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UK wins breather
by Karen Miles • UK roads are among the worst in the EU, according to a survey of European company directors.
In a survey commissioned by parcels carrier UPS, nearly 1,500 directors were asked if transport infrastruc ture problems affect their ability to compete in global markets.
Of the 257 UK respondents, 57% expressed dissatisfaction with the roads system—only Italy and Spain recorded higher figures (87% and 76% respectively).
In other EU countries only a minority of directors reported problems with their roads. Just 16% of Belgians complained, followed by the Dutch (20%); the French (23%); and the Germans (35%). The average level of dissatisfaction was 50%.
Those countries with the worst-perceived infrastructure were the quickest to look to private finance to help alleviate the problems.
Nearly 90% of UK directors believed transport infrastructure projects should be jointly financed; a figure surpassed only by the Italians at 92%. On average 80% of the European directors thought the private sector should be involved in road building—only 9% said it should be left to governments.