As Christmas approaches Labour is wishing everyone living in Northumberland a happy, safe and a healthy Christmas. They’re also calling for the government to make travelling easier for those who need to travel over the festive period.

Labour Group leader Susan Dungworth said: “We understand that travelling for most people is not advised unless it is absolutely necessary, but it would help those for whom travelling is essential to ensure they are kept safe.”

Labour is calling for:

• a suspension peak fares over the five days to minimise the risk of overcrowding on trains either side of peak hours;
• mass coronavirus testing of transport workers, including train staff, bus drivers and highway personnel;
• delaying the planned engineering works on the East Coast Mainline from 27 December to allow people travelling to return home;
• Highways England to be instructed to postpone non-essential road maintenance to help reduce congestion and travel delays.

She added: “The last thing anyone wants is to be stuck on crowded trains or in traffic jams. We’re urging the government to do everything it can to ease the pressure on anyone who needs to travel over Christmas.

“We want everyone, transport workers and travellers to be safe.”