Member Article

Complex regional travel patterns revealed in new study

Residents of North East England work, shop and socialise at a variety of destinations, according to a new report. Analysis of travel patterns shows that smaller centres in the region are as important for local people as the big cities. The study, carried out by the North East Regional Information Partnership (NERIP), found many people were not travelling long distances to get to work, tour the shops or go on a “big night out”.

Many parts of the region are substantially self-contained, with short distance trips more common. This is seen most strongly along the East Coast, including the areas of Wansbeck, Blyth Valley, South Shields, Sunderland, Easington, Hartlepool and the rural area to the south of Redcar. However, the Flows Report also confirms that big centres such as Tyneside are able to attract commuters, shoppers and revellers from across the North East.

Jon Carling, head of NERIP, said: “This report has given us a valuable and interesting insight into travelling patterns around the region. “For example, people are prepared to travel to Tyneside, in particular to Newcastle, for work and a night out, which came as no surprise. However, further south, we found there was less interaction between the neighbouring areas of Stockton and Darlington, which was more unexpected.”

As well as highlighting the self contained areas along the East Coast, the report also suggests reasons why some parts of North East England don’t interact a lot with others. These include the River Tyne being a barrier for people living in the north and south, Sunderland being very self-sufficient, and Durham being a key economic centre in its own right. The study found that there are a number of economic centres in the North East, including Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Middlesbrough, Darlington and Hartlepool.

Malcolm Bowes, chairman of NERIP, said: “This is the first time a study like this has been carried out and it has certainly unearthed some interesting facts about the region. “It will be used by policy makers across the public sector to inform the strategies that the Government requires them to produce.”

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