£840m bid for better transport

THE North East could get quicker buses and extra Metro capacity if it lands a share of £840m in Government funding.

Prime Minister Theresa May has revealed the North East is one of 10 regions in the running for a bumper transport windfall.

If successful, the government say the cash could be spent on using ‘intelligent transport systems’ to speed up buses and improve Metro capacity.

Transport links to harder to reach housing sites, in places like South Shields, could also be improved.

The North East Combined Authority has now been given £50,000 ready to bid for a slice of funding from the £1.7bn Transforming Cities Fund.

A total of £60m will be available to bid on this year.

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes has backed the bid – but warned the Government must do more.

“I’ve been calling for urgent transport investment in our region for years now,” said the Labour politician.

“While I welcome today’s announcement, it is clear that the Government still has a lot to do to match our ambition and give us the tools and resources we need to get on with the job.

“Expanding the Metro and transforming train services in south east Northumberland are vital steps towards boosting job creation in the north.

“Making cities compete against each other for investment isn’t just bad politics, it’s also another delay we simply cannot afford.”

Announced in the Chancellor’s last budget, around half the £1.7bn funding has already been allocated to six Combined Mayoral Authorities – like Manchester and Teesside – with elected Metro mayors.

The 10 regions on the new shortlist will bid for what is left.

The 10 shortlisted city regions are: Derby & Nottingham, Leicester, North East Combined Authority, Norwich, Plymouth, Portsmouth & South East Hampshire, Southampton, Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, Stoke-on-Trent and West Yorkshire Combined Authority