Hello,

We had welcome news this week with the announcement that the Government is to fund the Carlisle Southern Link Road.

This was one of the priority schemes identified when we consulted Cumbrian businesses on transport at the beginning of 2018.

We asked Transport for the North to adopt it and, last August, wrote in support of Carlisle City Council’s bid to the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Our letter argued that the Southern Link Road is an essential element of the plan for a new garden village and would complete a continuous ring road around Carlisle so unlocking economic potential in the south of the city.

It’s gratifying that the policy makers in Whitehall have listened.

I thought this an opportune moment to share with you what else the Chamber has done this year to promote the interests of Cumbrian businesses.

Clearly, Brexit is a priority for many.

Unlike some other business organisations, the chamber has never taken a position for or against. We see our role as that of an honest broker, providing the information that businesses need to make sense of events.

In that vein, we wrote to all six of Cumbria’s MPs this week seeking answers to 20 critical Brexit questions that would apply should the UK leave the EU without a withdrawal agreement on March 29. Read more here. 

These questions follow on from our Brexit-preparedness survey, which reveals that 48 per cent of Cumbrian businesses have yet to start Brexit planning, in many cases because they don’t have the information and tools they need.

You can complete the survey here.

And we are joining forces with the North East law firm Muckle LLP to run a Brexit Breakfast Briefing in Carlisle on February 28.

This is a free event and I’d encourage any business with Brexit-related issues to attend – our expert panel may well be able to answer your questions.

To register, click here. 

Part of our role at the chamber is to bring key influencers up from Westminster to meet Cumbrian businesses so they can understand the challenges and opportunities we face.

The latest to come is Lib Dem leader Vince Cable who spoke at a chamber event in Kendal last week.

We recorded a podcast with him on issues as diverse at Brexit, energy policy, HS2, the future of the high street and boosting productivity. To listen, click here. 

Finally, the British Chambers of Commerce is gathering evidence on the impacts of tax on business with a view to lobbying government for changes.

Its online survey covers Making Tax Digital, business rates, attitudes towards business taxation and issues around VAT. To complete the survey click here. 

I hope this has given you a flavour of what the chamber is doing to stand up for the interests of businesses like yours.

If you aren’t already a member, I hope you’ll consider joining us. To find out about the benefits of membership, click here. 

Kind regards

ROB JOHNSTON, MBE, FCIM

Chief executive, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce