James Mills is a web developer in the North East of England and founder of Refresh Teesside »
Mike Hughes is the Head of Business for the Evening Gazette. He will be blogging on all matters of importance to Teesside businesses - and some that are just worth knowing »
Jez Davison, business writer at the Evening Gazette, is a regular blogger on all things business - particularly finance, entrepreneurship and the state of the Teesside economy » 
Karen McLauchlan is the Evening Gazette's deputy business and features editor - with special interest in all things industry, property and arts related » 
Jeremy Middleton is a venture capitalist and the co-founder of FTSE-200 company HomeServe » 
Deloitte, which has 23 offices across the UK including Newcastle, is among the country's leading professional services firms » 
ClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew » It would attract inward investment, create jobs and generate millions of pounds for the local economy. It would fast-track the growth of indigenous businesses and provide vital support for Teesport and Durham Tees Valley Airport. And it's the talk of the town on Teesside.
Upgrading the local transport infrastructure - in particular, improving stretches of the A1 and creating a high-speed, high-capacity rail network - is a key priority among the region's movers and shakers.
At the recent North East Economic Forum, One Northeast chair Margaret Fay said the agency's budget wouldn't stretch to funding the dualling of the A1 and called on national Government to dig deep into its pockets.
She said: "If we did it, there would be nothing left for the rest of the region. We are trying to get Governments to acknowledge that the A1 should be of national strategic importance."
At least as important - more so for Tees Valley's port-related businesses - is the need for a high-speed rail link to the North-east and an upgrade of local routes so that freight in 9ft 6in containers can be shipped quickly from Teesport to the East Coast Mainline.
Local business chiefs are calling for a bigger slice of the public funding cake to make this dream a reality - and there are signs that this charm offensive is turning heads in Westminster.
Business Secretary Peter Mandelson has put his weight behind a high speed rail link from the South to the North-east, although David Cameron's priority, to extend the line initially only as far as Leeds, is as disappointing as it is short-sighted.
Ministers have a duty to value the North-east as much as any other region. That is the reason why funding should be made available immediately for both road and rail improvements.
Strategically, Teesport and the A1 are vitally important to the local economy and investment in a top-class transport infrastructure would be repaid in spades through increased business opportunities, job creation and wealth.
Tees Valley has been off the political radar for far too long and action and investment are needed now. Over to you, Messrs Brown, Mandelson and Hoon.
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »