Pitiful – what we’re given for transport
Apr 3 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
LABOUR transport spending boasts have been exposed as a sham after research revealed North road and train standards have made the region’s cities among the worst in Europe.
It was also claimed that cities such as Newcastle could be creating even more jobs if the Government handed local decision-makers powers to solve commuter problems.
Research by a Scottish transport expert has found the UK’s major cities receive only 40% of the Government cash spent in other European centres.
Dr Iain Docherty, senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow, has called on the Government to give city leaders more power over their economic growth.
He claims that without a radical shake-up of the way local roads and the Metro are funded, then the people who live and work in Tyne and Wear will be left behind as jobs go to better-funded European cities.
His report comes just days after Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly told the region it should be happy with the amount of cash Labour has spent in the North East.
But last night Dr Docherty revealed that Newcastle and other North cities rank among the worst in Europe because the Government will not spend enough on basic infrastructure investment.
He said: “The UK Treasury has for years tried to get away with under-investment in cities and here we see the results.
“My personal view is areas like Tyne and Wear would find it easier to repeat the economic the success seen in London if they were given similar powers as Transport for London.”
His suggestions are similar to those under consultation in the Government’s Sub National Review.
Making case
ELECTED Mayor of North Tyneside John Harrison, chair of the city region transport board and a keen advocate of improved North East connections, said his group was already looking into issues raised by the Scottish transport expert’s report.
"We will continue to make the case to Government that our city region approach, bringing together all modes of transport under one banner, will deliver the best results with the goal of connecting communities to economic opportunities a prime factor."
And business groups have also welcomed the report.
Ross Smith, head of policy at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: "The idea of more powers within the city region is something that a lot of people would agree with.
"The two caveats to that is that the success of Transport for London came not just from the extra political power given to the mayor but to the money provided to him, and there has to be funding to see that level of improvement.
"And second we need to make sure that not only are our city regions more accessible but that we are able to get between the region, from Tyne and Wear to Tees Valley, up to Edinburgh or in our connections to Leeds and the South."
