A business lobby representing the campaign for the South Devon Link Road met with Transport Minister, Norman Baker, at the House of Commons yesterday to make their case for the scheme.

The Link Road project is currently in the government's development pool, competing for funding with other similar road schemes across the country.

James Cross, Chair of Torquay Chamber of Commerce, said: "We had a very positive and helpful meeting with the Minister. We know we have a strong case and we conveyed to the Mr Baker the impact the South Devon Link Road would have on Devon's economy, opening up both counties in terms of business, jobs and education."

The delegation included MPs Adrian Sanders, Ann Marie Morris and Sarah Wollaston with Jeremy Filmer-Bennett, acting Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and Michelle Hargreaves, managing director of Stagecoach SW.

Mr Filmer-Bennett said: "The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership fully endorses the campaign for the South Devon Link Road. It is vital for the economic future of Torbay but also the rest of Devon and Somerset that this scheme goes ahead. Without the Link Road, Torbay will continue to suffer from poor transport infrastructure, restricted growth and will not be able to attract the inward investment it needs."

ENDS

L-R: Jim Thompson (FSB), Michelle Hargreaves (Stagecoach), Alan Archer (Torbay Business Forum), Adrian Sanders MP, Alan Denby (Torbay Development Agency), Ann Marie Morris MP, Jeremy Filmer-Bennett, James Cross, Sarah Woollaston MP