Government must invest in key road improvement projects, says BCC
Page 9
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
CM COVER STORY rocs a r.h rownid rbi.co,uk
THE GOVERNMENT must invest in key mad improvement projects to stimulate economic growth, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
In its submission to the Treasury ahead of the government's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) announcement on 20 October — which will outline plans to reduce the UK's £155bn deficit between 2011 and 2015 — the BCC says important road investment plans need to be protected from swingeing cuts in public spending.
These include planned upgrades to the A14. A453, A19, A303/A358 as well the M4 relief mad, Operation Stack, Birmingham motorway box, Forth replacement bridge, and Westlink, Northern Ireland projects.
David Frost. BCC director general. says: "The government should use this as an opportunity to target funding on part icular projects that the business community says will stimulate further private sector activity.
"This means specific transport upgrades."
Simon Chapman, Freight Transport Association chief economist. says his organisation would urge the government to "go further" and extend the list to other projects. He adds: "We wouldn't disagree with what the BCC is saying.
"What is lacking on the list are the M6 and MI upgrades, there also needs to be improvements to the M56 and routes across the Pennines. The A14 is really important, as it is the route between Felixstowe and key distribution hubs in the Midlands." Ian Jarman, environmental and legislation manager at Owens Road Services. based in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, says: "On the issue of the M4 Relief road, any lack of investment in providing this infrastructure will have a significant and detrimental effect on the south Wales economy."
• With the government due to announce the CSR next week, numerous industry-facing bodies — VOSA, Skills for Logistics, Highways Agency, Freight Best Practice — are potentially in the firing line. To keep you up to speed, Roadiransport corn will be blogging the CSR live as it's announced at www. roadtransport.comispendingreview