Deliver jobs you promised
AS recession looks set to officially hit next quarter, and jobs have already been lost at the Tanfield Group, we need more than ever to bring new jobs into the region.
I was encouraged to read in the Gazette that Tech Mahindra, an Indian technology company, is to launch a new operation in Jarrow which will create 500 jobs.
One North East has very generously given Tech Mahindra a grant of 2m towards this purpose.
This started to ring a faint bell as I recalled Garlands was also the lucky recipients of such a grant (to the tune of 600,000 in 2007) as it pledged to create 1,000 jobs out of their new call centre on the Tyne.
Over a year later, however, I understand there are fewer than 100 people working at Garlands in South Shields.
Tech Mahindra is expected to create between 50 to 75 initial jobs, which is to be grown into 500 jobs.
I sincerely do hope this happens because North East England needs these jobs, but I couldn't help thinking of the old proverb: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
On that very note, I was heartened to read in the Gazette last week that Muirneag is to undergo refurbishment at A&P Tyne, Hebburn.
Nick Brown, MP for Tyne East and Wallsend is reported to be analysing which infrastructure projects in North East England can be brought forward. Well, better late than never, I suppose.
But why this wasn't the focus of Labour MPs lobbying for the last 10 years, I don't understand.
With the largest concentration of Labour MPs anywhere in the country, it's a disgrace to learn the findings of a report from the Civil Engineers' Institute – which rings clear the continued neglect – and that it estimates 300m of investment would generate up to 1.5bn in economic growth in the region.
Yet failed lobbying allowed the upgrade of the A1 to be downgraded to "regional" rather than "national" importance.
We need more investment desperately in South Shields and the north east. Let's make sure we are not just dishing out money, but that we are attracting sustainable job opportunities for long-term growth.
Karen Allen,
The Kingsway,
South Shields.
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Weather for South Shields
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
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