THE North-East has been urged to unite as one region, amid growing fears of an internal North-South divide.

Concerns are mounting that the North-East’s two local enterprise partnerships (Leps) are splitting the region down the middle.

Durham County Council leader Simon Henig said connections must be kept across all 12 councils and his authority had been at the forefront of that effort.

Phil Wilson MP, whose Sedgefield constituency straddles the two Lep areas, said there should be just one partnership.

The comments come as leaders of the North East Lep, which stretches from County Durham to the Scottish border, are pushing for a new “combined authority” with responsibilities for transport, skills and economic growth.

The move follows Labour peer Lord Adonis’ radical plan to overhaul the North-East economy with 60,000 new jobs and comes as North-East newspapers including The Northern Echo are calling for more powers to be returned to the region, under the NEvolution campaign.

The combined authority plan will go before the cabinets of the seven councils in the North East Lep area on Monday, June 24.

Addressing his cabinet at County Hall today (Wednesday, June 5), Councillor Henig welcomed the proposal, saying it represented an opportunity for Durham.

“It’s a very welcome step in moving the North-East forward and making the best of the opportunities that we have,” he said.

The Labour chief said it was very important that Durham and Northumberland were included, not just councils in Tyne and Wear.

But he added: “We have to keep connections with all the authorities in the region, including the five Tees Valley authorities.”

Coun Henig welcomed the NEvolution campaign, saying it went “hand in hand” with the proposal.

Mr Wilson said the North-East was one region and should have one Lep but, in the meantime, he would work to make sure the two Leps were working together for the good of the whole region.

“We have a North-South divide in the country. We don’t need a North-South divide in the region,” the MP said.

The Leps replaced regional development agency One North East, which covered the entire region.