We only seem to get hype

The announcement that Newcastle and Gateshead have been selected to host a major exhibition of art, design and innovation is positive news.

This Great Exhibition of the North will hopefully be a terrific boost for the locality and the wider region - and heaven knows it needs it.

The idea for this exhibition in 2018 is part of George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse and it is estimated it will attract three million visitors.

It sounds good on paper.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, one of the greatest problems facing the North East is its transport links, which need urgent improvement.

Even more so with so many potential visitors heading our way to this 77-day show.

We all know that such major infrastructure developments take planning, time and a lot of money.

So far all the Northern Powerhouse has produced is hype.

Meanwhile the North East is languishing behind the rest of the country and, lovely though this exhibition could be, we need massive investment and permanent jobs.

Jonathan Arnott,

UKIP North East MEP,

Elwick Road,

Hartlepool.