Families still facing poverty as regeneration cash isn't helping

Dec 17 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

FAMILIES who lost work when North East coalfields were closed down are still facing poverty despite millions spent on regeneration.

Experts have said cash poured into job-creation efforts across Northumberland, Tyneside and Durham has not solved the problems caused when the Thatcher Government began closing down mines and making thousands redundant.

The Government’s spending watchdog has warned it could take decades before the money spent makes any real change to the lives of families across the North East and the rest of the UK.

More than £60m has been spent by a variety of Government quangos helping families. But parts of the region are still listed as among the most deprived in the country despite this cash.

Sites such as Cambois and parts of Easington should have attracted millions of pounds and helped hundreds back into work. But the National Audit Office has warned many schemes are well behind schedule and criticised a lack of overall strategy to coordinate the initiatives.

Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said: “What we want to see is a concerted effort to deliver to the coalfields the best possible value for money from the remaining £450m of funds.”

Several dozen sites should have benefited from funds directed via the National Coalfield Programme and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.