The proposed route was highlighted by the British Chambers of Commerce as an example of why it believes planning procedures need overhauling.

The BCC has launched a Get Britain Moving campaign, which features 16 schemes stuck in planning for a total of 80 years, the longest of which is the Heysham-M6 link.

They are also asking visitors to their website in support of the proposed Heysham-M6 link to sign an online petition.

The BCC points out the Heysham-M6 link, which is currently before a public inquiry, was first proposed in 1962 and has been bogged down in the planning system for the past 14 years.

The organisations website states, "Thirty five years is a long time for a scheme to come to fruition but no one would be surprised if in another 35 years time people will still be talking about the possibility of the M6-Port of Heysham link road."

Natalie Evans, the BCC's head of policy, said: "It's unacceptable that projects promising jobs and investment to communities across the country are allowed to linger on the back burner for so long.

"Giving decision-making powers to an independent commission would ensure that decisions are taken efficiently and in accordance with long-term priorities set by ministers, giving the planning system a real sense of vision and purpose.

Thwart
"At the moment we're seeing small interest groups able to thwart the needs of communities, trapping projects in a never-ending labyrinth of consultations.

"This puts the wishes of a vocal few over community desire for economic success, challenging the democratic credentials of the current system."

The campaign warns that continued lengthy delays to so many developments are allowing international competitors to pull away from the UK as they develop their own infrastructure improvements.

It argues that establishing a national independent body with planning powers is needed to arrest this, with long-term strategic planning decisions given precedence over short-sighted local campaigns.

n Log on to www.chamberonline.co uk for more information about the British Cham-ber of Commerce