REGIONAL business leaders on a fact finding visit to Lancaster were forced to abandon their minibus and walk after getting stuck in a city centre traffic jam.

Mike Shields, chief executive of the North West Development Agency, Peter Styche, deputy chief executive of the Government Office for the North West, and Hilton Dawson got out of their vehicle on Moor Lane on Friday afternoon and walked across the city along St George's Quay to view the Luneside regeneration area.

Hilton said: "We couldn't have had a better illustration of the city's transport problems than the journey from junction 34 into the city centre on Friday afternoon. Mr Shields and Mr Styche both said that while they knew we had a problem they didn't think it was on this scale and we had to tell them that Friday afternoon was by no means unusual."

"Both officials will have a part in scrutinising our bid to ensure that the Western Bypass is one of the 100 bypasses which the Government will fund across the UK so it was very important to hear them both express the view that we badly need a new road and to note Mr Shields view that it will be very difficult to attract private sector investment to Luneside without greatly improved access."

Hilton added: "It is vital that we bring new housing jobs and opportunities to Luneside. The area west of Carlisle Bridge suffers from dereliction and serious pollution and we desperately need to bring new jobs to people living around there. Anyone who cares about jobs and opportunities and reducing traffic along St George's Quay, Willow Lane or West Drive should be supporting the bypass."