Business leaders have renewed calls for urgent investment in the A50/A500 corridor following a high-level meeting with Burton and Uttoxeter MP Jacob Collier – and are asking local companies to share their experiences.
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce met with the MP to discuss the long-standing need for improvements along the key transport route, which is regarded as vital to both the regional and national economy.
The meeting, which was held at JCB’s World HQ, brought together representatives from the Chambers and its Transport Forum, alongside Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Midlands Connect.
The A50/A500 corridor is a critical artery for businesses across Staffordshire and neighbouring counties, supporting the movement of goods and enabling thousands of residents to travel to and from work each day. However, concerns remain that congestion and unreliable journey times are holding back economic growth and productivity.
John Kavanagh, JCB’s Group Communications Director, said: “The A50 and A500 are two vital arterial routes in Staffordshire that connect some large manufacturing companies with the rest of the UK and the ports that export products that are made in the Midlands to vital overseas markets.
“For far too long, businesses have put up with a trunk road network that is no longer fit for purpose. The A50 and A500 need to be upgraded sooner rather than later, not just for the business community in Staffordshire but for the benefit of local residents who have been facing increased levels of road congestion in recent years.”
Daily Focus previously reported on calls for £3 million in funding to develop detailed business plans for economic and transport schemes that could deliver significant benefits in manufacturing, energy, transport, innovation and skills along the corridor.
And in September last year, Midlands Connect said that Staffordshire could gain more than 2,000 jobs and £116 million for the local economy if upgrades to the A50 at Uttoxeter, Blythe Bridge and Sudbury are delivered.
The Chambers is now seeking to build wider momentum behind the campaign, encouraging businesses that rely on the route to make their voices heard by completing this form.
Chamber colleagues in neighbouring Cheshire and Derbyshire have also been asked to engage with businesses dependent on a reliable A50/A500, while larger employers across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire will be targeted to strengthen the case.
The Chambers said it would continue to press for action, warning that without meaningful investment, the full economic potential of the area risks remaining unrealised.
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce policy manager Declan Riddell said: “We continue our call for progress in commitment to invest in the A50/A500 corridor. This is a corridor of both regional and national strategic importance. Investment will not only improve journey time reliability but can help to unlock the true economic potential of our region.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, Jacob Collier offered to explore the possibility of inviting government special advisers and officials to visit the region, allowing them to see first-hand the importance of the corridor and the challenges faced by those who use it daily.
