Traffic jams are the bane of modern business and commuters causing stress and financial pressures.

In the Bristol area alone at least £350 million is lost to the local economy each year due to time spent in congestion.

And this is expected to rise to almost £600m by 2016.

This will no doubt be the same picture for most of the towns and cities across the West Country.

Our historic urban areas were not built for the heavy weight of modern traffic flow with their narrow, windy streets and limited space.

Traffic jams therefore cause a huge strain on the economy and in these times of recession something should be done to alleviate this pressure.

Long delays can result in late arrival for work, meetings, and education, meaning lost business, disciplinary action or other personal losses.

Wasted fuel also increases air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, which may contribute to global warming, owing to increased idling, acceleration and braking as we trundle along in the gridlock.

And if nothing else traffic jams create a stressed and frustrated workforce.

The £3 billion package of major transport schemes designed to cut peak-time jams across our region should therefore be welcomed with open arms.

But if this massive amount of funding is approved by the Government our local councils must make sure they use it properly.

There have already been dissenting voices for some of the proposed schemes put forward.

So transport chiefs must be sure that any traffic jam-busting projects they carry out are right for their area.

Every scheme they come up with must make a positive impact otherwise they will be wasting both our money and our time.