02/12/2008 - Poor transport costs firms billions
The extra costs shouldered by UK firms because of the country's "dilapidated" transport systems has more than quadrupled over the past 12 months to £23.2 billion, a business body has said.
The cost of the poor state of transport infrastructure is up from £5.7 billion in 2007 and is now estimated to cost each UK business £17,350 a year, the report from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said.
As many as 90% of businesses had experienced increased operating costs and 80% claimed a loss of man hours.
Of the firms surveyed, 80% said road congestion locally was a problem, while nationally volume of traffic was cited as the biggest problem, with poor road design, planning delays and the lack of alternative transportation adding to the congestion.
The report shows that 78% of firms would support the principle of road pricing, but only if improvements to public transport and investment in infrastructure were made beforehand.
BCC director-general David Frost said: "This survey highlights the need for a long-term strategy that is prepared to take drastic action to improve and upgrade our dilapidated transport networks.
"High-profile projects such as the third runway at Heathrow and a new high-speed railway must happen. Passengers and road users are becoming more infuriated as their journeys become longer and more costly."
Copyright © Press Association 2008
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