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Ah... 45km which comes to 27.962 miles https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/935493/Freeports_Bidding_Prospectus_web_final.pdf

_pauls - yes, I meant Wear. I suspect the Tees area was selected due to its wider industrial hinterland and closer connections to those manufacturing towns in Yorkshire. Perhaps, somebody might like to count the number of Tory MPs in those winning areas - maybe that was a consideration. When the scheme was first announced I compared the Blyth, Tyne, Wear, and Tees areas on Google Maps and did think that Blyth had lots going for it in terms of vacant sites and existing infrastructure, including a functioning railhead in the port itself. I doubted that Blyth would get the nod on its own due to a comparatively sparse industrial hinterland. Perhaps, a better choice would have been the Wear (central to the area) then draw the 'inclusion zone' which could have included the whole area ... North to Blyth and South to Tees.

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. Four 2. France 3. A water beetle 4. Everly Brothers 5. England and France 6. Cherries 7. Standing jumps 8. Antonio de Oliveira Salazar 9. George Orwell 10. Existence 11. Toto 12. Hair New quiz tomorrow.

I assume you mean Blyth, Tyne and Wear can continue to scratch a living. To be fair (and I would say that being what most would class as a smoggy) I think Teesside and in particular Redcar and the old steelworks area are every bit as in need of the economic boost as the Blyth/Tyne/Wear area. I would have liked to see both of them get the status and see some of the more affluent southern parts miss out. Still... as I understand it these are the 8 initial freeports so its not a closing of the book on the chances for our area.