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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 » The recent news that a high speed rail link will not becoming via the North-east was a bitter blow to local industry.
A 200mph service that could cut journey times to London and Scotland would have enhanced the attractiveness of doing business on Teesside.
The area has benefited from inward investment, with 45 overseas businesses relocating to the North-east or deciding to stay put in the 12 months to April - not bad going in the worst recession in recent memory.
But the region is keen to build further on this momentum, with One North East spending another ã2.275m on persuading other firms to set up a base here.
Investors have cited a relatively uncluttered transport infrastructure, with quick links to main arterial routes, as one of Teesside industry's main selling points.
And a high speed rail link would have highlighted this in bold.
Business leaders have vowed to fight Network Rail's plans - at this stage it's a mere proposal which requires Government endorsement before the first track is laid.
But the infrastructure owner is confident that no reversal will take place because, it claims, the chosen route offers the best return on investment.
This will be scant consolation to recession-hit Teesside firms looking for competitive leverage in tough trading conditions.
But even if High Speed 2 bypasses the region, local lobbyists should keep fighting for Government funding that could secure vital upgrades on a smaller scale.
Improvements to the A19/A174 junction, the dualling of the A66 west of Darlington and further investment in freight capacity on the rail route from Teesport to the East Coast mainline would all boost the region.
Making these three improvements will cost an eight-figure sum - a drop in the ocean compared with the ã34bn earmarked for High Speed 2.
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