Comment: Reshuffle does little to ease transport chaos

Not only does it mean yet another short-lived supremo at the Department for Revolving Doors (she lasted less than a year), it also opens up the prospect of a spectacular government U-turn on a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Greening’s successor, Patrick McLoughlin, is the coalition’s fourth Transport Secretary in just over two years, an even greater rate of attrition than that achieved by the Thatcher-Major governments, which went through 12 in 18 years. Labour was little better and further burdened the department by combining the role with environment and the regions (1997-2001) and local government and the regions (2001-2).

It is a reckless record for a department that requires more continuity in order to plan for the long term. But British governments have never had a proper plan for transport, either long or short term.

It is ad hoc, chaotic, driven by immediate demands and the crackpot policy of putting profit before service. It rarely features as an essential part of the infrastructure that enables the economy to work.

McLoughlin will inherit a department shackled with the west coast main line contract fiasco and still not sure what to do about HS2, the high-speed line from the north of England to London that was not included in the last Queen’s speech. But more immediate attention will focus on the Heathrow conundrum and whether he will be responsible for a change of policy that could split the Tories. Ministers insist Greening’s departure has nothing to do with Heathrow, but Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, can’t be alone in thinking otherwise.

It is notable that Greening was followed out of the department by rail minister Theresa Villiers, a vociferous opponent of the third runway, who spearheaded the campaign against it while shadow transport secretary.

Villiers, now posted to Northern Ireland, has good reason to feel betrayed. When the coalition came to power, her “reward” for heading the anti-third runway campaign was a junior posting at transport.

Scottish business lobby groups, which have been campaigning for Heathrow expansion on the grounds it would be good for Scotland’s connectivity, will be pleased at the possible shift in policy. So will Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who last weekend revealed her own conversion  to the cause. It is an easy and self-motivated decision for them, of course, as they will not have to suffer the extra noise and congestion.

That aside, it is now evident that the status quo is unsustainable. Airport capacity around London is at breaking point and Alistair Darling’s proposal for an extra runway at both Heathrow and Stansted never got off the ground.

The only other viable option appears to be a new airport, though the requirement for consultation, planning, debate and yet more consultation makes such a proposition some years away.

By then, of course, many more transport secretaries will have shuffled through those infamous revolving doors.

Games fever fails to set high street on fire

THE Olympic dividend appears to have been minimal, if there was such a thing. Figures emerging from various sectors suggest the Games did little to boost the economy, as everyone stayed home to watch the event on the television.

Pubs enjoyed a bit of a cushion as some viewers opted to enjoy the Games from the comfort of their local, but high streets suffered. Even online retailers felt the brunt of Olympic fever.

With summer arriving a little late, it may be too early to be thinking ahead to the festive season but retailers are hoping the August setback will not set the pattern for the rest of the year.

To add to their worries, the rate of shop closures is alarming. New figures show that 10,000 have shut their doors in the past two years with some familiar names among the roll call of casualties.

This is one trend that shows no sign of retreating, caused by a mix of belt-tightening and the growth of online shopping.