A massive transport snub for the region
Jul 6 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
Mick Henry, leader of the Association of North East Councils, has told the Government there are real concerns that job creating assets such as the Port of Tyne are not being taken seriously enough by London-based ministers.
Coun Henry said the region’s two airports are of “fundamental importance to the North East” and yet appear to have been left worse of by the Government’s sustainable transport plans.
He called on transport secretary Lord Adonis to “recognise the distinctive characteristics and strengths of both Newcastle International and Durham Tees Valley” by including the sites on a key list of national strategic assets which will determine how transport cash is spent after 2014.
Regional minister Nick Brown has warned Lord Adonis, a ministerial ally, that by failing to recognise the importance of North East transport routes he risked laying himself open to claims the DfT has damaged the nation’s economy.
He singled out improved connections to Scotland as an area where the Government should, in the North East’s view, be taking a more active role.
Bosses at development agency One North East have been asked to help set out plans for the region after civil servants effectively told them their main focus would be in the South.
Agency transport supremo Jim Darlington said: “We as a region are hoping that a combination of pressure from ourselves and others will see some changes in this as we go forward.”
Newcastle International Airport’s head of planning and corporate affairs, Graeme Mason, said the Government’s plans were “puzzling” and appeared to be based on figures “plucked from thin air”.
He said: “We are disappointed they have not considered connections to the airport important enough, but given the state of public finances we will wait and see what impact this plan will have.”
Lord Adonis has insisted the region’s airport and the Port of Tyne are simply not big enough to justify being included as a national asset.
“We intend to keep our definitions under periodic review and, should these gateways grow, they will be reconsidered in the future,” the minister said. He added the region could choose to prioritise study work on links across the North East, and in that way set its own transport agenda.
