Pre-General Election last year, the Conservative Party had promised to fund revitalisation of the North. In reality, this money was not paid out. We now wait to see if Labour will honour that same pledge and generate life back into the North’s roads, which we are yet to see any sign of.
At the outset, the flyover connecting Gateshead to Newcastle City Centre has become a point of concern, as the council are in fear of the flyover collapsing. Due to this, Tyne and Wear metro lines were temporarily closed. Many labourers cross this bridge daily and have had to become accustomed to the unavoidable traffic congestion following their working days.
To add to this outrage, the previous government authorised a plan to dual the A1 Road in Northumberland. Labour has now postponed this scheme three times, claiming it was “unfunded and unaffordable”.
Now moving our attention to the adored Tyne Bridge that the North is renowned for. The structure has recently lost its glamour. With all of the scaffolding, it is not currently a pleasant sight to behold, not compared to what it once was. The repair work will take four years to complete and has also severely contributed to traffic jams with its overnight closures.
When taking into account the withdrawal of the scheme that would have boosted part of the A1, alongside the overlooked flyover and Tyne Bridge, it is no wonder people in the North are questioning the government’s commitment.
Unfortunately, this has been heightened by Reeve’s recent announcement of infrastructure projects in the South, such as building a third runway at Heathrow airport. Following years of slow growth in the UK, the Chancellor pledged to go “further and faster” than previous governments.
Why do it for the South, and not for the North?