Bradford Chamber today appealed to Chancellor Gordon Brown to cut red tape and support manufacturing in Wednesday's Budget.

Chamber president Richard Wightman also wants support for local enterprise.

"Many businesses in the district would benefit from initiatives that would support manufacturers and exporters while transport congestion is a sore wound, festering through lack of action," he said.

The Bradford Chamber wants a the proposed three per cent compulsory employers' contribution to a National Pensions Savings Scheme scrapped, the cost of public sector pensions curbed and the agreement allowing public sector workers to retire at 60 removed.

It calls for enterprise support and a review of the DTI. And it wants Mr Brown to ensure the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review changes regional funding allocations for transport; continues the freeze on fuel duty; invests more in motorways and trunk roads and increases capacity at regional airports.

The Chamber expresses concern at the proposed Planning Gain Supplement - an additional tax on business and a deterrent to development and sale of land.

And it wants corporation tax reformed, by allowing a full pooling of income schedules plus a new look at lowering the corporate tax rate.

Otto UK, owners of Bradford-based catalogue giant Grattan, called on the Chancellor to address rising energy costs.

Bob Lovack, UK facilities manager for Grattan, said the company's electricity bill had doubled in two years.

Mark Stevens, managing director of strategy at the Bradford and Bingley, said he would like to see Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) introduced.

Mr Stevens said REITs allow ordinary investors to buy in to the property market without hassle or large transaction costs.

Penny Hemming, CBI regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, wants the tax burden cut.

She said Bradford businesses were worried the Government is adding to their business costs when it should instead be reducing the burden.