Reacting to the announcement this week that Highways England is to lead a £300,000 study into major improvements to road links between the M65 in East Lancashire and parts of Yorkshire, Malcolm Bingham, Head of Policy for the North of England at FTA commented:
“As the business group representing the UK’s logistics sector, FTA has long called for improvements to road links between Lancashire and Yorkshire; poor road connectivity has left many businesses unable to access vital markets and has hampered economic growth locally. FTA is pleased the government is launching this £300,000 study into road link improvements, which forms part of wider £13billion project to improve transport across the North: a desperately-needed investment that will greatly boost the economic prospects of Northern England.
“The logistics industry is a lifeblood of the UK economy and needs an efficient and effective road network to continue stocking Britain’s factories, retail outlets, schools, hospitals and homes with the raw materials and goods they need to continue operating efficiently. While this study is a great milestone, a nationwide road upgrade is desperately needed to empower businesses to trade without friction.”
Efficient logistics is vital to keep Britain trading, directly having an impact on more than seven million people employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. A champion and challenger, FTA speaks to Government with one voice on behalf of the whole sector, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers.
