THE Government's decision to scrap two of the country's most eagerly-awaited road-building schemes and put five more on hold has been slammed as a blow to businesses. The RAC, AA and the Retail Motor Industry Federation were unanimous in their criticism of transport minister Gavin Strang's announcement on Monday that only five out of 12 high profile roads programme schemes had been given the green light.

The planned Salisbury bypass has been scrapped, as has the West London A40 scheme, because the Government believes it would encourage car commuting where public transport alternatives exist. The Birmingham northern relief road will go ahead as the UK's first toll motorway, and schemes for the A13 Thames Gateway, M66, A564 Derby southern bypass and M2/A2 have all received the thumbs up.

But the proposed widening of the M25 (J12-15), M62/M606 link roads, and projects for Cumbria-Bradford, South Midlands and Weald, and Downland, have all been referred to a further review. RAC head of campaigns Edmund King said the motoring organisation would be urging the Government to make quick and sensible decisions on those plans which had been deferred.