A debate on the state of the North East transport network and its affect on the regional economy was witnessed by some of the country’s most influential engineers.
The Institution of Civil Engineers North East hosted Growing it alone: can the North East develop with poor transport links? with ICE’s national transport panel – a group which advises and informs Government policy – among those in the audience.
The discussions, which covered such issues as high speed rail, road charging and infrastructure connectivity with the rest of the country, will be used as a platform for updating and developing ICE’s regional position and also the Institution’s contribution to the National Infrastructure Plan.
The discussion was facilitated by Jonathan Spruce, vice chairman of ICE North East’s Transport Panel, as well as ICE’s national panel and followed on from an evening dinner discussion involving local authority leaders from across the region.
On the panel were Alan Stilwell, from ICE’s national Transport Board, Dr Anil Namdeo, Senior Lecturer in Transport and Sustainability, Transport Operations Research Group (TORG), Newcastle University, David Parker, Asset Development Manager, Highways Agency, Northumberland County councillor Alan Thompson, and Andrew Sugden, Director of Membership & Policy, North East Chamber of Commerce.
Steve MacKay, Chairman of the North East transport panel said: “The debate, and the previous evening’s discussions, are a great sign of people coming together to discuss the economic issues the region faces as a result of its transport infrastructure.
“One of the key messages was that there needs to be a strong, unified case made for upgrades to our transport network if we are to stand a chance of benefitting from support from central government.
“The presence of the national transport panel in the region gives us a chance to start getting that message across to policy makers, but a lot of work still needs to be done here in the North East to make the difference needed to boost our local economy and to strengthen our connectivity with the rest of the UK.”
Photo back (L-R) Dr Anil Namdeo, Councillor Alan Thompson, David Parker and Steve MacKay (chairman, ICE North East Transport Panel)
Front (L-R) Jonathan Spruce, Alan Stilwell and Andrew Sugden