Rivals For London?

I would worry for the people living in the beautiful areas in between the cities, as they could all be swallowed up and become one seething mass in the same way that the areas around London have. My grandmother used to take me to Kingston on Thames, Maidenhead, Slough and so on. Now you can't tell where they begin and end, but once even Slough had its pretty areas. No longer.

That was one of the first thoughts that entered my head janerowena - might be a bit selfish but I think I'd hate it. I know the NE would benefit but after having seen their beautiful, uncrowded beaches and stunning parklands, I do wonder how they'd feel about all that changing.

I think it's a great idea.

Much as I love the scenery and would hate to lose it I think that we need to spread the wealth a bit. It might give people in the south more room to breathe too. I think it would entail either an expansion of an existing airport or the building of a new one.

And another runway at Heathrow Kitty?

It seems a good idea on the surface, but will the North ever have the appeal of the South? Thinking closeness to the rest of Europe, entertainment, and, of course, the weather? Wonder if people will ever be convinced enough to work and live there.

I think it's a great idea.

Even though it could push up the cost of living for you Kitty?

I do agree with you regarding the 'spreading of wealth' (and jobs) and also about releasing some of the pressure on London; I'm just not sure if the reality would eventually be seen as worthwhile?

Pushing the cost of living up would be a price worth paying if it meant that there were more jobs (and wealth) in the north.

I doubt it would have much effect on the cost of living for us personally Holly we are not in the North - unless you count being north of Watford Gap!

Ah, I see kitty - you are not in the North

I can't help but wonder if this is a case of 'be careful what you wish for'! If I'm honest, I don't really understand most of the economic division or why a London-centric economy affects the North as much as it does, hence my attempting to understand.

I can't see it happening anyway.

I come from the north originally, though I don't live there now. There are currently trains hourly from Hull to Liverpool and the journey takes two and a half hours. Why would it be necessary to do this any faster? There is also motorway virtually all the way. Listening to George Osborne one would think there were no transport links at all. I don't often agree with John Prescott but I think he is right in saying Mr Osborne is trying to get votes and knows there is no way HS3 will ever be built. If the government wanted to boost the economy of the north they could do it by moving more government departments north.

If you are one of our friends in the North - don't get too excited about improved infrastructure. Cynical me says It's only and election ploy! to garner votes.

I wonder what George Osborne knows about likely opposition in his usually safe seat. Is he worried about UKIP?

Can't see Manchester and Leeds linking up One is Yorkshire and one Lancashire.Lots of rivalry there.

What about Newcastle? The real North.

I think we are fine as we are thank you very much,who wants to be on top of each other like they are down South,beautiful Yorkshire and Lancashire and the most delightful of all Northumberland access easy from where we are now and just one hour away from Alderley Edge & Southport which sells some of the most expensive properties in the Country.

glammanana - I know I can be a bit of a cynic but I did wonder if the point of HS2 was to allow Londoners to live further north (to take advantage of lower house prices and cost of living - plus all that beautiful open space) whilst still being able to commute to London within a reasonable time scale. I think this because, to be honest, I don't understand how HS2 will benefit ordinary working people in the North.

Holly I can never see it being completed even if it did how can you gaurentee that the reasonable timescale that it predicts will not be affected by holdups etc ? "wrong snow on the line " comes to mind,plus the out cry from the landowners who are affected and the objections will go on for years I think.

Very valid point glammanana - which begs the question why they are spending so much money on having it investigated. It doesn't seem to be really wanted by most people.

As far as I can see, the system works very well as it is. People move into London/other cities to work and make money while they have the energy to do so, then move back out again as soon as they can afford to do so, and retire either back to where they came from or to somewhere they have liked on holiday. Similar patterns happen to a lesser degree wherever there is a large town, the house prices outside Newcastle in the nicer villages and towns are astronomical.

But even though I don't live up there (my inlaws do, from Wallasey across to Alnwick) I would hate to see the countryside swallowed up by vast conurbations such as those that have swallowed up the lovely towns around London that I remember from my childhood.

Plus - just how many winter business journeys are going to be disrupted by all the snow Oop Narth?

I came across a blog about new town builds in the USA. The blogger travelled around in his retirement documenting all the towns that had been built in the prosperous 50s. Fifty years on, they are all derelict with maybe half a dozen retired inhabitants clinging on, unable to sell their properties. As even relatively prosperous Norfolk has quite a few villages like that, with the village in which Gillian Shephard lives being a prime example since its last shop died two years ago, I shudder to think what could happen up there.

Are they hoping that other companies will relocate, like the BBC perhaps? Maybe, but it's a huge gamble for all.