Transport improvements 'essential' to business growth in West England

Date: 3/4/2013

Transport links in the West of England have to improve if the region is to witness a return to business growth, a study published by manufacturers' organisation EEF has claimed.

As the Western Daily Press reports, a survey carried out by EEF concluded that existing transport infrastructure in the West is over-stretched, with firms left frustrated by congestion along major routes - specifically on the A303.

Indeed, according to EEF's findings, investment in the A303 around Stonehenge could help improve the region's links to London, while increasing the accessibility of the M5 in Devon and Cornwall could also boost business activity.

Phil Brownsord, Regional Director of EEF, explained that smaller firms in the South-West are "playing with fire" by trying to operate in the area because of the limited options they have at their disposal in transport terms.

"Your production lines are suffering because you can't get the parts in time or because you are being charged more for them because they are having to be driven so much further," he said.

"The road network is the backbone of the economy, but it has been neglected. We are now feeling the ill effects, with the majority of firms reporting that the state of the nation’s roads is significantly increasing their operating costs."

EEF's report comes ahead of the publication of the Government's transport strategy and spending review this summer, with Ministers having asked Councils to detail their road priorities to help Whitehall formulate its policies appropriately.

In response to this, Councils across the South-West have joined with the regional chambers of commerce, MPs, local enterprises and residents to campaign for upgrades to the transport network.

Rupert Cox, Chief Executive of Somerset Chamber of Commerce, called for the Chancellor to consider the importance of the A303-A358 in relation to business prospects rather than simply focusing on the role it has to play in the tourism sector.

"We are very keen that George Osborne looks at the second artery into the South West as a major overall economic driver," he said.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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