In the second of his monthly columns for The Birmingham Post, Birmingham Forward chief executive Simon Murphy explains why he believes following London is not the answer to tackling Birmingham's congestion problem...

Local Government Minister David Miliband?s visit to the city last month gave Birmingham?s business community the chance to raise the congestion question other cities dare not ask.

It?s just one of the reasons visionary and pragmatic people have made Birmingham successful. However, niche and large firms comprising the city?s professional and financial sector need to continue to evolve if the city is to achieve true world class status.

Additionally, to move from a region once based heavily on industry to one based on a diverse professional and financial services sector, better transport is needed.

Transport is a hot topic nationally but we do not want national solutions imposed on us. We are not looking for the capital?s congestion charging. What we do need is the tools to be able to manage demand ourselves. If we were to become ?guinea pig city? for a pilot demand management scheme we could create solutions to suit us and influence where Government funding goes.

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By running the main pilot, funding would not only be invested in Birmingham, but across the region, ensuring the positive legacy of the investment is felt in a wider area.

Demand management will happen and it?s far better to be master of our own destiny by trialling the scheme, than have a scheme that worked elsewhere imposed.

Steps we could take could involve road pricing, traffic light management and restructuring or re-routing roads. An improved transport infrastructure would encourage potential new employees and make life easier for existing staff so they choose to stay.

We are a ?can-do? city adept at reinventing ourselves and this is why we would be perfect. At least we would not be in the dark or our voice unheard. By becoming the first region to trial such a scheme, we will be able to decide what works. This is an opportunity we should not throw away lightly.

During the meeting with Mr Miliband, we united with other key organisations including the Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Directors to put questions needing answers and issues that must be addressed if we are to improve transport in Birmingham. New Street Station was inevitably among the topics. As the gateway to our city, maximising capacity would not only improve congestion in and out of Birmingham, it would significantly help attract more inward investment and change the industrial image of the city. As it presently stands, the station is not exactly easy on the eye and is no longer a reflection of the vibrant, modern culture of Birmingham. The station urgently needs to increase passenger capacity. When visitors and commuters are cramped into congested and unwelcoming waiting areas, outsiders are less likely to find Birmingham ?inviting?.

Maximising technology to decrease journey times from New Street to London would also enhance our competitive advantage. The prospect of Birmingham to London in less than an hour every hour can only increase opportunities for businesses in the region and could help absorb overspill from the overheated Southeast. Realistic journey times of less than an hour would put us in a unique geographical position, allowing us to legitimately question why firms should travel an hour across London for business.

We also need to extend the runaway at Birmingham International Airport so we have the capacity to provide local businesses with direct flights to growth business destinations such as the West coast of America and Asia, crucial for our region?s continued economic success.

The consequent increase in capacity is urgently needed to support Birmingham firms with global ties ? something Birmingham is becoming recognised for. Direct links will help forge new and stronger links with the global market and encourage clients to visit, facilitating greater inward investment. We may never have to use London as a go-between again nor would the region be considered ? inferior? to set up businesses in, because of its transport links.

We have the same expertise London has to offer ? quicker journeys would mean London does not have to be the only choice when setting up business and issues of overcrowding in London would be a thing of the past. The need for a friendly and efficient Metro system would also mean weather conditions would never affect links to the city centre or key economic ? engines? such as the NEC and Birmingham International Airport. It would also join up business and retail across the hub of the city centre.

However, a simple expansion of the bus system may not be enough to cater for the high density of commuters along Broad Street and buses cannot get through the city centre the same way trams can.

A metro system would allow commuters from the outskirts to travel across the city quickly and efficiently and would carry more passengers than buses. Extending the system across the city from its current Snow Hill terminal, via the financial quarter and across Broad Street to Five Ways, would encourage more workers to make their daily commute on public transport. It would reduce the number of cars and be more eco-friendly.

Government funding will be essential for these infrastructure improvements, but Birmingham?s business leaders must be empowered to decide where the money should be focused. While I understand their concerns, it is a shame to hear businesses would rather not have transport demand management for fear of losing money. I believe we should encourage working with the Government and local councils and be the first to help and find solutions to these problems.

The growing demand for mobility is so great we really do not have many choices left. We may need to use road pricing. As a business community, we understand congestion will not solve itself. Rather than allowing issues to worsen, we should consider all options including demand management.