CALLS are being made for a "Worcestershire solution" to Britain's devolution dilemma - with the Government facing pressure to offer the county a serious deal.

Gary Woodman, the executive director of Worcestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), has suggested the county must resist being swallowed up by Birmingham in the transition to grabbing more powers.

During a Q&A at County Hall yesterday, he also revealed:

- The LEP has ruled out any lobbying over Worcester's Northern Relief Link Road, saying it is off the agenda for the forseeable future

- Talks are taking place with the private sector over a four or five star hotel in the county, with the LEP doing research to try and understand why operators have yet to jump in

- Ahead of an EU referendum, he feels EU migrants are a big help to Worcestershire and is keen for that message to become more widely known

Chancellor George Osborne is aiming to devolve powers to regions across the county, and in recent weeks has pushed the idea of 'City deals' ran by elected mayors, who would handle billions of pounds and take responsibility for areas like transport, skills and infrastructure.

As we revealed earlier this year council leaders across Worcestershire are involved in behind the scenes talks about some kind of combined authority for the county, with any tie-in with Birmingham, which is developing its own West Midlands body, off the agenda.

Mr Woodman, speaking at a meeting of the county council's overview, scrutiny and performance board, said: "When it comes to devolution we'll be supportive of anything that comes across (from London) with a single county footprint.

"We recognise we need a relationship with Birmingham and the Black Country, but as an LEP we'll continue to push for a Worcestershire solution, whatever that may be."

He added: "We're in a fortunate position in that we're a single county, if you look at others, for example you've got an LEP in Essex, Kent and Sussex."

On a northern link, he said the fact it is not part of the county's Strategic Economic Plan (SEP), a £280 million 'wish list' of funds from central Government by 2021, means it is off the agenda.

Under questioning from Councillor Richard Udall, he said: "We need to be practical about what we can achieve over a 10-year period and there's other areas we need to invest in."

Councillor Liz Eyre said Worcester Bosch routinely books 1,000 guests into Birmingham's Belfry Hotel, asking him to comment on it.

Mr Woodman said: "We recognise this four or five star hotel issue, we've been building a business case for it.

"The demand is around 20,000 beds and we know some of those are plumbers, and some are high-rollers who might deal with Worcester Bosch.

"What we're trying to do is recognise why Worcestershire hasn't had that investment, you look at Premier Inns (at New Road in Worcester), it's at 97 per cent capacity and in their top 10.

"I think there's a recognition it could work, the question is, would that be in the city with all the connectivity and development going on, or a rural area."

Under questioning from Councillor Tom Wells, he called for "a greater understanding" of EU migration and insisted Eastern Europeans are making "more and more of a financial contribution" to Worcestershire.

“It’s a minority of the workforce, but what we do see is that their contribution to the economy is always significant,” he said.

“Eastern Europeans are making more and more of a financial contribution.”

During the Q&A he reeled off some stats, showing how for each hour worked in the county £25.39 is raised in productivity, compared to £30.10 nationally - suggesting the county has some way to go to hit parity.

But he also said the employment rate in Worcestershire is 78.3 per cent, compared to 72 per cent across the UK, pointing to both that, and the county's "world class" quality of life as reasons to be optimistic.

Last year the LEP was told that it would get £53 million towards its 'wish list' from the Government, including £13 million back in April to kick it off.

But the Growth Fund kitty is worth £2 billion a year, with the county expecting more in future years from the SEP, a document all the councils, MPs and major employers are signed up to.

In terms of road infrastructure, decision-makers chose to focus on the A4440 Southern Link Road rather than the Northern Link, which would cost an estimated £160 million to complete.

It included heavy input from the Conservative leadership at Worcestershire County Council, which has consistently argued against a northern link on the grounds of cost and environmental damage.