Policy changes long overdue says North East transport group

North East business is calling for key policy changes when the Chancellor unveils his Autumn Statement on Thursday.

Furthermore, the North East Chamber of Commerce Transport Forum has called on George Osborne to ensure rapid progress is made on a raft of infrastructure announcements made in this year’s Budget and Spending Review, including creating an unbroken motorway link from the capital to Tyneside and alleviating traffic pinch points on the Western Bypass and A19.

The Transport Forum is NECC’s transport policy steering group, and is chaired by Newcastle International Airport director of planning and corporate affairs, Graeme Mason, who said: “NECC and its members have been very effective in drawing up a shortlist of transport priorities and campaigning on them relentlessly throughout 2013. This has resulted in some long overdue investment announcements in our road network in particular.

“The Autumn Statement is an important moment where we remind decision makers that the job is far from complete and with this in mind we have three messages for the Government.

“Firstly we need these welcome decisions to come to fruition on the ground as soon as possible. Secondly we need to make sure that businesses work collaboratively with relevant agencies to ensure that they understand how best to carry out work and in the most productive way. Thirdly, we must not give up our campaign on key issues including Air Passenger Duty which hits regional airports harder than airports in the South.

“This issue has dragged on un-resolved for too long and should be rectified as soon as possible – not least of all if we want to meet the Government’s own target of doubling exports by 2020.”