Transport
The ability to transport goods easily to and from business premises, and for customers and staff to have easy access is absolutely essential to the well being of most small businesses.
For many small firms, particularly in rural areas, road transport is the only available option. The difficulties caused by congestion, poor infrastructure and state of repair can be immense
"The total direct costs of congestion in the East Midlands are around £825 million per annum, which comprises around £430 million incurred by business users and £395 million incurred by other users. In addition it is estimated that the wider economic impacts of congestion (including competition, agglomeration, and labor market effects) total around £110 million per year. In total, it is therefore estimated that congestion costs the East Midlands economy around £935 million per annum."
The above is a quote from emda's 2007 study report 'Economic Costs of Congestion in the East Midlands'
The FSB's major survey 'Lifting the Barriers to Growth in UK Small Businesses 2008' revealed that within the East Midlands small businesses lost an average of 8 hours of time per week as a result of road congestion.
Work of the East Midlands Area Policy Unit
The FSB strongly supports initiatives aimed at encouraging non-essential road users to switch to alternative forms of transport, freeing up the roads for those who have no other option. There is still however the need for massive government investment into our road infrastructure and other transport initiatives.
To help inform regional and sub-regional policy making, the Area Policy Unit have produced 'East Midlands Transport Priorities 2008' which outlines the transport challenges currently facing the region, the impact that transport difficulties can have on small firms, and it goes on to investigate possible solutions from a small business perspective.
Please click on the image to the right to download a copy
The FSB's East Midlands Are Policy Unit recognizes the importance of the freight and logistics sector, and we have a seat on the Regional Assembly Freight Group. This enables us to represent the interest of small freight operators and their customers at regional level.
Although outside of the remit of the Area Policy Unit, we encourage the FSB's local Regional and Branch Committees to engage with their local authorities over Local Transport Plans.