A MAJORITY of small businesses suggest there will no business benefit from the proposed HS2 rail link between Manchester and London.

The Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Manchester & North Cheshire branch polled members on the controversial £32 billion project, which has the backing of all the main three political parties, as to whether they thought the scheme would deliver benefits for their business if built.

FSB regional chairman for Greater Manchester and North Cheshire, Richard Gregg, said: “The Federation of Small Businesses has taken a neutral approach nationally to the development of high speed rail, although this survey suggests – certainly in this region – that many of our members here are unconvinced HS2 will have much effect for them.

“Previous research shows only four per cent consider rail transport as crucial to their business operation, and only 21 per cent state that trains are ‘quite important’ to them."

According to Mr Gregg most small businesses depend on the road network to conduct their business, with six in ten having no choice but to use a car/van for commercial purposes.

In its recent election manifesto, unveiled at last month’s Labour conference in Manchester, the FSB urged the next Government to guarantee the ‘additionality’ of HS2 investment.

Mr Gregg added: “By this we mean the HS2 project does not come at the expense of other much needed infrastructure investment, particularly roads. The roads infrastructure in this region is already choked at peak times, and this can’t be ignored.

“The next government must also recognise that high streets and rural businesses face unique challenges and therefore require special policy attention."