BUSINESS leaders in the North-East are calling for road improvements linking the region with the South to begin earlier.

The North East Chamber of Commerce and regional development agency One NorthEast have raised concerns at the Government's timescales for the construction of a three-lane motorway into the region from Yorkshire.

The chamber warmly welcomed the announcement last month that a stretch of the A1 from Bramham in North Yorkshire to Barton in County Durham is to be upgraded.

However, the Chamber will continue to lobby Government officials for an earlier start to the work, it was announced yesterday.

The work is not scheduled to start until 2006 and won't be finished until five years later.

North East Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Bird said: "We were happy with the Government's recognition of our need for a continuous motorway link from the North-East to London. This was a main plank of our transport strategy launched at the House of Commons in February.

"But we are at a loss as to why it will take four years to even begin the work, with completion some nine years away. Roads are not built in a day, but a nine-year timescale seems excessive.

"We already suffer economic disadvantages from the lack of adequate motorway link and in our view the need is now."

His comments were echoed by One NorthEast chairman Dr John Bridge.

He said: "Put simply, it is not good enough to get this announcement and then tell people work will not start until 2006.

"This is a strategic road north and it should not be done in a piecemeal way but as a strategic link between London and the North of England."

The chamber has written to the Transport Minister John Spellar for clarification on the proposed timescales and why the start of the work is four years away.

It is also seeking a meeting with Government officials to discuss the proposals further and to see if the project can be brought forward. The chamber and partners are still pursuing further investment in the region's transport infrastructure such as the complete dualling of the A66 and improvements to rail and air links to the North-East.