Member Article

NECC Calls For Joined Up Government Approach To Transport

The North East Chamber of Commerce today called for ministers from all departments to work more closely together after it was revealed that a £5.3m black hole has emerged in concessionary travel funding.

The shortfall is expected to lead to cutbacks in bus services. Andrew Sugden, NECC policy director, said: “This is a confusing scenario for the region. The Department for Transport has refused to fill a black hole in concessionary travel budgets which will lead to cuts in public transport services. This will force more cars on to the road. “The very same department is stopping developers pressing ahead with job-creating projects because it is worried about congestion on the region’s roads. “Until someone takes a wider view of transport in this area we will be stuck in this catch 22.” NECC, the Journal and Evening Gazette newspapers jointly launched the ‘Go For Jobs’ campaign in November 2005 in protest at the Highways Agency’s use of Article 14 of the Town and Country Planning Order 1995 to arrest development along the A1, A19, A66 and A19. For more information about the Go For Jobs campaign, please visit: www.ne-cc.com/goforjobs.asp.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .