The Journal can reveal today the scale of the disruption which will face North commuters during the massive security operation surrounding this spring's Labour Party Conference on Tyneside.

Police are planning to close the Swing Bridge over the Tyne, along with several roads on Gateshead's quayside for the entire duration of the three-day event next month.

The 14,000 motorists who use the bridge each day will be diverted onto other river crossings while Labour leaders meet at The Sage Gateshead.

But public transport provider Nexus has not been asked to put on extra buses or Metro trains to compensate during the conference - widely expected to be the springboard for Labour's campaign for a May general election.

Businesses in the affected area are already fearing a damaging loss of trade - though across the wider region bosses have welcomed a potential £3m boom generated by the event. The road closures will operate during the conference from February 11-13, with police warning disruption will begin in the days leading up to the event.

They have advised people who live and work in the area to make extra time for journeys in the run-up to and during the conference, and asked businesses to avoid taking large deliveries during the period.

Northumbria Police is currently refusing to discuss the measures publicly - or their cost - despite issuing a newsletter detailing the measures to local residents and businesses.

The document, seen by The Journal, says there has been no specific intelligence to suggest any terrorist attack on the town is planned during the conference, due to be attended by senior cabinet ministers including Tony Blair.

But it warns: "Playing host to the Government in the current international climate necessarily involves tight security".

The conference is also likely to be targeted by demonstrators angry at the party's decision to ban hunting with dogs.

Diversions will be put in place in advance of the event, with the 14,000 motorists who use the Swing Bridge each day having to travel over the Tyne Bridge, High Level Bridge or Redheugh Bridge instead - none of which are planned to shut.

In the newsletter, police admit: "This is likely to cause disruption to drivers and the activities of local people and businesses in and around the venues.

"Northumbria Police recognises these closures may cause disruption for many people but they are extremely important to achieve the effective policing of the conference."

Despite this, Northumbria Police have not asked transport providers Nexus to lay on any extra buses or Metro trains during the event. Nexus said it believes it has the capacity to cope with any extra numbers.

Businesses in the area have expressed concern about the likely disruption the event could cause. Lisa Campbell, who runs Revolution on South Shore Road, said: "We won't know the consequences until the event takes place, but when there were similar road closures during the junior Great North Run last year, we lost a day's trade.

"If they're going to do the same, it will create problems. We sell large goods - customers cannot park somewhere else and walk, and with the roads around here closed it could cause problems."

Northumbria Police is in discussions with the Home Office over who will foot the bill for the conference - but has consistently refused to disclose how much this is likely to be.

A spokesman said yesterday the force would not discuss the security measures until next week.

North-East Chamber of Commerce policy officer Andrew Sugden said: "Whenever there's disruption to the traffic system, it always has an impact. There will be less slack in the traffic system, so we have to keep our fingers crossed there isn't any problem on one of the other bridges.

"If conferences are going to be held regularly at the Sage we need to take account of those businesses that may be compromised, but this will bring a massive amount of income to the region."

The Journal: Today's Voice of the North

Page 2: Private bridge to be built