MAY TRADE NEWS Warehouse complex proposed for Peterborough Local authorities urged to help businesses improve recycling Business leaders lose faith in the Labour government Sole traders join forces on the Isle of Wight FPB calls for government to cancel fuel duty increase Consumers get better protection from rogue traders Health and beauty sector will grow despite economic slowdown Credit crunch hits wholesale and retail businesses' cash flows CBI reports manufacturers expect to increase prices Businesses attack new agency worker rules Credit crunch 'has not stopped owners selling their businesses' BRC stresses UK firms do not use exploitative suppliers OFT targets retailers who claim to be closing Carbon Trust urged to support small firms London business buck trend as sales increase Bank charges 'could harm small business Small businesses 'could be hurt by extended flexible working rules' BRC reports gloomy sales figures Businesses urged to embrace rail network Business pessimistic about economic future Fuel duty rises 'should be postponed to help businesses and consumers' Report calls for better government support of small businesses Businesses asked for bribes to win contracts Small businesses hit by staff absences Small businesses 'turn to older employees to plug skills gap' Businesses warned of continuing economic slowdown Tories pledge to support small suppliers and local businesses Continuity plans 'vital for small firms' Manufacturers force to pass rising costs on to customers Oxfordshire Retailers Flex Their Muscle FSB steps up campaign to protect local suppliers Small firms 'are turning to bridging loans to maintain cash flows' Government looks to help business by streamlining consumer laws Business disappointed by interest rate hold Shop prices 'only rising slowly' Postal competition 'has not helped small wholesalers' Small firms are turning to bridging loans to maintain cash flows South-west's roads 'need to be improved to help wholesalers' Retailers see April increase in shoppers Government urged to involve small firms in tax forum Good online retail practice satisfies customers Small retailers urged to embrace gift card schemes Commission inquiry not doing enough for small retailers Hornby buys model car maker Corgi Trade News Archive   April 08   March 08   February 08   January 08 Subscribe to our newsletter   Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory 7th May 2008 South-west's roads 'need to be improved to help wholesalers' A leading pressure group has said that poor infrastructure in the south-west of the UK is harming the operations of wholesalers and small retailers in the region. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) said that the government needed to act urgently to improve roads in the south-west as they were currently not suitable for the vehicles upon which wholesalers and retailers rely. In particular, the FTA's regional policy manager for the south-west, Ian Gallagher, said that the "A303, the A358 to junction 25 of the M5 and the Air Balloon Roundabout on the A417" all needed to be improved. He explained that these were "important trade routes" that served the "economic heartland of the south-west". "Investment is urgently needed to bring these important trade routes up to twenty-first century standard," Mr Gallagher added. "Rather than procrastinating, let's see some positive action. Let's develop the A303 at Stonehenge, let's look at dualling the A358 and let's carry on with the improvements to the A417." (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd.