Proposals to bring congestion charging to the North-East were last night branded ill-thought out and potentially damaging.
 Critics believe the scheme - being considered by councillors in Newcastle - would fail to deal with traffic problems. Business and tourism leaders said road charging was inappropriate and could seriously damage how investors and visitors view the North-East. CBI assistant regional director Liz Smith said: "In general we're not against road pricing, but in terms of the North-East we don't think congestion is anywhere near at the level where charging would be appropriate. "As a region we would not want the system to appear worse than it is. It could give the impression that we are suffering from traffic problems when we're not. That could damage the perception of the North-East." She said: "We would push for more investment in the wider road infrastructure, such as the A1 and the western bypass, to help ease any problems." Director of business and industry at One Northeast David Allison said: "Congestion is a major issue for the South-East, but the problem is not on the same scale in the North-East. "A short travel-to-work time is one of the major factors that contribute to the quality of life." Opposition city councillors also attacked the scheme, saying it would simply push traffic away from congestion zones. The council revealed yesterday it was considering congestion-zone charging, similar to that in London. Other possibilities include bus-only streets and pedestrianising parts of the city centre. The Lib Dem council is also calling for powers to force bus companies to provide services to areas deemed not economically viable. It says reducing congestion will also improve health. But Nick Forbes, deputy leader of the opposition Labour group, said: "This just seems to be bumbling round trying to come up with a populist policy. "Let's not shy away from the fact that there's a problem in the city which has been getting worse over the last few years, but this isn't the only option. Congestion charges need to be seen as a last resort." He called for exploration of imaginative options, including centralising lorry deliveries to shops. He feared zone charging would push traffic out to the edges, to communities such as Gosforth. Routes across the Tyne already face heavy congestion, with the Tyne Tunnel at 135% of intended capacity. But council leader Peter Arnold said charging could offer a creative solution to gridlock. "Congestion charging in London has seen traffic reduced by 18%, and bus usage increased 14%." | 
