A BREAKFAST event in Kidderminster gave Worcestershire county councillors the chance to canvass the views of business minds on the future of the area's economy.

The county council's chairman and vice-chairman, Conservative councillors, John Smith and Alwyn Davies, hosted the last of three business breakfasts at the Ramada Hotel and were joined by key players from the commercial sector.

It followed similar events for Worcester, Redditch and Bromsgrove held last year.

The Kidderminster meeting was attended by representatives of a variety of businesses from the Wyre Forest area, including Royal Bank of Scotland, Hewett Recruitment, Andrew Grant Estate Agents and Severn Valley Railway.

Issues raised included improving road infrastructure in the area, promoting Wyre Forest to inward investors and developing a business hub on the web to give businesses better access to council services.

Businesses were particularly concerned that the former British Sugar site on Stourport Road was redeveloped for employment and that good quality jobs were created.

Mr Smith and Mr Davies were able to explain how the county and district councils were working alongside the site's owners to bring that forward.

Mr Smith said: "These breakfast meetings have been hugely successful in listening to the views of Worcestershire businesses. It has given us the chance to raise our future plans for the economic growth of the county.

"It is vitally important that Worcestershire is seen as a place that businesses can succeed and has the support network in place from the county council in order to do so."

Mr Davies added: "It has been encouraging to hear views of our local businesses and the ways that they believe that we can work together to promote the county, raise our profile externally and promote inward investment."

Anyone interested in finding out more about the breakfast meetings should contact the county council's planning and economic regeneration manager on 01905 766370.