AT A recent conference a delegate from London asked me about my views on our capital city.

When I replied it didn't mean a lot to many in the North, other than somewhere we occasionally have to go on business, a look of disbelief fell across his face.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I'd far rather live by the Tees than the Thames.

Unfortunately I had to drive down to London again last week. It took nearly seven hours. I spent further hours travelling across the city by Tube to deliver a couple of speeches. I found the streets far more threatening and litter strewn than anything I encounter in the Tees Valley and the people far less courteous.

On departure, I was charged an exorbitant amount for my hotel which included a £40 car parking fee - one pound for every hour of my stay. The receptionist looked bemused when I informed her most hotels provide free car parking for guests.

The one thing a trip to London does remind me of is how lucky we are to live in the North. So it came as no surprise to learn that Alnwick has been judged by Country Life as the best place to live in Britain with Richmond not far behind - that's Richmond, North Yorkshire. If there were an Urban Life magazine which used similar quality of life measurements in reaching its top ten I'm sure towns and cities in the North-East would again finish highly.

Southerners often have an outdated view of the region which is due to ignorance, but what saddens me is when people from the Tees Valley continually knock it. Perhaps it's a case of them believing the grass is greener on the other side, but I do wonder if such people will ever be satisfied.

Further North on Tyneside they don't seem to be affected by this negativity. You can't stop a Geordie going on about his beloved "toon" and Newcastle and Gateshead deserve great credit for reaching the shortlist for the 2008 City of Culture.

It's time we adopted a similar attitude in the Tees Valley.

Teesside Airport has been a real success story and, in the near future, the number of flights and destinations will be greatly expanded. It is already far easier and quicker to travel to Dublin or Amsterdam than to our own capital city and I look forward to this service being expanded to other European cities like Rome, Paris, Vienna and Prague.

But, more importantly, I hope we entice planeloads of visitors from such European culture spots to make a return flight to the Tees Valley rather than London. From shopping to partying, coast to countryside, we can offer relaxation at an unbeatable price - without wasting half your valuable leisure time in traffic congestion.

There's no reason why a Parisian cannot appreciate the majesty of the Transporter Bridge or a Venetian enjoy the tranquil splendour of Great Ayton.

This region has as much to offer the visitor as anywhere else in Britain - all that is needed is a bit of optimism and self belief.