Nicholas Craig column

Nov 16 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal

WE appear to be losing out again because of our old banger of a rail and road system. The North-East faces two main issues: good public transport throughout the region, and better communications with the rest of the UK and Europe.

If we don’t achieve these we risk being marginalised.

There can be few issues that spark debate as easily, and passionately, as transport in the region. Whether it is roads, rail, air or sea, everyone has an opinion. What we don’t have is any change in attitude from those in charge of the money that would transform our infrastructure.

The magnificent Maglev is slipping towards Manchester, dualling of the A1 is drifting into the next decade and too many flight operators fly off after a season or two.

Yet no other region can have campaigned so tirelessly for essential improvements to its road and rail systems as this one.

The Government has set itself a target of closing disparity in economic growth between the richest and poorest regions by 2012. We have yet to see much evidence of that.

The latest report from the Centre for Cities states the North-East earns less from London than any other region on the mainland. Better, faster transport links would make a difference to our poor results.

And while London’s cross-rail system, and the superb St Pancras Station will be great assets for the capital, they put our more basic transport needs that much further away from being met.

Now an interim transport body is being set up by the Tyne and Wear city-region to push the case for better roads and rail and busier airports and ports. After previous energetic campaigns led by the Chamber of Commerce, MPs and The Journal, I hope this body has the clout to be heard by Westminster.

We need massive investment, and that means a long-term, focused, time-intensive fight for cash.

If we are successful then we all win – businesses and residents. Extending the motorway to Tyneside, for example, will speed up distribution of goods and encourage European trade for local firms. Top-rate transport links underpin the region’s future economic credibility.

Nicholas Craig is a partner at Watson Burton