Bill Midgley

Nov 8 2006 By Bill Midgley, The Journal

One of the phrases that is often thrown out by Government and its subsidiary organisations is that of "joined up Government".

Presumably to indicate that ministers and their departments when arriving at decisions and policies are taking into account what is happening around them, and that there should be no duplication of effort, resource or (heaven forbid) competition in policies.

An admirable desire but there has to be a serious question as to whether it really exists in practice.

In the case of business support "joined up Government" is a myth.

However, what has brought this particular phrase to mind at the present time is the subject of transport.

The North-East seems to be bedevilled with transport problems, be they rail or road.

Rail is an important means of not only conveying people but also goods to market but seems to be suffering from (yet again) an inability on the part of those concerned to think strategically and regionally. It is generally accepted that the East Coast mainline is overworked and overused and certainly any problems usually result in very long delays and stoppages.

For a number of years now there have been schemes proposed to bring back into play and make greater use of the Leem Line Spur, which would reduce congestion principally by moving freight traffic away from the passenger line, and give easier access to the south bank of the Tyne.

Now it appears, however, that the proposal is that the line will be removed altogether, the land reclaimed, no doubt sold off at what will be a handsome profit, and we shall continue to experience the over-burdening of the principal line.

Certainly so far as passenger traffic is concerned rail companies are carrying more people than they have at any time over the past 50 years, and yet in this year of so-called "joined up thinking" it would appear that arbitrary decisions can be made which seem to bear little relevance to the problems that the community and indeed the economy of the region face.

Yet another example of an opportunity to assist in the development of the region that is likely to disappear because of the silo mentality of those who (as ever) consider they know best.

Bill Midgley is past president, British Chambers of Commerce