alliance (RUA) warned the North-East was susceptible to economic isolation because of its low-grade road network which was reflected in the region having the lowest household income in England and the highest unemployment rate outside London.
Regional business and political leaders have led calls to upgrade the A1 Western bypass and fully dual the A1 through Northumberland to improve safety and economic growth – and that demand has been boosted by the RUA’s Road File 2007/08 report.
It said action is needed because the region has the lowest length of motorway at 36 miles – 58 kilometres – but the most number of cars per kilometre of motorway in England, according to the RUA that brings together business groups, road builders and campaigners.
The North-East was also found to have the lowest average household income at £16,063 compared to the South-East where the figure is £22,245 and where there are far fewer cars per kilometre of motorway.
And decades of under-investment have left the UK at the bottom of the motorway league in Europe, according to the RUA’s report which is a compilation of road statistics.
It said Britain’s roads languished on a par with Lithuania, Slovakia and Hungary rather than competing with Germany or France – with the country left standing unless ministers accepted investment was an urgent economic necessity.
RUA director Tim Green said the economy depended on the road network, as in Europe, because it carried 92% of people making journeys and 88% of freight.
“Yet with relatively low car ownership and the worst congestion in Europe, we continue to pursue the notion that congestion charging and public transport can resolve our transport problems,” he added.
Mr Green said rail investment was worthwhile but warned the return was relatively low and highlighted how road users paid £45bn in taxes but just £7.5bn was spent on roads in the past year.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Tory Parliamentary candidate in Berwick, said: “That is a fantastic report justifying what we all know to be true in the North-East, which is that this Government has failed to give us a fair share of investment in our road motorway in- frastructure. Without a doubt we are not able to develop the business and other economic regeneration that the North-East region so desperately needs.”
Andrew Sugden, from the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “There is insufficient high-quality motorway in the North-East. The impact of that is that it constrains our cities and our economy.”
Blaydon MP Dave Anderson said: “It is basically confirming what we knew. It is all the more reason why the people in the Department for Transport need to address the issues we have raised with them and we do really need to put investment in in a way we haven’t before.”
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Call for speedier rail link
Mr Martlew, who sits on the Commons Transport Committee, said: “This is a great boost to the railways and everyone involved in the project should feel a great sense of pride.
“Not only should this be the terminus for the high-speed tunnel line, it should also, in the future, become the London station for the high-speed line to the North of England.
“I believe this new line could be started within the next five to 10 years and I will continue to lobby, along with my colleagues, for this project.”
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Life spent in the slow lane if you live in the North-East
The region has the shortest length of motorway at 36 miles or 58 kilometres – with motorways making up just 3.2% of major roads in the region, the lowest in England.
Overall, the region has 1,094 miles – 1,762km – of major routes when excluding motorways.
There are 8,968 miles – 14,435km – of minor roads, which makes a total of 10,100 miles or 16,255km of roads in the North-East, slightly more than London’s 9,274 miles or 14,926km.
But London has more motorway at 37 miles, or 60km while the South-East has 406 miles – 655km – the highest amount.
The North-East has the most number of cars per kilometre of motorway with a total of 17,343, which frustrated motorists snarled up in traffic will know all too well.
The reports says average household income is £16,063 in the North-East while the unemployment rate is 6.4%, higher than every other English region outside London.
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