Business chiefs urge Ministers to spend on roads and airports, not the railways

Business leaders have pressed the Government to increase spending on roads amid warnings that the economy is being hit by the country’s “overstretched” infrastructure.

A survey by the EEF manufacturers’ organisation showed that most businesses want investment in roads ahead of high-speed rail.

The poll of more than 200 manufacturers also revealed frustration with the coalition’s policy on airports, saying
that decisions on future
capacity should be speeded up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Half of companies said
their costs were significantly increased by poor roads.

Fewer than one in four of those questioned said investment in high-speed rail was important to their company’s growth.

The EEF called for an independent infrastructure commission to be set up, and said a greater share of public spending on transport should be allocated to roads.

Roger Salomone, the EEF’s head of business environment policy, said: “Political prevarication and policy reversals have left Britain in the slow lane in developing its infrastructure for decades.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Government must reassess its investment priorities, act faster on major issues like airport capacity and take the politics out of infrastructure by setting up an independent commission.

“In particular, 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.

“Investment should be targeted at shovel-ready maintenance projects and bringing forward upgrades to heavily-congested arteries.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Furthermore, world-class
air links are critical to export-led growth and attracting inward investment.

“To keep up with
the competition, we need investment across the board, in Heathrow and in regional airports.

“Maintaining our status as a global aviation hub is critical to our international standing and expanding runway capacity at Heathrow is the most viable way to secure this.”

Meanwhile, a survey shows most people back the HS2 high-speed rail project but few think the £33bn scheme will be completed on time and within budget. However support is not overwhelming with just over half, or 52 per cent, in favour of HS2 research firm Consumer Intelligence found.

Related topics: