A businessman has claimed small firms are being sidelined by agencies and organisations charged with reviving the Cumbrian economy.

Stuart Jones, of 3CA Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors in Kendal, said the small business sector was the lifeblood of the local economy, yet its views were being ignored by those in authority.

His comments came in the same week as Cumbria Vision, the body set up to spearhead economic development in the county, held a consultation meeting to discuss a revised economic strategy for the region.

Mr Jones raised his views with North West Development Agency (NWDA) chairman Bryan Gray, and criticised a number of business support organisations, including Cumbria Vision, Rural Regeneration Cumbria and Business Link for Cumbria.

Mr Jones commented: "Cumbria's economy is failing and despite the number of organisations which exist to improve matters, when all's said and done, a great deal more is said than done."

Mr Jones said the most recent statistics from the EC on gross value added (a measure of overall economic performance), based on February 2004 figures, showed Cumbria was the only county in the UK suffering economic decline, and it was also one of the worst performing sub-regions in the European Union.

NWDA chief executive Steve Broomhead later promised that the development agency would give a "considered response" to Mr Jones's comments.

He said Cumbria Vision was still a relatively new organisation, which was drawing up a strategy and business plan that would go out to public consultation in the autumn.

"The idea is Cumbria Vision is the one organisation in the sub-region that drives forward economic change and takes the leadership role in terms of looking at the resources available for business support and economic development."

While disputing Mr Jones's claim that the views of small businesses were being ignored, Mr Broomhead said he would welcome the chance to discuss the matter further with the accountant.

"If he (Mr Jones) has ideas, we may want to harness that. I think we have been very inclusive through Cumbria Vision in getting ideas and support to small businesses."

Click on Business Blog link to follow Mr Jones's thoughts on the world of business.