THE state of Dorset’s road network is the county’s biggest barrier to economic growth, businesses have said.

Roads came ahead of skills shortages as the main factor holding back productivity, according to delegates at the first business conference to be held by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The event was aimed at involving business in building on the county’s strengths and improving its productivity and earning power.

Transport links were cited as the number one brake on growth, followed by recruitment, housing and broadband. When delegates were asked what could be done to improve investment into Dorset, improving physical infrastructure and workforce skills were the top two priorities.

Jim Stewart, chairman of Dorset LEP and chief executive of Poole Harbour Commissioners, said: “A lot of people were concerned about transport links. Our survey said this was the biggest impediment to growth in business in Dorset.

“That reinforces that message that those are the factors that business and organisations think are holding Dorset back. To be honest, if you spoke to most other LEPs you’d probably hear the same story.”

The LEP, which brings together the public and private sectors to bid for government grants, has so far secured £234million for growth and regeneration, as well as £79.4m from the EU’s European Structural and Investment Fund. It says it has leveraged £254m of private investment.

Road improvements so far have included the rebuilt A338 Spur Road and improvements to Poole’s Gravel Hill.

Mr Stewart said the LEP had been campaigning with MPs and councils in three counties for improvements to the roads north out of Dorset.

“We really do need to try and establish a more effective route north from the conurbation up the county to the M4,” he said.

Research earlier this year suggested that Bournemouth is the sixth most congested town in the UK, costing business more than £9m a year in lost productivity.