Our Friends in the North
Like many people who have commented, I have not read the Policy Exchange report which is supposed to say that northern cities are finished and people should migrate south. I am sure the report is more nuanced than that, but if its main thrust is what has been reported it is indeed absurd. It is of course nonsense to say that northern cities have lost their economic purpose. To be sure, their traditional industries have disappeared, but many new ones have replaced them.
One important “industry” that northern cities have taken advantage of is culture. I’m in Newcastle at the moment, on holiday. It’s a brilliant place to come to (apart from the rain!). We went to Alnwick Castle today, which was packed. Yesterday was Hadrian’s Wall. Tomorrow will be Gateshead (the Sage and Baltic) and the Bowes Museum. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.
The report does pose some questions for Labour, however. While northern Labour MPs fulminate against the report, have they asked why their Government is planning 3 million new homes for the south east, and why John Prescott bulldozed homes in the north? HAve they asked why, after eleven years, nothing has been done to improve rail links. Billions have been spent to link the south to France via the channel tunnel rail link, but it still takes three and a half hours to get to Newcastle by train. A TGV would do the same distance in just over two.
Votedave said on August 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pm:
Ed, I agree with every word.
Sue said on August 14th, 2008 at 10:37 pm:
I agree too, well said Ed
And it’s good to see you blogging again
canvas said on August 15th, 2008 at 7:08 pm:
I am going to Bruges tomorrow - by Eurostar. My journey to Bruges will take less than time (and be far less expensive) than my journey from Saffron Walden, Essex to Hull two weeks ago.
I had to go to Hull to visit a friend in hospital a couple if weeks ago. It was a complete nightmare. Engineering works meant that I had to travel to Kings X then Hull (otherwise it would have been replacement bus and then train(s) via Cambridge.
UK Hull journey £100.
Bruges journey £60.
Go figure…
This was only my second trip to Hull. It seemed an OK place. I would go back to visit the museums in Hull etc but the entire travel palaver is putting me off the idea.
My work journey to Liverpool St costs me well over £3,000. per year. What a joke. The trains are often overcrowded and filthy. There are often big delays when autumn arrives…why?
On a recent holiday, I was shocked at how inexpensive and efficient trains were in Italy. Upgrade to 1st class for £1.00 extra (Florence to Siena).
If Europe can have an inexpensive and efficient train service then why can’t the UK?
East Anglia suffers from poor public transport. Yet the government wants to build huge Eco towns nearby with little or no infrastructure to support these plans.
We need to move into the 21st century regarding public transport. It does - at times - feel third world here in gorgeous rural Essex….
canvas said on August 15th, 2008 at 7:09 pm:
hey, still no edit button!
cringe cringe lol