Small and medium-sized businesses in Bristol believe the city is still being hampered by the council's policies on planning and transport, according to a new report.

While the vast majority cite "quality of life" as being Bristol's main appeal, 71 per cent said the single change they would most like to see would be better public transport. These are among the findings of research carried out by accountants and business advisers Bishop Fleming.

More then half of businessmen and women in the city believe Bristol is good for business and 42 per cent said they would recommend the city as a place to start or relocate.

However, 65 per cent criticised the city's transport links and planning policies, saying they were a deterrent to inward investment and regeneration.

Bristol's quality of life was seen as its biggest appeal by an overwhelming 81 per cent of the firms questioned in the survey, while 67 per cent said they would choose Bristol if they were starting their businesses again. One respondent said: "Lots of commuters converge on a very small geographical area causing major traffic problems.

"There are too few major routes into the city and too many projects are in the wrong location, for instance The Mall at Cribbs Causeway regularly causes blockages on the M4 and M5."