Two consultations have been published recently which will hugely impact on our local transport system and economic growth. One of the biggest things holding back our local economy is our transport infrastructure, and its underfunding (£855 per person) compared to London (£4,155 per person). So you may wish to check out these latest proposals, and comment.
THE FIRST CONSULTATION
(ends 19 March) identifies a ‘Major Roads Network’, to be preferentially maintained from a separate government funding stream. Whilst it will undoubtedly be beneficial to ensure that our core transport network is as well-maintained as possible, I worry that – because the proposals use existing traffic flow and settlement size to define the main road network – the proposed network will simply embed the current overemphasis of transport spending in the south-east.
THE SECOND CONSULTATION
(response required before 17 April) concerns Transport for the North’s new ‘Strategic Transport Plan’. The Plan says that improving the transport infrastructure in the north could grow the economy by £100 billion a year and, wonderfully, Newton Aycliffe finds itself at the hub of three of the proposals:
(1) ‘Connecting the Energy Coasts’ (improved east-west links) mentions the A66, but we need to lobby also to ensure it includes the A690 and A689, and the North Darlington Bypass.
(2) ‘East Coast to Scotland’ (north-south rail links up the east coast) seeks better freight provision, and improvements to stations, line speed and capacity, but we need to lobby for the Rail Freight Interchange at Forrest Park, and the Leamside Line.
(3) ‘Yorkshire to Scotland’ (north-south road links) – we need to press hard for improvements to the A19, for the A1M to be three-lane to Newcastle, and for improvements to the A167 and A68.
Funding for all this is flaky … so it needs our engagement and support all the more!
GETTING INVOLVED
You can find links to the full documents and how to respond, on my councillor’s blog at: bit.ly/NNTHTC
