Sussex jobs could be lost because the Government is failing to deal with problem roads, business leaders have warned.

Economists fear jobs were being put at risk by transport ministers' newest "to do" list.

Plans announced last week include a £20 million project to build a bridge over the railway line at the Beddingham level crossing and a link road between Bexhill and Hastings.

But ministers have decided to shelve improvements to the A27, one of the region's busiest carriageways, for the next six years.

Disappointed business leaders warned that companies with the potential to pump huge sums of money into the area were refusing to move in because the A27 is constantly affected by large traffic jams.

Jeremy Taylor, chief executive of Sussex and Surrey business group Cadia, said jobs would suffer as a result.

He said: "It's appalling. When you look at how much businesses in and outside the county rely on a good transport infrastructure you can see we're not getting the support we need.

"An area's economy is only as good as the infrastructure that supports it. If the infrastructure isn't there then businesses are likely to move on.

"This is putting jobs at risk, not only now but also in the future."

Among demands being made to the Government are a bypass for Arundel, improvements to the flow of traffic around Chichester and changes to the A27 at Lyon's Farm and the Holmbush roundabout in Worthing.

There are also demands for improvements at Tangmere and Fontwell.

A recent survey by business organisation Sussex Enterprise found 70 per cent of companies were in favour of a new bypass at Arundel.

Another 66 per cent wanted to see improvements between Chichester and Worthing.

Ten per cent of businesses said they would soon have to consider moving unless the roads improved.

Mark Froud, chief executive of Sussex Enterprise, said: "It is our concern that unless improvements are made to the A27, particularly at Arundel, Worthing and Chichester, not only will businesses be deterred from investing in the area, some firms may be forced to relocate from Sussex, taking jobs and economic prosperity with them."

West Sussex Economic Partnership chief executive Alistair Smith said the situation would only get worse, with the thousands of homes being built in Sussex adding thousands more cars to the roads.

The Business Forum and Economic Partnership in Brighton and Hove said the improvements were "a vital ingredient" to raising the productivity of the South Coast, currently languishing some 18.4 per cent below the UK average.

West Sussex County Council transport councillor Tex Pemberton said he was not "unduly worried" about the announcement.

He believes a meeting with roads minister Stephen Ladyman and a report from the Highways Agency later this year could offer hope.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "The decision has been taken after a very long and detailed process of consultation with regional bodies.

"Works carried out beyond 2011 are likely to be carried out on a system of merit and need."

Tuesday, July 18, 2006