Time runs out for rush hour

Dec 18 2006 By Ross Smith, The Journal

The leaders of the Go For Jobs campaign yesterday threw their weight behind a drive to end the North-East's nine to five culture.

The North East Chamber of Commerce has pledged to put its money where its mouth is, by devising a flexible working policy for its staff in support of the regional Work Wise initiative.

And NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham described the move as a "logical extension" of Go For Jobs, which aims to stop fears about congestion damaging the North-East economy.

Getting fewer people commuting to and from work at rush hour will ease the pressure which has led to business developments close to major roads being blocked, NECC said.

Work Wise North-East aims to make employment in the region more flexible, through methods such as home working, job sharing and flexi-time.

Backers believe it will boost business productivity, improve workers' lifestyles, ease transport problems and benefit the environment.

Mr Ramsbotham said: "NECC is firmly committed to being among the best employers in the UK. We already provide a tremendous range of services and benefits to our staff and have the technology to provide flexible working.

"Work Wise is not just about better staff practices, it is also about better business. We see tremendous benefits for the customer service we provide to our 4,400 members by adopting these new practices.

"We see it as a logical extension to the Go For Jobs campaign which aims to keep the region's transport network free-flowing. This is about showing Government the way it should be done and hoping it will follow."

NECC, which employs 250 staff, also aims to encourage more businesses to follow its lead.

A series of other business organisations have also backed the Work Wise North-East initiative, along with the TUC, Government Office North East and regional development agency One NorthEast.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, said: "Smarter working is an answer to many of the issues facing the economy today. While smarter working improves productivity and enhances the working environment, it also reduces the need to travel and staggers the rush hour.

"Even a small change in working practices across the North-East will see a marked fall in congestion, and a significant impact on emission levels."

Road stays on move

A stretch of the region's busiest road was closed for 18 hours over the weekend - but the traffic chaos witnessed when the same section was shut last month was largely avoided.

The A1 near its junction with the A19 at Seaton Burn in Northumberland was closed from 6pm on Saturday to midday yesterday so engineers could continue work on a replacement for the Seven Mile House bridge. The same 3km stretch was first closed on the weekend of November 4 and 5 when engineers demolished the bridge and thousands of motorists suffered delays.

There were fears the delays would be more severe this weekend because of the rush of Christmas shoppers travelling down the A1 from Northumberland to Newcastle and the MetroCentre in Gateshead.

However, a Highways Agency spokeswoman said delays were relatively light.

She suggested their policy of warning drivers in advance of the disruption had played its part.

The new bridge is due to be completed by April next year. Further closures of the A1 are not expected as part of the work.

North Tyneside councillor Muriel Green, whose Weetslade ward is nearby, said last night delays had been light during the work.

Bridge to go in key junction revamp

A landmark in Gateshead is set to disappear in the New Year in a bid to ease traffic congestion on a major route.

The pedestrian bridge over the A692 at the top of Lobley Hill is to be taken down and removed as part of improvements to the busy main road's junction with the Whickham Highway. The bridge will be replaced with a pedestrian-controlled crossing at road level.

Other improvements include the removal of the existing roundabout at the end of Whickham Highway and its replacement with traffic lights, the introduction of bus lanes on the A692 and Whickham Highway, and a new parking area on Rothbury Gardens in place of the footbridge to provide extra parking for shoppers.

It is hoped the improvements will help to relieve congestion at busy times and improve journey times for local bus services.

Local councillor Frank Donovan said: "Residents have expressed concerns about this junction for some time."

The bridge is scheduled to be dismantled over two Sundays in February, requiring part of Lobley Hill Road to be temporarily closed to traffic.

The A692 is the main route for traffic from north west County Durham to Tyneside. It regularly carries around 13,500 vehicles per day and can be heavily congested, particularly at the junction of Lobley Hill Road and Whickham Highway.